Commuter Rail, Light Rail & Rail Transit News

Commuter Rail, Light Rail & Rail Transit News

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Thursday, August 9

Sunday, August 5

Sunday, July 29

Sunday, July 22

Sunday, July 15

Sunday, July 8

Sunday, July 1

Sunday, June 24

Thursday, June 14

Sunday, June 3

Sunday, May 27

Sunday, May 13

Sunday, May 6

Sunday, April 29

Sunday, April 22

Sunday, April 15

Sunday, April 8

Thursday, March 29

Sunday, March 25

Sunday, March 18

Sunday, March 11

Sunday, March 4

Tuesday, February 20

Sunday, February 18

Sunday, February 11

Thursday, February 1

Kummant Seeks to Upgrade Amtrak Image (AP)
Amtrak President says government incentives are needed to stimulate capital investment.
Amtrak Experiences Train Trouble (CBS3)
Wheels of Amtrak coaches have shattered twice in three weeks, piercing floor of cars.
Tri-Rail hires Amtrak to schedule train traffic (Sun-Sentinel)
Amtrak to dispatch 72-mile corridor shared by CSX and Miami commuter rail.

Sunday, January 21

Senators Try Again to Fund and Reform Amtrak (Washington Post)
Legislation would provide Amtrak $3.2B/yr in return for efficiency and state support.
NJ Transit's new Hudson rail tunnel clears hurdle (North Jersey Media)
FTA approves NJ Transit plan for new trans-Hudson tunnel to NYC.
Amtrak would connect Madison, Milwaukee (UWM Post)
Amtrak's Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha service could extend to Madison by 2010.
Governor pursues plan for commuter-rail lines (Arizona Republic)
State involvement increases likelihood of Tucson-Phoenix rail link by 2012.
Commuter-rail plan gets bumpy public reception (Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando area residents concerned with service frequency, ridership, and loss of homes.
Riding the rails from PA (New Jersey Herald)
New report projects ridership for proposed Scranton-NYC commuter rail service.
Valley rail service backers unite (Morning Call)
Forum discusses rail service for PA's Lehigh Valley, including links to Philly & NYC.
Light Rail 'Feasible' in Eastern Iowa Corridor (KCRG)
Study says passenger rail service between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City would cost $35M.
Amtrak San Joaquins Affected By Track Work (Amtrak)
Buses substitute for some trains between Bakersfield and Fresno through February 20.
CTA fires 5 over Blue Line derailment (Chicago Sun-Times)
Chicago Transit Authority fires five track maintenance employees following July derailment.
LIRR tops other area railroads: higher risk overall (Newsday)
Long Island Rail Road has higher rate of passenger injuries than other NYC railroads.
City rails need repairs (Yale Daily News)
$33M repair shop at New Haven Rail Yard expected to improve commuter rail service.
Today's builders hurdle barriers unknown in transcontinental era (Deseret News)
Challenges of Utah commuter rail project differ greatly from transcontinental route.

Sunday, January 14

Muni's Third St. light-rail line finally rolling (San Francisco Chronicle)
San Francisco's new T-Third light rail line began service January 13.
Sound Transit's light-rail expansion plan will be put before voters (Seattle Times)
Sales tax could fund light-rail east to Overlake, north to Lynnwood, and south to Tacoma.
Warrington resigning as head of NJ Transit (AP)
Former Amtrak president to leave commuter rail agency in March.
Human error probed in fatal commuter rail crash (AP)
NTSB seeks cause of Boston MBTA commuter train crash that killed two workers.
Salt Lake City embraces light rail, expansion (Arizona Republic)
SLC provides light rail success story, but critics question if Phoenix can replicate success.
Amtrak's Roundabout Journey To Success (Hartford Courant)
Amtrak to succeed with state partnerships, better management, and supportive Congress.

Saturday, January 6

Railroad may weigh expansion (Poughkeepsie Journal)
Metro-North to explore interest in NYC commuter service north of Poughkeepsie.
Sounder, Amtrak Trains Running Again (KIRO)
Amtrak and commuter rail service resume north of Seattle following mudslides.
Engineers' job shuffle stalls GO Transit crews (Globe and Mail)
Crew reductions delay Toronto commuter rail trains.

Sunday, December 31

NJ Transit, Amtrak disagree over who's to blame for delays (The Record)
Commuter railroad seeks joint dispatching authority for its 115,000 annual trains.
New Amtrak president reshuffles senior management (AP)
New Amtrak president fires CFO, marketing chief, and risk officer, among other changes.
Subway Riding Record Shattered! (Gothamist)
Friends shatter 17-year-old record by traveling the NYC subway system in 24h 54m.
Tri-Rail goal: Get on track, on time (Sun-Sentinel)
Double-track bridge and additional trains expected to improve Miami commuter rail.
Commuter rail could come to downtown Lodi (News-Sentinel)
ACE commuter train could expand north to Sacramento and south to Merced.
Engineer attentiveness blamed in 2005 Chicago train derailment (ABC7)
NTSB finds that fatal Metra crash was caused by inattentiveness to signals.
Late Amtrak trains delay Rail Runner (Albuquerque Tribune)
Albuquerque commuter rail impacted by delays of Amtrak's Southwest Chief.

Sunday, December 17

President of Amtrak Is Said to Oust 5 of Its Top Officials (New York Times)
New Amtrak president fires CFO, VP Sales, police chief, and communications director.
Amtrak Offers New First Class Menu on Acela Express (Amtrak)
In response to rider comments, Amtrak introduces new first class meal service.
Duluth ponders commuter rail (Minnesota Public Radio)
Feasibility study expected for 150-mile route between Twin Cities and Duluth.
N.J. must wait for rail project (Courier Post)
Funding for preliminary work on a new Hudson Tunnel has been delayed a year.
Rail service gets $60 million boost (Times Union)
New York State pledges $60M over three years for passenger and freight rail projects.
Amtrak's Downeaster celebrates fifth-year anniversary (AP)
Boston to Portland route has served more than 1.4 million in its first five years.
Council kills light rail, blames federal government (Ottawa Citizen)
Lack of guaranteed funding causes Ottawa City Council to cancel light rail project.
Finances put the brakes on light-rail work (Sacramento Bee)
Sacramento transit officials say they have funding for only one more rail expansion.
Tunnel could make light rail come up short in Redmond (King County Journal)
Tunneling under downtown Bellevue could cause funding shortage for Seattle light rail.
Light Rail Line To Amtrak Depot Opens (AP)
Sacramento light rail extended to Amtrak station; plans call for airport link.
Amtrak ridership to Chicago soars (St. Louis Dispatch)
Ridership on expanded Chicago routes rises 35 to 61% from a year ago.
Amtrak's Philly-to-Harrisburg service not living up to promises (AP)
Keystone trains are habitually late, despite promises of faster and more frequent service.
Capitol Corridor riding high (San Francisco Chronicle)
Amtrak's Oakland to Sacramento route has increased from 3 to 16 round-trips per day.
1 fired, 2 on leave over derailment of MARTA train (AP)
Two train operators suspended, and dispatcher fired, for derailment on Atlanta's MARTA.

Thursday, November 30

Study says feds should own Northeast Corridor line (AP)
Business leaders propose transferring ownership from Amtrak to federal government.
Amtrak ridership increases (USA Today)
Total ridership up 1% in year ended September 30, including 8.8% Acela gain.
Light-rail tunnel gets key support (Seattle Times)
Transportation Secretary to recommend $750M federal funds for Seattle light rail tunnel.
Rail proposed Casper to Albuquerque (AP)
Non-profit seeks rail study from Casper, WY, through Denver to Albuquerque, NM.
Old rail cars may ride again (Times Union)
Budd RDCs may be used in commuter service between Saratoga Springs and Rensselaer.
Greenbush trains must be running before end of 2007 (Patriot Ledger)
Lawsuit settlement with environmental group commits Massachusetts to new rail line.
Amtrak to offer discounts to bring passengers back (AP)
Discounts intended to win riders after bus substitution on St. Louis to Kansas City route.
Train derailment in Bowie slows commuters (The Gazette)
CSX derailment cuts power to Northeast Corridor, impacting Amtrak and MARC.
Four rail cars back on track so far at derailment in Everett (Post-Intelligencer)
BNSF derailment suspends Amtrak and Sounder commuter rail north of Seattle.
Investigation faults CSX for commuter train derailment (AP)
NTSB says a known defective switch caused Virginia Railway Express derailment.

Wednesday, November 8

Explosives screening for rail passengers begins Tuesday (AP)
TSA begins screening Amtrak and light rail riders in Buffalo, New York.
Rail line gets boost from vote (Star-Telegram)
Grapevine voters overwhelmingly approve sales tax for commuter rail to Fort Worth.
LIRR workers closing dangerous gaps (WABC)
Long Island Rail Road to reduce gaps between trains and platforms after recent death.
PennDOT & Amtrak Celebrate Inaugural Run of New Keystone Service (Amtrak)
Amtrak launches faster and more frequent service between Philadelphia and Harrisburg.
New Amtrak service is quick, but more work needs to be done (Patriot-News)
Editorial: Expanded parking, food service, and frequency needed on Keystone Corridor.
Light rail finally gets green-light in Kansas City (AP)
City officials shocked as voters approve ballot initiative after six failed attempts.
Gubernatorial candidates pledge support for commuter rail (AP)
Four candidates support commuter rail from New Bedford to Boston.
Railroad demands immunity (Rocky Mountain News)
BNSF seeks immunity from lawsuits before light rail service can expand in Denver.

Monday, October 23

Amtrak adding trains (Pontiac Daily Leader)
Four new trains from Chicago to St. Louis, Carbondale, and Quincy begin October 30.
Proposed rail line would go to LAX (AP)
Planners seek $1 billion light rail route to Los Angeles International Airport by 2015.

Sunday, October 1

Commuter rail becoming popular in smaller cities (AP)
At least 31 cities have commuter rail projects in some stage of planning or development.
Amtrak requests yet more money (Washington Times)
New CEO says Amtrak must find new funding to supplement federal subsidy.
Amtrak assumes control of Acela maintenance (Reuters)
End of relationship with Bombardier/Alstom comes seven years earlier than planned.
Local officials hope Illinois Amtrak expansion will boost economy (AP)
Illinois doubles Amtrak funding to $24 million, increases service on Chicago corridors.
South Shore fastest growing commuter rail line in U.S. (Post-Tribune)
Chicago to South Bend route posts a 13% ridership increase for the year.
Amtrak adds fifth trip to Maine-Boston route (AP)
Fifth trip on Downeaster route will be operated by bus until trackwork is completed.
Transit plan aids MARC (Baltimore Sun)
$25 million purchase of maintenance yard from CSX could expand commuter rail service.
Subway crime dips to lowest rate in 37 yrs. (New York Daily News)
NYC subways have an average of seven felonies per day, down 19% from last year.
Tack on $35.9 million to light-rail project (Charlotte Observer)
Charlotte light rail to cost more than expected due to design and other problems.
Oklahoma, Texas agree to share cost of rail service (AP)
States will fund Amtrak's Heartland Flyer route as federal funds end.
Weller wants to increase funding for Amtrak (Herald News)
Illinois Congressman seeks support for $1.4 billion in Amtrak funding.
Toronto approves $710-million Bombardier subway contract (Canadian Press)
Bombardier to provide 234 subway cars to Toronto Transit Commission.
Work on L.A. Light-Rail Route to Begin (Los Angeles Times)
Construction begins on LA's 8.5-mile Expo Line to Culver City, set to open in 2010.

Saturday, September 23

Amtrak fares up; ridership adapts (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Monthly fare increases result in 20% decline in passes and 3% increase in revenues.
MTA chair comes out against service cuts (Newsday)
Chairman says he will oppose any fare increases or service cuts for NYC transit in 2007.
Official vows to solve train problems (Stamford Advocate)
Metro-North says 380 new rail cars and new catenary will expand New Haven Line.
Getting rail plans on track (Free Lance-Star)
Virginia Congresswoman seeks answers from VRE, Amtrak, and CSX to improve service.
Commuter rail construction set to start (KVUE)
Austin Texas begins construction of $90 million 32-mile commuter rail route.
It's time to vote on a rail system in the North Bay (San Francisco Chronicle)
Voters to decide on quarter-cent sales tax for 70-mile commuter rail service.
Rail line could be Trident express (Post and Courier)
Study would consider three commuter rail lines for Charleston, South Carolina.
Missing the train (Independent Weekly)
Charlotte light rail development provides an example for Raleigh-Durham.
Commuter rail expansion grant coming to RI (WPRI)
Officials expect $225 million project to extend service south of Providence in 2008.
Light Rail to serve Bergen Point (Jersey Journal)
NJ Transit will extend Hudson-Bergen Light Rail south to Bayonne's Bergen Point.
Stewart rail link is feasible, says Metro-North chief (Mid-Hudson News)
Metro-North Commuter Railroad may extend service three miles to Stewart Airport.
Electric rail recommended for DIA line (Rocky Mountain News)
Denver transit agency favors EMUs for speed, steeper grades, and efficiency.
Railway's light-rail stance irks suburbs (Rocky Mountain News)
Denver light rail advocates disappointed that BNSF may ban light rail on freight tracks.
House of Representatives Repeals Tunneling Ban (Los Angeles Times)
Safe tunneling technology could allow for Red Line subway extension to Santa Monica.
Some are seeking to derail talk of Scottsdale light rail (AP)
Some residents oppose proposal for light rail in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Judge refuses to throw out Metrolink crash victims' suit (LA Daily News)
Families of 11 commuters killed in 2005 Metrolink train crash may proceed with lawsuit.

Wednesday, September 13

New Jersey May Take Over Train Corridor, Corzine Says (Bloomberg)
Governor says state may acquire Northeast Corridor between New York and Trenton.
Governor Rendell, Amtrak Announce $145M Upgrade of Keystone Corridor
90-minute, 110 mph, electric service begins Oct. 30 between Harrisburg and Philadelphia.
Runaway Barge Crashes Into Railroad Bridge (Hartford Courant)
Amtrak service suspended two hours after barge hits Connecticut bridge.
Work to begin on $435 million expansion of Pittsburgh subway (AP)
Project will link downtown to North Shore will two light rail tunnels under river.
Study eyes FEC line for commuter rail service (Boca Raton News)
FEC route would serve downtowns currently bypassed by Tri-Rail service over CSX.
Railroad says RTD can't use light rail on Gold Line (Rocky Mountain News)
BNSF will not allow Denver's RTD to operate light rail on freight route.
Light-rail options on the table (Seattle Times)
Seattle's Sound Transit considers 19-mile Eastside light rail extension.
New light-rail routes considered (Arizona Republic)
Phoenix considers light rail expansion while first line is under construction.
Arlington gets started on rail plan (Star-Telegram)
Arlington Texas considers commuter rail service to Ft. Worth.
Bay area light rail idea back on radar (St. Petersburg Times)
Light rail service considered for Tampa Bay area.
Penn Station evacuated after suspicious package found (AP)
NYC's Penn Station evacuated minutes prior to ceremony at ground zero.
LIRR train derails on way into yard; no injuries (AP)
Long Island Rail Road train derails Tuesday heading into West Side yards.

Friday, September 1

Kummant Comes On Board As New Amtrak CEO (Forbes)
Former Union Pacific executive named as Amtrak chief effective September 12.
Metra Train Photo Ban 'Clarified' (NBC5)
Union Pacific backs down from photo ban due to public controversy.
East Coast officials gather in NYC to review India train bombings (AP)
State officials discuss potential rail security improvements.
Steady stream of riders inaugurates MetroLink (St. Louis Dispatch)
$678M, eight mile light rail extension to Shrewsbury opens in St. Louis.
Amtrak to start more trains to San Jose (Inside Bay Area)
Amtrak Capitol Corridor adds three daily roundtrips from Oakland to San Jose.
Amtrak adds service between Sacramento and Bay Area (Business Journal)
Sacramento to Oakland route gains four new weekday roundtrips.
Amtrak won't cut Tidewater trains (Times-Dispatch)
Amtrak reverses position over potential cut of train service to Newport News.
In Charlotte, light rail is on track (News & Observer)
Charlotte's light rail begins in 2007, while proposals fail in Raleigh-Durham.
Panel eyes commuter plan: Rockford to Elgin (Courier News)
Illinois state officials study transportation options between Rockford and Elgin.
Proposed Riverside-San Diego commuter rail to be restudied (Daily Transcript)
Riverside to reconsider commuter rail link to San Diego, initially rejected 15 years ago.
FTA action cited as ‘huge’ for rail reality by 2009 (ABC Newspapers)
Federal Transit Administration to approve Northstar Commuter Rail in Minneapolis.
Commuter and Light Rail Driving Development in California (CPN)
Rail expansion creates development opportunities in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
Bombardier subway deal clears hurdle (Globe and Mail)
Toronto Transit Commission passes controversial $674M contract for subway cars.
Record Third Quarter Ridership on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner (Amtrak)
High gas prices boost ridership on San Diego - Los Angeles - San Luis Obispo route.

Thursday, August 24

Straphangers Break Record For Fastest Subway System Ride (NY1)
Two young men navigate entire NYC subway system in 24 hours.
Sounder commuter rail facing growing pains (Seattle Times)
Commuter rail service between Seattle and Tacoma running at capacity.
State weighs routes for new commuter railroad tracks (The New Mexican)
New Mexico considers routes for proposed Albuquerque to Santa Fe commuter rail.
The gold standard for rail-line plans (Star-Telegram)
Proposed commuter rail between Grapevine and Fort Worth could start in five years.
Rail extension from Gilroy to Salinas moves closer to reality (Mercury News)
Project would extend San Francisco's Caltrain south to Salinas, Pajaro, and Castroville.
Proposed rail line dead in its tracks (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Pennsylvania Governor says there's no funding for proposed Reading-Philly route.
MTA ridership soars 36 percent (Newsday)
New York City's subways and buses post strong 10-year ridership gain.
Va. Commuter Rail Losing Passengers (Washington Post)
Virginia Railway Express annual ridership declines 120,000 due to delays.
Amtrak to cut Richmond-Tidewater? (Times-Dispatch)
Amtrak considers cutting half of service between Richmond and Newport News.
Music City Star begins testing at full speed today (Tennessean.com)
Nashville commuter rail begins full speed tests in preparation for September launch.
Northstar Rail project close to FTA OK (Minneapolis Business Journal)
Federal Transit Administration gives approval for Minneapolis commuter rail project.
New Light Rail Will Change Options For Commuters (CBS4)
Denver light rail expansion set to open in November and serve 34,000 riders/day.
Southeast light rail debate continues (News 14)
Decision concerning proposed Charlotte light rail route is delayed one month.
Union Station owner says he wants Amtrak to stay (Norwich Bulletin)
Owner of New London Connecticut station seeks public-private partnership.
Commuter rail head steps down under fire (Boston Globe)
MBTA general manager resigns over criticism of Boston's commuter rail performance.

Sunday, August 13

Travelers turn to Amtrak after airline terrorism plot (Bloomberg)
Amtrak bookings rise due to new screening standards and delays at airports.
CTA Train Switches Off Tracks On Northwest Side (CBS2)
Chicago subway derails early Saturday morning as switch is changed mid-train.
Rail advocates hope commuter system will roll on (Reporter-Herald)
Front Range Commuter Rail Corp. weeks Wyoming to New Mexico service over BNSF.
Court upholds random searches in NYC subway (AP)
New York Civil Liberties Union challenged actions as intrusion into privacy.
Commuter rail riders given a chance to vent (Boston Globe)
Boston MBTA commuters are angered over on-time performance declines.
Commuter rail tests show peril at signals (The Tennessean)
Engineers see vehicles trying to cross tracks during Nashville commuter rail tests.
Light Rail Train Slams Into NJ Transit Bus (1010 WINS)
NJ Transit light rail train and bus collide Friday evening, injuring 15.
Amtrak Adjusts Schedule Of Pere Marquette To Accommodate Track Work
Temporary schedule will last into August as CSX completes track improvements.

Sunday, August 6

Commuter-rail line on tap for '09 (Sun-Sentinel)
Florida to purchase track from CSX, launch Orlando commuter rail service by 2009.
Light rail's freight expectations still alive (Rocky Mountain News)
Denver considers use of shared freight routes for light rail expansion.
Amtrak Pennsylvania Keystone Service Ridership Continues to Grow (Amtrak)
Ridership on Amtrak's Philadelphia-Harrisburg corridor increases 20% in June.
SF Muni Blames Fallen Antennae for Derailment of Train (KCBS)
Fallen antennae from previous train responsible for San Francisco Muni tunnel derailment.

Thursday, July 27

Downeaster chugs forward with 31 percent gain in ridership (AP)
Portland to Boston service posts highest annual ridership gain of any Amtrak route.
Passenger Support of Amtrak Reaches New Levels (AP)
Nearly one million used Illinois state-subsidized routes last year, an increase of 12.5%.
Commuter rail struggles to meet surge in ridership (Boston Globe)
Boston commuter rail operator struggles to repair equipment and meet rising demand.
Documents from fatal Metra derailment released (AP)
Transcripts indicate that engineer denies fault in Chicago commuter rail crash.
NJ Transit opens light-rail line in downtown Newark (AP)
Light rail connects Newark's two rail hubs with stops at entertainment and sports venues.
Amtrak Gives New Two-Tier Jersey Trains One Big Headache (NY Times)
Test run of NJ Transit's new bi-level trains tears down signals in Penn Station.
Amtrak turns off outlets on Acelas after problems (AP)
Amtrak disables electrical outlets on Acela Express due to short-circuiting problems.

Saturday, July 15

Feds expected to designate Hudson tunnel project as a priority (AP)
New York and New Jersey senators, governors, and transit agencies back $6B project.
NYC Officials Work to Secure Tunnels (AP)
NYC's MTA, PATH, and Amtrak harden tunnels to protect against bombing and flood.
Amtrak funding stays steady in House bill (Journal Star)
House approves $1.3B for Amtrak in '07, equal to '06 and above Bush proposed $900M.
Protecting rail lines to be a main focus of anti-terror money (AP)
New Jersey Transit and PATH seek ways to secure transit systems.
NTSB: Chicago Subway Track Was Too Wide (AP)
Chicago subway derailment that hospitalized 150 caused by out-of-gauge track.
Train service back to normal (Toronto Star)
GO Transit resumes after a Canadian National derailment stranded commuters Friday.
Train would link Ohio cities (Enquirer)
$3.2B high-speed rail plan would link Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Cleveland.
Rail Runner sets off on inaugural trip (New Mexico Business Weekly)
Commuter rail service begins Friday on Albuquerque to Bernalillo route.
Light rail chosen to link Seattle, Eastside (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Sound Transit chooses $3.9B light rail for 11 mile link between Seattle and Redmond.
Planners seek commuter, tourist uses for Mountain Division rail (KeepMeCurrent)
Maine considers potential uses of state-owned railroad.
Boston train service to add weekend runs (Providence Journal)
MBTA adds night and weekend service on Boston to Providence route.
Port Authority gives nod to twin tunnels under Allegheny River (Post-Gazette)
Pittsburgh's Port Authority awards contract for light rail tunnels under Allegheny RIver.
Metra builds its case for STAR Line (Schaumburg Review)
Proposed route would link O'Hare and Joliet over the Elgin Joliet & Eastern Railway.
ACE trains expected to run Friday (Contra Costa Times)
Altamont Commuter Express resumes commuter rail service Friday after fires.
Acela Express Cafe Cars Introduce Wireless Processing of Credit Cards (Amtrak)
Amtrak to provide instant authorization of credit card purchases in Acela cafe cars.

Tuesday, July 4

NTSB interviews SEPTA crew (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Thirty riders hospitalized Saturday from a head-on commuter rail crash in Philadelphia.
Subway train traveling at twice normal speed, says official (Canadian Press)
Spanish train that derailed and killed 41 was traveling at twice the speed limit.
Long-term rail plans clash (Dallas Morning News)
DART and city of Dallas unveil competing long-term visions for rail transit in North Texas.
Residents vote on light rail question (Pacific Business News)
Hawaii residents consider Honolulu to Kapolei light rail proposal.
Amtrak to restore more service in Western Upstate New York (Amtrak)
Two Empire Service trains added to Maple Leaf and Lake Shore Limited west of Albany.
Tax break for Turnpike drivers, MBTA commuters in state budget (AP)
Massachusetts considers tax breaks for subway, bus, and commuter rail riders.
Island rail operator revealed (The Chronicle)
Southern Railway of British Columbia to operate Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway.
Central Valley commuter rail line considered (Central Valley Business Times)
San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission to consider commuter rail from Sacramento.
Sounder popularity pinching parking (King County Journal)
Sound Transit seeks expanded parking due to increased commuter rail ridership.
Amtrak, ACE raise fares effective today (The Argus)
Fares rise for Amtrak Capitol Corridor and Altamont Commuter Express.
TTA eyes partnership for rail line (Herald-Sun)
TTA seeks federal funding and private investment for Raleigh-Durham commuter rail.
Detouring commuter train would cost $81 million (Sun-Sentinel)
Rerouting around residential neighborhood would add to Fort Lauderdale light rail cost.

Saturday, June 24

Amtrak exec details shutdown (Star-Ledger)
Amtrak says three recent power failures cannot be blamed on deteriorating infrastructure.
Study: Extending South Shore commuter line would create jobs (AP)
Commuter rail expansion to Valparaiso and Lowell could create 7,000 jobs over 25 years.
Feds: Not our problem (New York Daily News)
Homeland Security won't say whether a rail hub 15 stories below street would be safe.
Is Amtrak service coming to Rolla? (Rolla Daily News)
Missouri DOT proposes daily service between Springfield and St. Louis.

Wednesday, June 21

Atlantic City casino train gets fast passage (Asbury Park Press)
Casinos to fund express rail service between New York and Atlantic City by fall 2007.
Amtrak Statement on Power Fluctuations Affecting Morning Rush Hour (Amtrak)
Wednesday power outage had causes unrelated to similar events of the past month.
Schumer Throws Support Behind S.I. Light Rail System (NY1)
New York senator supports light rail for Staten Island.
Oft-delayed commuter rail has 'unofficial' start date: Sept. 18 (Tennessean.com)
Nashville's Music City Star commuter rail service to begin in September.
New train names (Copley News Service)
A president, a poet, a dog proposed for Amtrak routes being added in Illinois.
Work begins on commuter rail in northern Utah (ABC4)
Construction begins on new commuter rail line north of Salt Lake City.
All aboard: Amtrak adds train to Portland (Seattle Times)
Fourth train will be added to service between Seattle and Portland on July 1.
Fate of Central Corridor linked to funding questions (Minnesota Public Radio)
Voters to decide on $840 million light rail line between St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Group Works To Bring Passenger Trains To Dubuque (KWWL)
Northern Illinois-Eastern Iowa Rail Coalition promotes service from Chicago to Dubuque.

Friday, June 9

Amtrak still looking for cause of May power outage (AP)
Cause of May 25th power outage on Northeast Corridor is still under investigation.
Amtrak pledges help for NJ Transit riders (Bloomberg)
Diesel engine placed at Hudson River Tunnel entrance in case of future power outage.
Meep! Meep! Here Comes the Rail Runner (EVWorld.com)
Albuquerque commuter rail service to begin July 14.
For more information: www.nmrailrunner.com
Speedier cheap rail to N.Y.? (Philadelphia Inquirer)
NJ Transit may provide express service between Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark NJ.
Twin Cities-Duluth rail line gains steam (AP)
$100M proposal calls for daily high-speed passenger service in Minnesota by 2010.
Amtrak makes itself handheld accessible (Baltimore Business Journal)
Amtrak Mobile provides wireless access to reservations, train status, and schedules.
City-State Battle Looms At New Moynihan Station (New York Observer)
New York Governor and Mayor disagree on timing of proposed NYC station.
A lack of maintenance to blame for subway flooding? (ABC7)
Five times in the past 20 months, torrential rain storms have shutdown NYC subways.
Developers may help fund North transit line (Charlotte Observer)
Private funds could pay half the cost of Charlotte's North Corridor commuter rail line.
Tax measure loss cripples San Jose BART extension (Inside Bay Area)
Santa Clara County voters reject half-cent sales tax that could fund BART expansion.
TTC subway getting a makeover and new name (CTV)
Toronto Transit Commission to spend $750M on 234 new subway trains by 2011.
Eastern Corridor Could Include Light-Rail Route (ChannelCincinnati.com)
Cincinnati's proposed Eastern Corridor project includes 17 miles of light rail.
Metra Engineer Says He Will Appeal Termination (CBS)
Chicago railroad engineer appeals dismissal on grounds that he did not cause derailment.

Wednesday, May 31

Schumer Calling For Special Amtrak Investigation (CBS)
New York Senator seeks investigation of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor power outage.
Rail Officials Promise a Faster Response to Future Problems (New York Times)
Amtrak and NJ Transit dissatisfied with response to 68 trains stranded up to five hours.
Amtrak facing big budget cut - for now - after House panel vote (AP)
Appropriations Subcommittee sets budget at $900M, a decline of more than one-third.
Amtrak presses its probe of massive rail power outage (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Substation data expected to explain cause of Northeast Corridor power outage.
Massive outage latest woe for beleaguered Amtrak (AP)
Thursday power outage halts Amtrak and commuter trains between NY and Washington.
Ottawa's rail renaissance generates electric debate (Ottawa Citizen)
Critics question choice of first phase for Ottawa's light rail network.
Railroad travelers tested for explosives (Daily News)
Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road passengers screened for explosives.
Norristown left at the station (Times Herald)
Norristown excluded from latest plan to extend Philadelphia commuter rail to Quakertown.
Sneak peek ride given on Rail Runner (News-Bulletin)
Commuter rail service from Albuquerque to Bernalillo debuts this summer.
What irks LIRR riders? (Newsday)
Long Island Rail Road riders cite cell phones and garbage as top complaints.

Tuesday, May 23

Durbin Rallies To Restore Rockford Amtrak Service (Sun-Times)
Senator seeks meeting to discuss restoring train service to Chicago's far northwest suburb.
Amtrak tracks shut down after New York-bound train's accident (AP)
Northeast Corridor service suspended Monday afternoon after pedestrian death.
I-25 rail route gains favor (The New Mexican)
New Mexico residents consider routes for commuter rail expansion to Santa Fe.
Former Amtrak chief: transportation needs help (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Gunn says country is not addressing funding and planning to ease highway congestion.
ACE puts BART commuter link on the fast track (The Record)
Altamont Commuter Express seeks better connection to Bay Area's BART.
Rail advocates to roll out $2.2B plan (State House News Service)
New user fees and existing taxes could fund Massachusetts commuter rail expansion.
Residents rail against MBTA studies (Metro West Daily News)
Boston area residents speak-out against proposed commuter rail and freight expansion.
Fog lifting on commuter rail windows (Boston Globe)
MBTA to replace 6,000 blurry windows on Boston commuter rail trains.
Proposed railway given a green light (Daily Press)
Environmental approval granted for initial 7-mile light rail line in Norfolk, Virginia.
Light rail system touted (Oak Bay News)
Two residents advocate light rail service for Victoria, British Columbia.
UP Conditionally Turns Down Temporary Rail Service in Utah County (KSL)
Union Pacific rejects temporary commuter rail, citing need for permanent plan.
Still a chance light rail could span Columbia (The Oregonian)
Proposal to link Portland and Vancouver Washington with commuter rail survives vote.

Tuesday, May 16

Amtrak routes likely to expand (News Tribune)
Illinois to expand Amtrak service by October.
NYC subway tunnels may soon be ad space (AP)
Electric panels would broadcast commercials on tunnel walls, timed with train speed.
Officials say commuter rail should be open by summer’s end (City Paper)
Nashville's first commuter rail service to open late summer, despite insurance concerns.
Not all are on board (Boston Globe)
Opinions differ on the extension of commuter rail service to Fall River and New Bedford.
Purple Line Sparks Election Debate (Washington Post)
Proposed light rail line would link Bethesda, Silver Spring, and New Carrollton.
What's ahead for MAX and why it matters (The Oregonian)
Money and politics will test Portland's light-rail system in the next 20 years.
Next stop: approval of tracks for future train (Miami Herald)
Proposal would bring commuter rail service south of Miami.
Tri-Rail ridership figures are up 15% in seven weeks (Sun-Sentinel)
Southern Florida commuter rail agency sees ridership gains due to new service, higher gas.
Platform to allow Amtrak's return (Daily Herald)
New station in Stanwood Washington will provide first daily train service since 1970s.
All aboard Amtrak - really (Register-Mail)
Ridership up 28% in Galesburg Illinois since 2002.
Streetcar plan rolled out (Denver Post)
$700 million east rail line will link Union Station and Denver International Airport.

Wednesday, May 10

How Metro Shapes D.C. (Washington Post)
With new expansions planned, Washington DC Metro has shaped the places it serves.
Spitzer Is Cool to Pataki's Plan for a Rail Link to Kennedy (New York Times)
Attorney General says $6B rail link to airport would not be priority if he became governor.
Northstar Commuter Rail officials and BNSF reach agreement (Star News)
Construction and operating agreement reached for 40mi Minneapolis commuter rail line.
Votes on railway pension strikes (BBC)
Potential mid-June strike would be UK's first industry-wide railway stoppage since 1926.

Wednesday, May 3

Security alert issued to mass transit (AP)
Homeland Security reminds transit agencies to remain on guard.
New Caltrain program focuses on safety around tracks (Mercury News)
Commuter railroad launches education, fencing, and enforcement efforts to increase safety.
Rio Gets Female-Only Subway Cars (Truthdig)
Brazilian city is third world-wide to mandate female-only subway cars.
New cars to ply Tri-Rail tracks (Miami Herald)
Miami commuter rail agency to receive new diesel multiple units (DMUs) by July.
Gas prices boon for NJ Transit ridership (Asbury Park Press)
Rising gas price result in 11% ridership game at New Jersey Transit.
Appeals Judges Hear Subway Search Debate (New York Times)
Civil liberties lawyer challenges federal appeals court over NYC subway searches.
Rallying for rail (Reformer.com)
Opinion: Improved rail service is vital to New England's economy.

Sunday, April 30

After 35 years, Amtrak's future uncertain (AP)
Critics to gather in Washington as Amtrak enters 36th year on Monday.
Bill Boosts Rails' Role (Hartford Courant)
Connecticut's $2.3 billion transportation package to expand commuter rail service.
High-Speed Rail Plan Along I-4 Down, But Still Not Out (The Ledger)
High-speed rail plan stalls, but Orlando commuter rail could be operational by 2009.
Commuter rail looks more like glorified streetcar, critics say (Ottawa Citizen)
Critics says higher costs and slower service of new proposal are not practical.
Fairfax Board on Track To Consider Streetcars (Washington Post)
Proposal calls for 4.7 mile streetcar in Arlington and Fairfax, Virginia.
Commuter Rail on Slow Track (Wisconsin St