California awards $2.5B to passenger rail
The California State Transportation Agency has awarded more than $2.5 billion in grants though its Transit and Intercity Rail Capital program. Awards include funding for the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit project, BART downtown San Jose to Santa Clara extension, Caltrain San Jose to San Francisco electrification, BART service upgrades between San Francisco and Oakland; and completion of three Metrolink critical infrastructure projects. [progressiverailroading.com]
WV railroad repaired after nearly 40 years
Work to repair damage to the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad from the 1985 flood has finally been finished. The last stretch was a 15 mile section between Cass and Durbin in Pocahontas County. Work to restore the line has been ongoing for several years. All of the rails and bridge have been restored. The rail line reports the Greenbrier Express will depart Cass starting in the spring. The ride features secluded and remote wilderness areas in the West Virginia mountains. [wvmetronews.com]
MnDOT optimistic about Twin Cities-Duluth
A long-awaited passenger train route running from the Twin Cities to Duluth could finally get state funding from the Minnesota legislature. Funding for the proposed Northern Lights Express route is under consideration in committee. After years of Republican opposition, DFL control of both houses has given MnDOT new optimism. With most of the $425 million project funding coming from the federal government, Minnesota lawmakers are looking to provide $99 million to move the project forward. [fox9.com]
Amtrak resumes weekend San Diego runs
Amtrak will resume weekend passenger service between San Diego and Orange counties Saturday for the first time since it was suspended September 30th to begin a track stabilization project still underway at San Clemente. The work is expected to conclude by the end of March. Regional Metrolink passenger service remains suspended south of San Clemente while Amtrak and Coaster services between San Diego and Oceanside have been uninterrupted. [sandiegouniontribune.com]
Maine DOT seeks Brunswick-Rockland trial
The prospect of regular passenger service on a state-owned route between Brunswick and Rockland, Maine, received a big boost last week when Maine’s Department of Transportation budgeted $3 million to advance a two-year pilot project utilizing 1950s-era Budd Rail Diesel Cars. Plans to extend the Boston-Brunswick Downeaster an additional 56 miles to Rockland have been contemplated since seasonal excursions ended in 2015 with Amtrak running a test train in 2019. [trains.com]
