For LIRR, a Potential First: Battery/Third-Rail ‘BEMU’

If all goes as planned, in about one year, MTA Long Island Rail Road will be testing a prototype “BEMU” (battery-electric multiple unit) that operates on third-rail power or batteries on the 13-mile, non-electrified Oyster Bay Branch. The program, a venture with Alstom, will be North America’s first test-of-concept of this application on commuter railcars.

KCS: Jeff Songer, John Orr in New Strategic Roles

Kansas City Southern (KCS), now in the midst of a merger with Canadian Pacific, has bolstered its executive leadership team with two strategic appointments: Jeffrey M. Songer in the new role of Executive Vice President-Strategic Merger Planning, and John F. Orr as Executive Vice President-Operations.

DART Silver Line, TEXRail: ‘Meet You at B in ’23’

By 2023, Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex residents will have improved rail access to DFW International Airport, when DART’s Cotton Belt Silver Line and Trinity Metro’s TEXRail commuter rail lines converge at Terminal B.

Back on Track: VIA Rail Canadian

One of North America’s finest long-distance passenger trains, VIA Rail Canada’s iconic Canadian, will be resuming the Toronto to Winnipeg portion of its run wih one full Toronto-Vancouver round-trip per week starting May

FRA Promoting Diversity, Inclusion

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is conducting what it describes as “a first of its kind” nationwide small, minority-owned and woman-owned “business disparity study” whose intent is to determine “whether the playing field is level” for firms bidding on subcontracts from grantees receiving FRA funds.

The European Year of Rail with Philippe Citroën, Director General, UNIFE (European Rail Industry Association): RAIL GROUP ON AIR PODCAST

The European Commission has designated 2021 as the European Year of Rail and is planning a series of events and initiatives throughout the year to promote rail as a sustainable transport mode.

AllTranstek Expands Pro Staff by Four

David Campbell, Ed Rugh, Jason Ankeny and Michael Shirley have joined North American third-party, non-asset-based rail fleet management provider AllTranstek LLC’s professional staff.

Sound Transit Northgate Link LRT Slated for October Debut

Sound Transit’s 4.3-mile Northgate Link light rail extension is expected to open to passenger service on Oct. 2. 2021.

Smarter, Safer Railroading: Shift5

Shift5, an advanced-technology company that sprung from the United States Department of Defense, has established a firm foothold in the U.S. railway industry.

Commentary

‘A Fancy Way to Get to a Twins Game’? Really?

Minnesota State Rep. Jon Koznick (R-Lakeville) apparently doesn’t think much of rail transit, much less understand its purpose. If he did, he wouldn’t be trying to deep-six the Minneapolis Northstar commuter rail system. I’ll try to be diplomatic here, but don’t expect too much.

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