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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Yves Desjardins-Siciliano Siemens Siemens Mobility announces the appointment of Yves Desjardins-Siciliano as Canadian CEO for Siemens Mobility Limited. Desjardins-Siciliano will build Siemens Mobility’s presence in Canada and lead its team in the provision of transportation solutions to Canadian service providers. “With deep industry knowledge and demonstrated customer focus, Yves is well-positioned to grow Siemens Mobility […]
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia — As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and associated government restrictions, Rocky Mountaineer will extend the suspension of its 2020 travel season until July 31, 2020. This suspension is in addition to the previously announced suspended departures from April 13 to June 30. “It is with much regret that we announce […]
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Long Island Rail Road trains await action at New York’s Hudson Yards. More than 40% of New Yorkers surveyed indicated they will avoid transit after the coronavirus pandemic. TRAINS: David Lassen More Friday morning rail news in brief: — More than 40% of New York City residents surveyed say they plan to avoid mass transit […]
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Thursday afternoon rail news in brief: — Fiona Murray of Canadian National has been named as board chairperson for the Railway Association of Canada, becoming the first female to hold that position in the organization’s 103-year history. Murray, vice-president of public and government affairs at CN, joined the railroad in 1992. “As a career railroader, […]
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Still more Wednesday rail news: — Canada’s Transportation Safety Board is seeking a better way to test train air brakes as a result of the 2019 derailment of a Canadian Pacific train near Field, B.C., that killed three crew members. The crewmen were killed when the train ran away on Kicking Horse Pass, derailing two […]
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Saturday Canadian rail and coronavirus news: — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau views aid for Canada’s ailing transit systems as a responsibility of local and provincial governments rather than the federal government, he said during a Friday press conference. “Operation of transit is more of a municipal and provincial responsibility, and we hope to see […]
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VIA Rail Canada is extending the suspension of the Canadian until November 2020. Bob Johnston Thursday morning rail news: — VIA Rail Canada has written off the summer travel season for its long-distance overnight trains, the Canadian and the Ocean, extending their suspension until at least Nov. 1, 2020, and has suspended Sleeper class on […]
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More Friday morning rail news: — Canadian National has filed suit against protesters in British Columbia who blockaded its tracks in February, seeking damages, a permanent injunction against blockades, and an enforcement order by police. The CBC reports that the suit against unnamed individuals who blocked its main line between Smithers and Terrace, B.C., on […]
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More Wednesday morning rail news: — It would take more than $700 million to restore the former Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway line on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to operating condition suitable for a proposed commuter rail service, and another $600 million to launch such a service, according to a government report issued Tuesday. The Vancouver […]
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Still more Thursday rail news: — The Toronto Transit Commission will lay off 1,000 streetcar, subway, and bus operators as a result of falling revenue because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 200 non-union employees will also be cut, while salary increases will be put on hold, overtime will be reduced, and non-essential capital projects will […]
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Saturday morning rail news: — New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority is seeking another $3.9 billion in federal aid to offset losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The MTA received $4 billion as part of the coronavirus relief act passed in March, but Newsday reports that MTA chairman Patrick Foye says the agency’s original estimates of […]
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