Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

A federal law passed in 2008 requires the state to pay for rail routes less than 750 miles, which includes Amtrak's Pennsylvanian, at about 440 miles. The state has until October to decide whether to pay the $5.7 million to keep the service.

Now offering service between Norfolk and Washington, D.C. This is the first time passenger rail service has been offered in south Hampton Roads since 1977.

All Aboard Florida, a company proposing passenger rail service between Miami and Orlando, would build a big new train station in Miami with tracks elevated on a platform four stories up. The company also plans to build similar stations in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

The Indiana Gateway Project will receive $71.3 million. Improvements include track reconfiguration and track and signal upgrades, all of which will help improve service reliability while creating jobs and relieving congestion. Virginia will receive $74.8 million to continue development of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor.

In his new position, Paul Skoutelas provides leadership and strategic direction to the Transit & Rail Technical Excellence Center with a focus on growing the firm’s transit and rail business, enhancing marketing capabilities and strengthening client relationships.

Based on recommendations from General Passenger Safety Task Force. Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the proposed rule by Aug. 27, 2012.

There has been no Amtrak passenger rail service in region since 2005, when Hurricane Katrina caused damage to part of the Sunset Limited Route from New Orleans to Jacksonville.

Illinois DOT received more than $177 million for a passenger rail project between Chicago and the Quad Cities. Georgia DOT was awarded $4.1 million to complete plans and an environmental study for a 250-mile passenger rail corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C., and the D.C. DOT received $2.9 million for potential bridge replacement.

Premiered its TRAXX AC locomotive with a supplementary diesel motor at this year’s Transport Logistic trade fair, taking place in Munich, Germany from May 10 to 13. The technology eliminates the need to change locomotives in shunting areas of a rail network.