Federal funding requests have been submitted for planning the return of Amtrak service between Louisville, Ky., and Indianapolis, Ind.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, Bi-State Development, Metra, Metrolinx, Sound Transit

Will Amtrak service connecting Louisville, Indianapolis and Chicago return? Also, Bi-State Development advances the Jefferson Alignment MetroLink Expansion project in St. Louis, Mo.; Chicago’s Metra schedules Operation Lifesaver safety blitzes for 2023; Metrolinx installs traction power substations along Ontario’s future Hazel McCallion Line (formerly known as the Hurontario LRT project); and Seattle’s Sound Transit will receive millions in low-interest loans to support construction of the Hilltop Tacoma Link extension and a station along the Lynnwood Link extension.

U.S. Rail Traffic Still Behind 2022 Levels

For the week ending March 25, 2023, U.S. rail traffic fell 7.5% from the prior-year period, pulled down by both carloads (dipping 0.2%) and intermodal volume (declining 13.9%), according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

(Amtrak Photograph)

Amtrak Releases G&L Annual Report, FY24 Grant Request

Amtrak has issued its Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 General and Legislative (G&L) Annual Report for Congress, in which it seeks $3.65 billion in total grant funding, including $1.70 billion for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and $1.95 billion for the National Network (NN). This is consistent with the FY24 annual appropriations authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

(Photograph Courtesy of VIA Rail Canada)

Canada’s Auditor General Issues Accessible Transportation Report

While VIA Rail Canada, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and the Canadian Transportation Agency have “taken steps to identify and remove some of the barriers faced by travelers with disabilities, many remain,” concludes a report released March 27 by Canada’s Office of the Auditor General. Transport Canada responds.

Sound Transit’s proposed 7.1-mile extension from downtown Seattle to Ballard includes nine new stations between the Chinatown-International District and Market Street and a new rail-only tunnel through downtown Seattle.

Transit Briefs: Sound Transit, WMATA

Seattle’s Sound Transit identifies the preferred alternative for the Ballard Link light rail extension and will conduct Rainier Valley safety improvements in partnership with the city’s transportation department using a $2 million Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Also, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) police department launches a Body-Worn Camera Program.

Albemarle Corporation’s planned facility in South Carolina “will help increase the production of U.S.-based lithium resources,” according to CEO Kent Masters, who noted that the Chester County location offers access to rail and port transportation as well as the availability of skilled workers.

Albemarle to Launch $1.3B Lithium Hydroxide Plant in South Carolina

Albemarle Corp. is planning a new lithium hydroxide processing plant in Chester County, S.C., to be served by Lancaster & Chester Railroad. Construction is slated to start next year on the facility

(CN Photograph)

CN: ‘Collaboration Drives Grain Supply Chain Results’

“Working together with our supply chain partners, CN and its grain customers have achieved record or near-record results throughout the fall and winter shipping season,” CN reported March 24.

(Photograph Courtesy of UP, via Twitter)

UP, SMART-TD Reach Labor Agreement

Union Pacific (UP) on March 25 reported reaching a tentative crew-consist agreement with General 953, part of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), in which two-person crews would be maintained.

Wabtec is supplying brake systems to Alstom for use on trains that will run on the 14.3-mile (23.3-kilometer) Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro Line 3 in India. (Wabtec Photograph)

Wabtec Lands Brake System Order from Alstom

Alstom Transport India Ltd. has selected Wabtec brake systems for the 22 new three-car trains it is building to support Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited and Pune Metro Rail Development Authority for the Metro Line 3 project.

STB Rejects CN’s Springfield Line Bid

CN’s request regarding conditional approval of the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger on the sale of KCS’s Springfield Line to CN has been denied by the Surface Transportation Board (STB), which on March 23 provided notice that its Office of Environmental Analysis has terminated the review of the proposed divestiture.

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