When will South Florida’s Brightline commuter trains run again?
The trains are in the barn. The downtown stations are deserted. And the management of Brightline, South Florida’s idled high-speed rail service, is still deciding when to restore service amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Brightline, the regional train line that conjured up new possibilities for South Florida transportation, economic development and even entertainment, remains on the sidelines after the pandemic suppressed tourism, diminished business travel and shrank consumer pocketbooks. [sun-sentinel.com]
The Americans who could be stranded by transit cuts
A new analysis illustrates how more than 3 million people across 10 U.S. regions could lose access to high-quality public transportation, with Black residents severely affected. The analysis illustrates what would happen if frequent, full-day service in 10 U.S. urban areas was reduced by 50% in the peak hours and 30% in the off-peak hours. The grim scenario that the report models may not be inevitable. Last week, Democrats in Congress revised the HEROES Act to include $32 billion for public transit. [bloomberg.com]
Amtrak cancels Winter Park Express for 2021 season
Amtrak and Winter Park Resort announced this week that it would not be running the Winter Park Express this winter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the railroad did vow to bring the train back for the 2022 season. While Winter Park will be open for skiing this year, both the railroad and the resort agreed that it would be hard to enforce social distancing rules on board the train. And while Amtrak has been selling fewer seats to allow passengers more space, doing the same on the Winter Park Express just would not pencil out. [railfan.com]
Boston Green Line extension 50% complete
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) $2.3 billion Green Line Extension (GLX) is now more than 50% complete and on track to open in December 2021. Part of a five-year, $8 billion capital investment plan, it will extend service about 4.7 miles north from a relocated Lechmere Station to Union Square in Somerville and College Avenue in Medford, and provide seven stations. The service will allow a one-seat ride to downtown Boston, eliminating the need for bus and rail transfers at Lechmere Station and at Orange and Red Line stations. [railwayage.com]
Hydrogen train test runs deemed a success in the Netherlands
Trial runs of Alstom’s Coradia iLint hydrogen train have been called a success. Tests were conducted during two weeks in March 2020 over 65 km (40 mi) of track in the Province of Groningen in the northern Netherlands. The tests were designed to examine if hydrogen fuel cell trains could be a sustainable alternative to the diesel trains that currently run in the region. There were no passengers on board the train during the tests. [railway-news.com]
