World’s first 220 km-per-hour driverless bullet train goes into service in China
As the countdown to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics continues, China has debuted the first driverless high-speed train. The train, which will operate at speeds of up to 220 mph (350 kmh), will close the 108-mile distance between the capital and Olympic host city Zhangjiakou in just 47 minutes. [cnn.com]
Florida’s Virgin/Brightline reaches milestone: More than 1 million riders in a year
Virgin/Brightline, the high-speed South Florida rail service, surpassed the one million ridership mark for 2019, placing it on path to reach a goal of serving nearly three million customers by the end of 2021, its third full year of service. The company said it crossed over the 100,000 mark in a single month for the first time in November. [sun-sentinel.com]
New York: LIRR modernization reaches one-third completion mark
The MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) ended 2019 having completed almost two dozen construction projects as part of its program to rebuild the commuter railroad in New York. Station enhancements, bridge replacements, and grade crossing improvements were among the completed projects. [progressiverailroading.com]
China to build over 4,000 km of new rail lines
China plans to build at least 4,000 kilometres of new railway lines this year, including 2,000 km of high-speed lines, the country’s top rail operator has announced. The planned development of new railways this year is part of the nation’s effort to maintain large-scale fixed-asset investment. [masstransitmag.com]
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