\Amtrak issues annual host railroad report card
Amtrak has issued a 2021 Host Railroad Report Card, ranking the Class I railroads for keeping Amtrak intercity passenger trains on time, and presented an award to Canadian Pacific (CP) for earning its sixth-consecutive “A” grade. In addition to CP, CN earned an “A”; BNSF received a “B+”; CSX, “B”; Union Pacific, “C+”; and Norfolk Southern, “D-.” Amtrak said that it measures host railroad performance based on the minutes of delay caused by each host. Grades indicate aggregate host-responsible delays across all routes on each host; performance on specific routes can vary. [railwayage.com]
St. Louis Metro to test single-car train service
St. Louis Metro Transit is launching a two-week pilot program to add flexibility to MetroLink light rail service. The temporary program will put single-car trains into daily service instead of the normal two-car trains run on the 46-mile MetroLink system for nearly 30 years. Benefits of using single-car MetroLink trains include increased efficiency for security patrols, reduction of wear and tear, improved service at current ridership level. Single-car trains will be used through March 27th after which two-car operation will resume. [masstransitmag.com]
VIA Corridor upgrade requires Montreal detour
A proposed high-frequency rail network in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor would have to circumvent Montreal’s Mount Royal Tunnel. The project would build dedicated tracks so that VIA Rail’s passenger service would no longer would share tracks with freight trains. This would allow VIA to add more daily departures and improve its reliability rate to 95 per cent, from the current 67 per cent. Because it would follow the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, the proposed route would shave about 30 minutes off the current trip, which follows the south shore. [montrealgazette.com]
New Hampshire cog proposes mile-high lodging
The owner of the historic Mount Washington Cog Railway is proposing to build upscale accommodations and a restaurant near the summit of New Hampshire’s highest peak. Railway owner Wayne Presby said the nearly $14 million project would station 18 rail cars at an elevation around 5,800 ft (1,670 m) from mid-May through mid-October. Nine sleeper cars would accommodate up to 70 guests. Currently, the cog goes right to the summit of Mount Washington which is the highest peak in the Northeast at 6,288 ft (1.91 km). [boston.com]
