Commuter Rail – Page 68 – Railfanning.org

Metrorail Extension to Tyson’s Corner, Dulles International Airport Moving Forward

May 5, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has substantially improved its proposal to extend Metrorail, responding various concerns the Department of Transportation raised in January, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced. “Consequently, we have sent the required 10-day notification to Congress that we intend to move the project into the Final Design stage of FTA’s New Starts Process,” Federal Transit Administrator James S. Simpson said in a statement. “FTA will commit $158.7 million to use toward completion of a financial plan, construction plans, detailed engineering specifications and cost estimates, and other technical requirements. “However, there are still hurdles facing

Two Killed at CTA Train Station

April 25, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — Two people were killed after a tractor trailer slammed into a bus shelter at the Cermak-Chinatown CTA station, authorities said. Trains on CTA’s Red Line were interrupted because of the accident. “Right now this is just a tragic traffic accident,” The Associated Press quoted Chicago Police Department Deputy Chief Joseph Patterson as saying. Two women who were walking near the shelter were killed, and more than 20 people were taken to the hospital. Red line trains continued to operate, though they bypassed the Cermak-Chinatown station. — Railfanning.org News Wire

FRA Announces Guide for Managing Gap Safety at Passenger Rail Platforms

April 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a guidance document to help minimize accidents due to gaps between the edge of a passenger station platform and the threshold of a passenger train door. FRA Approach to Managing Gap Safety addresses the use of engineering evaluation and analysis to establish gap standards and the application of strategies to prevent and reduce gap accidents. While most gap incidents involving rail passengers result in relatively minor injuries, FRA believes the most effective way to address the potential risks is for railroads to develop and adopt a comprehensive program to manage gap

Trains on Northeast Corridor Come to Standstill

March 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — Trains along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor came to a standstill because of electrical problems, authorities said. “It was done as a precautionary measure. None of the trains lost power,” The Associated Press quoted Amtrak Spokesman Cliff Cole as saying. The voltage in the overhead wires dropped from 12,000 volts to 9,000 volts, though an exact cause was not immediately known. Trains that were in tunnels moved to nearby stations, according to published reports. In addition to Amtrak, N.J. Transit trains were also impacted by the problem. — Railfanning.org News Wire

Lumber Car Strikes MBTA Commuter Train

March 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CANTON, Mass. — About 150 people were injured when a lumber car crashed into a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter train Tuesday afternoon, March 25, authorities said. “All the lights went out and people were flying down the aisles and people were on the floor of the car,” one passenger told The Boston Herald newspaper. “The car began filling up with dust and the scary part was part of the woods was burning up outside the doors.” The train was en route from Boston’s South Station to Stoughton at the time of the crash. An estimated 300 people were on

NTSB: 2007 Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Rail Accident Was Failure to Provide Signal Protection for Track Maintenance Workers

March 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of the collision involving a Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority train with a maintenance truck in Woburn, Mass., was the failure of the train dispatcher to maintain blocking that provided signal protection for the track segment occupied by the maintenance-of-way work crew, and the failure of the work crew to apply a shunting device that would have provided redundant signal protection for their track segment. “This tragic accident occurred because several employees of the railroad failed to do a very important part of their job,” NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker

Wabtec Receives Orders Worth $100 Million to Supply Components for NY Subway Cars

March 13, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WILMERDING, Pa. — Wabtec Corp. said it has received orders worth about $100 million to supply components for New York City subway cars being purchased under the city’s R-160 program. The contracts represent components for the first option order of 620 cars, which are to be delivered over the next two years. Under the R-160 program, New York City has now ordered 1,280 cars and has an option to order an additional 420. The cars are being built by ALSTOM Transportation and Kawasaki. Wabtec has been supplying components for the base order of 660 cars and will now provide the

New Grant Program Provides First-Ever Federal-State Funding Partnership to Improve and Expand Intercity Passenger Rail Service

February 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — For the first time ever, states will be directly eligible for federal funding to support intercity passenger rail service under a new grant program, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said. “We want to encourage and support the kind of state investments that are making a difference for passenger rail services,” Peters said, noting that between 1996 and 2006, ridership on state-supported intercity routes grew by a robust 88 percent, vastly outpacing the 17 percent increase on all other routes combined. Peters explained that the $30 million capital grant program is designed to support state efforts to

California High-Speed Rail Authority to Study Zero Greenhouse Gas Emission

February 10, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board has authorized a study to determine the feasibility of achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions for the power needs of the 700-mile electric high-speed train system. The study, timed to be completed by June of this year, will focus on costs, potential location of facilities and partnerships with utilities for on-site production of clean energy sources. “The proposed route of the system intersects with many of the state’s best location for wind, solar and geothermal facilities,” said Quentin Kopp, chairman of the Authority. “High-speed trains will help California meet the goals set

CTA: Ridership Increases in Nine of the Past 10 Years

February 8, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — Combined bus and rail ridership increased by 4.7 million rides in 2007, a gain of 1 percent over 2006 ridership, for a total of 499.5 million rides. It is the highest ridership level since 1992. CTA has gained 60 million annual rides since the lowest year of 1997. Weekend ridership showed the strongest rate of growth throughout the year. Saturday ridership in 2007 increased by 1.1 percent over last year and Sunday/Holiday ridership increased by 1.9 percent. The CTA’s bus system posted particularly strong gains. The bus system provided 309.3 million rides, an increase of 10.8 million rides