CP agrees to back new and expanded Amtrak routes
Canadian Pacific will back Amtrak’s efforts to expand passenger-rail in several locations, according to Amtrak’s final brief on the proposed merger between CP and Kansas City Southern. Amtrak is asking the STB to approve the merger on the condition that CP keeps commitments made to Amtrak to allow the expansion or addition of Amtrak services between Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis-St. Paul; between New Orleans and Baton Rouge; and between Detroit and VIA Rail Canada in Windsor, Ontario. [progressiverailroading.com]
DOT’s Buttigieg says no gov funds for Musk hyperloop
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says that although Elon Musk’s “hyperloop” idea is “super interesting,” he doesn’t believe government money should fund it. “Sure, try it,” he said, “but we’ll probably not try it on our dime.” Buttigieg added that the most obvious flaw of hyperloop systems is that the tech hasn’t been proven to work in the real world —and that he’s “got some questions” about the feasibility of the system’s vacuum design. [gizmodo.com]
Brightline successfully completes first 110 mph test
After three days of successful high speed runs, Brightline will continue testing its passenger rail service at speeds of up to 110 mph through November. This first six-week phase of testing is occurring along an 11 mi stretch of track through Martin and St. Lucie Counties. Testing, in preparation for opening to Orlando in 2023, will occur in phases along the 129-mile rail corridor between West Palm Beach and Cocoa. Brightline currently operates between Miami and West Palm Beach. [wqcs.org]
Gov Cox ponders Utah rail future including high-speed
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox recently stated that high-speed rail is a long-term target for the state. Other regional passenger line services are also being explored with the possibility of Utah, Nevada, and Idaho DOTs looking into a rail connection between Boise, Salt Lake, and Las Vegas. High-speed rail has been under consideration in Utah for the last three years, but no money has been dedicated for a study. Utah Transit Authority’s commuter train service has a line connecting Ogden to Provo. [rtands.com]
Disabled NY subway users sue to close train/platform gap
The MTA is facing a new legal challenge from New Yorkers with disabilities — just months after the transit agency settled two other lawsuits that resulted in a commitment to add elevators or ramps at most subway stations by 2055. Three New Yorkers with disabilities on Tuesday filed a class-action lawsuit in Manhattan State Supreme Court that demands the MTA fix the gaps between subway trains and station platforms that can challenge riders who are blind or use a wheelchair. [thecity.nyc]
