North America – Page 40
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NewsAmtrak raises concerns over CSX-Pan Am deal
USA: National passenger operator Amtrak has raised concerns over the proposed acquisition of New England regional railroad Pan Am Railways by CSX Corp.
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NewsBogalusa Bayou Railroad buys Geaux Geaux Railroad
USA: Watco’s Bogalusa Bayou Railroad has acquired Amzak Capital Management’s Geaux Geaux Railroad, which runs 42 km from Slaughter to Zee in Louisiana. The line serves paper and packaging company Hood Container, and interchanges with Canadian National in Baton Rouge. Watco said Geaux Geaux Railroad provides ...
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NewsLac-Mégantic rail bypass agreement
CANADA: The federal government and Canadian Pacific Railway have signed an agreement covering the next steps in the development of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass, which will enable trains to avoid the Québec town which was devastated when an unattended crude oil train ran away in July ...
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NewsNew branding as short line group targets expansion
USA: Denver-based short line holding company Pioneer Railcorp has changed its name to Pioneer Lines, in support of its vision for national expansion. Founded in 1986, Pioneer Lines now operates 15 railways in 12 states, and provides related services such as transloading, switching and storage. ‘The ...
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Metro Report InternationalCalifornian contactless payment demonstration
USA: Monterey-Salinas Transit has introduced contactless payment on its bus services as part of the Caltrans-led California Integrated Travel Project to improve travel planning and transit payments throughout the state. Caltrans is working in collaboration with Visa, payment gateway supplier Cybersource, back-office supplier Littlepay, SC Soft ...
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NewsPikes Peak Cog Railway reopens after $100m modernisation
USA: The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway reopened on May 20, following a $100m modernisation programme which has included the delivery of a new fleet of push-pull trainsets and conversion from the Abt to the Strub rack system. The 14·3 km standard gauge mountain ...
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NewsAmtrak urges stronger regulation of freight railroad access as it sets out $75bn expansion plan
USA: Amtrak has challenged policymakers to support its expansion plans by strengthening the enforcement of regulatory rules giving passenger trains priority when running on tracks owned by the freight railroads.
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NewsTren Maya rolling stock supplier selected
MEXICO: National tourism promotion fund Fonatur has selected a consortium led by Alstom’s Bombardier Transportation México subsidiary as preferred bidder for a contract to supply rolling stock, communications systems and depots for the Tren Maya project, The contract announced on May 26 covers the supply and ...
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Metro Report InternationalHamilton LRT back on with federal funding
CANADA: The federal government has announced C$1·7bn of funding for the Hamilton Light Rail Transit project, matching Ontario’s C$1·7bn contribution to ensure that the proposed line can go ahead and will be long enough to be viable. Ontario’s Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney said the funding ...
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NewsKansas City Southern agrees CN merger and drops CP
NORTH AMERICA: Kansas City Southern and Canadian National announced a definitive merger agreement on May 21 which CN President & CEO JJ Ruest said would ‘create the premier railway for the 21st century.’ KCS and Canadian Pacific had announced a merger agreement ...
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NewsCommuter operator expands Bike Cars programme
USA: Chicago commuter rail operator Metra has extended its Bike Car programme, with the introduction of coaches modified to carry bicycles on two more lines and further routes set to follow. Two coaches have been modified for use on the Rock Island ...
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Metro Report InternationalFour shortlisted for contract to replace Newark airport monorail
USA: Port Authority of New York & New Jersey has issued four shortlisted groups with a request for proposals for a contract to design, build, operate and maintain a 4 km elevated peoplemover to replace the ‘outmoded and unreliable’ AirTrain monorail at Newark Liberty International Airport. ...
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Metro Report International‘Drumbeat of progress’ as Sound Transit’s fleet and network to be tripled in size
USA: Seattle’s Sound Transit has put into service the first six of 152 light rail vehicles which it had ordered from Siemens Mobility as part of an expansion programme. This will see its fleet tripled and line extensions opening every year to expand the network from ...
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NewsBidders vie for Tren Maya rolling stock contract
MEXICO: National Tourism Fund Fonatur has confirmed that two groups have submitted tenders to supply up to 42 diesel, electro-diesel and electric trainsets for the Tren Maya project, with a winning bidder due to be announced on May 26. The contract covers maintenance of the fleet ...
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NewsResearch partnership targets low-carbon freight
USA: Wabtec has set up partnerships with Carnegie Mellon University and short line specialist Genesee & Wyoming with a view to developing a range of low-carbon technologies for freight railroads. At the heart of the proposals is the Freight Rail Innovation Institute, a research body that ...
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NewsKCS favours revised CN proposal over CP merger plan
NORTH AMERICA: Kansas City Southern has given notice of its intention to terminate its merger agreement with Canadian Pacific, following the receipt of revised proposals from Canadian National.
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Metro Report InternationalToronto streetcar funding confirmed
CANADA: The government of Ontario has agreed to provide C$180m to support the purchase of 60 additional streetcars for Toronto Transit Commission. The funding will be matched by the federal government, with the City of Toronto providing an additional C$208m. The trams are to be produced ...
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Metro Report InternationalToronto subway expansion funding announced
CANADA: Federal funding to cover 40% of the C$26·8bn cost of four ‘shovel-ready’ public transport projects in the Greater Toronto Area was announced on May 12. Infrastructure Canada said this was a ‘once-in-a-generation’ investment in the area, which has 20% of Canada’s population and the third ...
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NewsDOT backs return of Gulf Coast passenger trains
USA: The Department of Transportation has endorsed efforts to revive inter-city passenger train services on the Gulf Coast route east of New Orleans, which were suspended following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Writing to the Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board Martin Oberman on May 10, DOT ...
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Metro Report InternationalTexas backs Capital Metro tunnels
USA: The Texas House of Representatives has approved the construction of metro tunnels under Republic Square Park and Brush Square in Austin as part of Capital Metro’s light rail expansion programme.