Amtrak: “It’s time to build”
Amtrak President & CEO Joe Boardman joined a panel of industry experts Oct. 26, 2015 at the National Press Club to highlight the need to make infrastructure planning and investment a national priority.
Commuter Regional
E. Virgil Conway, 1929-2015
E. Virgil Conway, who served as New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman and as a member of the MTA Board, died Oct. 21, 2015, in Southampton, N.Y. He was 85.
Rail service to Denver airport scheduled for April start
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) received official notice from the project concessionaire, Denver Transit Partners, that the University of Colorado A Line commuter rail service from Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport will be ready for service on April 22, 2016.
Chicago Union Station redevelopment moves forward
As part of ongoing work to improve Chicago Union Station, Amtrak, Metra and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) have launched several initiatives aimed at advancing iconic station’s master redevelopment plan.
Metrolinx, CH2M turn to Turner & Townsend
Metrolinx, the agency that oversees most public transportation in Ontario’s GTA (Greater Toronto Area), and environmental and engineering consultant CH2M have selected global program management and construction consultancy Turner & Townsend to support GO Transit’s Regional Express Rail (RER) electrification program.
NS: No PTC extension? No PIH trains. No passenger trains
Norfolk Southern on Oct. 20, 2015 said, effective Dec. 1, 2015, it will no longer accept shipments of Poisonous-Inhalation-Hazard (PIH) commodities, and that passenger trains operated by Amtrak, Virginia Railway Express and Metra will be prohibited from operating on NS after Dec. 31.
Railway Age seeks entries for inaugural Fast Trackers contest
Railway Age on Oct. 20, 2015 launched its inaugural Fast Trackers contest, in which ten individuals under the age of 40 who have made an impact in their respective fields or within their company will be profiled.
GO Transit gets a facelift
Up until now, GO Transit’s Bombardier Transportation BiLevel cab cars have been identical in appearance to their companion trailer coaches, giving the appearance that the train is travelling “backwards” when operating cab car-forward, by some observer accounts. That is beginning to change.
Special rates available for Railway Age Passenger Trains on Freight Railroads Conference
Railway Age’s 22nd Annual Passenger Trains on Freight Railroads Conference is coming up soon, on Oct. 28 and 29, in Washington D.C. at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. A 20% discount is now available for all single-person registrations.
SEPTA selects Richard G. Burnfield as Deputy GM
Regional Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon, Sr. and SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel, P.E., on Oct. 14, 2015 announced the promotion of Richard G. Burnfield to the position of Deputy General Manager. Burnfield will also continue to serve as the authority’s treasurer, a position he has held for the last seven years. He will report directly to Knueppel.