Jim Squires: “Look to—if not over—the horizon”
Keynote remarks by Norfolk Southern President James A. Squires, at Railway Age’s 21st Passenger Trains on Freight Railroads Conference.
Amtrak
Amtrak sets FY 2014 revenue record
Amtrak on Oct. 27, 2014 said it posted record ticket revenues for the Fiscal Year 2014 ending Sept. 30, and achieved slight increase in ridership over the prior fiscal year, “reflecting strong continued demand for passenger rail.”
Siemens equipping Amtrak NJHSRIP project
Amtrak has contracted with Siemens to build a new Sitras SFC Plus static frequency converter for upgrading its Metuchen traction power facility in northern New Jersey, along the Northeast Corridor. The order includes the delivery, installation, commissioning, and integration of two 30-megawatt multilevel converters into the existing Amtrak 25-Hz traction power supply network to enable parallel operation with Amtrak’s existing converters.
Commentary
Sen. Durbin emerging as STB chairman’s nemesis
“Tawdry,” is how one Washington transportation attorney describes the self-interest assaults by powerful congressional lawmakers on federal regulatory agency officials.
Amtrak’s new wheels hit the rails
New locomotives and rolling stock have finally begun to arrive on the property. Suppliers and other Amtrak supporters say more is needed.
Report: NEC New York tunnels need major work
A new engineering report details damage to the Amtrak-owned Hudson (“North”) River and East River tunnels following Superstorm Sandy and recommends a phased process to take individual tubes out of service for extended periods to perform the work required “to maintain reliability of train movements in and out of New York City” and Penn Station New York. The tunnels (two under the Hudson, four under the East River) were built by the Pennsylvania Railroad and opened in 1910.
Metro-North eyes more bridge repairs
Mount Vernon, N.Y., and Metro-North Railroad have agreed to repair or replace three rail bridges on the New Haven Line at a cost of $10 million.
ACS-64 technical support agreement under way
The Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector, Rail Systems Division has begun its 15-year technical support and spare parts supply agreement with Amtrak for the new ACS-64 electric locomotives in operation on the Northeast Corridor. The first of 70 units entered revenue service in February 2014.
Amtrak to STB: Investigate CN
Amtrak on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014, made clear in part its frustration over its own on-time performance by calling on the Surface Transportation Board to look into the matter, specifically as it concerns Canadian National Railway.
More upgrades for Chicago-St. Louis HrSR
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has pledged an additional $102 million in right-of-way upgrades for higher-speed rail (HrSR) improvements to accelerate passenger rail travel times between Chicago and St. Louis.