Bill would tie Amtrak funding to preservation of long-distance routes
A house subcommittee has approved a fiscal-year 2021 appropriations bill that provides an additional $26 billion in emergency funding for programs to help Amtrak and public transit agencies recover from covid-related impacts. Under the appropriations legislation, $18.9 billion would go to transit; $3 billion to railroad administration programs. The bill, which includes grants for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and national network, also includes a requirement that to receive the extra funding, Amtrak may not cut staff or long-distance or state routes. [progressiverailroading.com]
Ontario passes bill expediting transit planning, design and construction into law
Legislation that will expedite the planning, design and construction process of transit projects in the province of Ontario has passed into law. Bill 171: Building Transit Faster Act, 2020, enables the province to speed the process of building Ontario’s four priority transit projects. In addition to Ottawa’s Ontario Line, three Greater Toronto Area projects include the Yonge North Subway Extension to Markham and Richmond Hill, the three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension to Pearson airport. [masstransitmag.com]
End in sight for private passenger rail operation in Britain?
Britain is reviewing the status of the country’s passenger rail franchises with a view toward reclassifying them as public entities. This follows the March transfer of all franchises to emergency government control to prevent operators becoming insolvent due to effects of the coronavirus-imposed lockdown. The government is reviewing plans to assume frachisee debt and to introduce a follow-up rescue deal running well into 2021. Franchisees are concerned that this would result in the nationalisation of most services, with little prospect of a new model to replace franchises. [railjournal.com]
Dubai inaugurates $2.9bn Metro Route 2020
UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has inaugurated Route 2020 of the Dubai Metro. Route 2020 extends the Dubai Metro Red Line to the city’s World Exposition 2020 (Expo 2020) site. The $2.9 billion rail line is a 15 km (9 mi) route, which will begin full service in September, and adds seven stations to the Red Line. An eventual connection with Al Maktoum International Airport is planned. [railway-technology.com]
