Blueprint Released for Passenger, Freight Service Growth in Southern California

California’s North County Transit District (NCTD) has announced the release of the San Diego Pathing Study, outlining how to phase expansion of passenger and freight rail services along the 351-mile Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor. The corridor is the second busiest in the nation, moving about $1 billion in freight and more than 8 million Amtrak and regional/commuter rail (NCTD COASTER and Metrolink) riders in a typical year.

SCRRA Growth and Safety: Five Firms, $50MM

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) has awarded a $50 million task-order contract to HDR Engineering Inc., AECOM Technical Services Inc., RailPros, Hill International Inc., and Parsons.

HDR SCOREs Metrolink Program Manager Contract

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) has selected HDR as program manager for Phase 1 of its SCORE (Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion) capital improvement program. HDR had been serving as interim program management consultant since August 2019.

Talgo, SYSTRA tapped for railcar rebuild

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority recently awarded a Talgo-SYSTRA tandem a contract worth $138.9 million to rebuild up to 121 Metrolink-operated Bombardier railcars. The base order is for 50 cars with an option for up to 71 additional units.

Commentary

Amtrak: Freedom From Responsibility is Illusory

THE FINANCIAL EDGE, MAY 2019 – In a recent TED talk, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey suggested that, in an attempt to combat abusive speech and harassment, Twitter would consider moving from threads written by individuals to topic threads. Dorsey suggested these interest networks would be easier to monitor for Twitter code of conduct breeches.

Metrolink readies for O&M contract

Metrolink, Southern California’s regional/commuter rail service, is preparing to release a request for proposals (RFP) for its first-ever combined O&M (operations and maintenance) contract, and will hold an event on Feb. 15 and 16 in Pomona, Calif., for interested contractors, subcontractors, vendors and suppliers who have expertise and/or offer services or products to the rail industry. “This will be an opportunity for the industry to preview a draft RFP, provide feedback, obtain more information about Metrolink operations and tour Metrolink facilities,” the agency announced Jan. 25.

New Metrolink co-CEOs as Leahy retires

In a change of leadership, Southern California’s commuter rail operator Metrolink is bidding farewell to one chief executive, and hello to co-CEOs as of January.

Metrolink names Yu COO

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) has named Kimberly Yu as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Yu has served as Deputy COO for Planning and Project Delivery since she joined Metrolink in September 2015.

Quiet zone coming to SoCal hub

One of Southern California’s busiest railroad towns will be a whole lot quieter a year from now.

CalSTA grants to aid Amtrak, Metrolink

The Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency is one of seven California agencies operating passenger rail to receive 2018 TIRCP (Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program) grants from CalSTA (California State Transportation Agency).

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