Digest: Amtrak Capitol Corridor adds occupancy tool to website

More Friday morning rail news: Capitol Corridor website now offering occupancy information on trains, connecting buses Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor has added an occupancy information tool on its website to provide passengers awareness of how full a given train may be. The tool, available here, uses recent ridership numbers to indicate vacancy rates on individual trains. […]

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Digest: Valley Metro orders Siemens light rail vehicles

Thursday midday rail news: Valley Metro orders 14 new Siemens light rail vehicles Phoenix-area transit agency Valley Metro has ordered 14 S700 light rail vehicles from Siemens Mobility to join 11 of the trainsets already in service. The equipment, to be built in Sacramento, Calif., will help accommodate the needs of an expanding system, and […]

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Remembering the Pacific Electric Railway

A pair of couples streetcars or interurban cars exit a tunnel.

By G. Mac Sebree History of the Pacific Electric Railway By any standard, the Pacific Electric was the largest interurban electric railway in the United States. It boasted more than 1,000 miles of track and had 1,000-plus cars. It played a major role in building up the vast open areas surrounding Los Angeles. The cities […]

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Tunneling through tough times

The author designed her rear-of-the-railway tunnel for viewing from a glider on the front door stoop

Like a grade-school report, “What I did on my spring 2020 vacation,” this story is about optimism in the face of confusion and lack of resources. We had just started a new little garden railway loop in front of our house, but hidden from the street. Having built a gallery along the walkway, we next […]

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Digest: Legislators decry new Caltrain funding proposal

Caltrain logo

Monday morning rail news: Change to ballot initiative could cut Caltrain funding, may be illegal, legislators say A proposed change to a ballot initiative meant to generate tax support for Caltrain could mean the San Francisco Bay commuter railroad receives little or no revenue from the tax, according to a group of legislators. The San […]

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BART sets 15-point plan to handle returning riders NEWSWIRE

Bart

Thursday morning rail news in brief: BART announces ‘Welcome Back Plan’ Bay Area Rapid Transit has introduced a 15-step “Welcome Back Plan” for riders returning to the San Francisco-area rail system after the COVID-19 lockdown, including use of long trains to accommodate social distancing, increased train frequency as ridership dictates, and a possible new seating […]

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Facebook reconsidering commitment to transit project NEWSWIRE

Dumbarton_Bridge_Google

A Google Maps 3D view shows a portion of California’s Dumbarton Rail Bridge, idle since 1982. Facebook is reconsidering its part in funding studies to create a commuter rail service that would use the bridge. Google Maps Tuesday morning rail news in brief: Facebook may pull back from funding transit study Facebook is reconsidering its […]

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