New Quebec-Windsor Corridor plan ditches VIA Rail
Transport Canada has confirmed that state corporation VIA Rail Canada has been shunted aside from its own project to construct and operate an electrified “High Frequency Rail” (HFR) service along the Corridor linking Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto—the only profitable route VIA currently covers. A new state enterprise will be created to carry the project forward and oversee HFR operations. Deprived of the Corridor traffic, VIA Rail would be left only with its money-losing regional and national services. [railwayage.com]
Pennsylvania targets $3.7M at Scranton-NYC return
Pennsylvania is contributing to Amtrak’s plan to restore passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City. The state awarded $3.7 million to the construction of a railroad line in the Poconos, said Gov. Tom Wolf in a news release. The rail along the Pocono Mainline will provide required upgrades for a new Amtrak passenger train service to northeastern Pennsylvania. Amtrak estimates about 425,000 riders a year would travel at least part of the Scranton to New York City route. [wfmz.com]
Manager of Boston’s troubled “T” to leave in January
The general manager of Boston’s troubled public transit system, who shepherded the agency through the pandemic and faced calls to resign during a federal safety review will step down on January 3rd. Steve Poftak, in a letter to MBTA employees, acknowledged problems, but also touted improvements the system has made under his leadership, The subway system, the nation’s oldest, experienced a series of safety problems in the past year or so that prompted a review by the Federal Transit Administration. [apnews.com]
Chicago CTA advances Red Line extension project
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is moving ahead with its Red Line Extension (RLE) project by seeking companies to design and build a 5.6 mi extension. The planned $3.6 bl RLE project will extend the Red Line from its southern terminal at 95th Street to 130th Street. This will include four stations and a railcar storage yard and maintenance facility. Initially, the CTA will issue a Request for Qualifications to a pool of contracting teams to design and build the project. Construction is scheduled to start as early as 2025. [railway-news.com]
