St. Louis Metro to operate resumed Loop Trolley
The St. Louis region’s Bi-State Development Board (Metro) has agreed to resume and operate the Loop Trolley through June 30, 2025. The 2.2-mile Loop Trolley, a heritage streetcar project linking St. Louis’ Delmar Loop district with Forest Park, opened in November 2018 and suspended operations in December 2019. The line briefly resumed service in July 2020 before halting operations due to the pandemic. Service is expected to commence by June 1, 2022. [masstransitmag.com]
Japan’s first hydrogen train to make test run
Japan’s largest railway company will begin testing the country’s first hydrogen-fueled train next month in a step toward the nation’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. The two car “Hybari” train cost about 4 billion yen ($35 million) to develop and can travel up to 140 km (87 mi) at a top speed of 100 kmh (60 mph) on a single filling of hydrogen. East Japan Railway, which developed the train in partnership with Toyota and Hitachi, plans to use them to replace its diesel fleet. Commercial services should begin in 2030. [bloomberg.com]
New tourist train to roll through Adirondacks
A new tourist train is coming to New York’s southern Adirondacks. Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway LLC is selling tickets now for trips starting May 22nd and running through September. The train will depart from Corinth, New York for a 90-minute ride. Among planned stops is the Fossil Stone Winery. The company is also building a small new station at the Corinth stop. A variety of seasonal events are planned. The rail line hasn’t been used since 2018, when the Saratoga and North Creek Railway shut down. [timesunion.com]
Kansas City Streetcar extends evening hours
Kansas City riders will soon be able to get a free ride around town a little longer every day. RideKC announced it will expand evening and late night hours beginning next week. Starting February 28th, the streetcar will operate from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and on Friday from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday service hours will be from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. On Sunday the streetcar will run from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. RideKC said expanded hours are in response to increased downtown activities and late-night streetcar ridership. [fox4kc.com]
Mexico City-Toluca rail project enters final leg
Mexico City authorities are working against the clock to fund and complete the 93 bn-peso (US $4.5 bn) Mexico City-Toluca interurban train line, which President Andrés Manuel López Obrador promised to inaugurate in September 2023. These works involve the new station in the Santa Fe business district west of the city and the expansion of the existing Observatorio terminal, which will be the starting point of the 58 km (36 mi) rail link between the southwest of the capital and the city of Toluca in Mexico state. [bnamericas.com]
