Friday morning rail news: Biden coronavirus plan includes $20 billion for transit Some $20 billion in “relief for the hardest hit public transit agencies” is part of a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan released by President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday, a wide-ranging legislative package including $1,400 per-person payments to most households, a national COVID-19 vaccination […]
NEWARK, N.J. — The first of 25 new ALP-45A locomotives for NJ Transit has arrived at Port Newark, N.J. The Tier IV-compliant locomotives, built by Bombardier in Germany, was offloaded at the port’s Berth 17. The new engines will replace some of NJ Transit’s older locomotives, as well as some PL42s, according to the NJ […]
More Friday rail news: MARC to suspend operations Jan. 17-20 because of inauguration security Maryland’s MARC Train commuter rail service will suspend operations on all three of its routes — the Penn, Camden and Brunswick lines — beginning Sunday, Jan. 17, in response to expanded security efforts associated with the upcoming Presidential inauguration, the Maryland […]
Friday morning Canadian rail news: Metrolinx announces service cuts for GO Transit, UP Express Toronto-area transit agency Metrolinx will make changes to GO Transit and UP Express schedules effective Jan. 23 as Ontario begins a state of emergency and stay-at-home order because of increasing COVID-19 cases. The website Daily Hive reports buses will replace trains […]
WASHINGTON — Thanks to the ongoing strength of intermodal traffic, U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 9 was up 4.7% over the comparable week a year earlier. The latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads show 525,253 carload and intermodal units moved for the week. The 235,404 carloads represented a 1.6% decrease […]
WASHINGTON — Media outlets are reporting that President-elect Joe Biden’s planned arrival by train for his inauguration — widely anticipated but never officially announced — will not happen in light of security concerns in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol building. The Associated Press reports the move reflects increased concerns about […]
Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn has joined the call by two labor unions for increased security for Amtrak passengers and railroad workers, especially in the Washington, D.C., area, in the wake of last week’s violence at the Capitol building. “There is nothing more important than the safety of our employees,” Flynn said in a statement. “Since […]
Thursday morning rail news: Alghabra becomes Canada’s transport minister, succeeding Garneau (corrected) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shuffled his cabinet, appointing Omar Alghabra as transport minister. Alghabra replaces Marc Garneau, transport minister since 2015, who becomes minister of foreign affairs. Macleans magazine reports Alghabra, a member of parliament from Mississauga, Ontario, first served in […]
Still more Thursday morning rail news: DOT awards $40 million for commuter rail grade-crossing projects The Department of Transportation has awarded $40 million in grants to five states to improve grade crossings along commuter rail routes. The funds, awarded by the Federal Highway Administration in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Transit Administration, […]
Still more Thursday morning rail news: Winds up to 100 mph halt Union Pacific trains in Wyoming High winds forced Union Pacific to shut down operations across much of Wyoming on Wednesday, with similar disruptions likely today. In an advisory to customers, the railroad said winds gusts of 80 to 100 mph began in southeast […]
Thursday midday rail news: Brightline West aims for spring start to construction of Las Vegas-California line Brightline West is aiming to start construction of its Las Vegas-Southern California high speed rail project this spring, according to a filing with the Nevada High-Speed Rail Authority. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Brightline West President Sarah Watterson said […]
More Thursday morning rail news: New RTD CEO casts doubt on plans for commuter rail line to Boulder and Longmont The new head of Denver’s Regional Transportation District is questioning whether a long-planned, voter-approved commuter rail line to Boulder and Longmont, Colo., is the best option to provide transit service. Colorado Public Radio reports CEO […]
