New Jersey Transit projection: Raise fares 25%, cut 32 trains
Facing the requirement to cover a $300 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2011, New Jersey Transit Friday released its plan to increase rail, light rail, and bus fares 25% and to
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WMATA Safety Department: “Dysfunctional and ineffective”
Federal Transit Administrator Peter M. Rogoff called Thursday for “a top-to-bottom change in the safety culture and focus on safety at Washington Metro.” Discussing the findings of a WMATA and Tri-State TOC
Cincinnati quest: Use Union Terminal for 3-C service
City council members in Cincinnati are trying to identify and secure a terminal for Ohio’s proposed Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati (3-C) Corridor passenger rail service. In a 6-3 vote, the council has recommended the city’s
Austin’s Cap Metro simulates service, sets March 22 debut
Employees of Austin, Tex.’s Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority are playing the roll of passengers as testing, which began this month, continues on the oft-delayed line. Cap Metro also announced Friday its intent
U.S. carload freight (except coal) shows vigor
U.S. carload freight traffic reached its highest level inmore than a year during the week ended February 27, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday, though coal lagged behind. U.S. carloads for
American Railcar expects lower shipments in 2010
After reporting sharply reduced railcar shipments in 2009, American Railcar Industries, Inc. said in a statement that “due to continued weakness in the railcar market, we expect our shipments and revenues to
Munich gets top transit billing in European survey
A study released Tuesday evaluating public transit in 23 European cities gave top honors to Munich, Germany. The survey, conducted by EuroTest, a group of automobile clubs in 15 European nations, found
Bunning buckles; transit, highway programs get short-term reprieve
The U.S. Senate Tuesday night approved H.R. 4691, the “Temporary Extension Act of 2010,” and President Obama has signed the bill into law. H.R. 4691 provides an extension of authorizing law for
Hard numbers offered for NJT job cuts, spending freeze
New Jersey Transit Corp. said Wednesday it plans to cut at least 200 positions, both at the union and management level, implement an emergency spending freeze, reduce executive salaries by 5%, and
Bombardier wins Spanish signaling contract
Bombardier Transportation said Wednesday it has been awarded an order to install its Interflo 200 mainline signaling technology on the Albacete-to-LaEncina section of the Madrid-Valencia-Alicante line in the Castilla la Mancha region
Train accidents down 25% in 2009, continuing trend
U.S. railroads posted significant safety improvements in 2009, according to a report posted Wednesday on the Federal Railroad Administration’s website. The industry’s safety record commands particular attention at a time when railroads are under
Nomad Digital provides platform for Acela WiFi launch
Amtrak has tapped Nomad Digital for its launch this week of AmtrakConnect service on its Acela service plying the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C. Amtrak is offering the service free
Three transit pros head to WMATA
The Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority, burdened with budget problems and dealing with serious safety issues on its Metrorail system, is drawing upon the talents of three transit veterans in an effort to get
Jack Gallagher dies at 94: From editor to passenger rail activist
John S. (Jack) Gallagher, Jr., a railroad economist and consultant who in the 1950s was traffic and transportation editor of Railway Age, has died at the age of 94. Gallagher was part of a
Amtrak to Congress: Liability is a nationwide concern
Perhaps echoing liability concerns voiced frequently by North America’s Class I freight railroads, Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman has cited similar concerns “emerging as a significant obstacle to the improvement of
Talgo taps Milwaukee for U.S. manufacturing site
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle Tuesday announced that Talgo, Inc. (the U.S. subsidiary of Patentes Talgo, S.A.) will locate a U.S. “high speed” rail manufacturing and assembly facility in Milwaukee. Talgo, Inc. will acquire the former Tower Automotive site in the state’s largest city.
St. Paul LRT critic declines to file federal lawsuit
Though it has a Minnesota state lawsuit filed, the University of Minnesota Monday said it wouldn’t add make its squabble with the St. Paul Central Corridor light rail line a federal case,
$525 million contract advances building of WTC Transportation Hub
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Board of Commissioners has awarded a $525 milion contract, the largest to date, toward construction of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, which will eventually
With Olympics over, Vancouver ponders transit residuals
Transit officials in Vancouver are evaluating various transit services set up in part to handle Winter Olympic crowds, trying todetermine which pieces should remain in operation to handle the city’s residents and
Russian Railways seeks new investment capital
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting in Sochi Feb. 27 at which Russian Railways (RZD) President Vladimir Yakunin announced that the company’s investment budget for 2010-2011 is 555 billion rubles (more than $18.5 billion).