New TEXRail line rolls in DFW
TEXRail inaugurated passenger rail services between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Grapevine and central Fort Worth on January 10 with the inauguration of the 28-mile commuter line.
Author: Keith Barrow
In Britain, hydrogen is a Breeze
Alstom and rolling stock leasing company Eversholt Rail have unveiled a concept for a hydrogen multiple-unit (HMU) for the British market that involves converting existing EMUs (electric multiple-units) for operation on non-electrified routes. The concept, dubbed Breeze, involves reengineering class 321 EMUs originally built by British Rail Engineering Limited in 1988-1991. Most of the fleet of 117 trains is due to come off lease within the next few years due to the delivery of new equipment.
Design-build contract awarded for Dallas commuter rail
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has awarded a joint venture of Archer Western Construction and Herzog Contracting a $783 million design-build contract for the 26-mile Cotton Belt commuter rail line.
VIA Rail selects Siemens for flagship fleet renewal
VIA Rail Canada announced that it has awarded Siemens Canada a C$989 million ($741 million) contract to supply 32 intercity trainsets for the Quebec City–Toronto–Windsor corridor.
Caltrain increasing Stadler EMU order
Caltrain is acquiring 37 additional Stadler double-deck EMU cars for the San Francisco – San Jose electrification project.
Texas Central trailblazing privately funded HSR
Despite producing more than one-third of U.S. crude oil output, urbanization, rapid economic growth and congestion mean Texans could be getting out of their cars and on to high-speed trains much sooner than most other Americans, if Texas Central Railway’s plan to link Dallas and Houston without one penny of public funding is successful.
BART proposes second SF Bay tunnel
Proposals for a second rail tunnel beneath San Francisco Bay were discussed at a meeting of the Bay Area Rapid Transit board of directors on November 15.
DART approves Cotton Belt commuter line
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) board unanimously approved construction of an east-west commuter rail line linking communities to the north of the city, albeit with fewer stations than previously planned.
New York commits to Brooklyn-Queens light rail
New York City will develop the Brooklyn Queens Connector (BQX) light rail project following the completion of a two-year feasibility study.
A look inside Alstom’s Avelia Liberty
Amtrak has unveiled artist’s impressions of interiors for its forthcoming Alstom-built Avelia Liberty high-speed trainsets, which will replace the current Acela Express fleet on the Boston-New York-Washington D.C. Northeast Corridor (NEC) from 2021 onwards.