Parsons Brinckerhoff secures dual rail systems design contracts in UK

Parsons Brinckerhoff was awarded two contracts covering design of railway systems, one of which is for the United Kingdom’s second high-speed rail line, which will run between London Euston and Birmingham in the West Midlands.

Rail bridge that serves as gateway to famed Trestles Beach completed

The completion of the nearly $8 million San Mateo Creek Bridge, gateway to California’s Trestles Beach and its famous surf break, was formally marked on Monday as a northbound Amtrak Pacific Surfliner made its way across the new bridge.

New Rail Runner express train and fares begin May 21

A new fare structure is set to go into effect for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express this month.

This will be the first express train between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Passengers using this new service will be able to save 20-25 minutes in each direction on their commute between the two cities.

Invensys Rail acquires PHW, Inc.

Invensys Rail Corp. acquired PHW, Inc., from the current owner/managers for up to $24,000,000.00. The company will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Invensys Rail Corp.

Administrator Szabo celebrates opening of Downeaster station platform extension

Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo joined in celebrating the completion of new train station platforms in Brunswick and Freeport, Maine, in preparation for the expansion of Amtrak’s Downeaster line, which will begin serving both cities this fall. Administrator Szabo was joined by Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt and local business leaders.

FRA, Michigan reach $15.8 million agreement to eliminate Detroit bottleneck

A final agreement of $15.8 million for the West Detroit Connection Track project has been made. The project will eliminate congestion for Detroit-area Amtrak passengers by addressing a bottleneck that comes from serving both freight and passenger rail on the same tracks.

Amtrak plans for Michigan service improvements

Momentum is building for improved Amtrak service to and from Michigan with a series of positive developments for intercity rail passengers.

Amtrak Wolverine Service and Blue Water passengers can now expect the return to normal travel times from Kalamazoo to near Dearborn with the completion of track and crossing improvements performed by Norfolk Southern Railway to eliminate the speed restrictions imposed by NS in March.

Moynihan Station contract awarded, construction to begin this summer

The Moynihan Station Development Corporation Board and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey awarded a construction contract to to transform the historic Farley Post Office Building in Manhattan into Moynihan Station.



VIA Rail services in the Gaspé Peninsula to partially resume on May 13

VIA Rail Canada service between Montreal, Matapédia and New-Carlisle, Quebec will resume with the departure of train 16 from Montreal on Sunday, May 13, (first westbound train to Montreal May 14th).

STB approves Michigan rail line assets transfer

The Surface Transportation Board said the Michigan Department of Transportation does not need board approval to acquire certain physical assets of a Norfolk Southern rail line in Michigan to enable MDOT’s plans for high-speed passenger rail service over the line.

VIA Rail, CN, CP and partners put spotlight on rail safety

From April 30 to May 6 this year, Operation Lifesaver’s Rail Safety Week raised public awareness and encouraged Canadians to take personal responsibility for safety near rail property.

Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer begins eTicketing

Amtrak has begun eTicketing on the Heartland Flyer, which operates daily in Oklahoma and Texas. Passengers can now make reservations and print their electronic tickets from home or the office.

Illinois, Indiana and Michigan to advance study of Midwest HSR

Illinois, Indiana and Michigan have agreed to move forward with a comprehensive study that will help determine ways to reduce rail congestion and let trains achieve higher speeds along the Chicago-to-Detroit high-speed rail corridor.

Massachusetts intermodal center opens

Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff and other dignitaries dedicated the The John W. Olver Intermodal Center in Greenfield, Mass., which will serve as a central hub for transportation in the heart of the northwest community’s urban renewal zone.

HDR acquires Stetson Engineering, Inc.

HDR, Inc., has acquired the business of Stetson Engineering, Inc., a Wyoming-based firm with offices in Gillette and Riverton. Stetson Engineering, Inc., specializes in design, engineering and consulting services related to water, sewer, storm sewer, hydrology and transportation.

Lilee Systems earns Red Hat Hardware Certification

Lilee Systems, provider of communication systems designed exclusively for the railroad industry, has achieved Red Hat Hardware Certification for the company’s WMS-2000 wayside messaging server, making it the first wayside messaging server with internal 3G, GPS and IP KVM options to achieve Red Hat certification. Now, Lilee says customers deploying WMS-2000 with embedded Red Hat Enterprise Linux are offered proven performance and reliability.

CHSRA finalizes EIR/EIS for Merced to Fresno HSR

The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board certified the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the Merced to Fresno section of the high-speed project, allowing the Authority to take additional steps toward starting construction in late 2012 or early 2013. The Authority also chose a north-south route and station locations for Merced and Fresno.

Caltrain on its way to an electrified system

The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, which owns and operates the San Fransisco Bay area’s Caltrain, unanimously approved a regional agreement to fully fund the electrification of the railroad.

Southern California Triple Track Project breaks ground

Caltrans, BNSF and Amtrak broke ground on a $38 million rail project that will add 3.8 additional miles of track to the Los Angeles area, increasing efficiency and rail capacity.

NCTD assumes dispatch responsibilities for Coastal Rail Corridor

California’s North County Transit District, through its contract with Herzog Transit Service, Inc., will assume dispatching responsibility for the 60-mile coastal rail line that begins at the Santa Fe Depot in San Diego County and ends at the Orange County line.