Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
May 19, 2022
CapeFlyer Returns This Summer
Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis), the MBTA’s commuter rail operating partner, announced that the CapeFLYER will return starting Memorial Day weekend for its 10th summer of service between Boston’s South Station and Cape Cod. Offering roundtrip service, trains will operate Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Labor Day. The CapeFLYER is a unique partnership between Keolis, the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA), the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to improve access to Cape Cod for residents and visitors.
May 18, 2022
SEPTA Releases Options For Future Of Regional Rail
SEPTA released three potential options for a long-term vision for Regional Rail. This marks phase two of Reimagining Regional Rail – SEPTA’s project to make its rail system more useful for more people. Reimagining Regional Rail is a key initiative of SEPTA Forward, the Authority’s Strategic Plan, to create a “lifestyle transit network” of all-day, all-week frequent service to destinations across the region.
May 17, 2022
Lapse in Metrorail Operator Recertification Results in Changes to Certain Trains
Metro’s Chief Safety Officer reports that nearly half of Metro’s 500 rail operators have lapsed recertification, which includes classroom instruction, and supervised testing in the rail yards as well as on the mainline.
May 17, 2022
Federal Railroad Administration Publishes Quarterly Report on the Performance and Service Quality of Amtrak Intercity Passenger Rail Operations
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today published a report on performance metrics for Amtrak’s intercity passenger train operations, covering the first quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. This report is the first to use all metrics described in FRA’s November 2020 final rule for Metrics and Minimum Standards for Intercity Passenger Rail Service now codified in 49 CFR Part 273. The Metrics and Standards Rule establishes minimum standards for measuring the performance and service quality of intercity passenger train operations across four categories: on-time performance and train delays, customer service, financial performance, and public benefits.
May 16, 2022
LIRC Acquires Southern Indiana Railway Assets
Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC), an affiliate of Chicago-based Anacostia Rail Holdings Company, has acquired the assets and operating rights of the former Southern Indiana Railway (SIND), a short line located in the Louisville metropolitan area.
May 16, 2022
Amtrak Unveils Summer Schedule Ahead of Peak Travel Season
Bolstered by a demand for both business and leisure travel, Amtrak unveiled its summer schedule featuring the most Acela frequencies since the onset of the pandemic and Northeast Regional departures nearing 80% of pre-pandemic service levels. The new summer schedule also includes the restoration of four long distance trains to daily service.
May 13, 2022
FRA Announces New Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Program to Guide Nationwide Expansion and Enhancement of Intercity Passenger RailService
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today established the new Corridor Identification and Development (ID) Program, which is the first step in an unprecedented undertaking to transform America’s passenger rail network through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
May 13, 2022
CSX Honors 65 Customers with 28th Annual Chemical Safety Excellence Award
CSX Corp. presented 65 customers with the company’s annual Chemical Safety Excellence Award for their outstanding contribution to the safe transportation of hazardous materials in 2021.
May 12, 2022
SEPTA Releases Request For Proposal For Trolley Vehicles
SEPTA today released its Request for Proposals (RFP) for modern, accessible trolley vehicles to replace the entire existing fleet of trolleys. This begins the trolley vehicle acquisition process with manufacturers — a major step forward for Trolley Modernization.
May 12, 2022
Long Island Rail Road Announces New Timetables Take Effect May 23
MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) today announced that new train schedules in effect Monday, May 23, contain adjustments to off-peak and peak trains to allow crews to complete work on the Main Line Expansion Project and accomplish work on other major improvement projects such as the Jamaica Capacity Improvement (JCI) project. The upgrades are part of efforts to transform the Long Island Rail Road and enable service to Grand Central by expanding and modernizing infrastructure on the Main Line and in and around Jamaica Station.
