Commuter Rail – Page 74 – Railfanning.org

Passaic-Bergen Rail Plan Advances

April 18, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. – The plan to provide a new passenger rail service link between downtown Hackensack and the Main Line Station in Hawthorne moved ahead today with the N.J. Transit Board of Directors approving funds for the project’s final design. The project will introduce FRA-compliant Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) technology into the N.J. Transit fleet of rail equipment and will provide new passenger service along more than eight miles of existing freight track. “I am pleased to see steady progress in this project, which will provide new and efficient travel options to the residents who live along this corridor,” said

MARTA Sees Ridership Increase

March 23, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA – From July to December 2006, MARTA’s passenger counts grew by 7.2 percent and passenger revenue increased by 3.8 percent over the same period last year. Nationwide, public transit ridership grew by 2.9 percent from 2005 to 2006. “MARTA is working hard to improve service and attract more riders to the system and we are pleased to see the positive results of our efforts,” said General Manager Richard McCrillis. “We hope to sustain this trend through the multiple renewal and improvement efforts we have underway – including our rail car rehabilitation project, increased service levels, and heightened focus on

FRA Announces Start of Environmental Impact Statement for California High-Speed Passenger Rail Project

March 16, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

LOS ANGELES — The Federal Railroad Administration announced it will jointly prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with the California High-Speed Rail Authority for two sections of the state’s proposed high-speed passenger rail project. The two EIS documents, covering the Palmdale to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Orange County corridors, will involve preliminary engineering designs and assess the environmental impact associated with construction, operation, and maintenance of the proposed project. These two corridors are part of the Authority’s plan to build a 700-mile high-speed rail system from Sacramento / San Francisco to San Diego capable of speeds in excess

State of Minnesota, Northstar and BNSF Sign Key Agreement

March 7, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

ANOKA, Minn. — Officials from the state of Minnesota, the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) and BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) signed a key agreement today that defines Northstar’s rights to operate along the 40-mile stretch of BNSF train tracks between Big Lake and downtown Minneapolis. “This agreement is another significant milestone toward delivering Minnesota’s first commuter rail system, one that is in high demand among Northstar Corridor residents,” said NCDA Chair Dan Erhart. “BNSF has a long history of working with commuter rail agencies to provide access to our right of way for passenger service while also preserving our capacity

N.J. Transit Identifies Preliminary Cause of Derailment

February 21, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. – N.J. Transit believes human error led to a track defect that is believed to have caused this morning’s derailment of Train 1252, officials said. Ten days ago, a worn switch was replaced at Ridgewood Junction and a portion of the switch was improperly installed, resulting in a condition known as “tight gauge,” where the rails are too narrow over several feet of track through the switch point. N.J. Transit’s standard procedures require a thorough inspection of any such work by a qualified employee before returning the track to service, as well as an inspection of all switches

New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal Redevelopment Effort Receives FRA Grant

February 13, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW ORLEANS — The future role of the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal (NOUPT) in meeting the city’s transportation needs where passengers could potentially transfer between transit, commuter rail and intercity rail and bus operations will be examined using a nearly $1 million federal grant, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman announced. “Hurricane Katrina changed the landscape of New Orleans in many ways, including a direct impact on the area’s transportation infrastructure,” Boardman said, noting that previously established population and transportation patterns in the region have been significantly altered. The $994,000 federal grant funding to the New Orleans Regional Planning

Amtrak Welcomes Chicago RTA Transit Checks

January 31, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — Frequent users of Amtrak trains to and from Chicago can save money by buying tickets using special “Transit Checks” issued by their employers through the Chicago-based Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). Effective today, Amtrak will accept the checks that list Amtrak among the area transportation providers. Amtrak accepts RTA Transit Checks for the purchase of multi-ride tickets that are perfect for long-distance commuters and others who make regular trips in Illinois. They are also usable for other routes, with many available connections through Amtrak Chicago Union Station. “Although Amtrak does not currently receive funding from the Chicago RTA, we

Teamsters: MBTA Has Poor Safety Record

January 15, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WOBURN, Mass. – Following the Jan. 9 deaths of two workers on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Teamsters voiced their disappointment to what they say is a poor safety record on the railroad. “Per mile of railroad operated, MBCR has one of the worst roadway worker safety records of any railroad in the country,” said Rick Inclima, Director of Safety for BMWED. “There have been four BMWED roadway worker fatalities on the MBCR since December 6, 2003, yet the railroad has not taken significant steps to improve roadway worker safety. MBCR management still refuses to even fill the vacant

Dispatcher Focus of MBTA Probe

January 13, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WOBURN, Mass. — Federal investigators looking into a fatal wreck on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority are focusing their atention on a train dispatcher, according to The Associated Press. Two workers were killed Tuesday when an MBTA commuter train struck a piece of track equipment. As part of their investigation, agents are looking at conversations the dispatcher had with the workers, according to The Associated Press. The train was traveling 60 mph and was heading from Lowell to Boston when it struck a “speed swing” near the commuter rail station in Woburn killing the workers. A dozen other people, including

Investigation Into WMATA Wreck Continues

January 12, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing to investigate the Jan. 7 derailment of a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) rail car near the Mount Vernon Square station on the Green Line. The investigation team is completing documenting and measuring track structures near the crossover where the derailment occurred. Survey of the accident scene is in progress. The team is in the process of reviewing historical data and inspection records for that area of track. Twenty people were injured following the derailment. The derailed car, the fifth in consist, has been moved to the Branch Avenue Maintenance