New LOSSAN Executive Director Donna DeMartino. LOSSAN ORANGE, Calif. — Donna DeMartino has been named managing director of the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency, effective Jan. 27. DeMartino will oversee management and operations of state-supported, Amtrak-operated Pacific Surfliner passenger trains along the LOSSAN corridor. She replaces Jennifer Berenger, who has led the […]
A power car for one of Amtrak’s new Acela trainsets takes shape at Alstom’s Hornell, N.Y., plant in June 2019. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — A day after Amtrak released a video of its new Acela trainset moving for the very first time, the passenger carrier’s Office of Inspector General released a report warning there is […]
SEATTLE — Rail-passenger advocacy group All Aboard Washington has issued a call for the Washington State Department of Transportation, Amtrak, and Sound Transit to reopen the Point Defiance Bypass and add Amtrak Cascades trains on the Seattle-Portland corridor “as soon as possible.” All Aboard Washington acknowledged it has a special interest in the subject, and […]
Trains editors offer a round-up of the news that’s fit to publish. This week, Jim and Steve talk about SEPTA’s PCC cars; Union Pacific’s rising stock price, what will happen to an N&W Y6, and more! […]
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 18, 2020, this week. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 499,732 carloads and intermodal units, down 8% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending Jan. 18 […]
The engineer in the fatal December 2017 Amtrak Cascades derailment in suing Amtrak, alleging he was not properly trained. Steve Carter TACOMA, Wash. — The engineer at the controls of an Amtrak train involved in a fatal Washington state derailment in 2017 has sued the passenger railroad, alleging that he was not properly trained. On […]
Amtrak’s southbound Heartland Flyer arrives at Norman, Okla., on June 13, 2015 Bob Johnston The Ways and Means Committee of the Kansas Legislature meets to discuss the extension of Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer from Oklahoma City to Newton, Kan. Evan Stair TOPEKA, Kan. — The Ways and Means Committee of the Kansas State Legislature met Jan. […]
MOBILE, Ala. — Resistance to helping fund Gulf Coast Amtrak service remains among Mobile City Council members ahead of an expected Jan. 28 vote on a financial commitment by the city. Earlier this week, a three-member council finance committee failed to recommend support for a resolution which would commit the council to provide money toward […]
New York & Atlantic Railway’s Fresh Pond Yard, as seen from a cab of an NY&A locomotive. The MTA is funding a study of passenger service on the current freight-only Bay Ridge branch served by the NY&A. That line uses the bridge at center. TRAINS: David Lassen The MTA will study the possibility of passenger […]
A New York City Transit R156 diesel-electric, an 800-hp locomotive built by MotivePower in 2013, leads a short work train at the Grand Central Terminal station for the 42nd Street Shuttle. Work continues on modernization of the shuttle route and adjacent subway stations. Ralph Spielman NEW YORK — New subway technology was in the spotlight […]
NEW YORK — Andy Byford, the president of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s subway and bus agency, New York City Transit, has resigned. Politico first reported the resignation, which was confirmed at the beginning of today’s MTA board meeting. In a statement, Byford said, I’m very proud of what we have achieved as a team over […]
Union Pacific’s yard hump at Davidson Yard in Fort Worth, Texas. Lance Lassen OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific confirmed today that it has shut down the hump at Davidson Yard in Fort Worth, Texas, and said more yard changes are likely as the railroad continues to reduce car handlings across its system. UP has shifted some […]
