Station control at center of latest filings over Metra-Amtrak Union Station dispute

Exterior of a station building

WASHINGTON — Control of Chicago Union Station emerges as the key issue in the latest filings in Metra’s dispute with Amtrak over its station lease, with Metra reviving a question whether Amtrak lawfully owns the property, while Amtrak claims Metra’s proposals “would wrest from Amtrak control over its own facility.” The latest documents, filed Friday […]

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Digest: Mobile councilman calls Amtrak ‘joy ride for affluent’ during debate on study

Amtrak logo

With one councilman calling Amtrak a ‘joy ride for the affluent,’ Mobile, Ala., delays vote on station study Resistance to Amtrak service has resurfaced among some Mobile, Ala., political leaders, with one calling the prospect a “joy ride for the affluent.” AL.com reports the comment from Councilman Joel Daves came during discussion on spending $80,1000 […]

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Amtrak cancels more trains in advance of next winter storm (updated)

Amtrak logo

WASHINGTON — Although the New York-Florida Silver Meteor and Silver Star are set to operate through the end of this week, Amtrak has preemptively cancelled trains in Virginia and the Carolinas as another winter storm is predicted to dump ice and snow on the area. With one of the two Auto Train equipment sets still […]

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Metra filing in Union Station dispute draws pointed reply from Amtrak

Chicago Union Station

WASHINGTON — The latest filings in the Amtrak-Metra dispute over Metra’s lease at Chicago Union Station, while peripheral to the primary issues before the Surface Transportation Board, suggest significant antagonism remains between the two parties. In a Feb. 8 letter, Metra’s attorney asked the board to strike a Jan. 29, 2021 letter from Amtrak, saying […]

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Digest: Charlotte seeks to build new interest in commuter rail line opposed by Norfolk Southern

CATS logo

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 […]

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Digest: Vancouver rail system reaches deal with union, averts strike

SkyTrain Canada Line logo

Wednesday morning rail news: Vancouver rail line averts strike with labor agreement The Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Line of the SkyTrain rail transit system has averted a strike after workers reached a tentative contract agreement with operator Protrans BC. Global News reports the BC Government & Service Employees Union said the agreement came after more than 40 […]

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Digest: Amtrak, NJ Transit remain on modified schedules after storm

Amtrak logo

More Wednesday morning rail news: Rail service continues to dig out from Northeast storm Rail systems continue to recover from Monday’s major snowstorm in the Northeast. Amtrak will continue modified Acela, Northeast Regional, and Keystone Service today on the Northeast Corridor;. see Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app, and the Amtrak Alerts and NEC Alerts Twitter feeds for more information. Most NJ […]

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Ohio rail group floats new effort for state rail service

Train tracks in urban canyon

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Rail advocacy group All Aboard Ohio has begun a public information campaign calling for a series of multi-frequency passenger rail routes throughout the state, plus additional round-trips over existing Amtrak routes between Cincinnati and Chicago as well as Cleveland to Detroit and New York via both Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Although some Ohio […]

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Digest: TSB of Canada investigation of fatal CP derailment enters final phase

Derailed rail cars in snow

More Tuesday morning rail news: TSB investigation of fatal CP derailment enters final phase The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has entered the report phase of its investigation of the fatal Feb. 4, 2019, runaway and derailment of a Canadian Pacific grain train near Field, B.C., the final stage in the investigative process. In a notice […]

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Amtrak, AAR, short line and transit groups congratulate Buttigieg on confirmation as transportation secretary (updated)

Pete Buttigieg

WASHINGTON — Amtrak, the Association of American Railroads, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, and American Public Transportation Association issued statements Tuesday congratulating former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg on his confirmation Tuesday as U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said the passenger railroad “applauds” Buttigieg’s confirmation, adding, As a mayor […]

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Digest: Batory joins R.J. Corman board of directors

Ron Batory

Still more Monday morning rail news: Former FRA administrator Batory joins R.J. Corman board Ronald Batory, whose term as administrator of the Federal Railroad Adminstration ended concluded with the change of presidential administrations in January, has been named to the board of directors of the R.J. Corman Railroad Group. Batory’s 46-year career in the railroad […]

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Digest: CDC issues mask order for domestic travel

Conductor with mask waits by passenger train

Monday morning rail news: CDC issues mask order for domestic travel, effective tonight Responding to an executive order by President Joe Biden, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an order requiring mask use for all domestic travel, effective today at 11:59 p.m. The Washington Post reports the order, issued late Friday, will require masks […]

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