Digest: Del Mar trespassing fence faces further delay

People jumping off rail linee as train approaches

New study to further delay safety fence along Del Mar, Calif., rail line The North County Transit District will further delay its effort to build a fence to deter trespassers from crossing railroad tracks in Del Mar, Calif., to complete an additional study on the issue. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the fence — which […]

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Digest: BNSF seeks eminent-domain authority to acquire land for Colorado intermodal terminal

BNSF Railway logo

BNSF asks to use eminent domain to complete land acquisition for Denver-area intermodal terminal BNSF Railway is asking officials in Colorado’s Weld County for eminent-domain authority to obtain land for a new intermodal facility. BizWest reports the railroad has submitted 10 requests at Weld County District Court in Greeley to acquire land to build a […]

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Digest: Metra to restore full Saturday service on seven lines

Silver, white, orange, blue, and black lcomotive approaches curve with commuter train

Metra returns to pre-pandemic Saturday schedules on seven lines May 29 Metra will restore full Saturday service on seven of its 11 lines as of May 29. Returning to pre-pandemic levels, in place of the current schedule used on both Saturdays and Sundays, will be the BNSF, Milwaukee North and West lines; Rock Island District; […]

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Digest: Restoration of Illnois Amtrak routes set for July

Amtrak_WSprings_Lassen

Full restoration of state-supported Amtrak routes in Illinois set for July 19 The state of Illinois announced plans to restore all service on its four state-supported Amtrak lines as of July 19 as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital plan. The restoration of full schedules on the Chicago-Quincy, Chicago-Carbondale, and Chicago-St. Louis routes in July […]

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Digest: Maine legislators consider bills to study expanded passenger service

Passenger train passing through trees

Two bills would fund studies of expanded Maine passenger service Maine legislators are considering two bills to study expanded passenger rail service in the state, while some residents would like to see state-owned rail corridors used for recreational trails. Currently, Maine’s only rail service, the Downeaster to Boston, terminates at Brunswick. WMTW-TV reports sponsors hope […]

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Final Metrolink F125 arrives in California

Train with two freight locomotives and one passenger engine

LOS ANGELES — BNSF Railway has delivered the last EMD F125 passenger locomotive to California’s Metrolink. The locomotive, SCAX No. 903 arrived last Thursday on special train J-BRCLAC9-08, with only No. 903 and two idler flatcars. Delivery of No. 903 was delayed due to parts shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The locomotive’s arrival, almost […]

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Digest: California governor calls for additional $11 billion in transportation spending

Metro_Crenshaw_1

California governor seeks additional $11 billion for transportation projects California Gov. Gavin Newsom, aided by the presence of a projected budget surplus of more than $75 billion, is proposing to add $11 billion for transportation to the state budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The additional funds — which would bring the total transportation budget […]

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Digest: British rail service disrupted as cracks are found in high speed trainsets

Black high speed train with yellow trim in station

Cracks in Hitachi high speed trainsets cause disruption of British rail service High speed rail service in the United Kingdom is facing major disruption this weekend after cracks were found in two Hitachi-built trainsets. The Guardian reports the hairline cracks were found in brackets that are part of a device that helps stabilize the trains, […]

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Digest: Beech Grove fire intentionally set, investigators say

Buildings on fire next to Amtrak locomotive

Investigators say Beech Grove shops fire was intentionally set A fire that destroyed two storage sheds at Amtrak’s Beech Grove, Ind., Heavy Maintenance Facility appears to have been intentionally set, according to investigators. WXIN-TV reports James Pierce, operations chief for the Beech Grove Fire Department, notes the two buildings that burned and collapsed were not […]

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Digest: Santa Cruz transportation commission puts off reconsideration of rail transit plan

Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission logo

Santa Cruz commission declines to revisit vote on rail proposal The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission has elected to delay further action on the California coastal county’s proposed 32-mile rail-and-trail project, a reflection of the strong divisions that have developed over the possibility of building a rail transit system on the former Southern Pacific […]

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Union Pacific takes aim at BNSF with new Southern California intermodal terminal (corrected)

Map of southern California rail facilities

OMAHA, Neb. – The intermodal terminal Union Pacific is set to open in California’s Inland Empire will start small, but railroad officials call it a game changer that could lead to signficant growth. The terminal planned for West Colton yard will have capacity for just 45,000 lifts annually when it opens in a month or […]

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Digest: LA Metro releases $8 billion budget for fiscal 2022

LA Metro light rail train on curving bridge

LA Metro budget will restore service to pre-pandemic levels LA Metro has released an $8 billion budget for fiscal 2022 including restoration of rail and bus service to pre-pandemic levels and the start of testing for two projects: the 8.5-mile Crenshaw/LAX light rail line, also known as the K line, and the 1.9-mile Regional Connector, […]

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