Customers should expect lengthy delays on Metrorail April 23-25






February 14, 2001

Customers can expect
lengthy delays of up to 40 minutes April 23-25 as old track components are
replaced on the Red, Blue and Orange lines in the Washington, D.C., area,
causing inbound and outbound trains to take turns sharing one track on portions
of the rail system. 

Riders planning to take the Red, Blue and Orange lines to
area sports events and activities this weekend should add up to 40 minutes to
their travel times.

 

Sound Transit light rail service delays April 23 – 25






February 14, 2001

Sound Transit contractors
will finish installing light rail track switch heaters April 23-25 on the main
tracks near the Link light rail Operations and Maintenance Facility. Link
trains will be delayed starting Friday, April 23 at 10 p.m. through the start
of service Monday morning at 5 a.m.


Wheaton, Ill., endorses closing Chase Street for rail expansion






February 14, 2001

Wheaton, Ill., officials
have endorsed permanently closing one of its streets at a rail crossing as part
of a $100-million plan to add new tracks and upgrades along the Union Pacific
line, the Chicago Tribune reports. The City Council approved a resolution
calling for closing the Chase Street crossing, just south of Wheaton College.

STB questions CN reporting of blocked crossings






February 14, 2001

The federal
Surface Transportation Board directed Canadian National to come before the
Board and explain the significant differences between information on
street-crossing blockages in the Chicago area that the railroad has provided to
the Board and the results of an independent audit conducted by the Board.

DRPA Schedules public meetings on proposed Glassboro/Camden Line






February 14, 2001

The Delaware River Port
Authority and PATCO have completed an extensive Alternatives Analysis study
focusing on identifying mass transit transportation needs and solutions for
Southern New Jersey. This study concluded with a recommendation for light rail
transit along the Conrail rail right-of-way from Glassboro to Camden.

New surface transportation bill need to be “revolutionary,” Amtrak says






February 14, 2001

Stressing that the
upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill should be "revolutionary,
not evolutionary" when it comes to federal investment in intercity passenger
rail, Amtrak testified before a Congressional field hearing in Chicago that "[t]he
need for reliable, multi-year funding is our biggest policy challenge."

CSXT moving regional headquarters to North Baltimore, Ohio






February 14, 2001

CSX Transportation will
move a regional headquarters from Chicago to North Baltimore, Ohio, early next
year, according to railway officials, the Findlay, Ohio, Courier reports. Construction
is under way on a $175-million intermodal rail yard near North Baltimore. The
yard is scheduled to be completed next year, and the headquarters will be
located at the yard, according to company officials.

Rail concerns ‘across the board’ at Springfield, Ill., open house






February 14, 2001

The first public open house
to discuss the Springfield rail corridor study drew more than 220 people to the
Prairie Capital Convention Center April 20, the State Journal-Register reports.
City and Sangamon County officials pushed for the study after the Illinois
Department of Transportation concluded the Union Pacific/Third Street line
would be the best route for high-speed passenger trains between Chicago and St.
Louis. Local officials contend the analysis will find 10th Street is a better
alternative for consolidated train traffic, possibly also including trains that
now use 19th Street.

CN buys windows, doors to lessen noise






February 14, 2001

Money for noise mitigation
that was part of Frankfort, Ill.’s, settlement with the Canadian National
Railway will be used to buy insulated windows and doors for nearby residents,
the Chicago Tribune reports. The village has received a $2.7-million grant for
noise mitigation projects from the CN. Village officials have been meeting with
residents who live near CN’s tracks to determine ways to tone down railroad
noise.

TriMet names Shelly Lomax executive director of operations






February 14, 2001

Following a national
search, TriMet has selected Shelly Lomax as its new executive director of operations.
Lomax has served as the interim executive since January. She will have direct
responsibility for the Operations division, which includes all bus, MAX and WES
operations and maintenance, system safety and security, accessible transportation,
labor relations, facilities and planning and development. Operations has 2,100
employees and a $300-million budget.

Track work to slow Amtrak Missouri River Runner






February 14, 2001

Leaving a little earlier
in the morning or a little later in the afternoon will help ensure a punctual,
uninterrupted ride for Amtrak Missouri River Runner passengers through the
middle of June. Maintenance work on the Union Pacific tracks near Sedalia is
causing Amtrak to temporarily adjust its schedules from April 25 to June 16,
2010.

Staten Island North Shore Alternatives Analysis open house set






February 14, 2001

MTA New York City Transit
is beginning an Alternatives Analysis Study that will look at improving transit
service on the North Shore of Staten Island. The first open house will be held
on April 22 to discuss the re-use of the former Staten Island Railway North
Shore Branch. The public is invited to come and comment on potential
alternatives to be considered, the goals and objectives of the study and other
concerns.

OneRail Coalition: Climate legislation must weigh transportation impacts






February 14, 2001

As the Senate
contemplates sweeping climate change legislation, the OneRail Coalition
submitted a letter to Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)
and Joseph Leiberman (I-Conn.) urging them to carefully weigh the implications
of such a policy on different transportation modes. The group urged the
Senators to "ensure that such funds could not be misallocated to the detriment
of sustainable, environmentally favorable and energy efficient transportation
solutions."

U.S., unlike Europe, short on transport options






February 14, 2001

(The following editorial appeared
in the Christian Science Monitor.) Unlike in the United States, air passengers
stranded in Europe because of the effects of a volcano have more transportation
options with highly interconnected and efficient trains, buses, and ferries.

Southern Ohio rail re-hab project gets the go-ahead






A railroad lifeline to
hundreds of jobs in Jackson, Vinton and Ross counties in Ohio will be made
stronger as a project to improve service, reliability and safety on the City of
Jackson-owned line that got the official notice to proceed from the Ohio Rail
Development Commission. The notice to proceed has been sent to city officials.

Tower 55 engineering to begin






Preliminary engineering
for surface improvements to Tower 55 will begin soon following an April 8 vote
to fund the project by the Regional Transportation Council, the Ft. Worth Business
Press reports. The at-grade surface improvements for the congested Tower 55 rail
yard, widely considered to be the most congested rail yard in the United
States, are expected to cost about $95 million. The yard sits at the southwest
corner of the intersection of interstates 35-W and 30.

Portec Rail Group Sheffield, U.K. appoints Allen head of engineering (Rail)






Portec Rail Group‐Sheffield,
part of Portec Rail Products, Inc., appointed Mark Allen as the Head of
Engineering (Rail) U.K.  Allen
brings a wealth of specialist experience from within the U.K. rail industry. He
joined the Rail industry via the
Railtrack U.K. Graduate Training Scheme in 1997 having achieved a degree in
civil engineering and engineering management and being previously employed
within the civil engineering sector.