LONDON — Frequent UK rail passengers short of pocket might be relieved to know that nationwide rail company, Network Rail, has flushed charges for public toilets in stations it operates. The BBC reports that Liverpool Street and King’s Cross stations in London and Edinburgh’s Waverley Cross station now have free, public toilets. These are among […]
Tag: Passenger/Transit
New York budget deal to bring Buffalo $100 million for light rail improvements NEWSWIRE
ALBANY, N.Y. — Buffalo’s light rail system will receive $100 million over the next five years for infrastructure improvements, the Buffalo News reports. The money — plus another $6 million for engineering studies on a possible addition to the 35-year-old, 6.4-mile Metro Rail line — was part of a deal reached Saturday night between Gov. […]
News report finds Metro-North, NJ Transit lead commuter railroads in safety fines NEWSWIRE
WOODLAND PARK, N.J. — Metro-North and NJ Transit have been fined hundreds of thousands of dollars for safety violations between 2013 and 2018, and stand as the most-cited violators of federal regulations among commuter rail operations, NorthJersey.com reports. The news organization and its parent, the USA Today Network, base the report on analysis of six […]
State budget will boost New York City transit funding through congestion pricing, other taxes NEWSWIRE
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York legislators on Sunday passed a state budget for 2020 which will dramatically change traveling within New York City, introducing “congestion pricing” fees for drivers in Central or Lower Manhattan to fund improvements by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The budget of more than $175 billion also includes new taxes on sales […]
Amtrak issues more five-year plans NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON—In addition to its “Equipment Asset Line Plan” [see “Amtrak fleet plan would replace Amfleet I cars, prepare for replacement Superliners,” Trains News Wire, March 25, 2019], Amtrak this week released companion five-year plans dealing with the following categories (click on each for the documents): Infrastructure Stations Transportation assets Service lines (Northeast Corridor, state-supported, and […]
‘California Zephyr’ to resume regular route, but miss Omaha
The rerouted Californiz Zephyr passes through Nelson, Ill., on Union Pacific’s Geneva Subdivision on March 23, 2019. Initially rerouted because of flooding, the train has not operated east of Denver since March 26, but service is being restored as of April 1. John Troxler OMAHA, Neb. — Beginning with trips originating in Emeryville, Calif., on […]
GO Transit to expand service on two lines NEWSWIRE
TORONTO — GO Transit is expanding service on its Stouffville and Kitchener lines, with changes effective April 8. On the Stouffville line, five midday trains in each direction will serve the Centennial, Markham, and Mount Joy GO stations on weekdays. On the Kitchener line, a new rush-hour trip will originate at the Bramalea GO station […]
New York MTA sells branch for conversion to rail trail NEWSWIRE
NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has sold a little-used route between Danbury, Conn., and Beacon, N.Y., for conversion in to a rail trail. The conversion will come in the next three years, through a state-funded, $33.6-million design-build contract awarded to Arch Associates LLC, in concert with rail trail design firm McLaren. The MTA […]
Transportation Safety Board issues advisory after two incidents involving VIA trains, track materials NEWSWIRE
GATINEAU, Quebec — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has issued a safety advisory letter in response to two incidents in which VIA Rail Canada trains were damaged by materials placed along Canadian National’s right-of-way in preparation for track work. The letter, dated March 25 but announced Thursday, suggests “Canadian National, in conjunction with VIA, […]
Grant to help in restoration of Lackawanna Cutoff NEWSWIRE
SCRANTON, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority has been awarded a $400,000 grant for engineering costs associated with restoration of the Lackawanna Cutoff, already under construction in New Jersey. The Local Share Account grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority covers engineering costs for construction of track and structures for the passenger rail project. […]
Metra schedules ‘safety blitzes’ at 59 stations NEWSWIRE
A Metra Milwaukee West train arrives at the Roselle station in January 2019. Roselle will be one of the 59 stations hosting a Metra “Safety Blitz” in 2019, with Metra employees offering safety information at the station on the morning of April 16. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Metra is planning Operation Lifesaver “Safety Blitzes” […]
New Metra plan would assess station use NEWSWIRE
An inbound Metra Rock Island train passes the Robbins flagstop station in December 2018. Metra is developing a policy that would require an assessment of station use every two years, as well as establishing procedures for communities to request new stations. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Metra is developing a plan to assess stations throughout […]
