Xpress West, the high-speed rail developer that had been seeking federal loans and private investors to support its plan to build a high-speed rail line from Southern California to Las Vegas, has formed a partnership with China Railway International USA to move the project forward. China Railway International will provide $100 million initially and officials say construction could begin in fall 2016. A proposed extension via the High Desert Corridor, linking Xpress West’s Victorville station with Palmdale, 60 miles to the west, will connect the Xpress West line to Las Vegas with the existing Metrolink commuter rail service, as well as the California High Speed Rail system.
passenger rail
Can passenger and freight rail coexist?
Amtrak is dealing with a steadily increasing problem of service delays. Timing conflicts with freight sharing the same tracks are a significant factor. A law passed by Congress in 2008 sets Amtrak on-time performance standards and considers any number below 80 percent as substandard. This same law requires that freight railroads give Amtrak priority on their tracks and allows Amtrak to penalize freight rail providers for giving dispatch priority to freight trains on Amtrak routes. However, a July 2013 U.S. Court of Appeals decision ended Amtrak’s power over freight lines, which has greatly contributed to the decline in on-time performance.
FRA safety standards could lead to sleeker trains on U.S. passenger railroads
Final implementation of the Rail Safety and Improvement Act of 2008 could pave the way for sleeker trains on American passenger railroads by 2015. With increased safety technology on railroads, FRA is easing outdated standards that require some trains to be built to withstand 1 million pounds of force without deformation. This opens up the market for European and Asian manufacturers who have been slimming down their trains to create energy efficiency, improve braking and acceleration, and reduce wear and tear on trains and associated infrastructure.
High demand creates challenges for rail service in Washington state
Increased coal shipments to Washington State ports could significantly intensify congestion on both roads and rail lines. Two recent reports by Parametrix and the Sightline Institute discuss the impacts of increased shipments of fossil fuels (particularly coal) from Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota to ports in the Pacific Northwest.
Brookings Institution report documents growth of Amtrak vs. air travel in key markets
A March 2013 report by the Brookings Institution discusses the renaissance of American passenger rail and shows that ridership on Amtrak is at record levels and continuing to grow. Additionally, the report notes that Amtrak’s passenger growth was more than double that of domestic aviation (20 percent) since 1997. As a chart presented by FRA Administrator Joseph Szabo shows, rail is most competitive in corridors under 400 miles.
Private firms eyeing passenger rail in Florida, Texas, Nevada, and California
While most attention has been focused on public efforts to improve U.S. passenger rail, private firms are also developing at least three intercity rail projects.
Private firms eyeing passenger rail in Florida, Texas, Nevada, and California
While most attention has been focused on public efforts to improve U.S. passenger rail, private firms are also developing at least three intercity rail projects.
Private firms eyeing passenger rail in Florida, Texas, Nevada, and California
While most attention has been focused on public efforts to improve U.S. passenger rail, private firms are also developing at least three intercity rail projects.
Michigan-Chicago route gains 110 mph passenger rail, and other Midwest states seem eager to follow
Last week, Amtrak service in western Michigan and northern Indiana reached speeds of 110 miles per hour, marking the first expansion of regional high-speed rail in the U.S. outside of the northeast corridor. Other states seem eager to follow, and more upgrades within Illinois are already planned.
Congress is still wrestling with Positive Train Control requirements
The increased Amtrak speeds in Michigan and Indiana followed the Federal Railroad Administration’s approval after successful implementation of a Positive Train Control (PTC) system. PTC, first mandated by Congress in 2008, is a technology used in trains that is meant to avoid human error and prevent crashes. But now it is under attack from House Republicans.