December 14, 20204 yr 16 minutes ago, neilworms said: Oh yeah the Caltrain electrification project is something I'm also following pretty closely, getting a commuter rail up to developed world standards (and ready for future high speed rail) is fantastic to see. I've had dreams of being able to hop on a train and go through Hamilton Middletown and Dayton from Cincinnati, The big operational advantage of electrification is that you can have a train stop at more stations but still travel the route in the same amount of time thanks to the much faster acceleration and braking.
December 23, 20204 yr its a christmas miracle — ptc positive train control is now completed for the entire mta commuter rail system. https://www.newsday.com/amp/long-island/transportation/positive-train-control-lirr-1.50100774
January 6, 20214 yr Author "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 10, 20214 yr Northwest Indiana: FTA, NICTD sign $173 million FFGA for South Shore Double Track project https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/infrastructure/article/21205156/fta-nictd-sign-173-million-ffga-for-south-shore-double-track-project The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) have executed a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) for NICTD’s South Shore Line Double Track Northwest Indiana project. The FFGA finalizes NICTD’s $172.96-million federal grant through the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program and clears the way for construction to begin on what the state of Indiana calls a decades-long priority. ... The Double Track Northwest Indiana project spans 26.6 miles and will see the construction of a new second track between Michigan City and Gary that will expand service. In addition to the second track, the project includes construction of four bridges, five stations, expanding parking lots at the stations and nine new platforms. The project will also deliver safety improvements with the closure of 21 grade crossings and the construction of two new ballasted tracks that will replace single street-running track in Michigan City. When service begins in 2024, NICTD expects to deliver service that is more reliable, as well as safe and faster with peak express trains expected to shave 33 minutes off the total travel time between Millennium Park in downtown Chicago and Michigan City. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
January 12, 20214 yr On 1/6/2021 at 1:43 PM, KJP said: They should be working with New York to run the trains to Albany. Additional connections at Albany going westward would do a lot for ridership.
January 16, 20214 yr They are building a flying crossover in Chicago to enable outbound Brown Line trains to avoid blocking both directions of the red line and purple line express tracks: Edited January 17, 20214 yr by jmecklenborg typo
January 17, 20214 yr Author Should have done this decades ago. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 19, 20214 yr i wondered about ferry services covid numbers -- washington state ferry numbers drop due to covid, but not so bad as other forms of transit and they expect it to recover through the summer: https://www.masstransitmag.com/alt-mobility/water-transportation/news/21205802/wa-washington-state-ferry-ridership-dropped-to-historic-lows-last-year
January 22, 20214 yr a 145mi la to indio or coachella route is being studied: https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/RCTC-advances-proposed-rail-service-from-LA-to-Coachella-Valley--62499
January 22, 20214 yr 48 minutes ago, mrnyc said: a 145mi la to indio or coachella route is being studied: https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/RCTC-advances-proposed-rail-service-from-LA-to-Coachella-Valley--62499 Crazy. I assume that this would use the tracks that head due east from LA Union to Ontario, but instead they plan to use the southeast route to Anaheim and then circuitously head northwest to Riverside to rejoin the due-east tracks. The tracks between LA Union and Anaheim are part of CAHSR Phase 1 and will be quadruple tracked, electrified, and completely grade separated (one major grade separation is already underway even though the quadruple tracking and electrification likely won't begin until 2030). The mainline between LA Union and Ontario is part of CAHSR Phase 2. Similarly, it will be electrified, quadruple tracked, and completely grade separated. CAHSR Phase 2 will connect LA and San Diego via Riverside (as opposed to traveling on the coast) in order to create an entrance to both Southern California cities for HSR to Phoenix. So what's really interesting to me is that this proposed service to Palm Springs and Coachella is a shade of things to come.
February 5, 20214 yr Author "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 19, 20214 yr Author Cross-posted in the NYC developments thread "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 20, 20214 yr Quote "It was a mocked-up photo from the California high-speed rail authority. You want an idea of how long it will take to build HSR? Development ground to a halt because parties couldn't agree on what COLOR the trains should be." They should run for congress. They'd fit right in!
February 20, 20214 yr 31 minutes ago, David said: They should run for congress. They'd fit right in! The point of that post is that the people who made the comment were lying. California high speed rail is still moving right along in the Central Valley. It’s unfortunate that Newsome slowed down the planning for the parts that connect to LA and the Bay Area, but since trains are backwards compatible, it’ll still all be connected, just not as fast. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
February 21, 20214 yr One of the new Caltrain Stadler sets headed to Pueblo for testing this weekend.
February 21, 20214 yr Author Looks very Dutch "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 21, 20214 yr 7 minutes ago, KJP said: Looks very Dutch Agreed. And I'm ok with it! I love how they are just stuck in the middle of a freight train. Clearly they are riding on some sort of transport understructure.
February 22, 20214 yr i took this in front of the main farley post office recently. i also finally got to see the new moynihan train hall -- its very nice. anyway, the pic is one of the blocks that will go away for penn south/empire station redevelopment. now if only msg would go away lol!
February 24, 20214 yr Minnesota: [Gov.] Walz bonding proposal includes $10 million for Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Second Train https://www.news8000.com/walz-bonding-proposal-includes-10-million-for-twin-cities-milwaukee-chicago-second-train/ Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz included $10 million for the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Second Train project in his $518 million captial investment bonding proposal released Monday. The funds would provide a local match for a $32 million federal grant awarded last year. ... It will cost about $53 million to add a second round-trip passenger train between St. Paul and Chicago, which would complement the current Amtrak Empire Builder service. Most of those dollars are committed, thanks to support from the federal government, Amtrak, and the state of Wisconsin. What’s missing is Minnesota’s contribution of $10 million. (Still needs approval from MN legislature) When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
February 24, 20214 yr Not the greatest photo due to facing into the sun, but I saw these moving southbound on the tracks this morning next to CLE Hopkins being pulled by a NS locomotive. They look European.
February 24, 20214 yr Those might be the new Seimens electric locos that they're using on the Northeast Cooridor.
February 24, 20214 yr Amtrak official: Gulf Coast service starting in 2022 https://www.al.com/news/2021/02/amtrak-official-gulf-coast-service-starting-in-2022.html Amtrak passenger service along the Gulf Coast is on target to return in 2022 and could come in the early part of next year, an official with the railroad company confirmed Tuesday. Marc Magliari, spokesman for Amtrak, said the nation’s passenger rail service reached out to CSX and Norfolk Southern in January to inform them “that we intend to begin service in 2022” that will connect New Orleans to Mobile with four stops in Mississippi – Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. It will be the first time that passenger trains have rolled along the Gulf Coast in more than 16 years. Magliari said the disclosure to the freight operators came at the conclusion of one year of negotiations involving Amtrak and CSX Corp. and Norfolk Southern. The parties were part of an ongoing study into how passenger train service would affect the freight operators. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
March 5, 20214 yr Author And you thought Ohio was silly?? Florida East Coast Railroad should demand FDOT compensate it for lost revenues due to government-owned roads siphoning off freight traffic (and killing its pre-1971 passenger traffic) from its private-sector rails? FDOT Demands Compensation From Brightline For Lost Tolls If It Wants To Expand Train Service To Tampa https://www.thenextmiami.com/fdot-demanding-compensation-for-lost-tolls-if-brightline-wants-to-expand-train-service-to-tampa/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 17, 20214 yr cuomo is trying open up penn station around the elephant in the room that is msg: https://www.amny.com/news/empire-station-complex-could-include-10-skyscrapers-and-natural-light-in-existing-penn-station/
March 30, 20214 yr Author "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 1, 20214 yr rethinking and revamping commuter rail to better serve the city post-covid: https://www.thecity.nyc/2021/3/25/22351465/mta-eyes-commuter-rails-as-discount-subways-substitutes-with-crowds-expected-back
April 2, 20214 yr Author To borrow on Jake's posting of California HSR construction videos, here's some big time construction going on at the other side of the country. This is Brightline, rebuilding the Florida East Coast RR north from the current northern terminus of Brightline at West Palm Beach to Cocoa, FL, then new construction from Cocoa to Orlando International Airport. Amtrak isn't the only game in town, and that's why they're aggressively pursuing expansion or they risk losing out to Brightline and others.... Upgrading the existing portion West Palm to Cocoa.... A few videos (of many) showing construction of the new right of way west of Cocoa...... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 5, 20214 yr Author Um, there's CARES Act money to help states support their trains. It was provided under Trump and Biden alike..... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 5, 20214 yr https://medium.com/@bigmoodenergy/here-will-always-go-to-there-22b0ec28fa5c Interesting piece on google maps and what they choose to show on the transit layer
April 6, 20214 yr Author CSX's fear tactics have now cornered the governor... Gov. Ivey: Alabama won't fund Gulf Coast service without an Amtrak study to see if there is anything to CSX nonsense about threat to the Port of Mobile https://www.progressiverailroading.com/amtrak/news/Gov-Ivey-Alabama-wont-fund-Gulf-Coast-service-without-an-Amtrak-study--63136 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 6, 20214 yr nys appoved $1.3B loan to fund the empire station complex, that is to expand penn station, but only for transit and below ground improvements, so cuomo's PENN15 tower will not err, rise. at least not via state money: https://nypost.com/2021/04/06/penn-15-skyscraper-funding-goes-flaccid-in-state-budget/
April 7, 20214 yr "Penn15 skyscraper goes flaccid" is the best news headline I've seen in a long time...
April 21, 20214 yr when built a new supertall tower, 343 madison, will provide a transit connection to grand central:
April 21, 20214 yr the lirr is piloting batteries on trains out on long island. it could or will sidestep having to draw power from the third rail. this is a first for commuter rail. if successful and trains are fitted with them it will eliminate having to switch to diesel trains at jamaica station. more: https://www.railjournal.com/fleet/long-island-rail-road-to-pilot-bemus/
April 21, 20214 yr 2 hours ago, mrnyc said: the lirr is piloting batteries on trains out on long island. it could or will sidestep having to draw power from the third rail. this is a first for commuter rail. if successful and trains are fitted with them it will eliminate having to switch to diesel trains at jamaica station. more: https://www.railjournal.com/fleet/long-island-rail-road-to-pilot-bemus/ I’m really having trouble figuring out why batteries are being used instead of electrification. The latter may be more expensive up front, but I can’t imagine the complete lifecycle costs are better. Batteries don’t last THAT long and they must add a lot of weight. Just electrify the line. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
April 21, 20214 yr Author Not if the frequency of service doesn't justify the expense. The goal is still the same -- a faster and/or one-seat ride into the city. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 22, 20214 yr i guess they think battery lifecycles are much improved in recent years and that now it's worth a pilot project to see how it goes.
April 22, 20214 yr here is an article in the daily news today about about plans to improve penn station: MTA leaders unveil shiny new vision for NYC’s cramped, crowded Penn Station By CLAYTON GUSE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS | APR 21, 2021 AT 6:46 PM .... The expanded station proposed by the MTA would pave the way for at least eight new tracks that would service NJ Transit trains running through two Hudson River tunnels that have not yet been approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Officials say those tunnels, part of New York and New Jersey’s “Gateway Program,” are necessary in order to close and repair two current Hudson River rail tunnels damaged in 2012 during Hurricane Sandy. “This is our chance,” said Lieber. “The [Hudson River] tunnel project is obviously getting a lot of great attention… but we know we need to have a Penn Station that’s ready to receive that additional capacity when the tunnels are completed.” more: https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-penn-station-master-plan-mta-20210421-4dtw6gavbbbtzoasp4qrdvan2y-story.html
May 13, 20214 yr Author A cool video and a terrific service improvement, but a station or two in Queens (Astoria and/or Sunnyside) would be great, too. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 13, 20214 yr Author "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 14, 20214 yr 6 hours ago, KJP said: Hi we’re a dumb Florida town and prefer sitting in traffic instead of riding the train to places worth going. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
May 14, 20214 yr 22 hours ago, KJP said: This Tweet is no longer available although the link to the online article still works.
May 14, 20214 yr here we go for the bx: Four new Metro-North stations coming to the Bronx with Penn Station access: Cuomo Governor Andrew Cuomo preached on rebuilding New York state after the COVID-19 pandemic, announcing a plan for the Bronx that included completing a connection for the Metro-North Railroad to Penn Station and four new stations in the borough. Not only will Metro-North be accessible to Penn Station through Moynihan Train Hall, there will be new stops at Co-op City, Morris Park and Hunts Point, Cuomo said on Thursday morning, which could happen by 2025 after the federal government recently signed off. “The key is access and access to mass transit. If you look at the parts of the city that have redeveloped quickly, you notice they all have one thing in common; They are all very accessible by train,” Cuomo said. “There’s a lot of problems with this idea, this is a complicated idea. It’s not just Metro North Metro North is part of MTA, the train tracks are owned by Amtrak and the federal government. This is complicated, and this is expensive. This is a lot of this is over a billion dollars.” Cuomo says access to 160 trains, not including Amtrak, will be available to communities as part of the Metro-North improvements by the time the project wraps will be part of his larger plan to redevelop Penn into the Empire Station Complex. more: https://www.amny.com/news/four-new-metro-north-stations-coming-to-the-bronx-with-penn-station-access-cuomo/
May 18, 20214 yr Author "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 19, 20214 yr new light rail trains go into service for seattle sound transit in advance of the oct 2nd northgate link extension opening: more: https://www.progressiverailroading.com/mechanical/news/Sound-Transits-first-new-Link-light-rail-vehicles-enter-service--63506
May 28, 20214 yr Author CSX is making a very strong argument for public ownership of railroad rights of way.... CSX removing controlled sidings in NY state ESPA is highly concerned to have learned that CSX has recently removed from service the majority of the ‘controlled’ (i.e. signaled) sidings located between Hoffmans and Buffalo. This unexpected move will likely have a negative effect on Amtrak’s Empire Corridor already-poor on time performance across upstate on CSX. These sidings were created when the New York Central installed Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) in the late 1950’s & early 1960’s and reduced their upstate mainline from four to two tracks. At that time approximately two to three mile segments of the former eastbound freight main track were retained at multiple locations and made part of the then highly-advanced remote controlled & signaled dispatching system. The sidings were intended, in part, to provide dispatchers the flexibility to move slower freight trains off of a main track, to allow higher speed passenger trains to pass. After gaining ownership of the former NYC line from Conrail, CSX struggled to understand the use of the sidings, as there were no other wide-spread examples of a high-capacity double track mainline having such signaled sidings anywhere on their system. Under CSX, the operating flexibility afforded by these ‘controlled by the dispatcher’ siding was never maximized, which routinely led to delays to Amtrak trains stuck behind slower freight trains. And with the adoption of the Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) operating model in recent years, CSX has progressively increased the length of most freight trains, many of which now are over two-miles in length. Unfortunately, many current CSX trains can’t even fit onto the existing sidings. But asides from providing operating flexibility & added capacity, the sidings also afforded CSX the ability to efficiently set-out malfunctioning ‘bad-ordered’ freight cars; stage on-rail track maintenance equipment and store cars as needed. Reportedly the sidings have only been taken out of service for a sixty-day ‘trial’ period which started on May 21st. But with the siding at Oneida (which was already out of service) having now been fully ripped-up, the outlook for the remainder of the newly decommissioned sidings is likely poor. Being done clearly as a cost saving measure, the speculation is that CSX is looking to cut expenses by both reducing maintenance costs and also by lowering their local property assessments through the removal of the physical siding track & related switches/signals. It should be noted that such lowered property assessments will result in reduced tax collections for many local upstate jurisdictions and school districts. ESPA strongly urges NYSDOT to swiftly investigate this move by CSX and its likely negative effect on the already poor Empire Corridor on-time performance on CSX. EPSA also urges NYSDOT to examine the impact the removal of the sidings could have on future passenger rail improvements along the route. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 28, 20214 yr Smells like politics. Any chance CSX is trying to gum up the works in order to get some federal funding from Biden's Amtrak expansion plans?
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