Congestion, flooding disrupting ‘Southwest Chief,’ ‘Texas Eagle,’ ‘California Zephyr’ NEWSWIRE

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The westbound California Zephyr passes through West Hinsdale, Ill., on May 23, 2019. The westbound Zephyr will return to its regular BSNF route today after two days of detours and cancellations, while the Southwest Chief and Texas Eagle are also experiencing service disruptions. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — An early morning track closure Friday because […]

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New York city council panel takes first look at proposed streetcar line NEWSWIRE

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A route map of the proposed Brooklyn-Queens Connector streetcar. New York City Economic Development Corp. NEW YORK — The proposed Brooklyn-Queens Connector light rail line, known as BQX, received its first city council discussion Thursday when the council’s task force on the project received an update on the 3-year-old plan. Gothamist reports that city officials […]

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Massachusetts Senate moves to fund MBTA electrification study NEWSWIRE

MBTA

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate has passed a budget amendment to fund a study of electrification of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Fairmount commuter rail line, the Bay State Banner reports. Electrification is one of the alternatives proposed by the MBTA in its Rail Vision program to evaluate the future of its commuter rail system. Electrification […]

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‘Missouri River Runner’ service suspension extended

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ST. LOUIS — The suspension of Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner service has been extended to at least Sunday, June 2. Flooding elsewhere in the Midwest has led Union Pacific to divert freight traffic onto the route, leading to the suspension of the passenger service. Chartered bus service is providing substitute transportation, stopping at all stations […]

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Amtrak steps up station renovations NEWSWIRE

Amtrak_Stations_Johnston

Passengers board a Missouri River Runner at Kirkwood, Mo., in 2014. Passengers at many stations must still board trains from platforms which are below the rail; Amtrak’s “Customer Now” program will address this at many stations. Bob Johnston CHICAGO — After investing $19 million on station improvements in fiscal 2018, Amtrak announced Tuesday that it […]

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Auction set for equipment from closed Nippon Sharyo plant NEWSWIRE

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Equipment at Nippon Sharyo’s closed Rochelle, Ill., plant — shown in May 2014 — will be auctioned off in June. Bob Johnston ROCHELLE, Ill. — A June auction will sell off equipment from Nippon Sharyo’s former railcar manufacturing facility in Rochelle, which closed in July 2018 after eight years of operation. The plant, which built […]

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‘California Zephyr’ detouring because of flooding (updated)

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CHICAGO — Amtrak’s westbound California Zephyr is detouring between Chicago and Omaha today via the Union Pacific’s former Chicago & North Western mainline, as will the eastbound train that arrives Thursday and Thursday’s departure from Chicago. The detour off of the normal BNSF Railway route is because of ongoing flooding problems in the Midwest, according […]

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Chicago suburb to offer premium commuter parking for $1,200 NEWSWIRE

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An outbound Metra train arrives at the Barrington, Ill., station in April 2019. Barrington will begin offering a $1,200 premium parking permit at the station. TRAINS: David Lassen BARRINGTON, Ill. — Commuters who want that really prime parking space at the Metra station can now assure themselves of getting it every morning — but it’s […]

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Colorado agencies seek proposals to study Front Range passenger service NEWSWIRE

Colorado_Passenger_Commission

DENVER — Colorado officials are soliciting proposals to study the feasibility of rail passenger service along the Front Range with a 173-mile corridor from Pueblo to Fort Collins. The request from the Southwest Chief & Front Range Passenger Rail Commission, along with the Colorado Department of Transportation, has issued the request for proposals to study […]

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VIA Rail Canada still studying Quebec-Windsor ‘high-frequency rail’

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MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada’s new president and CEO reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the “high-frequency rail” plan championed by her predecessor, but no decision has been made on the plan to create a separate passenger-only right-of-way for parts of the Quebec-Windsor, Ont., corridor. CEO Cynthia Garneau — on the job for only a few […]

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Amtrak ‘Missouri River Runner’ suspension continues NEWSWIRE

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ST. LOUIS — Service on Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner remains suspended between Kansas City and St. Louis. The suspension reflects Union Pacific’s diversion of freight traffic because of flooding elsewhere in the Midwest. The suspension will continue through at least Wednesday, May 29. It began May 22 and originally was estimated to last for just […]

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