Rendering Courtesy of CHSRA

CHSRA Applies for $450MM in Federal Funding to Advance Merced Extension

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) on May 28 announced that it is applying for $450 million in federal funding to “advance construction and expedite important safety improvements” between Madera and Merced along the northern portion of rail line in the Central Valley.

Rendering Courtesy of CHSRA

CHSRA Releases Final EIR/EIS Needed to Connect San Francisco to Downtown L.A.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) on May 24 released the final environmental documentation for the more than 30-mile segment between Palmdale and Burbank in Southern California.

(Rendering Courtesy of Brightline West)

FRA Issues Nonavailability Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Brightline West Project

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on May 24 reported issuing a waiver of its Buy America requirements to the Nevada Department of Transportation (NVDOT) for the planned Las Vegas-to-Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., high

Commentary

High-Speed Increase in Brightline Fares

Until September 2023, Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad, had only operated between Miami and West Palm Beach. Then, on Sept. 22, the railroad extended service to a new station at Orlando International

Commentary

RUN Conference Tackling L-D Trains

Amtrak’s skeletal network of long-distance (L-D) passenger trains is the same size now as it was in 1971, when “America’s Railroad” was founded—14 routes. Advocates around the nation are pushing for that

Transbay Joint Powers Authority is leading The Portal project, which is slated to bring Caltrain, and potentially the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s system, to San Francisco’s Salesforce Transit Center. (Transbay Joint Powers Authority Rendering)

Report: The Portal Project Advances in California

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has committed $3.38 billion to The Portal Project, bringing Caltrain commuter rail to San Francisco’s Salesforce Transit Center, the San Francisco Examiner reported May 11. The Transbay

STB’s Fuchs, NTSB’s Homendy Senate-Confirmed

Surface Transportation Board (STB) member Patrick J. Fuchs, a Republican, was Senate-confirmed by voice vote May 14 to a second five-year term, while Democrat Jennifer Esposito Homendy was similarly confirmed both to

Caltrain OCS Fully Energized (Updated May 14)

Caltrain, with partners Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) and Balfour Beatty US, have energized and tested the OCS (overhead contact system, or catenary) on the entire 51-mile Caltrain Electrification Project between

Commentary

Vehicle/Track Interaction: ‘Science’ or ‘Gibberish’?

One of our society’s current mantras is to “Follow the Science.” Unfortunately, this oft-repeated phrase cannot distinguish between science and myth, so one may not always be perfectly clear about the causes,

Siemens Selected for Brightline West HSR Trainsets (Updated)

Brightline has designated Siemens Mobility preferred bidder to supply 10 seven-car “American Pioneer 220” (AP 220) electric trainsets for the 218-mile, $12 billion Brightline West high-speed rail system connecting Las Vegas and

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