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Commuter Rail

LaHood Announces $3.3 Million for New York High-Speed Intercity Rail Project

NEW YORK — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $3.3 million for the State of New York to add track and rail capacity in the congested Upstate New York area, advancing the state’s high-speed intercity passenger rail program. The project will relieve congestion, leading to greater reliability and faster travel times, and is necessary to achieve the faster speeds for future high-speed rail development. The project is being funded from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. “Adding track in Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa will reduce congestion and improve reliability,” said Secretary LaHood. “President Obama’s bold vision for high-speed rail

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Commuter Rail

NTSB Opens Dockets on Three WMATA Wrecks

WASHINGTON — As part of the NTSB’s investigations into three separate accidents that occurred on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) system between November 2009 and February 2010, the NTSB opened the public accident dockets for these cases. The accidents include: — A collision that occurred on Nov. 29, 2009, at the WMATA West Falls Church station where a six-car train struck the rear of a stopped six-car train. Three employees sustained minor injuries. — An accident that occurred on Jan. 26, 2010, approximately 0.9 miles north of the Rockville station when two WMATA Metrorail automatic train control maintenance technicians were struck and fatally injured by a hi-rail vehicle. —

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Amtrak

Amtrak Issues Updated Fleet Strategy Plan

WASHINGTON – With its intercity passenger rail equipment nearing an average age of 26 years, Amtrak issued an updated fleet strategy plan that analyzes the company’s need to replace its existing conventional and high-speed fleet and manage capacity to meet the forecasted growth in ridership across its national network.