Commuter Regional

SEPTA to acquire ACS-64 electric locomotives

The board of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has approved the acquisition of up to 18 ACS-64 electric locomotives from Siemens as part of its budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year, which starts July 1, 2015.

Amtrak NEC locomotives to receive inward-facing cameras

In the wake of the May 12, 2015 derailment in North Philadelphia of Amtrak Northeast Regional train 188, which claimed eight lives and caused more than 200 injuries, Amtrak will install inward-facing video cameras in its fleet of new Siemens ACS-64 locomotives in service on the Northeast Corridor by the end of 2015. All locomotives yet to be delivered under the 70-unit order will have the equipment installed before they go into service.

FRA C3RS program implemented in Boston

Keolis Commuter Services, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and union leaders from the American Train Dispatchers Association, Transportation Communications Union, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and SMART Transportation Division on May 8, 2015 signed a memorandum of understanding to implement the FRA’s voluntary Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS).

PB names Papazoglou senior supervising engineer

Parsons Brinckerhoff has named Christopher Papazoglou a senior supervising engineer in its New York City office, with technical and managerial responsibilities on rail design projects in the New York region. He is currently working in support of the East Side Access project.

Ontario Province to fund entire Hurontario LRT

Canada’s Ontario Province will be covering the entire cost of a 14.2-mile, $1.6 billion light rail line connecting the Port Credit (Mississauga) and Brampton GO Transit regional/commuter rail stations, Transportation ‎Minister Steven Del Duca confirmed on April 21, 2015.