Streetcars hitting the streets of Tempe for testing
Phoenix’s Valley Metro has begun testing streetcars across its new route in Tempe, Arizona. Two of the six new Tempe Streetcars have arrived. The next one is due sometime this summer. Each one has a capacity for 125 passengers. Unlike light rail cars; the streetcars will operate independently making frequent stops. The 3 mi (5 km) line, will have 14 stops and two connections to the light rail. The route, which runs from Marina Heights/Rio Salado Parkway to Dorsey Boulevard/Apache Boulevard is expected to open later this year. [azfamily.com]
Minnesota moves forward with second daily Amtrak train to Chicago. When will it start running?
A second Amtrak train from St. Paul to Chicago is closer to reality now that $10 million for the project has been included in an omnibus transportation funding package signed into law by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Those funds, combined funding from Wisconsin and Amtrak, results in a full match for a federal grant awarded last year – and a green light for final design and construction of the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Intercity Passenger Rail project. Service is expected to begin in 2024. [twincities.com]
China opens new electrified railway line in Tibet
The first electrified railway linking regional capital Lhasa with the city of Nyingchi has officially begun operating in Tibet. It is the first time that a Chinese-developed Fuxing bullet train was used to transport passengers in Tibet. The new 435 km (270 mi) single-line electrified railway is designed to operate at speeds of up to 160 kmh (100 mph). The Qinghai-Tibet Railway first linked Tibet with the rest of China in 2006. [globaltimes.cn]
Flexible season tickets launch in England
English commuters are now able to purchase flexible season tickets. This is in response to the long-term decline of traditional season ticket use, with a change in working practices accelerated by Covid-19. The introduction of these new flexible tickets is the first step in the reform of the railways, as part of the recently launched Plan for Rail. The paperless tickets allow travel on any eight days in a 28-day period, with passengers able to tap smartcards or scan mobiles at the station and no need to select the days of travel in advance. [railway-news.com]
Air France boosts rail-air services to and from Paris airports
Air France and SNCF will add seven new “train and air” services to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris Orly (ORY) starting July 19. Flyers will be able to buy single reservation rail-air tickets between CDG and Aix-en-Provence, Bordeaux, Marseille and Montpellier; and between ORY (Massy TGV) to Avignon TGV, Marseille and Valence TGV. The new routes will expand current “train and air” services from 11 routes to 18 routes. [businesstraveller.com]
