Commuter Rail, Light Rail & Rail Transit News
Third Quarter 2005 Archive

This archive page links to news and events involving commuter rail and rail transit . For all current rail news, please see RailServe.com's RailNews Home Page.

Note: Some older stories may no longer be available, or a fee may be required for full access.

Friday, September 30

• U.S. Deploys Subway Dogs, but N.Y. Declines (New York Times)
  NYC declines federal offer of bomb-sniffing dogs for subway security.
• Corridor Could Get Passenger Rail Service (KCRG)
  Whistle Stop meetings to promote light rail service in eastern Iowa.
• CATS will use honor system on light rail (Charlotte Observer)
  Charlotte light rail will use honor system instead of fare boxes and turnstiles.
• Light-rail service to begin Saturday (Mercury News)
  San Jose's VTA extends light rail service to Campbell.

Thursday, September 29

• No Problems Found With Signals Before Metra Crash (AP)
  Federal investigation finds signal system worked properly and indicated 10mph crossover.
• Hoboken Terminal fire halts transit (Jersey Journal)
  Roof fire forces evacuation and delays in Hoboken, New Jersey.
• MTA won't ban beverages on subway platforms (Bloomberg)
  NYC's MTA drops rule change that would have tightened restrictions on beverages.

Tuesday, September 27

• Metra suspends engineer in fatal crash (Chicago Sun-Times)
  Commuter rail agency says this is standard procedure if a rule violation is suspected.
• IPod Maps Draw Legal Threats (Wired)
  New York and San Francisco transit agencies stop map downloads for iPod.
• 14% cut in Amtrak funding threatens Flint-Chicago line (Flint Journal)
  $1 million funding cut could reduce service from Port Huron and Grand Rapids to Chicago.
• Metro-North replacing 52,000 defective ties (The Journal News)
  Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road replacing defective concrete ties from 1998.
• Mystery of Subway Stench Is Solved (New York Sun)
  New York City subway stench is reportedly caused by biodegradable elevator oil.
• Bombardier Receives Additional Order From NJ Transit (Bombardier)
  Bombardier now has firm orders for 231 bi-level railcars from New Jersey Transit.

Thursday, September 22

• Acela trains return to full service (Washington Business Journal)
  Amtrak's Acela Express will return to full-service on Sept 26 following brake repairs.
• New Subway Command Center Suffers A Meltdown (NY1)
  New York City’s new subway command center malfunctions; backup system used.
• Can You Hear Me Now? Maybe Soon, on Subway (Columbia Spectator)
  New York's MTA says there are multiple needs for cell phone service in subways.
• NJ Transit daily ridership tops 800,000 trips (Newsday)
  New Jersey Transit train and bus ridership rises more than five percent.
• Metro-North boosts late-night service (The Advocate)
  New York commuter railroad adds late nights trains from Grand Central Station.
• Rapid transit possibilities (Ann Arbor News)
  Several alternatives considered for rapid transit line between Ann Arbor and Detroit.

Wednesday, September 21

• NTSB Kicks Union Off Metra Crash Investigation (NBC5)
  Federal investigators remove locomotives' union following information leak.
• Union Says Engineer Saw All Clear Signals (AP)
  Chicago Metra engineer in Saturday's fatal derailment says he was going 70mph because he saw all clear signals, with no indication to slow to 10mph for a switch.
• Trinity Railway Express on Galveston emergency mission (Star-Telegram)
  Fort Worth-Dallas commuter train sent to Houston-Galveston area to help evacuation.
• MTA Distributes Pamphlets Detailing Evacuation Procedures (NY1)
  NYC's MTA gives out safety information to subway riders.

Tuesday, September 20

• NTSB: Chicago Train Wreck Was Preventable (AP)
  Investigators say automatic braking system could have prevented deadly crash.
• Investigators Re-enact Fatal Chicago Train Crash (AP)
  NTSB completed simulated runs at the site of Saturday's derailment.
• Family Files Lawsuit Following Train Derailment (NBC5)
  The family of a 22 year old killed in Saturday's derailment sues Chicago's Metra.
• Track work puts VRE off schedule (Free Lance-Star)
  CSX replacing 77,000 railroad ties, delaying Virginia Railway Express commuter trains.

Monday, September 19

• Speed cited in Chicago derailment (AP)
  Metra train that derailed Saturday in Chicago, killing two and injuring 17 critically, was almost 60mph over speed limit approaching crossover.
  • Derailment Photos (CBS Chicago)
  • Derailment Videos (CBS Chicago)
• Passenger rail plan gaining steam (Cincinnati Post)
  Ohio proposal to connect Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Cleveland.
• Monorail: Not ready to vote (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
  Editorial: Rush to the ballot box or shortening of route would be a mistake.

Friday, September 16

• Nickels rejects latest monorail plan (Seattle Times)
  Seattle Mayor wants monorail project on November 8 to let public decide its fate.
• In reversal, Amtrak says it will serve Bucks County station (AP)
  Amtrak to maintain regional service at Cornwells Heights station outside Philadelphia.
• Downeaster fares are headed up (AP)
  With national fare hikes postponed, Amtrak to raise Boston-Portland fares next week.
• San Jose/Campbell light rail line to open in two weeks (Mercury News)
  New light rail line from San Jose to Campbell will open October 1.

Thursday, September 15

• Amtrak postponing its planned fare increases (AP)
  Fare hikes of up to 60% have been postponed beyond next week.
• Acela Service To Expand Monday (NBC)
  Amtrak restores hourly Acela Express service south of New York, four trips to Boston.
• New NJ Transit rail car earns a sitting ovation (Asbury Park Press)
  New Jersey commuters pleased as NJ Transit unveils first of 231 bi-level rail cars.

Wednesday, September 14

• Fast track eyed for subway PAs (New York Daily News)
  NYC MTA chairman wants to accelerate plans for public address systems in stations.
• North Side light rail plans raise concerns (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
  Pittsburgh city planning commission concerned with proposed stations on North Shore.
• Fuel costs rise; MBTA fares will not (Daily Free Press)
  Boston transit agency says higher fuel prices will not lead to higher fares.

Tuesday, September 13

• Commuters rethink lifestyles, jobs, as Amtrak increases prices (Baltimore Sun)
  Commuters frustrated as monthly fares rise nearly 60% with only two weeks notice.
• Amtrak Mum on Fare Hike, Criticized for Targeting Commuters (Times Union)
  Monthly pass fare increase of more than 50% draws criticism in Northeast.
• New state audit questions monorail board's practices (Seattle Times)
  State audit highlights the Seattle Monorail Project's tight financial situation.

Monday, September 12

• When will commuter rail arrive? (Houston Chronicle)
  Metro CEO says first of three Houston commuter rail lines may be built by 2012.
• Amtrak to raise fares, end service in Bucks County (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  Monthly passes on the Northeast Corridor will increase as much as 59% effective Sept. 20. Philly to NYC pass increases from $633 to $1,008.
• More Acela Trains Now In Service (AP)
  Amtrak begins 12 Acela Express weekday roundtrips between NYC and Washington.

Friday, September 9

• Fire Evacuates New York's Penn Station (AP)
  An equipment room fire halted Amtrak and commuter rail service Thursday night.
• Major Fare Increase Expected For Amtrak Riders (CBS)
  Cost of monthly passes on the Northeast Corridor may rise up to 50%.
• Rising Fuel Costs Lead to Amtrak Fare Increase (Amtrak)
  Amtrak will raise most fares 5% to 7% effective September 20. Additionally, nearly all Northeast service will become all-reserved, including Empire and Keystone routes.
• Get back aboard urban trains, developers urge (Salt Lake Tribune)
  Builders say bureaucrats derail attempts to create transit-centered housing.
• Rail board meets for first time (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
  Advisory group to set spending priorities for Virginia's first-ever dedicated rail fund.
• Line Could Link North, South Sides (Southwest News-Herald)
  Chicago considers 22-mile "Mid-City Transitway" along existing tracks.
• High Gas Prices Drive People To Buses, Trains (AP)
  SEPTA, Philadelphia's transit agency, sees ridership increases due to high gas prices.
• MBTA set for new fare system (Boston Globe)
  Boston plans to install automated fare collection in subway.

Thursday, September 8

• B'klyn subway scare (New York Daily News)
  Subway derailment in Brooklyn forces 62 passengers to evacuate onto tracks.
• Subway System Not Prepared For Emergency  (NY1)
  New York City lacks basic public-address systems at 131 subway stations.
• Adviser: Monorail could shed $4 billion (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
  Former transit board member's plan includes issuing bonds, cutting interest payments.
• If no monorail, why not a streetcar? (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
  Councilman proposes alternative to costly Seattle monorail project.
• Metrolink 'shield' denied (LA Daily News)
  Judge rules push-mode safety on LA commuter railroad is "issue that has to be heard."

Wednesday, September 7

• Commuter rail link with Providence gets new look (The Westerly Sun)
  Proposal would link Providence and Westerly with commuter rail.
• Franklin Ave. Shuttle Derailment Disrupts Service In Brooklyn (NY1)
  Subway derailment interrupts Wednesday evening rush in New York.
• Driver's errors caused derailment in Japan (UPI)
  Investigation finds April crash was caused by driver's operational errors.
• Light rail's construction moves to fast track today (Arizona Republic)
  Construction of 20-mile Phoenix-Tempe-Mesa light rail impacts residents and businesses.
• NJ Transit To Remove Kick Plates From Doors (AP)
  Transit agency to remove kick plates due to risk of electric shock.
• Derailment Stalls Metrolink Service (LA Times)
  BNSF freight derailment cancels Tuesday morning commuter rail in Los Angeles.

Tuesday, September 6

• Historic trolleys return to Philadelphia (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  PCC trolleys returned to regular service this weekend on SEPTA's Route 15 route.
• Pacific Surfliner picking up steam (San Luis Obispo Tribune)
  Amtrak's San Luis Obispo - Los Angeles - San Diego corridor continues to gain riders.
• South Shore railroad could soon see change (AP)
  Northwest Indiana commuter rail line seeks to speed station boardings
• SEPTA Union Hints Of Possible Strike (AP)
  Philadelphia transit workers may strike over slow talks since contract expiration.
• Port OKs $500,000 to study monorail (Oakland Tribune)
  Funds keep alive proposal to link BART station and Oakland Airport.

Saturday, September 3

• Transit ridership increases as gas prices soar (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
  Atlanta transit ridership increases as gas prices continue to rise.
• Rail service dream hinges on rating (Morning Call)
  FTA to review $350M proposal to restore passenger service from Poconos to NYC.

Wednesday, August 31

• Trolleys Return to Route 15 (SEPTA)
  Historic PCC trolleys return to regular operation in Philadelphia this weekend.
• Richardson unveils first light rail car (New Mexico Business Weekly)
  New Mexico has received its first ten cars for service between Belen and Bernalillo.

Monday, August 29

• Light-rail backers face roadblocks (Detroit News)
  Light rail proposal would link Ann Arbor, Detroit, and the airport.

Saturday/Sunday, August 27-28

• Trolley has record 3 million riders in July (San Diego Union-Tribune)
  Unusual surge in San Diego transit ridership may be result of record gas prices.
• Light-rail line begins to take shape (News 14)
  Construction is under way on a 9.6 mile light rail line in Charlotte, North Carolina.
• Railway track work may cause service delays (AP)
  CSX trackwork may cause Virginia Railway Express delays but improve future service.

Friday, August 26

• Tri-Rail service will not resume before Monday (Palm Beach Post)
  Station damage, broken crossing gates, and power outages suspend Miami service.
• Subway, Light-Rail Cameras Approved (LA Times)
  Los Angeles follows New York City's lead and approves new security measures.
• Race is on for cellular system for N.Y. subway (New York Times)
  NYC's MTA seeks bids to cover 277 subway stations with cell phone service.
• Monorail's good news not great (Seattle Times)
  New financing plan would reduce Seattle Monorail cost, but critics say its not enough.
• CSX Track Work Will Mean VRE Delays (AP)
  Virginia Railway Express riders will face delays due to CSX trackwork.
• Proposed rail line would follow old expressway path (Chicago Tribune)
  Mid-City Transitway would use existing Union Pacific and Belt Railway track.

Wednesday, August 24

• Railroad security fits into overall strategy to thwart terrorism (News Journal)
  Editorial: Transportation Security Administration continues to ignore railroad security.
• T targets riders at suburban stations (Boston Globe)
  Boston's MBTA is sprucing up commuter rail stations in hopes of luring more riders.
• Derailment on West Side delays Metra trains (AP)
  Wednesday morning freight derailment on Chicago's West Side delays commuter trains.

Tuesday, August 23

• New York's transit system plans $200M for security (AP)
  MTA announces security plan featuring closed-circuit cameras and motion detectors.
• Railroad Conductors Leave A Mark Uniquely Their Own (Hartford Courant)
  Each conductor's hole punch is unique and serves as a form of identification.
• For NJ Transit, spies are ticket to a better ride (Star-Ledger)
  Yearlong undercover program will rate workers' performance.

Monday, August 22

• Communications failure puts brakes on commute (Times-Dispatch)
  CSX work responsible for Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) delays.
• Tri-Rail service seems derailed (Sun-Sentinel)
  Opinion: Miami commuters voice frustration over Tri-Rail delays caused by CSX.

Saturday/Sunday, August 20-21

• Martin County Tri-Rail studies garner support (Sun-Sentinel)
  Residents seeks Miami commuter rail extension over Florida East Coast track.
• Transit use at record high (Asbury Park Press)
  NJ Transit reports record ridership on buses, trains, and light rail in New Jersey.

Friday, August 19

• Rail-Thin Security (CSO)
  Six rail security bills introduced in Congress but none moved out of committee yet.
• Seattle's little plan for transit (Seattle Times)
  Seattle resident reflects on rail transit lessons to be learned from Chicago.
• Commuter trains to get new tracks south of Santa Fe (The New Mexican)
  Governor's plan would extend Albuquerque commuter rail to Santa Fe by 2008.
• Activists rail on T’s plan for bus tunnel (Boston Herald)
  Boston residents say light rail would be faster, less disruptive, and more popular.
• The Subway Mayor (LA Weekly)
  How a bus-only politician and a car-obsessed city are learning to love the underground.
• Most New York voters back subway searches (AP)
  Majority of the city's registered voters support random bag searches in subways.
• Delays Continue for Commuters on VRE (WTOP)
  Virginia Railway Express commuters continue to experience delays due to CSX problems.

Wednesday, August 17

• Transit head: All three rail lines still on board (News Transcript)
  NJ Transit denies state assemblymen request and says all three routes are still under review.
• Subway reopened after scare (CP)
  Toronto subway has reopened following a scare caused by a suspicious package.
• Light-rail transit tunnel project jolted by construction bid (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
  Pittsburgh transit tunnel bid comes in 25% above agency's estimate.

Monday, August 15

• Major Delays In Store For Amtrak, VRE Riders (NBC4)
  Some Amtrak and VRE trains were canceled and others delayed due to CSX work.

Friday/Saturday, August 12-13

• Surprise council calls for commuter rail service (Phoenix Business Journal)
  Council seeks commuter rail to connect Maricopa County suburbs to downtown Phoenix.
• Mayor's overdue deadline for monorail (Seattle Times)
  Seattle Mayor sets September 15 deadline for presenting monorail plan to voters.
• BART agrees to Peninsula service plan (San Mateo County Times)
  Fare increases and service reductions planned for service to San Francisco airport.

Thursday, August 11

• The End of a Tunnel? (New York Times - registration required)
  City officials seek to fill Rochester's abandoned subway tunnel; opponents seek preservation possibilities including a museum, art gallery, and light-rail.
• Proposed trolley system gains momentum (Salt Lake Tribune)
  Salt Lake City trolley receives endorsements from transit authority, senator, and mayor.
• Straphangers give 6 train top marks (Newsday)
  NYC transit advocacy group ranks the Lexington Avenue line as the city's best.

Wednesday, August 10

• Regional train gets step closer to reality (Orlando Sentinel)
  County commissioners say Orlando commuter rail could operate by 2009.
• More construction forces El shutdown in West Philadelphia (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  Shuttle buses will run between 40th and 69th Streets for nine days starting Friday evening.

Monday, August 8

• Transit bill moves commuter rail forward (AP)
  Federal transit bill will help fund construction of commuter rail in northern Utah.
• Transit system will be 'missing link' (Press-Telegram)
  Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena will study a proposed light rail route.
• ACE urges UP to help trains run on time (Tracy Press)
  Altamont Commuter Express asks Union Pacific to improve on-time performance.
• Profiling Fears Surface in Subway (Los Angeles Times)
  Critics say New York's bag searches are an intrusion and don't improve subway safety.

Friday, August 5

• Despite Subway Improvements, Survey Shows Riders Aren't Impressed (NY1)
  New York City subway riders rate the system 6.1 of 10, the same as 1994 results.
• Commuter Service May Reach Tracy (Contra Costa Times)
  Proposal could create a new Northern California rail network along existing UP tracks.

Thursday, August 4

• Lawsuit Challenges Subway Bag Searches (AP)
  NYCLU claims random searches of subway riders are unconstitutional and ineffective.
• Patrols beefed up on London subway (AP)
  British transport police dispatched reinforcements to patrol London's subway system.
• Plan B needed for rail transit (Asbury Park Press)
  Editorial: Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex line will not be built unless it can be cost-justified.

Tuesday, August 2

• Commuter rail project getting big U.S. boost (Rockford Register Star)
  Transport bill boosts hopes for Metra West Line extension to Rockford, Illinois.
• Commuter Rail Line To Get Federal Funding (NBC 17)
  Triangle Transit Authority expects funding to connect Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
• Heat Restrictions Imposed on MARC and VRE (WTOP)
  CSX imposes speed restrictions on MARC and Virginia Railway Express due to heat.

Monday, August 1

• Subway proposal draws heat (AP)
  Proposal to lock doors between subway cars causes security concerns of its own.