Amtrak

Virginia: Amtrak to Norfolk an added service

Virginia’s plans to expand Amtrak passenger rail service to Norfolk, Va., will be pursued without sacrificing Amtrak’s current route through the state’s Tidewater region, which terminates at Newport News, on the north side of the James River.

Virginia passenger train marks first birthday

Several Charlottesville, Va., residents gathered at the train station Oct. 7 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the daily Lynchburg-to-Washington Amtrak train, which stops in Charlottesville.

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.

Amtrak’s Boardman paints a bright picture

Following an infusion of $1.3 billion in capital (over and above the $13 billion over five years authorized last year) and indirect access to $8 billion in state-administered funds under President Obama’s economic stimulus program, Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman is faced with determining how best to invest this near-windfall within a relatively short time frame.

ARINC Inc. awarded LIRR control center contract

Annapolis, Md.-based ARINC Inc. will design and produce a supervisory control system and communications systems for the Long Island Rail Road’s Harold Interlocking Complex in Long Island City, N.Y.  Harold is among the busiest such complexes in the U.S., handling LIRR, New Jersey Transit, and Amtrak train movements as well as some freight activity.

Miami airport breaks ground for people-mover

Miami International Airport began construction Monday of its 1.27-mile, $342 million MIA Mover line. The dual elevated guideway project will include two station stops while connecting the airport with Miami Intermodal Connector, a passenger intermodal hub offering access to Amtrak, Tri-Rail, and Metrorail services, along with bus and taxi options.

Obama budget plan: More money for HSR

The Obama Administration Feb. 26 unveiled a budget plan that identifies $5 billion in funding over a five-year period for “high speed” passenger rail projects in the U.S., supplementing the $8 billion it provided in its stimulus package for a two-year period.