MTA Metro-North Railroad

Commentary

Metro-North to Albany a Big Deal?

Starting next spring, on a date not yet announced, trains will again run on a regularly scheduled basis between New York City’s Grand Central Terminal (GCT) and Amtrak’s Albany-Rensselaer station. While track

NYMTA Releases Climate Resilience Roadmap Update

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Oct. 29 released an update to its Climate Resilience Roadmap on the thirteenth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, “outlining the agency’s strategic priorities in mitigating the effects of extreme weather events and climate change on transit infrastructure across the service area.”

(Shutterstock/ tong patong)
  • News

Railway Age Announces Women in Rail Honorees for 2025

Railway Age is celebrating nine years of recognizing women in the freight, passenger, government, and supply sectors. These trail blazers are not only excelling at leadership and community service but also driving the industry forward. This year, 25 railroaders earned the publication’s Women in Rail award.

STV Managing Metro-North BE Locomotive Procurement

STV, Inc. is providing engineering and procurement support for 13 BE (battery-electric) dual-power locomotives MTA Metro-North Railroad is acquiring from Siemens Mobility. STV is performing design reviews, test coverage and vehicle inspection

NYMTA photo

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, LA Metro

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board approves fare and toll increases. Also, LA Metro expands cell service availability to the K Line.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (right), MTA Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek (center), and Mayor of Beacon Lee Kyriacou (far left) at the Biltmore Room of Grand Central Terminal on Sept. 23, announcing enhanced railroad service including the MNR Super Express to Poughkeepsie. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

Transit Briefs: Metra, MTA Metro-North, PANY/NJ

The 87th St./Woodruff Station on the Metra Electric commuter rail line in Chicago opens next month after a two-year rehab. Also, MTA Metro-North Railroad is launching “super-express” trains on Oct. 6; and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANY/NJ) marks the 10th anniversary of its climate resilience design guidelines.

Transit Briefs: Caltrain, SFMTA, MassDOT, Brightline, Metro-North, GCRTA

Caltrain celebrates the first anniversary of its electrified service. Also, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) celebrates the 30th anniversary of the F Market Line; the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) celebrates the 10th anniversary of the state’s purchase and rehabilitation of the “Knowledge Corridor”; Brightline announces network enhancements; new locomotives begin passenger service on Metro-North Railroad; and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) approves a request to purchase six more new railcars.

MTA’s July Financial Plan forecasts approximately $50 million less in deficits for Fiscal Year 2027 and 2028, totaling $98 million. This is in addition to the $100 million announced in November, totaling $198 million less in deficits than this time last year, according to MTA. The projected deficit for Fiscal Year 2029 is $428 million. These funding shortfalls, MTA said, are in large part due trip growth in Paratransit. (Courtesy of MTA)

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, Denver RTD

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) releases its July Financial Plan, showing balanced operating budgets for 2025 and 2026 and narrowed deficits in 2027 and 2028, and announces a TOD (transit-oriented development) project near Metro-North’s Beacon, N.Y., station. Also, Denver (Colo.) Regional Transportation District (RTD) authorizes a successor contract for two-thirds of its workforce.

A map of the proposed route for Northlander passenger rail service showing stops at Union Station (Toronto), Langstaff, Gormley, Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Timiskaming Shores, Englehart, Kirkland Lake, Matheson, and Timmins (South Porcupine), with a rail connection to Cochrane. (Courtesy of Ontario Government)

Transit Briefs: Northlander, NYMTA, APTA

Construction is under way at the Timmins-Porcupine Station in Ontario, Canada, part of the Northlander passenger-rail revival project. Also, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) posts ridership, performance and safety improvements in first-half 2025; and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recognizes two members’ outstanding sustainability achievements.

REM’s South Shore-to-Central Station automated urban rail system service (Part 1) will be closed completely from July 5 through Aug. 17, to allow for service testing on Part 2, the new REM lines linking Montreal’s West Island and the North Shore to downtown, which are due for launch in fall 2025. (First trip across the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge | July 2022. Photo ©Thierry Du Bois)

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, REM

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) offers a congestion-pricing progress report. Also, Montreal’s Réseau express métropolitain (REM) will shut down temporarily this summer.