U.S., Illinois: Chicago Metra dealing with a summer of discontent

By Marni Pyke, Chicago Daily Herald; August 31, 2020 As Metra strives to recapture riders wary of commuting during a…

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U.S., Illinois – Chicago Metra: Union Pacific conductor policy leads to lost revenue

By The Associated Press, The News-Gazette; August 26, 2020 CHICAGO (AP) — Metra says Union Pacific’s refusal to send conductors…

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U.S.: With Amtrak’s Proposed Cuts, What Will Happen to Rural Rail?

By Jefferson Sinclair, The Daily Yonder; August 27, 2020 A few years ago, I found myself in the dining car…

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Canada, Ontario: Polar Bear Express to run three days a week

By: Dariya Baiguzhiyeva, Timminstoday,com; August 27, 2020 The Polar Bear Express will soon be running three times a week. Starting…

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U.S.: Why I Took an Overnight Amtrak Trip on the Empire Builder Instead of Flying or Driving

By Ali Wunderman, Conde Nast Traveler; August 25, 2020 It was hard for me to stay awake as Amtrak’s Empire…

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U.K.: Rail firm uses passenger weight data to calculate social distancing availability

By Press Association, Evening Express; August 25, 2020 A rail company has become the first in the UK to use…

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U.S., New York: Fiscally challenged Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to add hundreds of workers, including on Long Island Rail Road

By Alfonso A. Castillo, Newsday; August 23, 2020 The MTA is facing criticism for a plan to add hundreds of…

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U.S., California: Pandemic hammers Capitol Corridor’s ridership levels

From Progressive Railroading Magazine; August 19, 2020 The Capitol Corridor passenger-rail service in California last month continued to log ridership…

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U.S., Florida, Nevada, California: Fortress Debt Sale for Vegas Train Sees Bond Market Skeptics

By Romy Varghese, Bloomberg, Yahoo! Finance; August 13, 2020 (Bloomberg) — During the municipal-debt market’s pre-pandemic boom days, investors poured…

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U.S.: Amtrak now giving passengers real-time updates on capacity due to COVID-19

By Jonathan Greig in Innovation, Tech Republic; August 12, 2020 Concerns about subway and train travel have persisted as states…

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Canada: VIA Rail on safety, demand and short- and long-term forecasts

By Cindy Sosroutomo, Travel Week; August 11, 2020 TORONTO — With a network that serves over 400 communities from coast…

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U.S.: George Washington University to Advise Amtrak on Pandemic Response

A press release from Amtrak; August 11, 2020: WASHINGTON – Amtrak has engaged the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health…

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Europe: Eurotunnel sees demand return quicker than airlines

By Neil Lancefield, PA Transport Correspondent, Irish Examiner; August 6, 2020 Demand for car-carrying Channel Tunnel trains is returning to…

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U.S.: North Carolina DOT to resume Piedmont passenger-rail service

From Progressive Railroading Magazine; August 6, 2020 The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on Aug. 10 will resume the…

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U.S., Illinois: Harry’s Cafe closing Friday after 42 years of serving morning coffee to Naperville train commuters

By Erin Hegarty, Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune; August 05, 2020 It’s the “end of an era” for the owners of…

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U.S., California: Caltrain saved? Officials reach a deal to place measure on ballot that could avert a shutdown

By Michael Cabanatuan, San Francisco Chronicle; August 4, 2020 A tentative deal in the do-or-die dispute over a three-county sales…

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U.S., California Editorial: Bay Area officials’ timely backtrack may rescue Caltrain

By The Editorial Board, San Francisco Chronicle; August 4, 2020 Bay Area officials appear to have wisely pulled the emergency…

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Canada, Quebec: Continued Interruption of VIA Rail Services Leads to Temporary Layoffs of Management and Professional Employees

A press release from VIA Rail Canada; July 31, 2020: MONTRÉAL, July 31, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ – As the impact…

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Canada, British Columbia: Passengers slow to return to VIA Rail

By Ted Clarke, Prince George Citizen; August 2, 2020 The VIA passenger train rolled out of the station in downtown…

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U.S., Central Florida: SunRail challenges mount with pandemic, rebuilt I-4, telecommuting

By Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel; July 31, 2020 SunRail’s struggles are mounting as more employees work at home, gas prices…

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U.S.: What It’s Like to Travel Across the Country by Amtrak Right Now

By Alexandra Schonfeld, Newsweek; July 31, 2020 There are certainly advantages to flying over choosing another form of transportation especially…

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Asia, Japan: JR East may halt Tokyo-area trains earlier as coronavirus saps demand

From The Japan Times; July 31, 2020 East Japan Railway Co. is considering moving up the last trains of the…

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U.S., Texas – Traveling 200 mph in a pandemic. Which would be safer: High-speed rail or Hyperloop?

By Gordon Dickson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; July 30, 2020 FORT WORTH Hyperloop and high-speed rail technology, which are both being…

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South Pacific, New Zealand – Northern Explorer: KiwiRail brings back long-distance trains after backlash

By Joel MacManus, Stuff; July 30, 2020 New Zealand’s oldest and longest rail service will return for summer after a…

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