High-speed rail project settles Bakersfield lawsuit Visalia Times-Delta – Dec 19, 2014 SACRAMENTO – The California High-Speed Rail Authority announced Friday that it has settled one of seven environmental lawsuits challenging the route of the $68 billion bullet train through the Central Valley. The Surface Transportation Board ruling that it can overrule local state environmental…

Metrolink chief Michael P. DePallo quits after two years Los Angeles Times-Dec 12, 2014 Metrolink’s chief executive officer resigned Friday amid ongoing scrutiny of the six-county commuter railroad’s operations, governance and financial controls.Michael P. DePallo, a former transit leader from New York, stepped down two years after he replaced John Fenton, who left the top…

FRA waives Buy America rules on high speed train prototypes Railway Gazette International – Dec 4, 2014 ‘FRA believes a waiver is appropriate because domestically-produced high speed trainsets meeting the specific technical, design, and schedule needs of Amtrak and CHSRA are not currently available in the USA’, the letter explains. ‘Moreover, domestically-produced high speed trainsets…

Whistle-blower: INDOT wasted time on alternative Journal and Courier-Nov 18, 2014 The Indiana Department of Transportation expects to reach agreement with Amtrak to continue operating the Hoosier State passenger rail service between Indianapolis and Chicago, INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield said. November 24, 2014 The above copy of this enewletter is on a PDF file . If…

Fight onboard an Amtrak train ends with a stabbing ABC30.com-Nov 12, 2014 FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) –Authorities are investigating a stabbing on an Amtrak passenger train. The Amtrak train involved was number 714.   November 17, 2014 The above copy of this enewletter is on a PDF file . If you would like to subscribe to this…

State ends negotiations with Amtrak alternative Journal and Courier-Nov 8, 2014 The Indiana Department of Transportation has ended contract negotiations with Corridor Capital LLC to provide passenger rail cars, marketing and other services for the Hoosier State line between Indianapolis and Chicago, said INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield. Wingfield did not comment as to why negotiations were terminated. But he…

24 hurt as Amtrak train, semi collide Indianapolis Star-Oct 28, 2014 “I went across the tracks, then I seen that train coming, and it was too late,” Hatfield said recalling the morning’s accident. “That’s about it.” There were 56 passenger on this Hoosier State. The crossing didn’t have warning lights or gates: see photos in this story. NB…

Construction to Impact Rail Service in October Complete Rail Closure October 25 -26  The weekend of October 25-26 will see rail service interruptions along the Coastal rail corridor from Oceanside to San Diego: COASTER: No COASTER service will be provided. AMTRAK – Amtrak trains will not operate between Oceanside and San Diego including the six select Amtrak ‘Rail…

California High-Speed Rail Gets Go-Ahead Daily Beast – Oct 15, 2014 The final legal obstacle for California’s bullet-train plan was overcome Wednesday when the California Supreme Court decided not to review a lawsuit against the state’s funding plan. This means that the construction can legally begin. The issue was whether the California High-Speed Rail Authority had acted…

Amtrak busing delayed passengers Toledo Blade-Oct 7, 2014 Chronic passenger train delays of eight to 12 hours between Toledo and Chicago have prompted Amtrak to begin busing passengers on that route. Amtrak started busing customers on Sunday when the train was more than 10 hours late, said Amtrak spokesman Christina Leeds…She said the passenger train delays are caused…