A look at Tuesday morning rail news:
— Montreal has become the latest city where protestors are blocking rail lines in support of pipeline protests in British Columbia. This morning, commuter rail service exo cancelled trains on its Candiac line for the second straight day because of blocked line, substituting bus service, CTV news reports. On Monday, Canadian police began clearing protesters who had been blocking tracks elsewhere, the New York Times reports, arresting at least 47 people, but rail service remains severely restricted. On Monday, CN Executive Vice President Sean Finn told the Financial Post, “There is no train service between eastern and western Canada as we speak.” And as of this morning, VIA Rail Canada is reporting that the blockade near Belleville, Ontario, continues and trains remained cancelled between Montreal and Toronto, and Ottawa and Toronto.
— Supporters of the proposed Northern Lights Express passenger train between Duluth/Superior and the Twin Cities are requesting $40 million in funding to prepare for the service, KBJR-TV reports. The money would be used for line-capacity projects and for work on a bridge between Duluth and Superior.
— The Chicago Transit Authority board has approved a $38 million contract for a final environmental study and preliminary engineering of a proposed 5-mile southern extension of the CTA’s Red Line. WTTW-TV reports that the reports are a necessary step to receive federal funding for the $2.3-billion project.
— The three-person Mobile (Ala.) County Commission could become the latest governmental body asked to help fund the return of Amtrak service along the Gulf Coast, AL.com reports. Two commissioners told the news service that there has been no formal presentation or request for funding, but a third says he supports the project and anticipates the county spending up to $3 million over a three-year period.
