Anaheim streetcar assessment release delayed

An environmental assessment of Anaheim Rapid Connection (ARC) streetcar plans, set to be released this year, won’t be made public until 2015, Anaheim, Calif., city officials said.

Dearborn, Mich., dedicates transit center

Dearborn, Mich. Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. presided at ceremonies Monday, Dec. 15, 2014 marking the debut of the city’s new intermodal passenger rail station, the John D. Dingell Transit Center.

Amtrak readies Vermonter reroute

A long-awaited reroute of Amtrak’s Vermonter will commence on Dec. 29, 2014, as the nation’s intercity passenger carrier begins serving Greenfield and Northampton, Mass. on a more direct route along the so-called “Knowledge Corridor” stretching from New Haven, Conn., to St. Albans, Vt.

Amtrak’s Coscia to Congress: Rail requires a trust fund

In order to fund long-term capital investments in intercity rail service, Congress “should focus on . . . providing predictable, dedicated funding to develop and implement capital investments for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and other rail corridors between America’s major metropolitan areas,” Amtrak Board of Directors Chairman Anthony R. Coscia testified Dec. 10, 2014 before a U.S. Senate committee.

Movable bridge best-practices

Even with the use of advanced technology, movable bridge machinery on an electrified railway remains a complex combination of structural, mechanical, and electrical systems.

Bombardier bypasses next Amtrak HSR order

Bombardier Inc., a tenacious fighter in landing the first Amtrak Acela Express contract at the turn of the century, announced it will not compete for Amtrak’s next-generation order of high speed rail equipment for the railroad’s Northeast Corridor (NEC).

Learner joins Amtrak Chicago panel

Howard Learner, an attorney who serves as president of the Chicago-based Environmental Law and Policy Center, has joined Amtrak’s Chicago Gateway Initiative, a blue ribbon panel of rail and transportation leaders tasked with identifying infrastructure and operational improvements to address Chicago’s rail traffic congestion, which Amtrak says “is causing major delays for Amtrak passengers and freight shipments.”

Amtrak touts FY14 fiscal numbers

Amtrak released it fiscal year 2014 revenue numbers Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, citing continued financial performance that drew grudging coverage even from media adversaries of the national passenger railroad.

Amtrak files complaint with STB over Capitol Limited performance

Amtrak has filed a complaint with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board against Norfolk Southern and CSX over substandard on-time performance of the Washington D.C.-Chicago Capitol Limited, which operates over right-of-way owned by NS and CSX. Including an earlier complaint filed against CN, this is Amtrak’s second such action regarding substandard on-time performance of its long-distance trains.

Hoosier State fate still unresolved

The Indiana Department of Transportation said it has ended contract negotiations with Chicago-based Corridor Capital LLC to provide passenger rail cars, marketing,and other services for Hoosier State service between Indianapolis and Chicago.

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