Gov Hochul vows NYC 2nd Ave subway completion
Touring the Second Avenue subway tunnels below East Harlem last week, Governor Kathy Hochul commited to complete the long-promised extension to 125th Street, thanks to new federal infrastructure dollars. The $6.3 billion project will extend the Q train line north of 96th Street for 1.5 miles, adding three stops at 106th, 116th, and 125th Streets. The third stop will also connect to the Lexington Avenue line and provide an easy transfer to the nearby Metro-North Railroad stop. The tunnel below East 112th Street has sat dormant since the1960s. [amny.com]
Rail unions sue Amtrak over vaccine mandate policy
In a new lawsuit, two major unions have claimed Amtrak implemented its recent Covid policy without bargaining as required under the Railway Labor Act (RLA). The unions’ position is that Amtrak has no authority to unilaterally implement and enforce a vaccination mandate among its employees. According to the unions, Amtrak’s failure to negotiate terms of implementation violates the status quo requirement of the RLA, thus engendering the dispute. An Amtrak spokesperson said the rail service will review the filing and respond accordingly. [progressiverailroading.com]
San Diego trolley line to La Jolla launches successfully
Trains are finally running on a long-awaited trolley line connecting San Diego’a Old Town to La Jolla, an achievement being touted by local leaders. The new $2.2 billion,11-mile line brings light rail for the first time to La Jolla, UC San Diego, Mission Bay Park, Pacific Beach and Clairemont. The nine-station line fixes glaring flaws in local transit by connecting the trolley system to the University of California San Diego and the University City/Golden Triangle area. It also connects the entire trolley system to destinations like Westfield UTC and the VA Medical Center. [sandiegouniontribune.com]
Trial operations begin on London’s Crossrail
Trial operations have finally begun on the central section of London’s Crossrail project, ahead of the launch of Elizabeth Line services between Paddington and Abbey Wood in 2022. Over 150 trial operating scenarios are planned, leading up to a period of shadow running to the future timetable ahead of the opening. Line services will initially operate in three sections. Riders from the west will transfer to the central line from Paddington; riders from the east will transfer to the central line from Liverpool Street. Completion is planned for autumn 2022, with full timetable by May 2023. [railwaygazette.com]
