Amtrak

Amtrak Eyes STB Investigation Into ‘Substandard’ Sunset Limited Service

Amtrak in December called on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to initiate an investigation into “substandard” customer on-time performance for Sunset Limited service between Louisiana and California. Host freight railroad Union Pacific (UP)—which Amtrak said will likely be the prime focus of the investigation—asked the STB on Jan. 27 to order mediation for Amtrak, UP and the other host railroads involved “to resolve or narrow the issues in dispute.”

Rendering Courtesy of Penn Station Partners

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, LA Metro

Amtrak’s contracted Penn Station Partners have released renderings of the planned expansion of Baltimore Penn Station. Also, LA Metro selects Anser Advisory to oversee the development of the Sepulveda Transit Corridor (STC).

Transit Briefs: Metrolinx, SEPTA, Northern Lights Express

Local transit systems join Metrolinx’s GO Transit in accepting credit card taps to pay transit fees. Also, countdown clocks are coming to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) platforms this spring; and Minnesota legislators propose $99 million to kick-start the Northern Lights Express (NLX), which would connect downtown Minneapolis to the St. Louis County in Duluth.

California Zephyr (Photo Courtesy of Amtrak)

Amtrak Takes First Step to Re-Equip Long-Distance Network

Amtrak has announced that 10 manufacturers have submitted their ideas on replacement railcars for such overnight routes as Auto Train, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Crescent, Empire Builder and Southwest Chief, marking the “first formal step to completely reequip the Amtrak Long-Distance Network that provides vital service on 14 overnight routes from coast to coast,” the railroad reported Jan. 19.

The $47 million Newport News Transportation Center (rendering above) is slated to open in late 2023. Partnering on the project are the city of Newport News, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, and Virginia Department of Transportation.

Virginia Advances Passenger Rail Expansion Plans

Virginia’s New River Valley Passenger Rail Service Extension and Newport News Transportation Center projects will receive a combined $3.2 million in federal funding to move forward, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) reported on Jan. 17.

Jim Blaze photo

Amtrak Petitions FRA to Retire Maryland Fixed Wayside Signals

Amtrak is seeking Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approval to retire fixed wayside signals as automatic block points on the Mid-Atlantic Division’s Philadelphia-to-Washington, line (a Northeast Corridor branch), according to a notice in the Federal Register’s Jan. 17 edition.

Marc A. Hermann/MTA

Transit Briefs: LIRR, MassDOT/Northern Tier Passenger Rail, St. Louis Metro Transit

The opening date of the Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) Grand Central Madison station has been delayed due to an ongoing issue with an exhaust fan; Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Northern Tier Passenger Rail service could cost up to $2 billion; and four MetroLink stations in St. Clair County will receive the system’s first fare collection gates next year.

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