Travelers during World War II swarm the New York Central ticket windows in Grand Central Terminal. Signs above the windows caution against “unnecessary travel” during wartime. New York Central photo […]
Necessary travel
Type of Train: Passenger/Transit
SunRail hopes funding will enable extension to DeLand
ORLANDO – SunRail is reviving efforts for a 12-mile extension to DeLand, Fla., hoping to learn this summer whether it will obtain the needed federal funding, despite some local qualms about the project. The extension, which will require double-tracking from the current northern terminus of DeBary to DeLand, would complete construction along the 61-mile corridor […]
Metrolink adds McIntyre as ‘strategy officer’ NEWSWIRE
LOS ANGELES – Todd McIntyre will join Metrolink as chief strategy officer, the commuter railroad has announced. McIntyre joins Metrolink after three years at the District (of Columbia) Department of Transportation, where he was an advisor on strategic direction and decision making. Before that, he was a transportation specialist at the Federal Railroad Administration, where […]
Commuter rail a topic as three New England governors meet NEWSWIRE
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. — Transit issues were among the topics when the governors of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island held their first private meeting on Tuesday. The lunch meeting at Eastern Connecticut State University was organized by Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, with Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island and Republican Gov. Charlie Baker […]
Portland, Ore., floats idea of light-rail tunnel under downtown NEWSWIRE
PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland-area officials are beginning to explore the possibility of building a light-rail tunnel under downtown to address the bottleneck at the center of the city’s rail system. The Oregon Metro website says the idea, still in its early stages, was first floated two years ago as transit agency TriMet looked at ways to […]
SEPTA to close lines for major construction work NEWSWIRE
PHILADELPHIA – Nearly 27,000 daily riders on three regional rail lines operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will face longer commutes for the next two weeks as major work on the Arsenal Interlocking, south of Philadelphia, takes place. Beginning July 20, the Airport Line will be closed in its entirety, and the Media/Elwyn Line […]
Wisconsin announces plans for more ‘Hiawathas’ NEWSWIRE
A northbound Amtrak Hiawatha passes the closed tower at Rondout, Ill, on June 2, 2019. TRAINS: David Lassen MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin officials announced plans to add three Amtrak Hiawatha round trips to the Chicago-Milwaukee route over the next five years, and should be able to add two of those trains with or without cooperation from […]
Denver RTD officials are puzzled by more than 13% ridership drop NEWSWIRE
DENVER — The Regional Transportation District’s light-rail system has experienced a dramatic drop in ridership during the first five months of 2019, and RTD officials have no immediate explanation. Ridership was down 13.7% from January through May, compared with the same period a year earlier. RTD spokeswoman Paulette Tonilas told the Denver Post that the drop […]
Metra preps for extreme heat NEWSWIRE
CHICAGO – Metra officials say Wednesday the commuter rail agency is taking safety precautions due to extreme heat expected over the next few days, and is being proactive to prevent last summer’s “hot car” problems. The agency started the day with an announcement via Twitter that trains will operate at reduced speeds due to the […]
NJ Transit unveils six heritage commuter cars NEWSWIRE
Newly wrapped Central Railroad of New Jersey multiLevel Bombardier coach joins five other heritage-themed cars to commemorate NJ Transit’s history on its 40th anniversary. NJ Transit KEARNEY, N.J. — NJ Transit will join the list of railroads to operate heritage-themed equipment, rolling out six coaches decorated with logos of railroads that operated on parts of […]
Transit agencies test rewards programs NEWSWIRE
SAN MATEO, Calif. – Pioneered by airlines and hotels, customer reward programs are now being tested by a handful of transit agencies looking to encourage increased ridership and influence rider behavior. Caltrain and the San Mateo County Transit District are partnering with Miles, an app-based service that bills itself as a universal miles-earnings program. Users […]
Amtrak service changed by CSX track work in North Carolina NEWSWIRE
RALEIGH, N.C. — Amtrak’s Carolinian will be reduced to weekend-only service along its full New York-Charlotte, N.C. route beginning July 22, and schedules for the Palmetto and Silver Star will also be altered, because of CSX Transportation track work, according to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The schedule changes will […]
