Brightline makes test run to Orlando airport terminal
Brightline has celebrated a milestone as one of its trains pulled up to Orlando International Airport’s new Intermodal Terminal for testing. The terminal will be a hub for the new Brightline route from Miami to Orlando. The new route is nearly 80% complete and will begin carrying passengers from Orlando to Miami in 2023. The terminal will accommodate several kinds of rail and ground transportation including Amtrak and SunRail. It will also connect with the new Terminal C scheduled to open later this year. [clickorlando.com]
Train to link Boston and Hyannis for 10th summer
Cape Cod will be just a train ride away from Boston again starting Memorial Day weekend. The Commuter Rail CapeFlyer begins weekend service on May 27th between Boston and Hyannis through Labor Day. It’s the 10th season of service for the train, which departs South Station twice on Friday evenings and on Saturday and Sunday mornings; returning from Hyannis on Saturdays and Sundays. Nantucket-bound travelers leaving on Friday will arrive in time to catch the last boat. [cbsnews.com]
Proposal for Vancouver Island rail service released
The Island Corridor Foundation, the non-profit organization which owns the former Esquimalt & Nanaimo rail line on Vancouver Island, has proposed a C$431 plan for a commuter and freight rail service between Victoria and Courtenay, B.C. The plan also allows for tourist-train operations on the island. Revival of the rail line will require resolution of land issues with First Nations groups stemming from the original land grants. A court ruling has given the federal government until March 2023 to decide if it wants the line restored and will contribute funding. VIA Rail Canada service on the island last operated in 2011. [trains.com]
Top execs out after management lapse at DC Metro
A recertification failure has led to management changes at Washington D.C.’s Metro. WMATA General Manager & CEO Paul J Wiedefeld has retired with immediate effect and Chief Operating Officer Joe Leader has resigned. The departures came after a Washington Metrorail Safety Commission investigation showed that nearly half of Metro’s 500 train drivers had lapsed certifications. Of those, 72 drivers over a year out of compliance were immediately removed from duty. Resulting service cuts are expected to continue through May. Recertifications could take up to three months. [railwaygazette.com]
