CHEHALIS, Wash. — Documents detailing more than $1 million in losses over a 6-year period led to the inability of the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum’s inability to obtain liability insurance, the heritage railroad’s insurance broker explained earlier this week at an emergency meeting of the railroad’s board of directors. The lack of insurance has forced […]
CHEHALIS, Wash. — An inability to obtain insurance has forced the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum to suspend passenger operations until further notice, and perhaps for good. The heritage rail operation posted a notification on its Facebook page Saturday that it would halt operations, saying it was “looking to resume operations as soon as we are […]
SEATTLE — Sound Transit will restore two round trips on its Sounder South commuter rail line as part of a series of transit changes set for March. Returning after being suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic are trains 1501, a 6:05 a.m. departure from Seattle; 1514, a 7:20 a.m. departure from Tacoma; 1509, a 3:15 […]
SEATTLE — Sound Transit has named Brooke Belman, the agency’s current chief of staff, to serve as acting CEO as of May 31. Belman will succeed Peter Rogoff, who will depart on that date, until a new permanent CEO is selected. Belman joined Sound Transit in 20024 and has served in roles including Deputy Executive […]
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington state Senate has passed a proposal that would provide $150 million in funding for the creation of a high speed rail line connecting Vancouver, British, Columbia, to Portland, Ore. KING-TV reports the funding is part of a $16 billion transportation bill, Senate Bill 5974. That legislation passed by a 29-20 vote […]
SEATTLE — A strike by concrete workers is placing the schedule of Sound Transit light-rail projects at risk, according to the agency’s CEO. KIRO Radio reports that CEO Peter Rogoff told the Sound Transit board that completion dates of the four light-rail extension projects in progress — to Lynnwood, Bellevue, Redmond, and Federal Way — […]
SEATTLE — Almost two years after halting the service because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amtrak has begun preparations to restore Cascades operations to Canada from Seatttle. Last week, Amtrak posted a notice on the Facebook page dedicated to the Cascades service informing customers that they might see Cascades trains running between Seattle and Vancouver, British […]
SULTAN, Wash. — The star-crossed first revenue round trip for Amtrak’s new ALC42 Charger locomotives has not gotten any better on the return leg from the Pacific Northwest. Charger locomotives Nos. 301 and 302 led the eastbound Empire Builder out of Seattle on Saturday, but reports of continued positive train control issues with No. 301 […]
SEATTLE — Testing is increasing on Sound Transit’s East Link light rail extension, with recent nighttime operations including trains operating at up to 35 mph between the Bellevue Downtown, Wilburton, and Spring District/120th stations as part of preparations to open the new trackage. A Sound Transit video of testing is below. Testing has focused on […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Some $138 million in funding is now available for transit agencies in Washington state, the first money coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray announced, saying the state will receive $1.79 billion over the next five years. “These funds are critical to helping meet the ridership […]
WALLA WALLA, Wash. — A runaway tank car reportedly reached speeds of up to 50 mph on a trip of more than 15 miles Tuesday before finally being stopped when it reached an upgrade, the Walla Walla Union Bulletin reports. The GATX tank car broke loose from a Columbia-Walla Walla Railway train in Walla Walla […]
[<Trains.com members> WATCH: BIG SKIES & IRON RAILS VIDEOS] MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana Rail Link will end its long-term lease on BNSF Railway lines in its namesake state, Idaho, and Washington, with BNSF resuming operation of those routes, MRL President Derek Ollmann told employees in a memo today (Monday, Jan. 10). No timeline for the […]
