Rail service

March 23, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state’s Recovery Working Group unanimously approved nearly $163 million in federal stimulus transportation projects to create jobs on statewide bus and rail projects and enhance pedestrian and bicycle access.

“These statewide projects, both large and small, have one thing in common – they need hard-working men and women of Connecticut to make them a reality,” Governor Rell said. “The federal stimulus act is giving us a chance to rebuild our economy and improve the quality of life in our state. I commend members of the Recovery Working Group for their swift decision today to move these projects along and put people back to work.”    » read more »

March 13, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Standing at Washington, DC’s Union Station, one of the most traveled railway stations in the nation, Vice President Joe Biden announced that Amtrak will receive $1.3 billion in grant funding from the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to expand passenger rail capacity.    » read more »

March 10, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine issued the following statement today on the signing of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project Full Funding Grant Agreement between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority:

"One of my top transportation priorities has been to see Dulles Rail become a reality. The signing of the $900 million Full Funding Grant Agreement for Phase 1 of the project is an accomplishment that has taken more than 10 years to achieve and I am proud to have this honor.    » read more »

Rail Plan is a Critical First Step for Federal Funding for Passenger and Freight Rail Improvements; Rail Improvements will Increase Speed and Reliability, Help Protect the Environment

March 9, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn today announced the release of the 2009 New York State Rail Plan, providing the first comprehensive update of the State’s rail strategy in 22 years and fulfilling a prerequisite for federal funding for rail capital improvement projects. The announcement was made at the Capital District Transportation Authority’s (CDTA) Rensselaer train station.    » read more »

Swaady Martin Newly-Appointed Regional Director for GE Transportation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Cape Town, South Africa (March 5, 2009) - GE Transportation, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), announced that in order to underscore its commitment to infrastructure development in Africa while accelerating the company’s growth in southern Africa and in the Republic of South Africa in particular, Swaady Martin has been appointed Regional Director.

GE Transportation has a long and successful history of operations and activities throughout Africa. The business was the first GE business active in South Africa in the 1890s and it has maintained its commitment to the rail industry in the region ever since.    » read more »

February 4, 2009 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist, continuing his commitment to strengthening Florida’s economy and preserving Florida’s natural resources, today highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of commuter rail in Central Florida. He joined Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Central Florida lawmakers in urging legislative support for SunRail, the 61-mile commuter rail system that would serve Orange, Seminole, Volusia and Osceola counties.    » read more »

January 21, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced the creation of a task force to undertake a new review of parking management and capacity issues along the New Haven Line and Shore Line East commuter rail corridors in southern Connecticut.    » read more »

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 »

EPA Clears the Air

Washington, D.C., March 14, 2008 -- New tough emissions standards will slash pollution from locomotive and marine diesel engines by up to 90 percent, helping Americans to breathe cleaner air as soon as this year.    » read more »