Texas Central HSR CEO announces departure
The controversial high-speed rail project from Dallas to Houston faces another obstacle as CEO and President Carlos Aguilar announces his departure. A Spanish news site, “La Informacion,” had earlier reported that the entire management team of Texas Central had departed, and the project has entered “a hibernation phase in search for financing.” In 2018, Texas Central signed an agreement with Renfe, a Spanish train operator, to be “the project’s strategic operating partner.” [thetexan.news]
Trouble-plagued Ottawa LRT launch was rushed
The first day of public hearings in the inquiry into Ottawa’s trouble-plagued LRT system heard testimony that there was pressure from the mayor and council to have the system launched as quickly as possible. Targeted 2017 and 2018 start dates were missed with the so-called “O-Train” launching in September 2019. The Ontario government called the public inquiry into Ottawa’s Confederation Line LRT in November 2021, after two derailments in six weeks last summer, including one that kept the system shut down for nearly two months. [ctvnews.ca]
FRA to require rail worker fatigue reduction plans
The Federal Railroad Administration is now requiring Class I (freight) railroads, Amtrak and commuter railroads to include fatigue risk management plans as part of their larger system safety and risk reduction programs. The FRA will review the plans annually, per the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, and it will also conduct periodic audits. FRA said this rule is one of several ongoing initiatives to address the complex issues that contribute to fatigue. FRA wants the railroads to talk to the unions prior to submitting the fatigue risk management plans. [freightwaves.com]
Twin Cities burbs waver on light-rail extension
A plan to extend light-rail service to the northern suburbs faces opposition from an unusual quarter: leaders in the communities it’s supposed to serve. While transit planners won’t settle on a final route for the Blue Line extension between Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park for at least a year, budding opposition to the project could waylay the Twin Cities’ fourth — and likely final — light-rail line. Last week, the mayors of Robbinsdale and Crystal expressed opposition to a new 13-mile alignment for the Blue Line extension. [startribune.com]
El Paso’s free streetcar trying to attract riders
A project not meant to make money is costing Sun Metro hundreds of dollars a day. Currently, there is no cost to ride the El Paso Streetcar but even with that, the city of El Paso is scrambling to get people back in the seats. The streetcar made its grand re-debut four years ago after a 44-year hiatus. Now the electric trolleys are only operating part-time, ridership is down and operators are temporarily driving Sun Metro buses instead of manning the streetcars. [cbs4local.com]
