Commuter Rail – Page 76 – Railfanning.org

Wreck Roundup for January 2007

January 5, 2007 The Cross-Tie

Here’s a quick look at some of the wrecks from the past month.

NTSB Finishes Field Portion of WMATA Investigation

January 4, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Transportation Safety Board has wrapped up the field portion of an investigation into the deaths of two Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) track inspectors. The workers were killed Nov. 30 after they were struck by a train near the Eisenhower Avenue Metro station in Alexandria, Va. The NTSB continues to investigate. A sight distance test was completed in early December, and investigators have recordings and transcripts of radio conversations between the train operator and dispatchers and are reviewing them. A security camera video from the station platform that shows the accident is being enhanced.

L.A. Metro Finishes Boring Tunnels for Line Extension

January 1, 2007 The Cross-Tie

Metro construction crews on Dec. 9 finished boring the twin 1.7- mile tunnels for the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension.

First Multilevel Trains Appear on Northeast Corridor

January 1, 2007 The Cross-Tie

N.J. Transit’s first multilevel train debuted Dec. 11 on the Northeast Corridor, culminating four years of planning and design — including extensive input from customers — to offer riders a new level of comfort and convenience.

NTSB: Engineer’s Inattentiveness to Blame for 2005 Wreck

December 21, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – An engineer’s inattentiveness to signal indications and his failure to operate the train in accordance with the signal indications and speed restrictions is probable cause of a September 2005 Metra derailment, the National Transportation Safety Board determined. Contributing to the Sept. 17, 2005 derailment of Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp. (Metra) train No. 504 in Chicago was lack of recognition by Metra of the risk posed by the significant difference between track speed and crossover speed at the accident location and its inaction to reduce that risk through additional operational safety procedures and other means. Also, contributing

Two Cars of CTA Train Derail

December 19, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – The last two cars of a northbound Orange Line Chicago Transit Authority train derailed at 14th and State Street south of the Roosevelt Line station Tuesday, Dec. 19, causing delays on both the Green and Orange lines.Several minor injures were reported in the derailment. The train’s first two cars did not have a problem passing over a switch, but apparently the switch moved before the final two cars passed, causing the derailment, The Associated Press reported. At the time of the derailment, the train was traveling about 25 mph. Orange Line trains were operating between Midway and Halsted,

N.J. Transit: Longer Platforms, Expanded Station Building Coming to Metropark

December 16, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. – N.J. Transit is planning to renovate the station building and build longer, wider platforms at N.J. Transit’s busiest outlying rail station – Metropark Station on the Northeast Corridor in Woodbridge Township. “These improvements will ensure that Metropark Station remains an efficient and modern gateway for commuters in the growing Central New Jersey region,” said Transportation Commissioner and N.J. Transit Board Chairman Kris Kolluri. “While providing an enhanced customer experience, the project will also enable the station to serve more riders in the future to support capacity expansion projects such as the Access to the Region’s Core tunnel

FRA, New Jersey Transit Begin Study of Portal Bridge

December 15, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Public comments are being sought for a project to replace, repair, or retain a 96-year-old railroad bridge on the heavily congested Northeast Corridor connecting the Newark, N.J., and New York. The Federal Railroad Administration and New Jersey Transit will jointly prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS), in cooperation with Amtrak, to study improvements to enhance capacity and operation of the Amtrak-owned Portal Bridge that spans the Hackensack River. Originally constructed in 1910, the bridge is nearing the end of its projected lifespan, officials say. “Because of the bridge’s critical role in the successful operation of the Northeast Corridor,

New Signs announce January Yellow Line Extension to Fort Totten

December 6, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Metro officials are starting to install more than 5,000 signs and maps in the Metrorail system that reflect the extension of the Yellow Line to Fort Totten. The extension will be effective starting Dec. 31. The Metro Board in April agreed to extend the Yellow Line from Mt. Vernon Sq/7th Street-Convention Center to the Fort Totten Metrorail station during off-peak hours (weekdays, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 7 p.m. to closing, and weekends) as part of the 18-month pilot. The District of Columbia will cover the $5.75 million cost of expanding service. By extending the Yellow Line to

NTSB Investigates WMATA Accident

November 30, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

The National Transportation Safety Board has sent two investigators here to investigate an accident involving two Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) employees.