WASHINGTON — Brightline trains to Orlando aim to be in operation “hopefully by Christmastime,” Fortress Investment Group co-CEO and Brightline chairman Wes Edens said Tuesday. Edens made the comment during a “Washington Post Live” event on the future of transportation. He also said he hoped construction would be under way on the Brightline West project […]
DEL MAR, Calif. — The Del Mar City Council is asking the California Coastal Commission to intervene in plans to build a seawall along the Del Mar Bluffs to prevent erosion that threatens the rail line between San Diego and Orange County. The San Diego Union Tribune reports the city council will send a representative […]
WASHINGTON — More Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement, or CRISI, grants from the Federail Railroad Administration have been announced by members of Congress whose areas will receive the funding. Among the latest announcements: California grants worth more than $46 million U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) announced awards of more than […]
SAN JOSE, Calif. — One year after a disgruntled employee killed nine Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail coworkers and himself, the family of one of the victims has filed suit against the transit agency, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, and a private security firm for failing to prevent the mass shooting. Courthouse […]
WASHINGTON — “Weak administrative controls” that allowed a supervisor to authorize a high-speed test without knowing another train was on the same track led to the collision of two light rail trains in Sacramento, Calif., in August 2019, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report. The Aug. 22, 2019, collision occurred at 9:39 p.m. […]
LOS ANGELES — The board of directors of transit agency LA Metro will consider an $8.8 billion budget on Thursday, a fiscal plan including $2.3 billion for ongoing expansion projects as well as funds to begin operation on two new rail lines. Metro’s in-house blog, The Source, reports the expansion funding includes ongoing work on […]
SAN DIEGO — Metropolitan Transit System is donating up to 39 second-generation light rail vehicles to Mendoza, Argentina, as it makes way for a new order of trolleys. The Siemens SD100 vehicles, which began entering service in 1995, will become part of the Metrotranvia Mendoza light rail fleet. “As MTS modernizes its Trolley fleet, we […]
LOS ANGELES — Commuter rail operator Metrolink has named Frank Castellon as its chief safety, security, and compliance officer. Castellon’s background includes safety and security systems with Portland-area agency TriMet, Valley Metro in Phoenix, LA Metro, and Bombardier Transportation North America. Most recently, he was vice president of environmental, health, safety, and quality for Peak […]
ORANGE, Calif. — Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner is adding a carry-on pet program beginning May 20, expanding the locations where the passenger operator allows passengers to bring along small dogs and cats. Dogs and cats weighing up to 20 pounds may be brought aboard in a carrier which should remain under the passenger’s seat. There is […]
The Professionals filming location. The Professionals is a perfect Saturday afternoon popcorn picture. Four mercenaries in the waning days of the wild American West dive deep into Mexico to rescue the abducted wife of a multi-millionaire railroad tycoon. Along the way are bandits, memories of yesterday’s glory days, and plot twists that make what looks […]
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Demolition crews are tearing down the light rail maintenance building where six Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority workers died in a mass shooting in May 2021. Work began last Wednesday when Building B at VTA’s Guadalupe rail yard was knocked down by heavy equipment, KNTV reports. VTA board member Cindy Chavez […]
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Gov. Gavin Newsom is deadlocked in a dispute with Democratic colleagues in the state House over the next steps in the future of the state’s $105 billion high speed rail project, according to CalMatters, an online, nonprofit news agency that covers public policy in the Golden State. The California High-Speed Rail […]
