Connecticut Department of Transportation

At Metro-North, six new SC-42DM dual-mode (diesel-electric/third-rail) Charger locomotives will replace GE P32AC-DMs, which have either reached or exceeded their projected 25-year lifespan. (Siemens Mobility Photograph)

More Siemens SC-42DMs for Metro-North

Siemens Mobility on Sept. 26 reported that it will supply six additional SC-42DM dual-mode (diesel-electric/third-rail) Charger locomotives to MTA Metro-North Railroad, building on an initial 27-unit order placed in 2020 for the

VIA Rail has announced an investment of more than $80 million in the renovation of four of its 36 “heritage” stations: Winnipeg Union Station (pictured), Vancouver Pacific Station, Halifax Station and Gare du Palais in Québec City. (Photograph Courtesy of VIA Rail, via X, formerly known as Twitter)

Transit Briefs: Caltrain, MBTA, Metro-North, Sound Transit, TTC, VIA Rail

California’s Caltrain debuts new fare product promotions. Also, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Agency (MBTA) announces its vision to improve safety, service, equity, sustainability and culture; commuter rail service on MTA Metro-North’s New Canaan, Conn., Branch will resume after three months of trackwork; Sound Transit announces the launch date for the Bellevue-to-Redmond, Wash., portion of the East Link light rail extension; Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) confirms that service on Line 3 Scarborough RT (rapid transit) will not restart following a July 24 derailment; and VIA Rail Canada is investing more than C$80 million in four “heritage” stations.

Two additional Amtrak Northeast Regional trains will serve Springfield (Mass.) Union Station starting June 5. (Amtrak Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, GO Transit, NNEPRA, VRE, WMATA

Amtrak is expanding Northeast Regional service. Also, GO Transit adds 12 roundtrips per week between Toronto’s Union Station and Niagara Falls, Ontario; Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA), which oversees Amtrak Downeaster service, selects an advertising agency of record; Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will offer fare-free Fridays this summer; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is seeking rider feedback on the look, layout and features of its new 8000 series rapid transit cars, to be built by Hitachi Rail.

Cordel Group PLC and D/Gauge Ltd. (part of the TÜV Rheinland Group) have landed a multi-year contract to provide Amtrak with a Rail Clearance Management system.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, BART, CapMetro, CTDOT, PATH, TTC, WMATA

Amtrak awards Rail Clearance Management system contract. Also, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) lowers its ridership estimate for San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District’s (BART) extension through San José; CapMetro’s Project Connect in Austin, Tex., has five new light rail options; Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is developing a unified, statewide public transit information system for mobile devices; PATH introduces nine-car train service on the Newark (N.J.)-World Trade Center (N.Y.) line; the city of Toronto, Ontario, and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) bolster transit system outreach efforts; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) tests new fare gates.

Garrett Eucalitto (left) will succeed Joseph Giulietti (right) as CTDOT Commissioner at the start of Gov. Lamont's second term.
  • News

Gov. Lamont to Appoint Eucalitto CTDOT Commissioner

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont on Nov. 21 announced that he is planning to appoint current Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Deputy Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto as Commissioner when he begins his second term in office next year. Eucalitto will succeed Joseph Giulietti, who “intends to leave state service at the conclusion of the governor’s first term.”

Business Class riders will now be treated to reclining leather seats and other amenities onboard Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner. (Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak Pacific Surfliner)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, CTDOT, CTA, MARTA, Metrolinx, SacRT, Tri-Rail

Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® trains now include upgraded Business Class equipment. Also, Shore Line East, Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (CTDOT) commuter rail service between New London and New Haven, may be expanded to Rhode Island; Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has installed security camera monitors in all rail station customer service booths; Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) marked the official opening of StationSoccer and released a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Request for Proposals (RFP); Metrolinx’s GO expansion is progressing along the Barrie Line; Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) offers tips to “help clear the air” in recognition of California Clean Air Day (Oct. 5); and Tri-Rail, South Florida’s regional passenger railroad, will not reach downtown Miami in 2022.

Images of Connecticut's Rail System. (Carl Talley)

Small-Road Briefs: CTDOT, WisDOT

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is soliciting comments on its Draft State Rail Plan Update. Also, Gov. Tony Evers, along with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), announces nearly $8 million in grants and loans for Wisconsin’s Freight Railroad Assistance Program (FRPP).

On Sept. 11, the first two of 72 Kawasaki-built rapid transit cars for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s PATH system arrived at Port Newark via a Ro-ro vessel originating in Japan. (Credit: PANYNJ)

Transit Briefs: CA, CTrail, MARTA, NJT, NYCT, PATH, SacRt, TTC

Wellness centers will be deployed at all California transit agencies. Also, a new CTrail- and Amtrak-served train station and roadway safety and track improvement project is under way in Windsor Locks, Conn.; Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) outlines Streetcar East Extension project; New Jersey Transit (NJT) teams with BetMGM on rail line naming rights; MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) graduates subway train operators; PATH’s first two new Kawasaki-built rapid transit cars arrive from Japan; Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) offers a ride-free week in celebration of California Clean Air Day; and Toronto Transit Commission will recognize Canada’s National Day of Mourning.