Commuter Rail – Page 45 – Railfanning.org

Kawasaki Rail Car to build new Metrorail cars

June 1, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Metro’s Board of Directors approved a contract to have Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. manufacture 428 new generation Metrorail cars known as the Series 7000 cars at a cost of $886 million. The cars will address Metro’s number one safety priority to replace its oldest rail cars (Series 1000).

CTA to Extend Testing of Prototype Rail Cars on Green Line

June 1, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — The CTA announced that the 5000-series prototype rail cars most recently being tested on the Green Line have been temporarily removed from service so that engineers can install and test a modification to the braking system. The 10 prototype rail cars were tested out-of-service since last fall and began in-service testing April 19th on the Red Line and moved to the Green Line on May 17.

VRE Says Keolis Not Ready to Take Over Service

May 31, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Keolis Rail Services will not be ready to take over operations of the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter rail service on its contractual start date of June 28, VRE CEO Dale Zehner said in a meeting with Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman.

FRA: Nearly $80 Million in High-Speed Rail Funds Delivered to States

May 28, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that nearly $80 million in grants have been delivered to states as part of President Obama’s high-speed and intercity passenger rail program.

MTA Finalizes Hudson Yards Deal

May 26, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has entered into a contract with a joint venture of Related Companies and new partner Oxford Properties Group for the development of the MTA’s Hudson Yards into a mixed-use community that will include 12 million square feet of commercial and residential development.

California High-Speed Rail Authority Seeks New Federal Funds

May 26, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California High-Speed Rail Authority has submitted three planning grant applications that could provide as much as $16.6 million in additional federal funding for the state’s high-speed train project.

MTA Launches Second Avenue Subway Tunnel Boring Machine

May 22, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) earlier this month launched the tunnel boring machine that will dig the first phase of the Second Avenue Subway. The 485-ton, 450-foot-long machine will dig through approximately 50 feet of Manhattan bedrock per day as it completes two runs from 92nd Street to 63rd Street by November 2011.

MTA Targets Overtime for Cost Savings

May 22, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — The MTA has announced plans to significantly reduce its overtime costs, with savings of more than $20 million in 2010 and $60 million annually starting in 2011.

Pennsylvania Applies for $1.6 Million for High-Speed Rail Planning Study

May 22, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania has applied for a $1.6 million federal grant from the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program to study possible expansion of rail service between Ohio and New York State through Erie, Gov. Edward G. Rendell said.

Northeast States and Amtrak Seek Improved Rail Service from Washington to Boston

May 21, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Eleven Northeast states from Maine to Maryland, with close support from Amtrak and the Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG), announced the submission of a multi-state proposal requesting that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) lead a planning effort to further define the role that intercity and high-speed passenger rail can play in helping improve the region’s transportation network, expand capacity, relieve highway and aviation congestion, and stimulate sustainable economic growth along the Northeast Corridor (NEC).