The Charlotte Area Transit System has begun testing for its Phase 2 extension of the CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar line, slated to open later this year. Intermittent overnight testing was slated to begin Feb. 9 and will continue for several weeks, QCityMetro.com reports. The initial tests are to check electrical systems and platform clearances; they […]
Additional Tuesday morning rail news: Fundraising effort begins to save Union City, Ind., tower A fundraising effort has launched to save a former CSX interlocking tower in Union City, Ind., which is scheduled for demolition. The Winchester News Gazette reports the “Save the Rail Tower” effort seeks to raise $50,000 by March 25 for funds to […]
WASHINGTON — BNSF Railway has received a patent for a virtual track block system that has the potential to significantly boost existing mainline capacity, raise average train speeds, and improve the detection of broken rails. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved the patent application last month, and credits the invention to BNSF employees Mitchell […]
Tuesday morning rail news: North County Transit District debuts new Coaster locomotives, refurbished cars San Diego’s North County Transit District placed the first five of its new Siemens Charger locomotives into service Monday, along with several newly renovated passenger cars. The locomotives, which began testing in October [see “News Photo: New Coaster locomotives begin testing,” Trains News Wire, […]
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a year’s delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and an uprising in the California Legislature, the head of the state’s financially strapped high-speed rail project unveiled a “revised draft business plan” today restating an initial operating segment between Merced and Bakersfield as the project’s priority. The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board voted unanimously […]
SKAGWAY, Alaska — Narrow gauge passenger rail operator White Pass & Yukon Route never ran excursions during 2020, despite maintaining hopes into June that COVID-19 travel restrictions might be relaxed. Now operations are in jeopardy for 2021 as well, in the wake of a Transport Canada decision not to allow ships carrying more than 100 […]
More Tuesday morning rail news: Charlotte seeks to stoke interest in commuter rail Red Line opposed by Norfolk Southern The city of Charlotte is attempting to revive interest in a commuter rail project to Mt. Mourne, N.C., but Norfolk Southern remains opposed to the project, which would use its line north of the city. WSOC-TV reports that […]
The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District recently agreed to lease surplus gallery cars from Metra’s Electric District to meet the South Shore Line’s expanded service plans once its Double Track and West Lake extension projects are complete. [See “Digest: South Shore to lease gallery cars …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 26, 2021]. In the wake of that decision, […]
More Monday afternoon rail news: News report says transit to receive $30 billion under House COVID relief plan Transit agencies will receive $30 billion and Amtrak $1.5 billion under the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief proposal expected to be released Monday by House Democrats, Reuters reports. The news service, citing sources briefed on the matter and documents […]
Monday morning rail news: Start pushed back, cost estimate increased for Valley segment of California high speed route The California High-Speed Rail Authority has again reset the completion date and increased the estimated cost of the project. The Associated Press reports authority CEO Brian Kelly now says the 119-mile segment between Bakersfield and Madera in the Central […]
Monday afternoon rail news: CP sets January record for Canadian grain movement Canadian Pacific set a record for Canadian grain movement in January, transporting 2.22 million metric tons to better the record set a year earlier by 6%. The railroad has now shipped 16 million metric tons so far in the 2020-21 grain season, an […]
WASHINGTON — In response to a question last week from MSNBC interviewer Joy Reid — “How long is it going to take before I get my high speed rail?” — newly confirmed U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg didn’t answer directly. “As you know, the president is a big believer in passenger rail,” Buttigieg says. “Look, […]
