NTSB: Angels Flight needs safety upgrades
The National Transportation Safety Board has recommended “urgent” safety upgrades for Los Angeles’ Angels Flight funicular, saying the incline lacks suitable evacuation options.
Author: Douglas John Bowen
Apparent sabotage at Adirondack Scenic Railroad
The Adirondack Scenic Railroad last week suffered damage to a locomotive, at rest in Lake Placid, N.Y., that appears to be of malicious intent.
M1 Rail contract target: Dec. 1
Detroit’s M1 Rail public-private partnership says it expects to award a contract by Dec. 1, 2013 for six streetcars on its initial 3.2-mile route. Bids for the contract are due next Monday, Oct. 21.
New York court upholds MTA payroll tax
The New York State Court of Appeals turned down an appeal Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013 to overturn a payroll tax that helps fund the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
BART operations continue through weekend
BART trains will continue to operate through most of the weekend of Oct. 12-13, 2013, as union representatativs and management agreed to extend contract talks late Thursday, Oct. 10, in an effort to reach contract agreement.
New GM for Santa Clara VTA
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Board of Directors has appointed Nuria I. Fernandez general manager, following what it says was a nationwide search and 10-month recruitment process. She will assume her new role Dec. 1, 2013.
Intermodal powers U.S. freight traffic gains
U.S. intermodal volume continued its winning ways in the week ending Oct. 5, 2013, while U.S. freight carload volume, improving in recent weeks, slipped, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday, Oct. 10.
CTA adjusts fare payment options
The Chicago Transit Authority moved Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013, to restore and retain, for now, use of magnetic strip cards in CTA vending machines, after two days of only offering its new Ventra fare payment system.
BNSF offers reward for gun attack on consist
The lead locomotive of a BNSF freight consist was struck at least 15 times by gunfire from an automobile pacing the train last month in central Washington state, roughly midway between Seattle and Spokane.
Metrolinx: Other Toronto LRT projects still go
Metrolinx on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013, affirmed its intent to advance two light rail transit extension projects in Toronto, notwithstanding the decision earlier this week to advance subway construction for the Scarborough Line.