Commuter Rail – Page 66 – Railfanning.org

Man Convicted of Metrolink Murders

August 6, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

LOS ANGELES — A California man has been found guilty of multiple murders in a fatal January 2005 Metrolink train wreck. Juan Manuel Alvarez is on trial for first-degree murder and other charges. His trial could continue until July. Police said Alvarez parked his SUV on the Metrolink tracks with the intent of killing himself, but changed his mind, left his SUV on the tracks and watched the wreck unfold. However, prosecutors are challenging whether Alvarez was trying to commit suicide when he parked his SUV on the tracks and now say he may “have even been carrying out a

Ambitious State Proposals to Improve Intercity Passenger Rail Service Compete for Federal Funding Under New DOT Grant Program

August 6, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Twenty-five forward-thinking proposals from 22 states to improve intercity passenger rail service and help relieve traffic congestion in many regions of the Nation will compete for $30 million in federal funding under a new Bush Administration grant program, announced U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters. “Our goal is to achieve long-term improvements in intercity passenger rail service by supporting state investments that get real results,” Peters said. She said the Department is currently reviewing the proposals and will determine final grant awards in September. Peters explained that the state proposals received are generally designed to improve the

N.J. Transit Buys New Dual-Powered Locomotives

July 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — N.J. Transit took another step forward in the modernization of its rail fleet, as the Board of Directors approved the purchase of 26 dual-powered locomotives to replace its aging diesel fleet.The Board awarded a contract to Bombardier Transit Corporation for the purchase of 26 dual-powered locomotives — which can operate in both electrified and non-electrified territory — at a total cost of approximately $310 million, including design, engineering, manufacturing, training and spare parts, with the option to purchase additional locomotives in the future. “With gas prices over $4 a gallon and climbing, New Jersey commuters are flocking

N.J. Transit Adopts $1.7B FY09 Operating Budget

July 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — The N.J. Transit Board of Directors adopted a Fiscal Year 2009 Budget that supports historic ridership levels by increasing seat capacity, modernizing the bus and rail fleets and maintaining the system in a state of good repair. The N.J. Transit Board approved a $1.7 billion FY09 operating budget and a $1.29 billion capital plan that advances major capacity-enhancing projects, funds improvements at bus and rail facilities and supports the purchase of transit vehicles to replace aging equipment. “Ensuring that the residents of New Jersey have a safe, efficient and reliable public transit system has been a priority

ARC Gets $75M in Funding

July 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, both Democrats, said they successfully appropriated $75 million towards the Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) project – more than five times the amount dedicated last year – further advancing the engineering of two new rail tunnels under the Hudson River. “The unwavering support from senators Lautenberg and Menendez for this critical project will help provide relief to the state’s transportation system,” N.J. Gov. Jon S. Corzine said. “We applaud their efforts to secure record levels of appropriations for this project.” “This funding is keeping the ARC Tunnel project moving

CP, CN Implement New Rail Terminal Efficiencies at Deltaport

July 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

VANCOUVER — CN and Canadian Pacific (CP) announced an agreement allowing the Deltaport Division of a jointly owned rail subsidiary to manage rail switching operations for CN’s and CP’s intermodal trains at Deltaport, a marine container terminal located at Roberts Bank, south of Vancouver’s inner harbor. “Deltaport Division will streamline the logistics chain at the terminal, generating greater efficiencies in the overall rail and port operation,” said Keith Creel, CN executive vice-president, operations. “These service and productivity gains support Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway Initiative, which aims to bolster the competitiveness of the nation’s west coast ports.” CN and CP move approximately

Commuter Rail Study Discussed in Fla.

June 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Commuter Rail proponents will gather in a strategy meeting in support of commuter rail today at the Orlando International Airport to hear the results of a nationwide commuter rail liability report that was reviewed by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Highways and Transit and Railroads Subcommittees. “It will debunk some of the myths relating to Commuter Rail liability,” U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., said. Proponents of commuter rail have cited liability provisions contained in the agreement between the State of Florida and CSX as the major impediment to moving forward with the project. The State legislature

Heavy Traffic, Complex Rail Crossing Played Role in 2005 Collision

June 10, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

ELMWOOD PARK, Ill. — The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of an accident that occurred at a highway-railroad grade crossing in Elmwood Park, Ill., was a combination of factors including the intersection angle, the heavy holiday traffic and the complex street and rail pattern and related signal interactions at the intersection. “Despite the efforts of state and local authorities to address the safety concerns at this large and complicated grade crossing with a variety of signage and technology improvements, this accident occurred because these changes still failed to prevent vehicles from being trapped inside the crossing

One Injured in CTA Derailment

June 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — One person was injured when a Chicago Transit Authority train derailed, according to published reports. The derailment on the CTA’s red line comes a week after a green line train derailed. Fourteen people were injured in the Green Line derailment. None of the four cars in today’s derailment overturned, and all of the train passengers walked to a nearby station. — Railfanning.org News Wire

Man Faces Trial for Fatal Calif. Derailment

June 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

LOS ANGELES — A man authorities say is responsible for a fatal January 2005 Metrolink train wreck apologized for his actions, according to media reports. Juan Manuel Alvarez is on trial for first-degree murder and other charges. His trial could continue until July. Police initially said Alvarez parked his SUV on the Metrolink tracks with the intent of killing himself, but changed his mind, left his SUV on the tracks and watched the wreck unfold. However, prosecutors are challenging whether Alvarez was trying to commit suicide when he parked his SUV on the tracks and now say he may “have