Pacific Harbor Line displays battery locomotive at ceremony for engineers

Green and white locomotive with black stripes on nose

SD40JR Joule locomotive WILMINGTON, Calif. — Pacific Harbor Line showed off its new battery-electric locomotive as part of a May 4 event welcoming the railroad’s latest graduating class of locomotive engineers. The Progress Rail/EMD SD40JR Joule locomotive had arrived the week before to start a year-long evaluation on the railroad serving the ports of Long […]

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San Francisco kicks off 150th cable car anniversary

A San Francisco cable car in a street.

SAN FRANCISCO – This weekend sees the launch of a civic celebration to mark 150 years of cable car service in San Francisco. Scotsman Andrew S. Hallidie, an experienced maker of wire rope (steel cable), employed his expertise to construct a cable car on Clay Street in San Francisco, with the first run on August […]

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BNSF resumes freight service on Surf Line

BNSF Railway logo

 SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. ­– ­BNSF Railway has resumed freight service on the ex-Santa Fe “Surf Line” between Los Angeles and San Diego past the site of a landslide in San Clemente, the Los Angeles Times reported. BNSF began running two to four trains a day through the area at speeds of 10 to 15 mph, […]

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California passes regulations calling for zero-emission locomotives

Freight train with yellow locomotives in mountains

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California has passed regulations requiring dramatic measures to reduce diesel locomotive emissions within the state — including all new locomotives to offer zero-emission operation by 2035 — although the rail industry says the rules exceed the technology needed to meet them. In a move last week, the California Air Resources Board passed […]

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Pacific Surfliner sets new timetable to deal with San Clemente landslide

Passenger train departs station, as seen from bridge

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner has released a new interim timetable for the duration of the current interruption of service through south Orange County, Calif. The schedule, available here, includes the suspension of four trains. Ten offer bus-bridge connections between Irvine and Oceanside. Three start or end in Irvine, while six extend to […]

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Metrolink board approves union agreement

Commuter train led by white locomotive with blue stripe on curve

LOS ANGELES — Metrolink’s board of directors last week approved a collective bargaining agreement with members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1277. Union members had ratified the agreement earlier in April. The agreement covers the commuter rail operator’s rail traffic coordinators, rail traffic controllers, communications coordinators, and customer relations representatives. The 47 employees involved represent […]

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Surfliner, Metrolink could face another extended stoppage in Orange County

Amtrak passenger train moves along tracks on coastal bluff in light fog.

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — The latest landslide interrupting rail service between Los Angeles and San Diego continued on Friday, increasing chances that Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner service between the two cities, and Metrolink service to Oceanside, could face another extended interruption. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the hill continued to slide behind the Casa Romantica […]

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Santa Cruz, Monterey counties receive funding for rail projects

Passenger train passing through wetlands

SANTA CRUZ, Calif — Two counties on California’s central coast have received almost $6 million to advance a pair of rail projects thanks to state funding announced earlier this week. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission was awarded $3.45 million to fund a Project Concept Report for the proposed passenger rail service on the […]

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Landslide again halts Metrolink, Surfliner service in California’s Orange County (updated)

Blue and silver-painted locomotive at a station platform surrounding by brown steel work and palm trees. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner renewable diesel.

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink commuter rail operation in south Orange County has again been interrupted by a landslide in San Clemente — but not at the same location that shut down the line between Los Angeles and San Diego for months. A slight landslide occurred north of Metrolink’s San Clemente […]

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LA’s Metrolink receives state funding for two projects

Commuter train next to ornate former station

LOS ANGELES — Commuter rail operator Metrolink will receive more than $25 million for a pair of projects — $10 million for projects to improve locomotive fuel efficiency and $15.5 million for double tracking of a route in Riverside County — under state funding awarded Monday. The funding, announced by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, come […]

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Nevada, California legislators back federal funding for Brightline West

Illustration of high-speed Brightline West train

LAS VEGAS — Members of Congress from Nevada and California are backing Nevada’s effort to land federal funding for the Brightline West high speed rail project, writing U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to express “strong support” for the state’s grant application. Brightline West and the Nevada Department of Transportation applied for up to $3.75 billion […]

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State funds will allow San Jose light rail project to proceed

Map showing 2.4-mile light rail project in San Jose, Calif.

SAN JOSE — The state of California will provide $46 million in funding for a 2.4-mile extension of a San Jose light rail line, a $350 million project that includes an elevated right-of-way and a new station between the current end of track and an existing transit center served by buses. The San Jose Mercury […]

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