Japan’s maglev rail project work suspended due to Covid-19
Japan’s Tokyo-Nagoya maglev rail line project construction has been suspended due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Last week, the Japanese Government declared a state of emergency as the number of cases continue to rise in the country. The 236 km-long magnetic-levitation line, which is expected to reduce the journey between Tokyo and Nagoya to 40 min, is being developed by Central Japan Railway. Construction work has stopped in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture. Nikkei Asian Review quoted a company representative as saying that ‘individual decisions will be made after verifying the intentions of contracting companies’. [railway-technology.com]
A day in NYC’s Grand Central under the coronavirus lockdown
Normally host to 750,000 visitors each day and a symbol of the city’s bustling pace, the marble Grand Central Terminal has become a ghostly corridor, haunted by only a handful of train conductors, a hazmat-masked selfie seeker and a few nonchalant pigeons. With subway ridership down more than 90% during the shutdown and a similar plummet in the number of Metro-North commuters, train schedules in and out of the station have been slashed. Almost every car has become a quiet car, void of passengers and rattling with hollowness. [nypost.com]
Coronavirus pandemic threatens to delay opening date for Honolulu rail line
The opening date for Honolulu’s rail line from Kapolei to Ala Moana that is planned for December 2025 might now be delayed in a new bit of fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The city and the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation are delaying award of a multibillion-dollar rail contract after the bidders seeking the public-private partnership contract said they need more time to prepare their proposals. The $9.2 billion rail system is already six years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget. [staradvertiser.com]
Record German long-distance passenger numbers in 2019
A record 151 million passengers used long-distance rail services in Germany during 2019 according to German Federal Statistical Office’s annual report. The 1.9% growth in long distance passengers was shared across DB Long Distance, Flixtrain (Flix Mobility), Thalys and ÖBB Nightjet. DB Long Distance is by far the largest rail operator so will have benefitted most from the growth. [railjournal.com]
