Construction of new NJ-NY rail tunnel to cost billions more than estimated
A new two-track rail tunnel connecting New York and New Jersey would cost $12.9 billion, up from previous estimates of $7-10 billion.
Commuter Regional
More problems at “Pain” Station New York
On July 6, four days before major track refurbishment work begins at Pennsylvania Station New York, the nation’s busiest passenger rail facility, yet another incident—the third in four months—occurred when inbound New Jersey Transit North Jersey Coast Line train no. 3276 derailed as it was entering the station’s complex interlocking plant.
Caltrans allocates $34.5 million to help fund 125 local projects
Caltrans has allocated $34.5 million in funding from the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program that will benefit 125 California projects.
Commentary
Rail labor talks await logic, reality
Nineteenth century economist Thomas Malthus is associated with a failure to recognize improved productivity as a tide lifting humankind’s standard of living.
Allowing market forces to improve rail safety
Legislation to improve rail safety through amplified use of the free-market forces of competition and innovation has been introduced in the Senate by Surface Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Deb Fischer (R-Neb.).
Brightline going biodiesel
The Siemens-built, Cummins QSK-95-powered Charger diesel-electric locomotives hauling All Aboard Florida’s Brightline higher-speed express passenger trains connecting West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami along the Florida East Coast Railway main line will be fueled with blended biodiesel under a two-year contract with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL).
Moore to head Vermont start-up
AllEarth Rail, LLC of Vermont has named veteran railroad executive Charlie Moore as President.
HTI NCTD PTC nears RSD
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has given the go-ahead for Revenue Service Demonstration (RSD) of North County Transit District’s (NCTD) Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation project, managed by by Herzog Technologies, Inc. (HTI).
Daza joins HNTB
John Daza, P.E., P.M.P., has joined HNTB Corp. as Senior Project Manager-Rail and Associate Vice President. Based in the firm’s New York City office, his responsibilities include serving as a key point of client contact, and managing rail transit project implementation, including staffing, quality control and budgets.
Bombardier, Siemens considering merger options
Unnamed sources inside Bombardier and Siemens AG have told the Montreal Gazette that the two companies are considering various joint ventures as part of the planned merger of their respective railway divisions.