Amtrak

Commentary

Watch: Brightline on CBS Mornings

CBS Mornings correspondent Kris Van Cleave produced an excellent report on the prospects for high-speed rail in the United States, focusing on Brightline’s successful Miami-Orlando service, which offers 125-mph operations on a

TCMC Stations(Heather Poltrock

Transit Briefs: Sound Transit, Amtrak, SCVTA

Sound Transit moves forward on the purchase of 10 more Link cars. Also, Amtrak service from St. Paul, Minn., to Chicago, Ill., reaches the final design phase; and Sant Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) vehicles are taking the place of Reading, Pennsylvania, B&O and Short Line on the new Monopoly San Jose Edition.

Amtrak and Vornado Realty Trust on Nov. 19 marked the completion of the 7th Avenue and 32nd Street entrance project at New York Penn Station. The station’s busiest entrance has been fully rebuilt, with its width expanded by 50%. (Photo Credit: Fernando Sandoval/MW)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, Metra, NCDOT, SCVTA, Sound Transit

Amtrak and Vornado Realty Trust transform the 7th Avenue and 32nd Street entrance of New York Penn Station. Also, Chicago’s Metra commuter railroad debuts its holiday trains; North Carolina’s Carolinian and Piedmont intercity passenger rail services experience record-breaking ridership; a new site designation will promote Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (SCVTA) transit-oriented communities; and Seattle’s Sound Transit is testing an accessibility app to improve wayfinding for riders with vision disabilities.

Station locations and the potential Chicago-Detroit-Toronto routing (yellow) are illustrative. Light blue lines denote proposed new corridors; dark blue lines denote existing Amtrak service. (Amtrak Map)

Amtrak-VIA Rail May Return to Detroit River Tunnel

Canada’s VIA Rail confirmed Nov. 14 that it is engaged with Amtrak and other rail operators in discussions aimed at extending Amtrak’s existing Chicago-Detroit Wolverine service to Toronto’s downtown Union Station. Amtrak

Image Courtesy of Alstom

Transit Briefs: KDOT, Amtrak, Alstom, SacRT, CTA

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) gives an update on the proposed expansion of Amtrak’s Heartland Virtual Flyer line into Wichita. Also, renovation is complete on Amtrak’s Staples Mill Station; Alstom signs a contract with Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport for a modernization and replacement program for its Skylink automated people mover (APM) system; the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) celebrates its Light Rail Modernization Project and groundbreaking ceremony for Folsom 15-minute light rail service; and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) enhances rail station access with new Americans with Disabilities (ADA) faregates.

  • News

Amtrak, CPKC Reach Agreements with Unions

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with Amtrak. Meanwhile, members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED-IBT) on Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s (CPKC) Soo-Milw. Line have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement.

(Shutterstock/ narai chal)
  • News

2023 Women in Rail: Innovating, Inspiring

RAILWAY AGE, NOVEMBER 2023 ISSUE: Since 2017, Railway Age has celebrated women leaders who break down barriers and create opportunities for the next generation. This year, 23 honorees and five honorable mentions were selected from more than 100 Women in Rail awards candidates by judges Barbara Wilson and KellyAnne Gallagher, with input from the Railway Age staff. These visionaries from all levels of North American railroading are not only excelling in their respective fields, but also making an impact in the historically male-dominated freight, transit and supply sectors; supporting and inspiring more women to join the industry; and serving their communities. Congratulations to these women whose accomplishments are presented here.

Image Courtesy of Amtrak
Commentary

Amtrak’s National Identity Perpetually Complicated

FINANCIAL EDGE, RAILWAY AGE, NOVEMBER 2023 ISSUE: This month’s “Financial Edge” almost did not make it into the November issue of Railway Age. Why? Overindulgence was the reason for the delay. Halloween? Harvest Celebration? The reason was more urbane, and the scene was at Newark Penn Station.

(White House Graphic)

FRA Awards $16.4B for NEC Projects (UPDATED)

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Nov. 6 reported awarding $16.4 billion for 25 passenger rail projects along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (Fed-State