Commuter Rail

No Picture
Commuter Rail

SEPTA to Hold ‘Safety Blitz’ Along Route 101 Line

September 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
PHILADELPHIA — SEPTA will conduct a “Safety Blitz” at its Woodland Avenue Station on the Route 101 Media trolley today.During the session SEPTA safety officers, Transit Police, and invited officials from local schools will be on hand to raise public awareness about safety, the dangers of walking along rail tracks and precautions the public should take whenever near a railroad. SEPTA, which periodically conducts safety blitzes throughout the year, is particularly interested in reaching local students with its message following the recent commencement of the academic school year.
No Picture
Commuter Rail

Despite Recent Decline in Gas Prices, National Study Reports SEPTA Passengers Save Even More Money

September 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
PHILADELPHIA — A recent national study of 20 cities with the highest mass transit ridership totals reported that although overall fuel prices have shown a marginal decline, commuters can save even more riding SEPTA, the agency said. In a comprehensive study titled, “Transit Savings Report,” the American Public Transportation Authority (APTA) outlined monthly and annual savings per household. The study was based on a household expenditure of $800 per month on fuel and factored in the average price ($3.67) for a gallon of gasoline. Although the median savings nationwide was just over $9,500 the report concluded SEPTA riders can save
No Picture
Commuter Rail

BART’s Warm Springs Extension Gets Boost From Regional Measure 2 Cash

September 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) this week committed $91 million in voter-approved Regional Measure 2 bridge toll money to help finance an $890 million extension of the BART system to Fremont’s Warm Springs district. Construction of the 5.4-mile extension from the current terminus at the Fremont station — which would be the first leg of a planned $6.1 billion extension of the BART system to Milpitas, San Jose and Santa Clara — is slated to begin in the summer of 2009. MTC made the financing pledge as part of a strategic plan for implementing the $17.4 billion
No Picture
Commuter Rail

Justice Department Files Religious Discrimination Lawsuit Against Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

September 29, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, alleging that WMATA is engaged in a pattern or practice of religious discrimination, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin and religion. The complaint alleges that WMATA failed to reasonably accommodate and provide equal employment opportunities to employees and prospective employees whose religious practices conflict with WMATA’s uniform policy. WMATA’s practice is to deny all requests for religious accommodations to its uniform policy, regardless
No Picture
BNSF

House Approves Rail Safety Bill; Billions to go to Passenger Rail

September 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives has approved legislation that proponents say will improve the Nation’s intercity passenger rail system and the safety of the nation’s railroads. The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 will increase funding for Amtrak over the next five years, require new safety controls on trains that help reduce crashes, allow states to regulate solid waste processing facilities along rail lines and allocate funding for improvements to Washington’s Metro transit system. The legislation sets “an aggressive deadline” of 2015 for implementation of positive train control (PTC)
No Picture
Commuter Rail

UP Brakeman Sues Metrolink Over Crash

September 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
LOS ANGELES — The brakeman on the Union Pacific train involved in a deadly collision with a California commuter train is suing Metrolink, saying they failed to properly screen, train and supervise the engineer who is being blamed for the wreck. On Sept. 12, a Metrolink commuter train and a Union Pacific freight train collided near Chatsworth, Calif., killing 25 people and injuring more than 130 more. As part of its investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board said the Metrolink engineer sent and received text messages prior to the crash. “Basically the guy was asleep at the switch and not
No Picture
BNSF

No Phones in the Cab of California Trains

September 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
SAN FRANCISCO — Metrolink engineers and train operators across the state of California are no longer allowed to use cell phones while in the cab. The California Public Utilities Commission voted to temporarily prohibit the personal use of “commercial mobile radio services and devices” by on-duty railroad engineers, brakemen, conductors or rail transit vehicle operators. Personal communications “that take place when the train or transit vehicle is stopped and with the approval of the appropriate management personnel” is allowed, however. The CPUC determined that this action was needed due to a June 14, 2008, MUNI accident that may have resulted
No Picture
Commuter Rail

L.A. Metro Train, Bus Collide

September 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
LOS ANGELES — A metro train and a bus collided today near Washington Boulevard and Griffith Avenue. In all, 15 people were injured. At the time of the crash, the bus did not have any passengers. The train was traveling south toward Long Beach. The metro’s blue line connects Los Angeles and Long Beach. There have been 90 fatalities, including 20 suicides, on the Blue Line since it opened in 1990, The Los Angeles Times reported. — Railfanning.org News Wire
No Picture
Commuter Rail

NTSB: Engineer Sent, Received Texts Prior to Crash

September 17, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
LOS ANGELES – The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that the engineer of a Metrolink commuter train that crashed head-on into a Union Pacific freight train sent and received text messages prior to the crash. “NTSB investigators asked for records of the Metrolink engineer’s cell phone calls and text messages from the service provider,” the agency said in a statement. “The Board today received some of those records, which indicate that the engineer had sent and received text messages on the day of the accident, including some while he was on duty.” The Metrolink commuter train and the Union Pacific