Denver RTD’s N Line now ‘on track’ to open by September
Denver’s Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) long-awaited N Line from downtown to Thornton and Northglenn is on schedule to open in September. The line was supposed to open in 2018 but hit delays that resulted in legal issues and missed deadlines. Once the N Line opens, RTD will have completed about 70 percent of its 2004 FasTracks plan. A planned B Line extension to Boulder and Longmont is not expected to be completed for decades. A grand opening event will be planned with an eye toward social distancing requirements. [cpr.org]
Amtrak continues testing on new Acela fleet
Amtrak’s next generation Acela prototype has achieved a new milestone, traveling at speeds of up to 165 mph. The prototype is part of the new high-speed fleet scheduled to enter service on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) in 2021. Dynamic testing, being conducted at Amtrak’s Transportation Technology Center near Pueblo, Colorado, is expected to continue over the next six months. The spacious new trains, which extend contactless features to restrooms, luggage storage, and café service, will initially travel at a top speed of 160 mph. [ailwayage.com]
A lawmaker wants fast trains to rev up the US Economy
Massachusetts Representative Seth Moulton has unveiled a bill and white paper proposing the federal government spend $205 billion over five years on a national high-speed rail network. Another $243 billion in matching state, local, and private investments would be sought. The bill recommends that private companies like Virgin Trains USA in Florida and Texas Central Railway operate the new rail network, rather than Amtrak, which is projecting a $700 million loss this year. [wired.com]
Amtrak to restore Pennsylvanian, Keystone train service on June 1st
Amtrak will resume service on its Pennsylvanian and Keystone routes beginning June 1st. In coordination with PennDOT, Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian service will resume its daily roundtrip between New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Keystone trains will initially operate on a modified schedule between Philadelphia and Harrisburg with New York service temporarily excluded. Modified Keystone Service will include nine weekday roundtrips and six roundtrips on weekends. All trains will be reserved with limited bookings to allow for social distancing. [phillyvoice.com]
Italy launches new north-south high speed train route
New direct high-speed services will soon start running from the northern city of Turin to the southern tip of the country, state railway company Trenitalia and its rival Italo have both announced. Trenitalia will begin providing a new direct link between Turin and Reggio Calabria in the south, as of June 3rd – coinciding with the planned date for resuming interregional travel across Italy. Private operator Italo will follow up with service along the same route effective June 14th. [thelocal.it]
