Commuter Rail

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Commuter Rail

L.B. Foster Receives Continuous Welded Rail Orders; Rail to be Used in Two California Transit Projects

September 14, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

PITTSBURGH — L.B. Foster Company said it has been awarded business in northern and southern California for continuous welded rail (CWR) for two transit projects. They include the following: — 1,812 tons of 136# New Rail for Caltrain, which will be used for future capital improvements on the 145-year-old railroad. Caltrain is owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board. Caltrain runs from San Francisco to San Jose, with commuter-hour service to Gilroy. Delivery of the CWR is to begin in the late third quarter of 2008. — 1,813 tons of 136# New Rail for the Southern California Regional Rail Authority’s Metrolink Project in Los Angeles, CA to

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Commuter Rail

Human Error May be to Blame for Fatal Crash

September 13, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

LOS ANGELES – Metrolink officials believe a fatal crash may have been caused by human error. At least 17 people were killed, and as many as 135 people were injured when a crowded commuter train collided with a freight train outside Los Angeles Friday. The NTSB is investigating the crash. “At this time, Metrolink’s preliminary investigation has revealed that yesterday’s incident may have been the result of human factors and/or the railroad signal system on Metrolink’s part,” Metrolink said in a statement. “We will be working with the NTSB to complete a thorough investigation as to the exact cause of yesterday’s collision. “Our number one priority is the safety of

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Amtrak

Pacific Surfliner Service & Coast Starlight Railroad closure due to collision

September 13, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

An incident involving a Metrolink commuter train and a freight train near Chatsworth, California, has resulted in a temporary closure of the railroad route used by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains and the Amtrak Coast Starlight, north of Los Angeles. Amtrak extends condolences to those involved in the commuter train incident and has offered any available assistance. Pacific Surfliner Service and related Thruway Motorcoaches There will no service by Amtrak Pacific Surfliners and their connecting Thruway Motorcoach buses on September 13, between San Luis Obispo and Goleta, California, and Los Angeles, pending restoration of the route. No alternate transportation is available. Amtrak Pacific Surfliners and their connecting Thruway Motorcoaches will operate

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Amtrak

Service Alert: Hurricane Ike — Sunset Limited, Crescent, Texas Eagle, Heartland Flyer & City of New Orleans Affected

September 13, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

Amtrak has begun to restore some service temporarily suspended due to the landfall of Hurricane Ike. Nevertheless, all passengers who have travel plans through September 15 in the affected areas on the Los Angeles-San Antonio-New Orleans route of the Amtrak Sunset Limited, Chicago-Fort Worth-San Antonio route of the Amtrak Texas Eagle or Chicago-Memphis-New Orleans route of the Amtrak City of New Orleans are urged to call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL. Those passengers with telephone contact information in their reservations are being called by Amtrak and offered options including future travel dates. Ticketed passengers affected by this service suspension will be eligible for refunds. Crescent, Trains 19 & 20, and Heartland Flyer,

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Commuter Rail

Tempe Events Celebrate First Arizona Light Rail Opening

September 5, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

TEMPE, Ariz. — The City of Tempe is celebrating the opening of Arizona’s first light rail system with special events from Dec. 27-31. The cities of Phoenix and Mesa will also have parties along the line, creating a 20-mile celebration. Tempe is the only Arizona city to have a light rail system that runs from one city border to the other. The $1.4 billion, 20-mile line joins Tempe with Mesa and Phoenix to create an integrated transportation system connecting rail, buses and bicycles. Downtown Tempe is minutes from Sky Harbor International Airport and Tempe is surrounded by freeways, creating a synergy of travel choices. A bridge across Tempe Town Lake

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Amtrak

Amtrak California Corridor Ridership Continues to Soar in July

August 25, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND – July was an historic, record-breaking month for Amtrak California trains. More than half a million passengers traveled on the three state-supported services (Capitol Corridor, San Joaquins and Pacific Surfliner ), the most passengers Amtrak California has ever carried in a single month. The most significant ridership increase was on the Amtrak San Joaquins service (San Francisco/Oakland-Sacramento-Bakersfield) where more than 100,000 passengers traveled the route, a 32 percent increase over the previous year. Over 300,000 passengers rode the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains (San Diego-Los Angeles-San Luis Obispo), a rise of more than 12 percent compared to the same month last year. Ridership on the Capitol Corridor trains (San Jose-San

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Commuter Rail

Officials Tour Trenton’s New Transit Center

August 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — With the construction phase of the Trenton Transit Center project coming down the home stretch, Governor Jon S. Corzine joined federal, state and local officials today to tour the rebuilt, expanded and renamed facility — heralding a new era of transportation in the state capital. The newly expanded transit center comfortably accommodates more than 16,000 passenger trips each weekday, making it N.J. Transit’s third-busiest outlying station. “This attractive and functional facility demonstrates what we can achieve with the wise use of state and federal funds,” said Governor Corzine. “This project advances our policy of promoting public transportation and will help us capture the many economic and environmental