2013 – Page 9 – Railfanning.org

MARTA investigating May 23 bus, train wreck

May 24, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

MARTA is investigating a May 23 accident involving a bus on Route 123 that was struck by a freight train at a railroad crossing in the City of Decatur. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the accident which occurred about 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of South McDonough and East Howard Avenue. MARTA Operator Donna McMullen was travelling northbound with four passengers aboard when she reported the bus became “stuck” as it proceeded across the tracks. As a westbound train approached, McMullen followed MARTA emergency protocol and safely evacuated the bus. The ensuing impact caused serious damage to the bus

Watching DART in Dealey Plaza

May 8, 2013 Todd DeFeo

Southern Museum Celebrating National Train Day With Special Programs, Admission Deal

May 8, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History will celebrate National Train Day on Saturday, May 11, with special programs and an admission deal.

Amtrak CEO: Time for ‘dedicated, multi-year federal operating and capital funding’

May 7, 2013 Todd DeFeo

Amtrak turned 42 years old this month, and the railroad’s president says it is time for a “dedicated, multi-year federal operating and capital funding for Amtrak and intercity passenger rail.” The national railroad, created as a result of the President Richard Nixon-signed Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970, took over passenger service from struggling railroads, and its first train, The Clocker, departed from Union Station in New York at 12:05 a.m. on May 1, 1971. Today, the railroad operates 305 weekday trains across a network of 21,100 rail miles. “With record ridership and strong financial performance, Amtrak is successfully fulfilling

Amtrak Auto Train Launches Priority Vehicle Offloading

April 23, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak Auto Train now offers a new upgrade option for passengers who want to speed up their journey. Passengers can purchase an upgrade to Priority Vehicle Offloading and their vehicle will be one of the first 20 offloaded from the train. Vehicle counts can total 200-300 per train. This new service will help passengers get to their destination sooner. Priority Vehicle Offloading can be purchased now and is available for travel beginning April 29. For a $50 fee, Priority Vehicle Offloading is available by calling 877-SKIP-I-95 or for purchase at any staffed station. This upgrade can be added

Amtrak

Amtrak: Northeast Corridor Faces Investment Crisis

April 22, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The success of the Northeast Corridor (NEC) has used up much of the legacy capacity of the existing railroad and depleted its infrastructure assets leading to a “major coming investment crisis that, without a solution, will mean strangled growth and deteriorating service” for 260 million intercity and commuter rail passengers who rely on it each year, Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman told a Congressional committee today. “We have pushed the current NEC infrastructure about as far as it can go, but the end of demand and growth is nowhere in sight. A new model for investment is

Canadian Authorities Arrests Two on Terrorism-Related Charges

April 22, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on April 22 arrested two people in connection “with conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack against a VIA passenger train,” the law enforcement agency said.

Train Connects North, South of ‘Africa’s Giant’ Nigeria

April 19, 2013 Voice of America

For the first time in a decade, Nigeria is operating a train line that links the north and south of the country, which is Africa’s most populous nation.

CTA Upgrades Green Line with $20 Million of Station, Track Improvements

April 11, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority said it is investing nearly $20 million in railroad track and station improvements to the southern Green Line. The projects will prepare the Green Line to handle an increase in passengers related to the five-month reconstruction of the Red Line South beginning in May, and will benefit Green Line customers for the long term with increased service reliability and fewer delays. Improvements that have been made or will be completed by May include improvements and temporary expansion of two Green Line stations, Garfield and Ashland/63rd, and significant track and signal work beginning south of

Washington Metro to Advance ‘Model Station’ of the Future

April 11, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Metro announced a plan to test potential future station concepts at Bethesda Station. As part of its strategic plan, Momentum, the model station will enable Metro to test several design concepts in a single station, with improved lighting, better information and improved customer convenience. As an underground station with a center platform design, Bethesda represents the hardest type of station to illuminate, making it an ideal location for the “model station” pilot. Some of the concepts being considered include high-output light fixtures to direct light to the vault ceiling; a new, anti-slip zone located at the bottom of