Chicago South Shore inks Indiana double-track project
The Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad (CSS) has signed an agreement with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) and Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) to double 17 miles of South Shore Line track between Gary and Michigan City, Indiana. The $300 million double-track project is expected to be completed by April 2024. Once the project is completed, the full 25-mile stretch will be double tracked. The project is funded by federal, state and private funds. [progressiverailroading.com]
Underground light link proposed for San Diego airport
San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System board has determined that a light rail extension to the city’s international airport is feasible and could be built in the next 10 years at an estimated cost of $1·5bn to $2bn. A preliminary feasibility study considered an elevated route or two underground options connecting to the existing Green and Blue lines, around 2.6 km from the airport terminal. MTS has selected the underground options for further development, and will now seek federal and state grants for the project. [railwaygazette.com]
Brightline will run empty trains along a 130-mile route
Drivers are about to see Brightline trains running north of West Palm Beach for the first time next week as the high-speed railroad starts trial runs between West Palm and Cocoa. There won’t be passengers on the trains, but the 130-mile trial runs that start January 17 will help familiarize Brightline’s conductors and staff with the new route – part of Brightline’s expansion to Orlando, which the company said is about 70% complete. Brightline plans to run once-daily trials runs of the new route throughout 2022. [palmbeachpost.com]
China unveils bullet train for Beijing Olympics
With the Beijing Olympic Games will beginning on February 4th, China has showcased a new bullet train designed just for the Games. The driverless bullet train moves at 217 kmh (135 mph) and can carry 564 passengers in its eight cars. It will shuttle people along the 173 km (108 mi) trek between the Chinese capital and satellite venues in the city of Zhangjiakou in time for the Beijing Games. The train will take only 50 minutes to transport people from Beijing’s central district to the Olympic sites in Zhangjiakou, as opposed to three hours on a regular express train. [sakshi.com]
