California’s Altamont Corridor Express launching Saturday service
The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) has announced the launch of the new Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) Saturday Service beginning Sept. 7. The ACE train service is a growing commuter rail service that serves passengers Monday through Friday with service from Stockton to San Jose. [oakdaleleader.com]
Canada: Passengers on Ontario’s GO buses and trains will get free Wi-Fi starting next year
Metrolinx and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation has announced that travellers on board GO trains and buses will be able to access free Wi-Fi starting in 2020. The rollout is set for the spring, with the government aiming to have all GO vehicles online by the end of 2020. [thestar.com]
Seattle’s Sound Transit breaks ground for Lynnwood light rail extension
With this week’s official launch, the long-awaited Lynnwood Link extension project will bring light rail to Snohomish County and a redesign to the region’s transit system. Scheduled to open in 2024, the 8.5-mile route will serve four stations with Lynnwood station projected to be the system’s busiest [heraldnet.com]
New Orleans’ Union Passenger Terminal to get a facelift after $3.7M federal grant
New Orleans 65-year-old Union Passenger Terminal is getting an upgrade that will bring it into compliance with federal disability laws. Funds will be used to elevate the terminal’s platform heights and overhaul the mechanical and electrical systems that service its trains. [nola.com]
Europe: Paris Gare du Nord revamp ‘indecent’, say leading French architects
Leading French architects have attacked the planned renovation of the Gare du Nord rail station in Paris, warning that the €600m ($660m) plan to create a vast glass shopping space was a “serious urban error” that would deform the historic building, fail Parisians and befuddle travellers. [theguardian.com]
