Bells & Whistles—5/1/20
Union Pacific train derails in downtown Rockford, Ill. Groups want transit, not highway work, in New Jersey. Repairs to Ottawa light rail line will be done sooner. Sound Transit tries to figure
Rapid Transit/Light Rail
Contractor of Ottawa’s Confederation Line will be addressing problems sooner
A drop in ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic is allowing the contractor who constructed the city of Ottawa’s Confederation Line to come up with a cure for several problems on the light
Union and SEPTA agree on new coronavirus protocols
Last week, SEPTA and the Transport Workers United union almost came to blows over the union’s position that SEPTA was not providing adequate safety protections from coronavirus for its workers. After a
UPDATED APRIL 28: Rail Group Staff Report—Global railway industry response and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
Following is a staff report from the editors at Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures and International Railway Journal that will be continuously updated with the latest developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 has Sound Transit’s capital plan reeling
As the COVID-19 pandemic chews a bigger hole in the purses of public transit agencies across the country, Sound Transit is taking a hard look at its capital plan and will be
Groups that prefer light rail transit over tolls fight with N.J. officials
Instead of paying tolls, certain groups in New Jersey want to pay fares. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority did not have on its April 28 meeting agenda a toll plan to spend
With venues opening in Georgia on April 27, MARTA will deal with a new challenge
On the eve of Georgia’s grand re-opening, the one the entire nation is talking about, MARTA has an incredible task on its hands. Last week the transit agency had its first COVID-19-related
California provides funding for “transformative” rail and public transportation projects
Seventeen “transformative” rail and public transportation projects in California received $500 million in capital grants from the California State Transportation Agency. The San Francisco Bay Area and southern California were the big
BART puts small businesses to work on the railroad during pandemic
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is taking unprecedented steps to increase the opportunities available to small businesses during the coronavirus outbreak, helping to continue essential construction projects and keeping small business employees
Strictly fantasy: A look at Bay Area transit in 40 years
What could transit look like in northern California, specifically the San Francisco Bay area? Over the next decade, Caltrain electrification and the Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) extension to San Jose will
Troubled Hawaii light rail project gets more troubling news
The first official light rail project for the state of Hawaii has been tarred in controversy for years, but the latest news has the COVID-19 pandemic dumping on the job. Honolulu Authority
UPDATED APRIL 20—Rail Group Staff Report: Global railway industry response and impacts to the COVID-19 pandemic
Following is a staff report from the editors at Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures and International Railway Journal that will be continuously updated with the latest developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic
Crash wall, COVID-19 adds time, money to Maryland’s Purple Line project
What was at first lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit is now delay after delay after delay for Maryland’s Purple Line project. It will take an additional five months and over $187 million
Traffic lull allows for more PTC work
The reduced traffic on railroad and transit lines resulting from COVID-19 has allowed roads, particularly transit operations, to catch up on their installation and testing of positive train control (PTC) according to
Is Ottawa’s Trillium Line the most efficient single-track line in North America? One expert seems to think so
The new light rail line in the city of Ottawa, Canada, has finally been put on the map the way officials had hoped. For months the rail line has been criticized for
COVID-19 claims New Jersey Transit’s Ray Kenny
New Jersey Transit Senior Vice President and General Manager Rail Operations Raymond P. Kenny, 69, has died of COVID-19. Kenny, who began his transportation career in 1970 as an MTA Long Island
Bells & Whistles—4/17/20
Bonds approved for Virgin Trains USA’s rail route from Las Vegas to southern California. Third lawsuit against Maryland’s Purple Line project fails. Union says railroad companies need to use unemployed workers before
Listen for the horn April 16 commemorating rail workers
You need to listen for the train horn today. This is not just any train horn used for safety purposes when trains are approaching railroad crossings. This is a special horn honoring
UPDATED APRIL 15 Rail Group Staff Report—Global railway industry response and impacts to COVID-19 pandemic
The following is a staff report from the editors at Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures and International Railway Journal that will be continuously updated with the latest developments surrounding the COVID-19
MARTA stepping up employee and customer protection from COVID-19
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) announced today it is taking additional steps to further support and protect employees and customers as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into another month. In a