Unifor’s VIA Rail Canada master bargaining committees are preparing to conduct strike votes. Also, how one San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) station supports a city’s ecosystem of businesses, residents, and tourists.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) seeks the public’s input on proposed 2026 less-than-inflation fare increase. Also, Valley Metro begins two-line rail system testing in downtown Phoenix to prepare for the opening of the South Central Extension/Downtown Hub; the Honolulu City Auditor releases a new audit on Skyline; and VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) launches a locomotive engineer program in northern Manitoba.
VIA Rail, Canada’s national passenger rail service, launches a request for qualifications (RFQ) for its Dorval Hub Project. Also, construction for a transit-oriented development (TOD) project begins on land contributed by Seattle’s Sound Transit and the City of Bellevue, Wash.; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) celebrates “cherry blossom season” with special train and bus wraps.
Chicago’s Metra selects STV to support its procurement of new battery-electric, single-level trainsets. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) expands its TAP-to-Exit program; and VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) boosts ticket sales with a new partnership program.
An attack on reservations systems, social media threats to passengers and operations, suspicious bags left at a train station, and an active shooter at a station and onboard a train headed to the U.S.—all these scenarios were worked through during a recent training exercise that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Transport Canada conducted with Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada.
Will the High Frequency Rail (HFR) in Canada be delayed? Also, Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) receives the final funding needed to construct the Dos Rios Station; Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad, will boost capacity between Miami and West Palm Beach; MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) reports the strongest year in its nearly 200-year history; and applications are now being accepted for Transit Tech Lab’s challenges with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANY/NJ), New Jersey Transit (NJT), and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT).
RAILWAY AGE JANUARY 2025 ISSUE: Should we welcome—or dread—2025?
VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) launches Requests for Qualification (RFQ) for locomotives and cars to replace its Long-Distance, Regional and Remote fleet. Also, Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) advances its study on Phoenix-to-Tucson passenger rail service; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) reports system-wide ridership for November; and San Diego (Calif.) Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) teams with a research firm to develop an equity statement and policy.
UNESCO recognizes New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Grand Central Madison with a “World’s Most Beautiful Passenger Station” interior award. Also, the Kitchener Central Transit Hub and Toronto’s 50 Wilson Heights TOD (transit-oriented development) advance in Ontario, Canada.
The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) on Nov. 27 announced the winners of the 2024 Safety Awards, recognizing the contributions of Canadian railroaders in advancing safety on the country’s rail network.