Wabtec Corp. will supply components for 130 new Amtrak passenger cars being built CAF USA, Inc. a railcar builder with manufacturing facilities in New York state. The cars are scheduled for delivery in 2013-14. Amtrak has an option to purchase an additional 70 cars from CAF.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood toured the Siemens Mobility plan in South Sacrmento, Calif., on Wednesday, extolling it as an example of how U.S. workers can provide quality manufactured goods.
Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation have received federal approval to increase maximum speeds of Amtrak trains in western Michigan and northern Indiana to 110 mph, following successful installation and testing of a Positive Train Control system on Amtrak-owned trackage between Kalamazoo, Mich., and Porter, Ind., part of its Chicago-to-Detroit service route.
Amtrak reportedly hopes to begin passenger rail service to Norfolk, Va., along the south side of the James River, by the end of the year.
Buoyed by recent state-supported extensions of Amtrak service that have proven popular, state rail advocates are clamoring for Amtrak service to be extended to Virginia’s southwestern reaches, including Roanoke, Va., last served by Amtrak’s Hilltopper in 1979.
Both the House and Senate Thursday passed the Conference Report on a package of three appropriations bills, including the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations bill, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reports.
Continuing to upgrade and replace bridges in Connecticut on its Northeast Corridor, Amtrak is preparing to replace two bridge spans in Stonington, Conn, and will suspend passenger service from 4:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, though noon Sunday, Nov. 6.
In June 2009, Amtrak called for proposals for up to 70 new electric locomotives. The key requirements were conformity to all FRA regulations, Buy America compliance, acceleration capability to avoid impacting Acela Express high speed train schedules, and the capability to haul 18 single level Amfleet coaches at a sustained speed of 125 mph.
Amtrak in June will begin a summer-long project to replace rail ties on the Northeast Corridor in Massachusetts, impacting Amtrak service and Massachusetts Bay Transporation Authority (MBTA) consists. Tie replacement will occur between Boston’s Back Bay Station and Forest Hills Station.
New Jersey’s two U.S. Senators joined Amtrak President Joseph Boardman Monday in Newark, N.J. to advance a plan, this time led by Amtrak and dubbed the “Gateway Tunnel,” to increase capacity on the Northeast Corridor under the Hudson River.