Throughout the course of its four-plus decade history, Amtrak has drawn the scorn of detractors who saw the federally-subsidized passenger railroad is a drain on taxpayers. Now, millions of dollars in losses on the railroad’s food and beverage service have given more ammunition to opponents.
Amtrak said it plans to eliminate losses on food and beverage service over the next five years. But, will that be enough to silence critics?
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Metro-North Crash Brings Positive Train Control Back Into the Conversation
The revelation the engineer at the controls of the Metro-North train that crashed in the Bronx and killed four people might have zoned out just before the crash brought back to the forefront the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC).
The Metro-North train, which originated in Poughkeepsie, was due to arrive at Grand Central Terminal at 7:43 a.m., was traveling 82 m.p.h. as it took a curve with a speed limit of 30 m.p.h., according to various media reports. In addition to the four deaths, more than 60 others were injured when the Manhattan-bound Metro-North train derailed at about 7:20 a.m. just north of the Spuyten Duyvil station.
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Quick hits from around the world of railroads:
- N.J. Congressman Introduces Safety Measures
- Freight Railroads Received More than $600 Million During Obama Administration, McClatchy Reports
- Siemens, Cummins Team Up on New Diesel Electric Passenger Locomotive
- Norfolk Southern to Use Proceeds from Sale of Painting to Fund Steam Locomotive Rehab
- Report: Airport Rail Link Increases Hotel Room Revenue
- With No Funding, No Rail Link to Orlando Airport, Newspaper Reports
