In Ohio, two Hamilton County commissioners are actively moving to thwart Cincinnati streetcar development, urging the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana Regional Council of Governments to withdraw $4 million in funding for the project.
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro) says a test train will appear on the MetroRail North Line light rail transit extension Tuesday, May 28, presaging the opening of the extension ahead of schedule.
U.S. freight traffic scored solid gains during the week ending May 18, 2013, the Association of American Railroads said May 23. U.S. freight carload traffic advanced 1.9% measured against the comparable week in 2012, while U.S. intermodal did even better on a percentage basis, up 3.5%.
In Los Angeles, rail advocates in the Crenshaw neighborhood has lobbied to be included in LA Metro's namesake light rail line, despite concerns expressed that the money required was not available. A local station now appears more likely, though the station's actual configuration remains unresolved.
A shortage of qualified engineers is causing annulments of SEPTA regional rail service trains, with some SEPTA employees predicting the problem will become more acute.
The long-running political struggle over Maryland's Purple Line light rail transit proposal became more complex as state officials pledged $280 million to the project, but said private funding would likely be required as well.
Axion International Holdings, Inc. said May 22 that it has received a purchase order for ECOTRAX specialty rail ties from Edmonton Transit System, to be applied on the Albertan capital's light rail transit system.
Figures released Tuesday, May 21, by the Surface Transportation Board show Class I railroads employed 163,775 people in mid-April, up 1.11% from April 2012, and up 716 people, or 0.44%, from the previous month of March.
Expediting repairs on 2,000 feet of right-of-way, including track restoration, reinstalled signals, and catenary replacement, Metro-North said it expects to restore full service on its New Haven Line on Wednesday, May 22. Amtrak Northeast Corridor service between Boston and New York also is expected to resume Wednesday.
A judge has rejected the environmental impact report (EIR) for a proposed Metrolink line from Riverside to Perris, ruling that the Riverside County (Calif.) Transportation Commission failed to address such issues as train wheel noise and pedestrian safety.