Digest: Official says many displays at Mississippi station museum can be saved

Wooden station building damaged by fire

Mississippi station museum director vows to rebuild following fire The executive director of the McComb (Miss.) Railroad Depot Museum says he is “encouraged” by what he has seen after viewing the interior of the station and museum, which was badly damaged by an arson fire on Sunday. WVUE-TV reports that executive director Ralph Price said […]

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Digest: Amtrak Capitol Corridor service to increase June 7

Passenger train approaches camera location.

Capitol Corridor increases service for the first time since June 2020 California’s Capitol Corridor Amtrak service will increase as of Monday, June 7, with San Jose-Sacramento service going from 16 to 22 trips daily, while Oakland-San Jose service will return to the pre-pandemic level of 14 trips daily. Also, the Richmond Standard reports, Café Car […]

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San Jose-area light rail system could be shut down for months after shooting

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority logo

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Light rail service in the San Jose area may be suspended for months as a result of last week’s mass shooting that left 10 Valley Transportation Authority workers, including the shooter, dead. That is the word from an agency spokeswoman, the San Jose Mercury News reports, as VTA determines how to […]

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Digest: FBI agent charged in shooting onboard DC Metro train

WMATA logo

FBI agent faces attempted murder charge for shooting on Metrorail train An FBI agent has been charged with second-degree attempted murder as a result of a 2020 shooting aboard a DC Metro subway train. The Washington Post reports Eduardo Valdivia, 37, was also charged with first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and use of a firearm in […]

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San Jose-area light rail service remains shut down indefinitely in aftermath of shooting

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority logo

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Valley Transportation Authority light rail service remains suspended indefinitely as a result of the May 26 mass shooting at the VTA maintenance yard, and the substitute bus service which had been operating since the event is being discontinued. The agency reports the bus service is ending because of limited staffing. “Instead, […]

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Railroad safety always comes first for a Southern Pacific third-shift yard clerk

Locomotives and railcars in railroad yard in California in 1960s in a black and white image.

  I was hired as a yard clerk for the Southern Pacific in San Jose, Calif., in April 1960. On my first day, I was ushered into the general yardmaster’s office and given a short talk on safety. The general yardmaster, an old head named Ralph Fanning, stood behind his desk and regarded me suspiciously. […]

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Authorities say San Jose shooter had harbored anger about job

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority logo

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Authorities now say the gunman in Wednesday’s mass shooting at a Valley Transportation Authority light rail facility had long been angry about his workplace, something federal officials had discovered well before the shooting. A ninth victim died of injuries from the shooting late Wednesday. The victims, men ages 29 to 63, […]

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Shooter kills at least eight workers at San Jose, Calif., light rail maintenance facility (updated)

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority logo

SAN JOSE, Calif. — At least eight workers at the Valley Transportation Authority light rail facility in San Jose were shot and killed by a co-worker who also killed himself, according to authorities. Several other people were wounded, with at least one in critical condition, CNN reports. The network reports the gunman has been identified […]

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Transit Digest: MBTA, board struggle with fare-evasion policy

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority logo

MBTA, board can’t agree on new fines for fare evasion Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority staff and the agency’s Fiscal and Management Control Board continue to disagree about fines for fare evasion. CommonWealth Magazine reports the staff and board remained at an impasse for the second consecutive board meeting. The MBTA staff initially recommended fines of […]

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Digest: Pacific Surfliner to require reservations on peak summer weekends

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

Pacific Surfliners to require reservations on four weekends; more could be added Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner will require reservations for travel on peak weekends this suffer, a move to manage capacity when more travelers are anticipated. Four weekends have been designated for the reservation requirement — Memorial Day weekend (May 28-June 1), Fourth of July weekend […]

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Digest: News report says official leaves California high speed rail agency after investigation

California High Speed Rail Authority logo

No. 2 official departs from California high speed agency The No. 2 official at the California High-Speed Rail Authority has left the agency as the result of an investigation, the Los Angeles Times reports. Chief Operating Officer Joe Hedges left the agency as of Tuesday following an investigation that began last year with an anonymous […]

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Digest: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority names new CEO

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority logo

Gonot named to lead Santa Clara VTA California’s Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority has selected Carolyn Gonot as its new CEO and General Manager. Patch.com reports Gonot, who spent more than 20 years with the agency, will return to lead it after almost two years as the executive director of the Utah Transportation Authority. She […]

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