Amtrak, Metra end mediation; Union Station dispute to return to STB Mediation of Amtrak’s dispute with Metra over Metra’s lease at Chicago Union Station has ended with some issues still unresolved. In a letter to the Surface Transportation Board, representatives of STB and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service said the two parties had met nine […]
Utah’s FrontRunner may be in line for double tracking, other improvements Utah’s budget situation looks better than expected for 2021, which may make room for a long-sought double-track project for FrontRunner commuter rail service. The Salt Lake Tribune reports improvements for the commuter operation include double-track segments between Ogden and Provo, which would allow trains […]
Amtrak adds digital payment options Amtrak is adding new digital payment options on Amtrak.com and the Amtrak smartphone apps, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. Each can be used for tickets and other purchases, and can be saved on customer profiles as a preferred payment option. “We know every minute counts for our customers […]
Broken rail caused 2019 derailment in Albert, Transportation Safety Board reports A broken rail was the cause of a September 2019 derailment of a Canadian Pacific train in Alberta which led to a spill of hazardous materials and a local evacuation, according to a report released Tuesday by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. The […]
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has delayed a vote on a much-criticized for budget cuts that would include significant service reductions and layoffs, deferring a presentation on the proposal for a week. The Associated Press reports MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak recommended the delay to the Fiscal and Management Control Board, citing developments of COVID-19 […]
Monday morning rail news: Phoenix light rail project lands $638 million in federal funds The Phoenix Valley Metro light rail system will receive $638 million in federal funding for its South Central extension. KTAR Radio reports $530 million will come from the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants Program, with the remaining $108 million from the Federal […]
Additional Monday rail news: Metra extends sale of $10 one-day pass Metra is extending sale of its $10 All-Day Pass through Jan. 31, 2020. The pass, introduced June 1, allows unlimited Metra rides on a given day through 3 a.m. the following morning, and in most cases is less than the cost of two one-way […]
More Monday morning rail news: Grafton & Upton, Massachusetts town look into arbitration over land dispute A court case between the Grafton & Upton Railroad and town of Hopedale, Mass., has been paused while the two parties engage in a screening process for possible arbitration. The Milford Daily News reports the dispute centers on 155 acres of […]
WILMINGTON, Del. — Amtrak, the Delaware Department of Transportation, and the Delaware Transit Corp. have completed a $71.2 million project adding 1.5 miles of third main track on the Northeast Corridor between Wilmington and Newark, Del. The project, which also includes bridge replacement and other improvements, eliminates a two-track section of the corridor. “The completion […]
DENVER — The initial version of a passenger rail operation along Colorado’s Front Range could see two to six round trips a day between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs, mostly on existing lines, and cost $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion. Colorado Public Radio reports that concept was presented by consultant HDR to the Front Range Passenger […]
Saturday morning rail news: Operator shortages curtail light rail service in Seattle, Tacoma With COVID-19 cases increasing, Sound Transit will temporarily reduce peak-hour service on its Link light rail lines as of Monday, Dec. 7, because of a shortage of operators. Trains will run every 12 minutes during peak periods; service during other times will remain unchanged. […]
OMAHA, Neb. — Major operational changes that have reduced Union Pacific’s costs are helping the railroad land new merchandise traffic, CEO Lance Fritz told an investor conference this week. Precision Scheduled Railroading is now “building into our DNA, into our culture” and will continue once outgoing Chief Operating Officer Jim Vena hands the reins to Senior […]
