Inbound and outbound Metra trains meet in Elmwood Park, Ill., in March. A Metra official expects a long-term loss of ridership after the coronavirus pandemic. TRAINS: David Lassen Thursday morning rail news: — It may take one to three years for Metra ridership to return to 2019 levels after the coronavirus pandemic — if it […]
Long Island Rail Road trains meet at Divide interlocking in Hicksville, N.Y., in August 2019. The LIRR and other MTA operators will require passengers to wear face masks beginning Friday. TRAINS: David Lassen More Thursday morning rail news: — New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority will require subway, commuter rail, and bus passengers to wear face […]
Wednesday morning rail news: — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will provide a $500,000 benefit payment to families of workers killed by the COVID-19 virus following negotiations between the MTA and unions representing subway, bus, and commuter rail workers. The MTA will also cover health insurance for spouses and dependents for three years, and will not […]
A Metra UP North train passes through Glencoe, Ill. Metra is among the commuter rail agencies joining Thursday’s “Sound The Horn” salute to essential workers. TRAINS: David Lassen Wednesday afternoon rail news: — Commuter rail operators throughout the U.S. have joined the “Sound The Horn” effort launched by Amtrak and New York-area transit agencies to […]
CHICAGO — Amtrak will introduce its pre-packaged “Flexible Dining” program on western long-distance trains beginning Friday, April 17, in response to the sharply reduced ridership resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. With the introduction of the program on trains west of Chicago and New Orleans, only the Lorton, Va.-Sanford, Fla., Auto Train will retain full dining […]
The Oklahoma Railway Museum is acquiring two coaches from short line railroad Farmrail. Oklahoma Railway Museum Tuesday afternoon rail news: — With William Flynn set to take over Wednesday as Amtrak president and CEO, outgoing CEO Richard Anderson sent a message to employees today thanking employees for their efforts during his tenure and in the […]
More Tuesday morning rail news: — The regulatory board that oversees the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is considering whether to renew its contract with commuter rail operator Keolis Commuter Services — or whether it has any choice other than renewing the deal that expires June 30, 2022, at least for two years. Part of the […]
Tuesday morning rail news: — Fifty workers from New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority have now died of coronavirus-related causes, part of a nationwide death toll that has transit employees considering work stoppages. Citylab reports that at least 16 other transit workers who are members of the Amalgamated Transit Union have died in other cities, along […]
A Chicago-bound Illinois Zephyr passes through Downers Grove, Ill. Amtrak ridership has dropped from 100,000 passengers a day to about 4,000 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the passenger railroad’s CEO says. TRAINS: David Lassen Monday morning rail news: — Amtrak, which normally handles 100,000 passengers a day, is down to about 4,000 a day because […]
An NJ Transit Bergen County Line train passes through Ridgewood Junction, N.J., in August 2019. A new executive order limits ridership of all NJ transit equipment to no more than 50% of listed capacity. TRAINS: David Lassen Sunday morning rail news: — NJ Transit must limit railcar, light rail, and bus occupancy to no more […]
Opening of LA Metro’s Crenshaw Line will be delayed until 2021 because of construction issues. LA Metro This Illinois Central equipment on display in Homewood, Ill., shown in 2016, will be relocated as part of a renovation of the city’s Metra and Amtrak station. TRAINS: David Lassen Saturday rail news: — Construction issues will delay […]
New ‘Railroad History’ editor Dan Cupper Railway & Locomotive Historical Society A Friday afternoon rail news update: — The agency which oversees Amtrak’s Downeaster has voted to suspend operation of the train between Boston and Brunswick, Maine, effective Monday. The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority says the suspension will be in effect through at […]
