Commuter Rail – Page 51 – Railfanning.org

WMATA Train Returns After Picking Up Additional Cars

March 31, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — A 14-car train pulled into the New Carrollton Metrorail station on the Orange Line this morning (March 31) after an 8-car train, which was ready for service, coupled with a 6-car train that was stored closely behind it in the New Carrollton Rail Yard.

N.J. Transit Implements Emergency Spending Freeze

March 13, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — N.J. Transit has implemented an emergency spending freeze and told employees that it will reduce its workforce by more than 200, rollback spending on retirement accounts and cut executive salaries, officials announced March 2.

WMATA Train Operator Fired

March 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — A Metrorail train operator, who was involved in the pocket track derailment at the Farragut North Metrorail station on Feb. 12, was terminated on March 11 from her position as a train operator.

Alternatives for New Passenger Rail Service in Kansas Outlined

March 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – Four alternatives for state-sponsored passenger rail service between Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Fort Worth are detailed in a study released by Amtrak and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).

WMATA to Install Rollback Protection on 182 Rail Cars

March 1, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Washington Metro said it will install rollback protection software on all 182 of its 5000 series rail cars.

Honolulu Mayor, FTA Administrator Discuss Honolulu Rail Transit Project

February 27, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Honolulu City Council Chair Todd Apo met with FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff to discuss the progress of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project.

WMATA to Repair Door Control Units on Nearly Half of Rail Fleet

February 27, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Washington Metro will repair door control units on 546 rail cars, which will enhance passenger safety once Metro resumes automatic train operations.

NTSB to Hold Three-Day Hearing on Fatal 2009 Wreck

February 19, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board has released additional information about the Board’s scheduled public hearing as part of its ongoing investigation into the cause of the collision of two Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail Red Line trains. The collision occurred on June 22, 2009, between the Fort Totten and Takoma stations in Washington, D.C. As a result of this accident, there were nine fatalities and numerous injuries. The three-day hearing will convene at 9:00 a.m. on Feb. 23 and is expected to conclude before the close of business on Feb. 25.

Federal Railroad Administration Initiates Trespass Prevention Study in South Florida

February 17, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced that the City of West Palm Beach, FL and the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), among other partners, will participate in the Trespass Prevention Research Study, a program designed to identify and review trespass laws and mitigation strategies. The goal is to successfully reduce trespassing incidents and fatalities, the feds said. The SFRTA area experienced ten fatalities due to illegal trespassing in the first eight months of 2008, half of which occurred in the West Palm Beach area. Research done by FRA in the region will help the agency better understand trespassing

NTSB Heads to WMATA Derailment

February 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched an investigator to a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) derailment in Washington, DC. NTSB has designated Jim Southworth, Chief, Railroad Division, as the Investigator-in-Charge. At 10:15 am, (EST), a northbound WMATA Red Line train, consisting of six train cars, derailed north of the Farragut North station. There were three minor injuries reported.