More Wednesday morning rail news: Texas transit agencies offer free rides to voters Dallas-Fort Worth area transit agencies — the Denton County Transportation Authority, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, and Trinity Metro — are the latest to announce they will provide free rides for people casting their ballot in the upcoming election. The DCTA and DART […]
CHICAGO — Metra has sued Union Pacific for breach of contract over its fare collection policies on the three Metra lines operated by UP, saying an “arbitrary and capricious” refusal to deploy conductors is severely damaging Metra’s bottom line, reputation, and customer experience. In a response Wednesday afternoon, Union Pacific said it is “is unwilling […]
Tuesday morning rail transit news: New York MTA faces massive debt without additional aid New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority could see its total debt reach $50 billion if no further federal aid is forthcoming and it has to borrow money to address the deficit created by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to New York state […]
Tuesday midday rail news: Preservation group receives donation of 1917 N&W business car The Norfolk & Western Business Car 300 Preservation Society has accepted the donation of Business Car No. 300, a 1917 Pullman-built car. In an announcement on the group’s Facebook page, Bryan Lalevee, president of the 501c3 non-profit organization, said, “After three years of […]
Monday midday rail news: While overall crime drops, New York subway sees increase in violent crime While overall crime has dropped significantly on New York’s subway system with the loss of ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic, violent crime is rising. The New York Times reports overall subway crime decreased by 40% between January and the end of […]
Still more Monday morning rail news: FBI investigation continues, 25 years after ‘Sunset Limited’ derailment Twenty-five years after a fatal derailment of the Sunset Limited in Arizona, the investigation continues and a reward remains available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those response. An article posted on the FBI website on Friday, the 25th […]
Monday morning transit and commuter rail news: Investigation underway into Friday separation of DC Metro train The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission is investigating a Friday incident in which cars of a DC Metro Red Line train separated while the train was in motion. More than 100 passengers were stranded on a DC Metro Red Line […]
LONDON — As widely expected, the British government has announced the end of the passenger franchise system introduced as the means of privatizing the rail industry in 1996 and will introduce a new concession system to take its place. U.K. Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps told the media last month, “The model of privatization adopted 25 […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Transit Administration has announced a barrage of project funding, with 35 projects receiving a total of $17.6 million in funding as part of two programs. Eight rail-related items are among the 10 programs receiving a total of $9.1 million as part of the Safety Research & Demonstration program. Among those awards are […]
More Friday morning rail news: Long Island Rail Road triple-track project reaches midpoint The Long Island Rail Road Expansion project, adding 10 miles of third track on the LIRR Main Line between Floral Park and Hicksville, N.Y., has reached its halfway point ahead of schedule and under budget, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has announced. Grade crossings […]
Still more Friday morning rail news: Amtrak completes new platform, will resume stops in Holdrege, Neb. Amtrak’s California Zephyr will again stop in Holdrege, Neb., after an absence of several months after completion of a new station platform in the community. KHGI-TV reports that after the passenger railroad could no longer reach agreement with the owner of the 1910 […]
CHICAGO — Amtrak is experiencing near-capacity or sellout ridership on long-distance trains as it begins its shift to triweekly operation, but says it has no plans to adjust train size to increase available inventory until just before the Thanksgiving holidays. This cost-focused strategy of reducing consists and furloughing the personnel to man them limits possible […]
