Author: Carolina Worrell

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, Zephyr Rail, Metrolinx

Amtrak’s Borealis tops 205,800 guests in its first full year of service. Also, Amtrak Virginia sets another ridership record in April; Zephyr Rail is selected by the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency to provide preliminary engineering and design services for the Ortega Siding project in Carpinteria, Calif.; and Metrolinx issues a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the first major Hamilton LRT contract.

Wabtec Debuts New Rail Technology at Railway Interchange 2025

Wabtec’s Advanced Technology Group (ATG), a behind-the-scenes team of Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, design, electrical, mechanical, cyber, and cloud experts, who work to accelerate the development of emerging technologies, displayed several new concepts at Railway Interchange 2025.

CHSRA to Release RFEI for Potential Public Private Partnerships

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is preparing to release a Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI) in the coming weeks to begin the process of formal industry consultation for potential public private partnerships to “drive creative solutions that deliver project segments faster and more efficiently while commercializing assets—such as trainsets, station facilities, track access, fiber, and real estate—at the earliest viable opportunity.” Additional opportunities include transit-oriented development, express cargo and parcels movement, and the leasing assets to the private sector.

Bechtel Launches New HSR Report

Bechtel on May 13 released a peer-reviewed white paper, presenting “a bold yet practical break through longstanding barriers and advance high-speed rail (HSR) development in the U.S.”

Alstom, UdeS Partner to Support Recruitment, Innovation

Alstom on May 15 announced that it has signed a five-year philanthropic agreement with the Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS) in Quebec, Canada, to “support knowledge dissemination, training, experiential learning, student involvement, and teaching and development activities in line with Alstom business objectives and corporate social responsibility.”