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Dec
07

TransLink posts ridership growth after opening Evergreen Extension

In September and October, average weekday ridership in TransLink's Northeast Sector was 25 percent higher than the same months in 2016.

The sector comprises the cities of Coquitlam, Port Moody and Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, as well as the villages of Anmore and Belcarra. The ridership jump followed the opening of the 6.8-mile Evergreen Extension of the Millennium SkyTrain line in December 2016.

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Dec
07

Brightline to launch simulated service

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 12/7/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Brightline is a privately owned and operated intercity high-speed rail service that eventually will operate between Orlando and Miami.Photo – Brightline

Brightline, the new privately financed and operated express rail service in southern Florida, will begin "simulated service" between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale as soon as this week, the railroad announced on Twitter.

Although an exact date was not specified, the tweet stated that Brightline will run up to 10 trains a day on the route.

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Dec
07

R. J. Corman adopts new apprenticeship program

R. J. Corman Railroad Group yesterday announced a partnership with the Kentucky Labor Cabinet to create an apprenticeship program aimed at the recruitment and retention of new employees.

The program will start early next year, as R. J. Corman and the Labor Cabinet develop a curriculum, company officials said in a press release.

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Dec
07

RFQ issued for Metrolinx Lakeshore West GO corridor projects

Ontario and Metrolinx are proceeding with planned improvements for the Lakeshore West GO Transit corridor with the issuance of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

The planned upgrades to the Lakeshore West GO corridor include track improvements and other work to enable increased service at Exhibition Station, where Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca and Member of Provincial Parliament for Trinity-Spadina Han Dong made the RFQ announcement on Dec. 7.

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Dec
07

FTA unveils environmental report for L.A. Metro's Purple Line extension

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 12/7/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The document completes the additional environmental studies that were required by court order.Photo – L.A. Metro

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released a final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the second phase of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (Metro) Purple Line subway extension.

The report covers the segment that would run between the future Wilshire/La Cienega Station, downtown Beverly Hills and Century City. In particular, the document provides additional details on the Century City/Constellation Station, as well as potential public health and other impacts for the planned subway alignment.

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Dec
07

AAR: U.S. intermodal rail volume remains on a record-setting pace

U.S. intermodal rail traffic is on pace to set a new annual record this year, with strong gains in November and last week marking the best intermodal week in history, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) announced yesterday.

U.S. railroads logged 1,369,160 containers and trailers in November, up 3.8 percent, or 50,029 units, from the same month last year. Although U.S. railroads' carload traffic slipped last month 0.9 percent to 1,307,521 units, the combined total of intermodal and carload activity rose 1.5 percent to 2,676,681 for the month compared with November 2016, AAR officials said in a press release.

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Dec
06

DCTA adds Miller, Costa to board

Rail News Home Railroading People 12/6/2017 Rail News: Railroading People
Mark Miller and Dianne CostaPhoto – DCTA

The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) yesterday announced the appointment of Mark Miller and Dianne Costa to its board.

Miller, who serves as vice president of Hillwood Properties, will represent the city of Flower Mound, Texas. He was appointed to the board in June, DCTA officials said in a press release.

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Dec
06

Louisiana DOT seeks more public input on rail-crossing project

Rail News Home Maintenance Of Way 12/6/2017 Rail News: Maintenance Of Way
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has extended a public comment period through Jan. 31 for a proposed rail-crossing improvement project on a Kansas City Southern line in Baton Rouge.The extension follows information presented at a Nov. 6 public hearing on the proposed project, which involves modifying 10 KCS crossings and closing six others in Baton Rouge, according to local media reports."We have heard the concerns of local residents and their elected officials," said DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson in a press release. "We're working with our governmental partners and KCS to be more collaborative and sensitive to the community impact that this proposal will have."In February 2016, the Federal Railroad Administration awarded a $1.1 million grant to the department to make changes to the crossings. The original proposal called for a combination of crossing upgrades and closings along a 1.5-mile stretch.The comment extension will give the public more time to be informed about the proposal, department officials said. In addition, the department is launching a public outreach effort to solicit more comments about the project."As part of our accountability to our stakeholders, this input will be invaluable in how we reconsider the plans for this project," said Wilson.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 12/6/2017


Dec
06

USDOT joins fight against human trafficking

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is ramping up its efforts to help put an end to domestic and international human trafficking.

 

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Dec
06

USDOT joins fight against human trafficking

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is ramping up its efforts to help put an end to domestic and international human trafficking.

 

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Dec
06

San Mateo transit agency seeks input on transportation improvements

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 12/6/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The agency's "Get Us Moving" campaign is aimed at gathering community input on solutions to San Mateo County's growing traffic problems.Photo – getusmovingsmc.com

The San Mateo County Transit District (SMCTD) has launched a public engagement and education campaign to share information about solutions to the county's growing traffic problems.

Known as "Get Us Moving," the campaign also is designed to gather community feedback about proposed solutions.

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Dec
06

CDPQ Infra delays contract decision for Montreal light-rail project

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 12/6/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The tender process will remain open through Jan. 31.Photo – CDPQ Infra's Twitter account

CDPQ Infra has extended through Jan. 31 the tender process for a proposed 41-mile light-rail system in Montreal.

The company will launch a "period of intensive discussions" with the qualified consortiums for the project's engineering and construction contract, CDPQ Infra officials said in a press release.

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Dec
06

TSB says Carvel accident highlights need for signal fail-safes

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined failure to reduce speed led to a collision of two trains near Carvel, Alberta in June 2016.

No one was injured in the incident and a single empty hopper car sustained minor damage. TSB says the accident "highlights the systemic risks of not following railway signal indications." The incident report focuses on a number of safety risks, including the absence of physical fail-safe defenses to ensure that signals are consistently recognized and followed.

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Dec
06

TSB says Carvel accident highlights need for signal fail-safes

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined failure to reduce speed led to a collision of two trains near Carvel, Alberta in June 2016.

No one was injured in the incident and a single empty hopper car sustained minor damage. TSB says the accident "highlights the systemic risks of not following railway signal indications." The incident report focuses on a number of safety risks, including the absence of physical fail-safe defenses to ensure that signals are consistently recognized and followed.

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Dec
06

AAR, GoRail honor Rep. Shuster

The Association of American Railroads and GoRail have honored House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) with the Railroad Achievement Award.

Shuster is the final calendar year recipient of the award, which was created in 2017 to recognize members of Congress who have shown consistent, bipartisan leadership on issues most pertinent to the nationwide rail network. The winners have shown particular leadership in recognizing the capital-intensive nature of railroads and the critical role they play in the U.S. economy, the organizations added.

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Dec
06

AAR, GoRail honor Rep. Shuster

The Association of American Railroads and GoRail have honored House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) with the Railroad Achievement Award.

Shuster is the final calendar year recipient of the award, which was created in 2017 to recognize members of Congress who have shown consistent, bipartisan leadership on issues most pertinent to the nationwide rail network. The winners have shown particular leadership in recognizing the capital-intensive nature of railroads and the critical role they play in the U.S. economy, the organizations added.

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Dec
06

Downtown San Bernardino rail extension complete

The Downtown San Bernardino Passenger Rail Project has officially been concluded.

 

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Dec
06

Downtown San Bernardino rail extension complete

The Downtown San Bernardino Passenger Rail Project has officially been concluded.

 

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Dec
06

Rail Traffic for November and the Week Ending December 2, 2017

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending December 2, 2017, as well as volumes for November 2017. Intermodal rail traffic remains on pace to set a new annual record in 2017 with strong gains in November and last week marking the best rail intermodal week in history, surpassing multiple records set earlier this year.

U.S. railroads originated 1,307,521 carloads in November 2017, down 0.9 percent, or 11,442 carloads, from November 2016. U.S. railroads also originated 1,369,160 containers and trailers in November 2017, up 3.8 percent, or 50,029 units, from the same month last year. Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in November 2017 were 2,676,681, up 1.5 percent, or 38,587 carloads and intermodal units from November 2016.

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Dec
06

TSB: Collision caused by train's speed

A June 2016 train collision near Carvel, Alberta, occurred after one of two trains ran through a restricted speed signal, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) announced in a report issued yesterday.

The report highlights a number of safety risks, including the absence of physical fail-safe defenses to ensure that signals are consistently recognized and followed, TSB officials said in a press release.

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