Rail service

June 2, 2008 -- San Francisco – On Sunday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered the keynote address at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) rail conference in San Francisco. Below are her remarks as prepared:

“Thank you, Nat [Ford]. Nat does an excellent job leading the SFMTA in managing San Francisco’s ground transportation system, which includes our transit system, Muni, one of the oldest and greenest transit systems in the United States. Under his tenure, San Francisco has opened a new light rail line and established the largest municipal bio-diesel fleet in the nation, with bio-diesel fuel now utilized in all Muni’s diesel fleet vehicles.    » read more »

May 30, 2008 -- "I met today with Congressman John Mica of Florida, the Ranking Republican on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, who briefed me on his plan to encourage proposals to bring high-speed rail service to New York. Congressman Mica's plan makes a great deal of sense and I strongly support it.

High speed rail service could cut the travel time between New York and Washington to only two hours. This would encourage more people to take the train, which simultaneously would relieve congestion at New York City airports and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.    » read more »

May 21, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today ceremonially signed LD 2019, “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Governor’s Task Force on Passenger Rail Funding.” The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Boyd Marley (D-Portland), was at the ceremony, as were cosponsors and supporters of the legislation.

Train tracks, Maine: Photo by Sue (CC)

“Long before near-$4 a gallon gas prices, I joined with rail advocates to support extending our rail system for both passenger and freight in Maine,” Governor Baldacci said. “Rail is an increasingly viable option – in economic and environmental terms.”    » read more »

On Eve of Amtrak's Nationwide Celebration, Resolution Highlights Passenger Rail's Critical and Growing Role in Serving America's Travel Needs

May 9, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced a bipartisan resolution to celebrate Amtrak’s first annual National Train Day.

Amtrak trains in Chicago: Photo by Steven Vance (CC)

The resolution, joined by 20 co-sponsors, raises awareness about the critical and growing role that passenger rail plays in serving America’s daily travel needs.    » read more »

28 April 2008 -- Chinese officials say at least 66 people were killed and hundreds injured when two passenger trains collided Monday in eastern China.

The official Xinhua news agency says the trains collided before dawn near the city of Zibo, in Shandong province. The agency said more than 400 people have been hospitalized, with about 70 listed in critical condition.

Xinhua cited officials who said human error caused an express from Beijing to the eastern city of Qingdao to derail and hit the second train, traveling from the city of Yantai in Shandong to Xuzhou in Jiangsu province. Both trains were reportedly traveling at full speed.

Authorities said they ruled out terrorism.

Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang has been dispatched to the area to oversee rescue efforts.    » read more »

Nearly 1.4 Million New Customers Traveled on Connecticut’s Commuter Rail Service; Ridership Also Up During First Two Months of 2008

April 8, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that rail ridership increased by nearly 1.4 million new riders on Shore Line East and New Haven Line rail service in 2007.

New Haven Line schedule: Photo by churl (CC)

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) today released its annual rail ridership report for the calendar year 2007 and first two months in 2008, marking across-the-board increases.    » read more »

Also: Improves Puncture Resistance, Limits Speed, and Phases Out Oldest from Most Toxic Service

Monday, March 31, 2008 -- The safety of rail tank cars that carry the most dangerous hazardous materials will be dramatically improved under the most sweeping and revolutionary proposal in decades, announced U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters.

“This proposal is designed to significantly reduce the hazard of hauling hazardous materials by rail,” Peters said, explaining the performance-based standard will increase by 500 percent on average the amount of energy the tank car must absorb during a train accident before a catastrophic failure may occur.    » read more »