Weekend Cinema: MBTA upgrades another rail crossing

We have another time-lapse video from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. This one shows the rail crossing improvement on Harvard Street. Below are photos of rail maintenance in Toronto.

Metro GM Wiedefeld: More federal Covid funding critically needed to avert deep and counterproductive cuts

Ed. Note: Public transit agencies are being hammered by current conditions in the United States. Remarks made yesterday by Metro’s (WMATA) CEO reflect the challenges his agency faces. While he was speaking

STB: Texas Central still needs to apply like everyone else

You win one, you lose one. However, Texas Central Railroad still may be coming out ahead with its project that will connect Dallas to Houston with high-speed rail. The Surface Transportation Board

Will riders return to transit after pandemic? Caltrain attempts to find out

Ed. Note: One of the big questions facing commuter rail and rail transit is the extent to which riders plan to use the service once the pandemic is over or, at least,

As U.S. Senate considers Coronavirus Relief Bill, MTA details $16 billion deficit through 2024

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) [last week] released its preliminary 2021 budget and four-year financial plan, detailing a deficit of $16.2 billion by 2024. The MTA is projecting deficits of $3.2 billion

MBTA

MBTA to begin implementing partial road closures on July 27 for Lechmere Viaduct work

The MBTA announced today that it will begin implementing partial road closures on Monday, July 27, to support rehabilitation work on the Lechmere Viaduct in East Cambridge over Museum Way, which is

Metra pursues injunction to maintain UP commuter service

 As many readers know, Union Pacific operates three Metra lines emanating from Chicago – UP North, UP Northwest, and UP West. For years, Union Pacific has been operating Metra trains on these

SANDAG

Officials favoring SANDAG’s long trench railroad project

They appear to be digging it. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) updated the Carlsbad City Council on the Carlsbad Village Railroad trench on July 19, and all signs point to

Metra West Hinsdale Station to be closed beginning Aug. 1 for platform replacement project

Metra will close the West Hinsdale Station on its BNSF Line for approximately two months beginning Aug. 1 to accommodate the replacement of the station’s boarding platforms. Trains will not stop at

Crane collapses on Southwest light-rail project in Minneapolis

A partial crane collapse stopped Twin Cities & Western Railroad freight traffic on July 15 in Minneapolis, Minn. No injuries were reported and no word yet on whether freight traffic has been

Metra board approves $15.2 million contract to build new Peterson Ridge Station

The Metra Board of Directors [yesterday] approved a $15.2 million contract to build a new Peterson Ridge Station and parking facility on the Union Pacific North Line. A Metra station in Edgewater

NJ Transit lifts capacity limits on trains

To promote social distancing through the pandemic, NJ Transit, along with other commuter agencies, implemented a policy of running trains at 50% of passenger capacity. According to reporting by nj.com, NJ Transit

Metro-North now selling PPE at Lower Hudson Valley stations

Need to pick up some personal protective gear before catching your train? Well, if you live in the Lower Hudson Valley and ride Metro-North, it is available in 12 stations along the

With no tax on ballot, doom day looms for Caltrain

Caltrain appears to be dead on the tracks. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors did not support putting a sales tax for the passenger rail system on the November ballot. The three

short line railroad

Some would like to see a greener ‘throat’ in Boston

Some are saying too many cars are planned to go down “the throat.” The Massachusetts Turnpike project that runs through Allston has one major and complex hurdle: How to fit eight lanes

Sound Transit to close intersection of 136th Pl NE and NE Spring Blvd for trackwork

Beginning as early as Monday, July 20, lasting through Friday, Aug. 7, Sound Transit contractor crews will close the intersection of Northeast Spring Boulevard and 136th Place Northeast. This closure is necessary

Amtrak

Amtrak starts construction to increase rail capacity at Washington Union Station

No impact on scheduled train operations A major construction project that will increase rail capacity is underway at Washington Union Station, the second busiest terminal in the U.S. The project is among

Metra launches test of ridership dashboard

[Last week] Metra unveiled a test of a ridership dashboard that provides information to riders about how crowded trains have been on each line. The information will help riders who have the

Rail Runner Express runs without passengers

New Mexico’s Rio Metro Regional Transit District, also known as Rail Runner Express commuter rail system is running several trains per day during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are no passengers on

Progress Rail

Missing link to a statewide train network in Washington would be costly

If Washington State wants a statewide train network, the cost will be high and the ridership could be low if officials want to revive an east-west link. A new study was completed

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