Commuter Rail, Light Rail & Rail Transit News

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Thursday, August 9

• NY Governor Demands Answers From MTA Over Mass Transit Failure in Heavy Rains (AP)
• CTA softens Chicago transit cuts' impact (Chicago Tribune)
• Contract awarded for Santa Fe rail service (AP)
• U.S. agency steps into fray over SEPTA transfers (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• A collision of errors on the SEPTA's R2 (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• 16-Day Philadelphia El Summer Shutdown to Begin Friday Evening (SEPTA)
• Metro-North caters to demand with plans to add service, upgrade equipment (Journal News)
• More Amtrak Cascades Service Additions Through the Week (Amtrak)
• Amtrak Adjusts Schedule of Keystones to Accomodate Track Work (Amtrak)
• Rail Passengers Urge Federal Regulators' Caution on Michigan Rail Lease Proposal (NARP)
• Metra train partially derails, causes delays (Chicago Tribune)
• In Wake Of Square Revival, Old PATCO Station May Reopen (Evening Bulletin)

Sunday, August 5

• Final vote seals Central Florida commuter rail (Orlando Sentinel)
• Austin commuter rail contracts approved (Austin Business Journal)
• Complications Hindering Moynihan Station Plans (New York Times)
• Commuter Rail System Coming to the Triangle? (WRAL)
• Downeaster adds fifth daily round trip between Boston-Portland (Amtrak)
• NJ Transit passengers evacuated when train gets stuck in tunnel (Courier Post)
• Governor renews plan to run commuter rail to South Coast, via Attleboro (Sun Chronicle)
• Amtrak Missouri Service Schedules Change August 8 to Reflect Track Work Progress (Amtrak)
• Dismissed as head of Amtrak, Dave Gunn now helping Strait Area transit (Chronicle Herald)
• Home markets near rail lines faring better (Asbury Park Press)

Sunday, July 29

• New York Must Mind Its $965 Million Transit Gap (Bloomberg)
• Amtrak supporters derail subsidy cutters (AP)
• State pledges $1.5 million for Ann Arbor commuter rail line (Metromode)
• New York's MTA proposes fare hikes (Newsday)
• Electric rail to Denver International Airport, Arvada (Denver Post)
• Metro-North looks to accommodate growing east of Hudson ridership (Mid-Hudson News)
• Metro-North express line Stamford to NYC coming (AP)
• New Hampshire eyes commuter rail link to Massachusetts (AP)
• Suspicious briefcase delays Long Island Rail Road service (Newsday)
• Testimony starts in LIRR conductor's cancer suit (Newsday)
• Moodna Viaduct repairs scheduled for this weekend (Times Herald-Record)
• New commuter rail cars to roll in Indiana (The Times)
• Jonesboro first stop for Georgia commuter-rail pitch (Clayton News Daily)

Sunday, July 22

• It's official: SEPTA will get more state aid (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Yankee Stadium Metro-North Railroad station groundbreaking today (Journal News)
• Metro-North to study access to Stewart International Airport (Poughkeepsie Journal)
• NJ Transit's ridership steadily climbing (Secaucus Journal)
• Security has left the station (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Boston rail riders will be able to track trains (BostonNOW)

Sunday, July 15

• New Hampshire railway revival a step closer to reality (Boston Globe)
• Pascack Valley line to expand services to middays, weekends (Times Herald-Record)
• Poconos commuter rail link funding clears U.S. Senate committee (Pocono News)
• Metra plans to increase Union Pacific services (Wheaton Sun)
• Wisconsin KRM rail plan does not make Republican budget (Journal Times)
• BART may install TVs on trains, in stations (Contra Costa Times)
• Amtrak budget debated; Bush threatens veto (Boston Globe)
• Amtrak Introduces New Quik-Trak Machines in Stations from Coast to Coast
• Union boss says train doors, not crew, at fault in deadly accident (NJ.com)
• High-speed corridor from Southeast to D.C., more commuter trains in the offing (AJC)

Sunday, July 8

• Phoenix-Tucson commuter rail gains support (Arizona Republic)
• High-speed rail may link Midwest (Indianapolis Star)
• LIRR, Metro-North only to use third rail (Newsday)
• Boy, 6, falls into LIRR gap in Babylon (Newsday)
• Subway Searches Go on Quietly, Just How Police Like Them (New York Times)
• Complaints, resignation greet MTA fare increases (Los Angeles Times)
• Security net tightened as N.J. reacts to terror threat (North Jersey Media)

Sunday, July 1

• SEPTA approves fare hike, eliminates use of transfers (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Pennsylvania House OKs transit bill, including more $$ for SEPTA (Philadelphia Daily News)
• JFK rail link's on track for a $2B boost (NY Daily News)
• Former PA governor Schweiker urges “commitment” to improving Amtrak (Phila Inquirer)
• Public hears plans to restore commuter service to Quakertown, PA (The Intelligencer)
• NARP Unveils Proposal for More Extensive Passenger and Freight Rail Network (NARP)

Sunday, June 24

• Rail lines spurring an urban revival; new housing, stores rise near transit facilities (WSJ)
• Amtrak, Union Pacific Reach Agreement for Passenger Train Performance Plan (Amtrak)
• Congressman Boozman Withdraws anti-Amtrak Amendment (Times Record)
• Plan for expanded MARC commuter rail service urged (Baltimore Sun)
• Burgeoning Maricopa AZ takes closer look at commuter rail options (AP)
• Arizona tracking shuttle-train idea (Arizona Republic)
• Expanded PATCO rail routes to be studied (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Metro-North train derails en route to Waterbury (AP)
• Hope glimmers for Amtrak stop in Plaistow, NH (Eagle-Tribune)
• Charlotte rail's early opening hinges on station (Charlotte Observer)
• Far from a smooth start for new Tri-Rail service (Miami Herald)

Thursday, June 14

• Amtrak president says old equipment could slow expansion plans (AP)
• Presidential candidate Richardson says light rail could transform L.A., other cities (AP)
• Officials Announce Second Amtrak Cascades Train to Vancouver, Canada (Amtrak)
• California governor wants to shift $1.3 billion from transit in budget (Union-Tribune)
• California high-speed rail called dead (North County Times)
• New Haven Line trains may run to NJ for Giants, Jets games in 2009 (The Journal News)
• NJ Transit buying 45 multilevel train cars (Asbury Park Press)
• Group desires streetcar line for Kansas City (Kansas City Star)
• Dispatcher said it was her fault soon after Boston commuter train crash (AP)
• MBTA rails at mandate for turtle crossing: $4M project ‘makes no sense’ (Boston Herald)
• Long Island Rail Road gets its first woman president (AP)

Sunday, June 3

• Amtrak's popularity rises as punctuality slides (Grand Rapids Press)
• Chicago's CTA Was Considering Fare Hike To $7 (CBS2)
• Senator critical of SEPTA's delay in raising fares (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• New ticket to ride: Smart card (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• LIRR shifts third rail at some 'gap' stations (Newsday)
• NYC Transit President: Faster, Longer Trains May Help Ease Overcrowding (NY1)
• Amtrak Adjusts Schedule of Pere Marquette to Accommodate Track Work  (Amtrak)

Sunday, May 27

• Anaheim, LA, and San Francisco: High-speed rail's first route is set (Whitter Daily News)
• More money sought for California high-speed rail (AP)
• MoDOT & Amtrak Urge Union Pacific to Improve Service (Amtrak)
• Amtrak Delivers Study of Passenger Rail Service between St. Louis and Springfield (Amtrak)
• Feasibility study considering Calgary-Edmonton bullet train (Canadian Press)
• Amtrak Pontiac-to-Chicago route may get federal funds (Detroit News)
• Will Toledo be next stop in U.S. light-rail boom? (Toledo Blade)
• Minnesota's Northstar Commuter Rail Line clears major hurdle (Business North)
• Deal struck in Montreal transit strike (Canadian Press)
• Transportation officials weigh future of Georgia commuter rail (Savannah Morning News)
• Connecticut commuter rail riders call for improved bar cars (Stamford Advocate)
• North Carolina passenger train service faces obstacles (Sun Journal)
• Toronto's GO Transit has survived many bumps (Toronto Sun)
• Metro-North: Proposed rail projects would complement, not compete (Journal News)

Sunday, May 13

• Project To Bring LIRR Trains To Grand Central Right On Track (NY1)
• Business sends SOS to state about RTA: More mass transit funds urged (Chicago Tribune)
• SEPTA 'doomsday' vote set for May 24 (PhillyBurbs)
• SEPTA's nerve center tracks trains, buses by the minute (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• New York MTA chairman Kalikow to resign (Newsday)
• Amtrak's Missouri Mules Service Disruption Due To Union Pacific Congestion (Amtrak)
• Schwarzenegger may be getting on board high-speed rail project (AP)
• Virginia Railway Express's Ridership Decline Continues (Washington Post)

Sunday, May 6

• Controversy over UK maglev proposals (BBC)
• Winter Park officials OK Florida commuter-rail agreement (Orlando Sentinel)
• Amtrak chooses former veterans affairs official for CFO job (AP)
• Tri-Rail funding in jeopardy (Miami Herald)
• Tulsa Transit Considering A Commuter Train (KOTV)
• Fantasy maps re-imagine public transit (LA Times)
• Work Stays on Hold After Deaths in Subway (New York Times)
• Long Island Rail Road revises Third Track plan (Newsday)

Sunday, April 29

• $11.4B Amtrak bill clears first hurdle with Senate Commerce Committee approval (Gannett)
• CSX sees faster passenger trains on Richmond-D.C. tracks (Free-Lance Star)
• Japan plans to launch Maglev rail service in 2025 (Manila Times)
• SEPTA's Paoli Line and Amtrak's Keystone Corridor adjusted for trackwork (Amtrak)
• Rocky Mountain high speed train proposal picking up steam (AP)
• MODOT Official Insists a Few Changes Could Make Amtrak More Popular (Missourinet)
• California high-speed rail may be derailed: Schwarzenegger to slash funding (LA Times)
• Sound Transit proposes extended light-rail package (AP)
• Wisconsin Commuter Rail Cost Detailed (Wisconsin State Journal)
• Valley Metro Calls Overnight Test of Phoenix Light Rail a Success (KTAR)
• New Bedford commuter rail proponents won't oppose Wareham extension (Standard-Times)
• Regional rail ridership up, SEPTA will add 16 cars (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• MTA closing the gap at many stations (Newsday)
• VIA restores Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor after Canadian National derailment (CBC)
• Connecticut Rail Service Disrupted by Fallen Wires (Bloomberg)

Sunday, April 22

• Bipartisan Senate bill tackles nation's transportation needs (AAR)
• China Increasing Use of Speedy Trains (AP)
• New Amtrak Service Could Boost "the Sixth Borough" (New York Sun)
• Safety issues could delay LA's Exposition Line light rail (Los Angeles Times)
• Upscale rail service between NYC and Atlantic City to launch by year end (Courier-Post)
• Rail Passengers Urge Congress to Support Passenger Rail Growth (NARP)
• NJ Transit to increase train and bus fares by June 1 (Asbury Park Press)
• Amtrak Schedule Back To Normal After Delays From Flooding, Winds (NBC4)
• Crowds, not gap widths, cause Long Island Rail Road injuries (Newsday)

Sunday, April 15

• Orlando commuter rail runs into 'deal-killer' (Orlando Sentinel)
• Doesn't run in Fla. Stalled at ODU. Now maglev maven is in Georgia. (Virginian-Pilot)
• Amtrak CEO views Downeaster as a model for other states (AP)
• Charleston commuter rail study expands (Post and Courier)
• Shanghai to expand 'maglev' route for World Expo (Reuters)
• Tragic Commuter Train Crash in California Damages Denver Transit System (AC)
• SEPTA's 'doomsday' plan assailed (Philadelphia Daily News)

Sunday, April 8

• Amtrak CEO: Rail service will suffer under 2008 budget (Congress Daily)
• Massachusetts Governor to unveil commuter rail plan for New Bedford, Fall River (AP)
• Hays County wants in on Austin-San Antonio commuter rail (News 8 Austin)
• St. Cloud goes back on the Northstar drawing board (Star Tribune)
• 58 Minor Injuries in Paris Train Crash (AP)
• Hoboken PATH derailment is 2nd of week (Jersey Journal)
• San Francisco Muni's Third Street Light Rail Begins Full Service (UCSF Today)
• Philadelphia threatens to seize subways from SEPTA (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• 2nd Ave. Subway Platforms May Get Glass Walls and Sliding Doors (New York Times)
• Charlotte light-rail opponents have 63,000 petition signatures (Charlotte Observer)
• Residents talking about extending Maryland trains to York, PA (York Daily Record)
• Commuter rail to Cleveland gains support (Morning Journal)
• Atlanta-Lovejoy commuter rail on hold (News-Daily)
• Ann Arbor - Detroit train delayed until 2008 (Ann Arbor News)
• Florida officials envision commuter train along Beeline (Palm Beach Post)
• Revived streetcar shelved again (Charlotte Observer)

Thursday, March 29

• NY Amtrak train riders' bags to be checked (AP)
• Six feared dead as Beijing subway tunnel collapses (Reuters)
• Austin commuter rail gets closer with new trains (Austin Business Journal)
• Adding Tampa rail service 'not for the faint of heart' (St. Petersburg Times)

Sunday, March 25

• NJ Transit's $7.3B plan receives praise (Times Herald-Record)
• SEPTA's 'worst case scenario' (PhillyBurbs.com)
• TSA, New York state police join commuter rail security effort (AP)
• Rail on track for 2008: MetroRail connects Northwest Austin to Downtown (Impact)
• Now Arriving: A Bigger and Better Amtrak Timetable for Spring-Summer 2007 (Amtrak)
• Will Northstar commuter rail line grow? (St. Cloud Times)
• Passenger rail bound for Duluth is authority’s goal (ABC Newspapers)

Sunday, March 18

• Senate Democrats Propose $1.78 Billion for Amtrak (AP)
• Burned Rail Trestle Halts Amtrak Service (AP)
• $6-billion light-rail network to transform Toronto (Globe and Mail)
• Volusia cringes at rising price tag of Orlando commuter rail (Orlando Sentinel)
• Commuter Rail Proponents Ask for a New Hampshire State Rail Authority (NHPR)
• Michigan commuter rail concept gains steam (Daily Press & Argus)

Sunday, March 11

• Intercity Amtrak bill gains momentum (Gannett News Service)
• Amtrak Provides Study to Restore Rail Service to Rockford and Northwestern Illinois
• Interest rising in restoration of Twin Cities to Duluth train (AP)
• Is Amtrak service in Watertown's future? (Watertown Daily Times)
• Northwest Arkansas Light Rail Study Wins National Award (University of Arkansas)
• Northstar, railway and state sign pact for Minneapolis commuter rail (St. Cloud Times)
• Rock slide cleared, Capitol Corridor trains running normally (Inside Bay Area)
• Faster Amtrak trains to Chicago proposed for local travelers (WSBT)
• Metra, Freight Train Collision Injures 6 (CBS2 Chicago)
• Track Glitch Delays Thousands As Tri-Rail Idled (CBS4)
• Sacramento Expresses Desire for Streetcars (News10)
• Norfolk light rail plans continue rolling forward (Virginian-Pilot)
• Metro-North riders face $1 surcharge (Connecticut Post)
• Light Rail Makes Stop in Santa Monica (Lookout)
• Metra to add service for reverse-commuters, CTA riders (Chicago Tribune)
• Metro-North to study derailment issue near Grand Central Terminal (The Advocate)

Sunday, March 4

• Business leaders favor Amtrak funding, which they link to economy (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Washington County getting Oregon's first-ever commuter rail (KGW)
• Canadian National Clears Tracks After Derailment; GO Transit resumes (Bloomberg)
• Western fringe lauds Metra (Kane County Chronicle)

Tuesday, February 20

• Amtrak asks Congress to boost funding 18 percent to $1.53 billion (AP)
• New York-to-Atlantic City train may bypass New Jersey stops (AP)
• Cape-Wareham commuter rail feasible, but costly, study finds (Standard Times)
• Proposal would extend Amtrak route from Oklahoma to KC (Wichita Eagle)
• VRE would like to see an earlier, express train (Free Lance-Star)
• Bill Would Extend Shore Rail Service To New London (Hartford Courant)
• Shore Line East gains popularity (Branford Review)
• Metra sees record ridership in '06 (Chicago Tribune)
• Ridership up on Illinois Amtrak trains from Carbondale (The Southern)

Sunday, February 18

• Milwaukee commuter rail plan moves down track (Business Journal of Milwaukee)
• Critics question demand for Passaic-Bergen rail line (North Jersey Media)
• City Installs "Shocking" System To Rid Subway Platforms Of Pigeons (NY1)
• SEPTA says fares will rise, service could drop (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• NJ Transit plans to raise fares nearly 10 percent (Courier Post)

Sunday, February 11

• Top Official To Urge Federal Funding for East Side Subway Line (New York Sun)
• House Lifts L.A. Subway Tunneling Ban (ABC7)
• Amtrak suspends service west of Albany due to snow (AP)
• Residents debate FasTracks commuter rail vs. streetcars (Rocky Mountain News)
• Commuter rail planned by Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor News)
• Man Pleads Not Guilty In Subway Mercury Spill (AP)

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 State Journal)
  Proposed commuter rail service in Madison Wisconsin is still 4-5 years away.
• Why don't we have high-speed trains in the U.S.? (Penn State Live)
  Lack of political support has kept the US years behind Europe and Asia in high-speed rail.
• Expansion of North Station to be done by November (AP)
  Boston's North Station, serving commuter rail and Amtrak's Downeaster, to be expanded.
• MBTA Proposing Subway Fare Increase (CBS4)
  Boston subway, bus, and commuter rail fares would rise sharply under proposal.
• Light rail to go to UW (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
  Board approves plan to extend light rail to the University of Washington by 2016.
• Rail backers want veto for rail money restriction (News-Daily)
  Commuter rail supporters call on Georgia governor to veto rail funding restriction.
• Amtrak adds sweetener to apology for late trains (Sacramento Bee)
  Amtrak offers 10% discount for riders of late California Capitol Corridor trains.

Tuesday, April 25

• High gasoline prices filling U.S. bus, train seats (Reuters)
  US transit systems see continued ridership gains as gas prices top $3/gallon.
• Interest in Arizona commuter rail grows (Arizona Republic)
  Support grows for commuter rail service linking Phoenix, Tucson, and suburbs.
• Commuter rail line is getting renewed push (Morning Journal)
  Proposal would bring commuter rail service from Lorain to Cleveland, Ohio.
• New rail yard in Pawtucket expected to be done soon (AP)
  Rhode Island yard will house commuter trains on the Boston-to-Providence line.

Friday, April 21

• Train ticket sales hot on New England line (AP)
  Amtrak's Boston-Portland Downeaster often sold-out days in advance.
• Arizona considers commuter rail (ASU Web Devil)
  Proposals would bring service to existing UP and BNSF track in Tempe and Phoenix.
• 'Brain Train' linking Athens and Atlanta chugging along (AP)
  Business leaders, academics, and community activists support commuter rail plan.
• Rail transit foes speak up (Miami Herald)
  Residents along Florida East Coast corridor oppose service parallel to existing CSX route.
• Music City Star launch date may be pushed back till ‘07 (City Paper)
  Liability insurance could delay launch of Nashville's first commuter rail line.
• More cities find benefits in light rail (Detroit Free Press)
  Backers say it lures investors; critics say buses are cheaper.
• Light rail tunnel in the making (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
  Dual mile-long tunnels under construction for Seattle light rail project.
• Amtrak Cascade train service back on track (Bellingham Herald)
  Passenger service resumes north of Seattle following mudslides near Everett, Washington.
• Northstar rail costs rise (Pioneer Press)
  Minnesota commuter rail cost estimates rise.

Sunday, April 16

• NJ Transit looks to extend train service (The Times)
  NJ Transit considers express service between New York, Philadelphia, and Atlantic City.
• New Orleans-Baton Rouge Amtrak route considered (AP)
  New Amtrak route would serve commuting workers following Hurricane Katrina.
• Light-rail link to airport approved (Puget Sound Business Journal)
  Rail link between downtown Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma Airport expected by 2009.
• NJ Transit plan eases commute (Times Herald-Record)
  Commuter rail agency will modify Penn Station concourse and create link to new station.
• Commuter train system to expand (Oakland Tribune)
  Amtrak California's Capitol Corridor sees continued ridership growth.
• Costs rise for north line as feds tighten rail spending (Charlotte Business Journal)
  Proposed 30-mile North Corridor commuter rail line from Charlotte sees rising costs.
• Plan for train service to L.A. gathers steam (Desert Sun)
  State proposal calls for daily Amtrak service between Indio, Palm Springs, and LA.
• Freight train derailment stalls trolley (Union-Tribune)
  Overnight derailment on the San Diego & Imperial Valley RR disrupts San Diego trolley.

Friday, April 7

• MARC rush hour adds 20-foot walk (Baltimore Sun)
  Maryland commuter rail station begins test of explosive screening device.
• Tentative Deal in Denver Transit Strike (AP)
  1700 striking workers may return to work Friday, restoring light rail and bus service.
• Ridership growth tops national list (The Examiner)
  Caltrain's ridership grew 12.5% in 2005, fueled by popularity of "Baby Bullet" service.
• Residents Express Concerns Over Second Avenue Subway (NY1)
  Construction of new NYC subway route would require building demolishment by 2008.
• Support Grows for Rail Station at New Stadium in the Bronx (New York Times)
  New York governor and mayor call on MTA to build commuter rail station at stadium.
• Train to bring suburbanites to Montreal in under an hour (CBC)
  Montreal to launch new 51km commuter rail route to Mascouche by 2009.
• Subway Track Project to Cause Minor Delays (New York Times)
  MTA to replace track on Lexington Avenue line, NYC's most heavily traveled subway.
• CTA Train Service Back To Normal After Derailment (AP)
  Chicago subway service resumes after minor derailment Thursday morning.

Friday, March 31

• All aboard! Overhaul puts a better Tri-Rail on track (Miami Herald)
  Miami's commuter rail service adds more trains following $334 million double-tracking.
• Expanding Workday Makes Its Mark on Transit (New York Times)
  New York railroads add earlier trains to accommodate pre-dawn commuters.
• Rail advocates call for increased Amtrak funding (Havre Daily News)
  National Association of Railroad Passengers seeks stable 3-5 funding for Amtrak.
• Amtrak president promises federal support (Pantagraph.com)
  Amtrak will expand Illinois service if state raises annual funding from $12M to $30M.
• Tunica-Memphis monorail to be studied (Memphis Business Journal)
  Feasibility study to consider monorail between Tunica casinos and Memphis.
• State Seeking Input on Beach Light Rail (WTKR)
  Residents have mixed opinions on proposed light rail for Virginia Beach.
• Governor breaks ground for rail station (News-Bulletin)
  New Mexico governor celebrates commuter rail stations to open this summer.
• MTA Putting More Money Into Subway Security (NY1)
  New York City's MTA signs $100 million in security contracts for cameras and sensors.
• Smoke In Penn Station Tunnel Causes Delays On LIRR (WNBC)
  Smoke from a cable fire halted Long Island Rail Road trains during Tuesday rush hour.

Sunday, March 26

• Rail safety test a smashing success (USA Today)
  Test of "push back" couplers and "anti climber" bumper prove successful.
• E&N puzzle now complete (Esquimalt News)
  Vancouver Island nonprofit obtains E&N Railway from Canadian Pacific and RailAmerica.
• Drive to add Amtrak trains picks up steam (Lincoln Courier)
  Illinois bill seeks to triple state Amtrak funding, add four more daily trains from Chicago.
• Lawmaker: Rail plan looks good (The Republican)
  Springfield legislator optimistic about commuter rail linking Springfield and New Haven.
• Turtles thrust into commuter rail planning (AP)
  Presence of rare turtles could slow Minnesota's Northstar commuter train.
• Subway Info Boards Coming (AP)
  New York City subway stations to be equipped with train status boards.
• St. Paul-Minneapolis Light Rail Clears Hurdle (AP)
  Federal Transit Administration (FTA) says 11-mile $840M light rail line is cost effective.
• Commuter train slated for test run in Albuquerque area (AP)
  New Mexico's commuter rail service to begin test runs.
• Cash for subway line leads transit parade (Globe and Mail)
  $2-billion project to extend Toronto's Spadina subway line past York University.

Sunday, March 19

• Harrisburg train runs may rise (Lancaster New Era)
  Corridor One commuter rail plan changes; advocates look to expanded Amtrak service.
• Few Riders, Much Vision in Connecticut Rail Plan (New York Times)
  Proponents say New Haven to Springfield commuter rail would spur economic growth.
• Rail tunnel plan advances (Times Herald-Record)
  Transportation council endorses NJ Transit's $6 billion Trans Hudson Express Tunnel.
• Subway plan resurfaces (The Enquirer)
  Cincinnati considers potential use of 80-year-old subway tunnels.
• ‘Brain trust’ formed to push rail project (Gwinnett Daily Post)
  Community leaders seek commuter rail service between Athens and Atlanta.
• Derailment closes Amtrak between Northern, Southern Calif (Mercury News)
  Union Pacific derailment impacts passenger and freight service Friday.
• World's first hybrid train ready to go (Japan Times)
  JR East to begin using hybrid battery and diesel locomotives in 2007.
• SEPTA expected to approve 104 new regional rail cars (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  Philadelphia transit agency purchases 104 commuter rail cars for delivery within four years.
• Transit is key to the Olympics, city is told (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  London Underground manager says a reliable transit system is key for an Olympic bid.
• New Plans For Penn Station (WJZ TV)
  Amtrak considers converting vacant Baltimore station space into 72 hotel rooms.

Tuesday/Wednesday, March 7-8

• AG puts Rail Runner plans right on track (AP)
  Attorney general approval allows New Mexico commuter rail service to begin in June.
  For more information: http://www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm
• Bistate Support Brightens Prospects for N.J. Transit (NY Times)
  NJ Transit sees more federal and state funding, including NY funds for new Hudson tunnel.
• Amtrak To Beef Up Security At 30th Street Station (CBS 3)
  Increased security to be added in NYC, Philly, and Washington effective Thursday.
• Hearing tracks views of commuter rail (Valley News Dispatch)
  Pittsburgh considers several commuter rail alternatives.
• Service Restored On L Train In Brooklyn Following Derailment (NY1)
  NYC's MTA restores full service on L train after Tuesday evening derailment.
• Acela stop dependent on station (Connecticut Post)
  Amtrak's Acela could stop at Bridgeport station if the state builds a new platform.
• Crane Tips On Tracks; Disrupts Sounder Train (KOMO)
  Seattle commuter rail service disrupted by crane accident.
• Light rail proposed for Missoula (AP)
  Montana considers light rail between Missoula and Darby.

Tuesday/Wednesday, February 28-March 1

• Using Amtrak rails to cost states more (Baltimore Sun)
  Federal transportation bill shifts Amtrak costs to Northeast commuter rail agencies.
• Rail-use fee hikes worry Pa., N.J., Del. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  Governors ask Transportation Secretary for answers concerning increased Amtrak costs.
• S. Korean railway workers' strike enters second day (Xinhua)
  13,200 union workers strike at Korea Railroad Corp, closing passenger and freight routes.
• Group wants more Illinois rail service (Register-Mail)
  Midwest High Speed Rail Association lobbies for $18 million for four new trains.
• Metrolink Approves Purchase Of 87 New Train Cars (AP)
  Los Angeles commuter railroad 55 passenger cars and 33 cab cars for $177 million.
• CSX Pledges to Improve Service for Commuter-Rail Riders (AP)
  CSX to modify maintenance plans to improve Virginia Railway Express service.

Thursday/Friday, February 23-24

• New El stations have a homey vibe (Philadelphia Daily News)
  SEPTA to open first of five new Market Street El stations in Philadelphia.
• Some Police Still Enforcing Non-Existent Ban On Photography (NY1)
  New York's subway photo ban was killed due to opposition, but controversy remains.

Monday/Tuesday, February 20-21

• High-speed rail to Calgary back on table (Calgary Herald)
  Alberta considers possible options for high speed rail between Calgary and Edmonton.
• Advocates say feds out to derail Amtrak (Gannett)
  Critics say Bush's proposed $900 million for Amtrak in 2007 is insufficient.
• CSX ready to move on third-track effort (Free Lance-Star)
  CSX says it can handle both freight and passengers between Washington and Richmond.
• Relief pitched for commuters: Rail upgrade, parking proposed (Free Lance-Star)
  Virginia budget amendments would provide money for third track, commuter parking.
• Study: Faster trains can turn Berrien County into Chicago suburb (AP)
  Commuter rail service could attract economic development in Berrien County, MI.
• Blue Water line sees green: Rail ridership up nearly a third in '05 (Flint Journal)
  Ridership on Amtrak's Michigan service rises 31% in 2005.
• Renovation of Wilmington station set to begin (News Journal)
  Amtrak to launch multimillion-dollar renovation of Wilmington station within two months.
• New England Needs Rail Action Now (Providence Journal)
  Opinion: Improved rail service is key for economic development in New England.
• S. African rail strike strands tens of thousands (Reuters)
  Three-day strike halts more than 90% of commuter rail service in Johannesburg
• Meetings Scheduled For Regional Commuter Rail Plan (AP)
  Plan calls for Wisconsin commuter rail linking Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee counties.
• Shore Line East Rail Service Catching On (Hartford Courant)
  Stamford to Old Saybrook commuter rail ridership rises 19% in 2005.
• Added trains, stations lure thousands to Metra (Chicago Tribune)
  Chicago commuter rail agency sees 3.1% ridership gain in 2005.

Wednesday/Thursday, February 15-16

• 'Subway To The Sea' Could Cost $4.8 Billion, Take 10 Years To Build (NBC4)
  LA's plan to extend subway under Wilshire Blvd to Santa Monica to take 10 years.
• Monroe-Lackawanna railroad merger to be discussed (Pocono Record)
  Merger of rail authorities to help restore passenger service between Scranton and NYC.
• Commuter rail is back on track (ABC Newspapers)
  Minnesota's Northstar Commuter Rail project added to FTA recommended list.
• Separate incidents cause Metra delays (Chicago Tribune)
  Chicago commuter rail delays result from grade crossing accident and CSX derailment.
• Amtrak Completes Second Phase Of Fare Increase (AP)
  Monthly pass fares rise for approximately 2,000 Northeast Corridor commuters.
• Give light rail a second look (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle)
  Opinion: Rochester should consider light rail transit development.
• Subway Platform Conductors Hired To Ease Rush Hour Crush (NY1)
  New York City Transit adds 96 platform conductors to keep order at 20 busiest stations.

Tuesday, February 14

• NJ Transit on-time rate takes a dip (Trenton Times)
  On-time performance falls to 93.3% in December 2005, versus 94.6% a year ago.

Monday, February 13

• New Yorkers Face Delays, Cancellations After Storm (Bloomberg)
  Commuter railroads operating with delays after record-setting two foot snowfall in NYC.
• Nightmare for LIRR passengers: Snow drifts leave trains stuck (WABC)
  Long Island Rail Road suspends service into NY Penn Station due to snow drifts.
• Mile-long Newark subway extension to open this summer (AP)
  NJ Transit's $207 million extension of the Newark subway adds five new stops.
• Construction on new commuter rail line to begin this spring (AP)
  Boston's MBTA to extend commuter rail service beyond Providence within two years.

Thursday/Friday, February 9-10

• LIRR, Amtrak on same track with commuter rail link (Newsday)
  Amtrak and Long Island Railroad agree to $7 billion Grand Central commuter rail link.
• Bush Proposes $80 Million for Utah's First Commuter Rail (BYU NewsNet)
  Budget proposal includes $80M for commuter rail between Salt Lake City and Ogden.
• Commuter rail's foray to Lakewood delayed (Seattle Times)
  Steep slopes and dangerous road crossings to delay Seattle's commuter rail expansion.
• Amtrak Forecast: Codes Continue Into Spring (Frommers)
  Discount codes are available for Northeast and national travel on Amtrak.
• Track record: 1.5B rode subway (New York Daily News)
  New York City subway ridership hits highest level in more than 50 years.

Tuesday, February 7

• Deal: No rail line in Cumberland County
  County commissioner may kill Corridor One commuter rail in Central Pennsylvania.
• N.J. Starts Bomb-Screening of Train Riders (AP)
  Airport-style x-ray machines installed at New Jersey PATH train station.
• Amtrak reopening Northwest routes (AP)
  Service between Seattle and Vancouver resumes following landslides.
• Bush's budget includes $107 million for Portland area transit (AP)
  Budget includes $80 million for light rail extension and $27 million for commuter rail.
• Norfolk light rail included in federal budget for first time (Virginian-Pilot)
  Federal Transit Administration approves Norfolk's $204 million light rail project.
• Bush budget puts $55M aside for North Shore connector (Business Times)
  Pittsburgh to receive $55 million in federal funds for tunneling under Allegheny River.
• Feds recommend reimbursement for NJ light rail (AP)
  Bush budget allocates $100 million reimbursement for Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.
• NJ Transit expands Light Rail options (Times Herald-Record)
  Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to be extended north of Hoboken this month.

Monday, February 6

• Trolley service suspended for a year (News 14 Carolina)
  Charlotte Trolley suspended during light rail construction.
• Alstom wants $1B subway contract (Canadian Press)
  Alstom seeks bid for Montreal subway contract; Quebec minister favors Bombardier.
• Pacific Northwest Service Disrupted by Mudslides South of Seattle (Amtrak)
  Amtrak Cascades and Coast Starlight service modified due to mudslides.

Saturday/Sunday, February 4-5

• More rails needed for commuter trains (Free Lance-Star)
  Virginia Railway Express service suffers from CSX freight congestion.
• Mudslide Cancels Amtrak And Sounder Service North From Seattle (AP)
  Another mudslide cancels Amtrak and commuter rail service north of Seattle.

Thursday/Friday, February 2-3

• Landslide closes BNSF Railway for 10th time since Christmas (The Columbian)
  Incessant heavy rain causes landslide, halts Amtrak service between Portland and Seattle.
• ACE set to raise fares, add service (The Record)
  California's Altamont Commuter Express to raise fares, add midday and weekend service.

Tuesday, January 31

• Governor says commuter rail on track despite glitches (Free New Mexican)
  First segment of New Mexico's commuter rail project to open this spring.
• MTA to test 'smart' fare cards in pilot program (AP)
  NYC subways to pilot key-chain RFID tags as replacement for magnetic fare cards.
• Light-Rail Plan May Be Back on Track in Irvine (Los Angeles Times)
  Irvine California considers 5.5-mile light rail route linking Great Park and Metrolink.

Monday, January 30

• Mudslides halt Bellingham Amtrak service (AP)
  Amtrak and Sounder commuter rail again disrupted by mudslides north of Seattle.
• Downeaster a hit with its passengers (Concord Monitor)
  Amtrak's Boston to Portland route sees 18% ridership gain in 2005.
• Ready for the return of the rail? (Concord Monitor)
  New Hampshire seeks to extend Boston's MBTA commuter rail to capital city.
• For third year, more LIRR trains late (Newsday)
  Long Island Rail Road on-time performance falls slightly to 92.2% in 2005.

Friday/Saturday, January 27-28

• Amtrak discounts Acela, Metroliner fares (AP)
  Fares will rise or fall up to 15% based on demand, as already offered for regional service.
• $400M urged for rail upgrades (Times Union)
  Study recommends $400M in improvements for NYC-Albany corridor.
• Spitzer, LIRR on same track for expansion (Newsday)
  Long Island Rail Road seeks third track to expand commuter rail capacity.
• Riders livid at train glitches (North Jersey Media)
  Pattern of delays angers commuters on NJ Transit's Pascack Valley route.

Wednesday/Thursday, January 25-26

• Bullet train likely chugging to derailment (San Francisco Chronicle)
  $10 billion bond for high speed San Francisco to LA route could be removed from ballot.
• Record number of riders use Amtrak in Northern California (CBS5)
  Record 4.6 million riders rode Amtrak California trains last year.
• 30th St. it stays, not 'Ben' Station (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  Foundation abandons efforts to rename Philadelphia station after public opposition.
• Miss. lawmakers promote Tunica casino monorail study (AP)
  Mississippi seeks monorail to link casinos in Tunica County.
• Riverside train line to undergo repairs (Whittier Daily News)
  Union Pacific to begin replacing 43 miles of track, causing Metrolink service disruptions.
• Gov't Could Derail Lovejoy Line (WXIA)
  Georgia state lawmakers to debate merits of Atlanta commuter rail line.
• Metra willing to adjust expansion (Chicago Tribune)
  Chicago commuter rail agency to adjust schedules due to rider demand.

Monday/Tuesday, January 23-24

• Springfield eyes commuter rail to NYC (AP)
  CT supports $300M project to launch commuter rail between Springfield and NYC.
• St. Louis Light Rail Problems Trigger Heavy Legal Battles (ENR)
  Light rail agency seeks $50 million in damages from engineering and construction firm.

Saturday/Sunday, January 21-22

• New York subway and bus workers reject tentative contract (AP)
  33,000 transit workers narrowly reject tentative contract by a margin of seven votes.
• CSX to work with VRE to improve relations (AP)
  CSX appoints AVP to improve Virginia Railway Express on-time performance.
• Problems with signal cause delays on NJ Transit (Asbury Park Press)
  Amtrak and NJT service to NYC disrupted Friday morning due to signal problems.
• Train plan on track (Ottawa Sun)
  Construction of Ottawa light rail line to begin in August after environmental approval.
• Four Bids to Build Network for Cellphones in Subway (NY Times)
  NYC's MTA receives four bids to install cell phone service in 277 subway stations.

Thursday/Friday, January 19-20

• Panel Seeks Ban on 'Push' Trains (Los Angeles Times)
  Assembly members recommend end to "push" commuter trains after Metrolink crash.
• Amtrak Smart Pass Fares To increase (AP)
  Northeast Corridor monthly pass fares to rise in February.

Monday/Tuesday, January 16-17

• Hudson tunnel plan has critics (Asbury Park Press)
  Commuters and rail advocates debate merits of NJ Transit's $6B Hudson River tunnel.
• Rail Runner commuter service remains on track (Free New Mexican)
  New Mexico says Belen to Santa Fe commuter rail project is on schedule and budget.
• NJ Transit Drops Proposal to Restrict Photos of Trains (AP)
  New Jersey commuter rail agency drops controversial public photo ban.
• Mudslide In Southwestern Washington Blocks Amtrak Service (KOMO)
  Passenger and freight service disrupted again by mudslides south of Seattle.
• On-Time Records of Trains Depend on Where They Go (NY Times)
  LIRR and NJ Transit face challenges of sharing NY Penn Station with Amtrak.
• Cell Phone Companies Mull Wiring Subway Platforms (NY1)
  NYC's MTA to wire 277 stations, but some cell phone companies question expense.
• Light-rail is best choice to manage traffic (The Coloradoan)
  Opinion: Commuter rail would ease transportation in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Friday/Saturday, January 13-14

• Train tracks reopened (Seattle Times)
  BNSF reopens Seattle-Everett track on Friday after rain caused several mudslides.
• Advocates call for more train trips between St. Louis, Chicago (The Telegraph)
  State representatives and Amtrak supporters push for two more Chicago-St. Louis trains.
• Street fires up momentum for 'Ben Station' (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  Philadelphia mayor supports a proposal to rename Amtrak's 30th Street Station.
• Metra Wants To Speed Up Accident Investigations (CBS)
  Chicago's commuter rail agency to reduce service disruptions from accident investigation.
• Rail rates rising? (Free Lance-Star)
  Virginia Railway Express intends to raise commuter rail fares by six percent.
• Smoking ban notice takes R-rated turn on Metra run (Chicago Tribune)
  Chicago commuter rail conductor suspended for smoking ban remarks.

Wednesday, January 11

• Pols on track to bring rail system up to speed (New York Daily News)
  New York state senators support NYC-Albany high speed rail plan.
• London to test antiterror tech for commuters (CNET)
  Trials of airport-style body-scanning technology to begin on Heathrow Express in London.
• 30th Street Station? City deserves better (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  Opinion: Renaming station "Benjamin Franklin Station" would distinguish Philadelphia.

Tuesday, January 10

• Rains trigger more mudslides, closing Amtrak rail line again (AP)
  Mudslides halt Amtrak and commuter rail between Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver.
• Union Station redevelopment in talks (Chicago Tribune)
  Chicago station to provide mix of offices, hotel rooms, condominiums, and retail space.
• MTA closing four MARC stations (Baltimore Business Journal)
  Four Maryland commuter rail stations will close in March due to low ridership.

Monday, January 9

• 'Subway to the sea' revived in L.A. (AP)
  $4 billion 15-mile subway would link downtown Los Angeles with Santa Monica.
• Downeaster may start Brunswick run in 2010 (Portland Press Herald)
  Amtrak may extend current Boston-Portland route to Brunswick, Maine.
• Enemies All Aboard Amtrak (Hartford Courant)
  Opinion: Bush appointment of unqualified political supporters endangers Amtrak.
• Second London Underground strike begins (Reuters)
  Station worker strike has little impact as full service continues on all London subways.
• New Haven Line leads railroad in punctuality (The Advocate)
  Metro-North's NYC to New Haven route sees on-time performance rise to 96.8%.
• City keeps tabs on rail plans (San Marcos Daily Record)
  Plan includes commuter rail between San Antonio and Austin, plus rerouting of freight.

Friday, January 6

• Governor Asks Lawmakers To Dump Bond Measure For High-Speed Rail (AP)
  Governor Schwarzenegger opposes $10 billion bond for high speed rail in California.
• Seattle-to-Everett train service halted until Monday (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
  Mudslides north of Edmonds Washington shut down BNSF route.
• Commuter Train Derails Near Quantico (Washington Post)
  Virginia Railway Express derailment disrupted service for hours on Thursday.
• VRE Returns To Regular Service With Delays (NBC4)
  Virginia Railway Express resumes service Friday after derailment on Fredericksburg line.
• London Underground Strike to Disrupt Service Jan. 9 (Bloomberg)
  Station workers to stage second strike on Monday over contract changes.
• Metra has new ways to go (Chicago Tribune)
  New Chicago commuter rail schedules include new stations.

Thursday, January 5

• Bush goes around Congress again on Amtrak board (Reuters)
  President Bush uses recess appointments to seat Hall and Sosa on Amtrak board.
• Va. Commuter Train Derails, Slows Trains (AP)
  Virginia Railway Express train derails Thursday morning, injuring four and closing route.

Wednesday, January 4

• Talks over Tube strike break down (BBC)
  London labor talks break down prior to a planned second subway strike on Sunday.
• Man gets 3 years for N.Y. bomb hoax (AP)
  July bomb threat at New York's Penn Station sends man to prison.

Tuesday, January 3

• Some Travelers Still Love Riding the Rails (AP)
  Despite funding struggles, Amtrak served 25 million riders in 2004.
• Going faster, farther (New York Times)
  Europe and Asia embark on high speed rail projects while US interest lags.
• Second underground strike looms (BBC)
  London Underground passengers face second strike due to labor dispute.
• Commuter rail considered as Valley traffic snarls grow (Business Journal)
  Phoenix considers commuter rail to reduce traffic congestion.
• Everett-Seattle rail ridership more than double since June (Seattle Times)
  Ridership on Seattle's Sounder doubles with second daily round-trip.
• Railway operators are 'pricing people off trains' (The Independent)
  Britain train operators condemned by passenger groups and unions for fare hikes.

For older archives, please select from the following:

• Fourth Quarter 2005 (October 1 through December 31)
• Third Quarter 2005 (August 1 through September 30)