Mechanical sails? Batteries? Shippers forming ‘green corridors’ to fast-track cleaner technologies
May 27, 2023 GMTIt's among the world's busiest container shipping routes — a stream of vessels packed with furniture, automobiles, clothing and other goods, traversing the Pacific between Los Angeles and Shanghai.
Chicken loose on subway tracks halts service in Mexico City
May 16, 2023 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Service was temporarily halted on a line of Mexico City’s subway system after a chicken got loose on the tracks.
Video distributed by the city’s Metro system Monday showed the electricity cut off at a station near the city’s center on Sunday.
Man who choked NYC subway rider to death will face manslaughter charge, prosecutors say
May 11, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Manhattan prosecutors said Thursday that they will bring criminal charges against a man who used a fatal chokehold on an unruly passenger aboard a New York City subway train, a death that stirred outrage and debates about the response to mental illness in the nation’s largest transit system.
Senate panel OKs rail-safety bill; railroad vows to help homeowners affected by Ohio derailment
May 11, 2023 GMTA Senate committee on Wednesday approved a rail-safety bill introduced after the derailment of a freight train in East Palestine, Ohio, but its fate remains uncertain due to significant Republican opposition.
Clatsop County transit district stops service over finances
May 1, 2023 GMTASTORIA, Ore. (AP) — A transit district that runs bus routes and paratransit services for Clatsop County riders and provides a bus service between Astoria and Portland has suspended its operations due to financial problems.
Millions snap up new Germany-wide public transit ticket
May 1, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Public transit companies in Germany say more than 3 million people have already snapped up a new ticket being launched Monday that allows them to use all local and regional trains, buses and metros across the country for 49 euros ($53.90) a month.
NYC transit agency pulls the brake on Twitter service alerts
April 29, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Shortly after midnight Thursday, several New York City subway trains slowed to a crawl as emergency crews tended to a person discovered on the tracks in Manhattan.
The delays were flagged for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s rail control center, where a customer service agent typed up a straightforward warning for early-morning riders to consider alternate routes.
Railroads warned about the problems long trains can cause
April 28, 2023 GMTOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal regulators are warning railroads that the long trains they favor can cause all kinds of problems and contribute to derailments, so they want the railroads to ensure their training and operating procedures account for that.
Train service to resume after California cliffs shored up
April 11, 2023 GMTSAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (AP) — Metrolink and Amtrak train services will be restored next week following months of stabilizing repairs due to shifting ground beneath a stretch of seaside track in Southern California, transit officials said Monday.
Regulators say railroads must examine how they build trains
April 7, 2023 GMTOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal regulators said Friday that railroads need to re-examine how they assemble their trains after a string of derailments in recent years that were at least partly caused by the way empty and loaded cars were mixed together with locomotives.
Ohio governor signs rail safety measures into law
March 31, 2023 GMTCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a nearly $13.5 billion state transportation budget Friday, touting new rail safety measures that were included in response to the February train derailment and toxic chemical spill in East Palestine.
Ohio lawmakers OK rail safety rules after train derailment
March 29, 2023 GMTCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Rail safety measures proposed after the February train derailment and toxic chemical burn in East Palestine are closer to becoming law in Ohio, as part of a nearly $13.5 billion transportation budget that cleared the Legislature on Wednesday.
Boston area’s troubled public transit agency gets a new boss
March 27, 2023 GMTPhillip Eng, an engineer with decades of experience running public transit systems, has been named the general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Boston area’s troubled public transit agency, Gov.
First major US railroad merger in 2 decades will go forward
March 15, 2023 GMTThe first major railroad merger in more than two decades, one that would link the United States, Canada and Mexico, was approved by federal regulators Wednesday.
Plans for a NYC rail link to LaGuardia Airport now abandoned
March 13, 2023 GMTPlans for a rail link were abandoned Monday that would have connected LaGuardia Airport to New York City's subway and commuter rail system, after intense criticism about its $2.4 billion-plus price tag and the potential effects on surrounding neighborhoods.
Amtrak wants to study Mississippi-to-Texas I-20 train route
March 12, 2023 GMTNEW ORLEANS (AP) — Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission say they will apply for federal funds to study passenger rail service between Meridian, Mississippi, and Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas.
The corridor along Interstate 20 would serve cities including Jackson in Mississippi and Monroe and Shreveport in Louisiana.
On tap: Booze still allowed on Amtrak in New Hampshire
March 8, 2023 GMTCONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Riders on an Amtrak train that runs from Maine to Boston can continue to buy alcoholic beverages during the 35-mile stretch of the trip that goes through New Hampshire as officials said they plan to work out a “creative solution” to avoid violating a state liquor law.
Railroads propose safety reforms after fiery Ohio derailment
March 8, 2023 GMTOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The major freight railroads announced a number of steps Wednesday that they are taking to improve safety in the wake of last month’s fiery Ohio derailment, but it’s not clear if their actions will be enough to satisfy regulators and members of Congress who are pushing for changes.
Safety agency opens probe of Norfolk Southern rail accidents
March 8, 2023 GMTOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal investigators are opening a wide-ranging investigation into one of the nation’s biggest railroads following a fiery derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border last month and several other accidents involving Norfolk Southern, including the death of a train conductor Tuesday.
Massachusetts governor wants fare cuts for low income riders
March 7, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is taking her first steps toward fulfilling a campaign pledge to create discounted fares for low-income riders who rely on public transportation.
Amtrak restores full daily train service to Vancouver, B.C.
March 6, 2023 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — Amtrak has restarted direct trips on its Cascades passenger-train service between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia, marking full restoration of daily service on the popular route.
In ‘junk fee’ fight, US details airline family seating rules
March 6, 2023 GMTThe Transportation Department is rolling out a “dashboard” to let travelers see at a glance which airlines help families with young children sit together at no extra cost.
The announcement Monday comes as the department works on regulations to prevent families from being separated on planes.
Falling ceiling panel narrowly misses rider at subway stop
March 6, 2023 GMTCAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — A passenger narrowly missed getting struck when a large ceiling panel came crashing to the platform at a Boston-area subway station.
Surveillance video shows the passenger stopping short as the panel comes down at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Harvard Station in Cambridge shortly before 4 p.m.
Stationmaster charged in Greece train crash that killed 57
March 5, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — A stationmaster accused of causing Greece's deadliest train disaster was charged with negligent homicide and jailed pending trial Sunday, while Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologized for any responsibility Greece's government may bear for the tragedy.
Station master in Greece train crash delays court appearance
March 4, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — The station master involved in Greece’s deadliest train crash is set to appear before a prosecutor and an examining magistrate Sunday after his deposition was postponed Saturday.
Ohio House OKs transportation budget with rail safety rules
March 2, 2023 GMTCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Proposed safety measures in response to the East Palestine train derailment are part of a $12.6 billion state transportation budget passed Wednesday by the Ohio House with bipartisan support.
Ohio senators introduce rail safety bill after fiery crash
March 1, 2023 GMTCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Railroads including the one whose train derailed and caught fire in Ohio would have to follow new safety rules under bipartisan legislation introduced Wednesday by the state’s two U.S.
Biden’s pick to lead FAA faces stormy confirmation hearing
March 1, 2023 GMTPresident Joe Biden's pick to run the Federal Aviation Administration finally got a hearing Wednesday on his nomination, with Democrats praising him as a skilled leader of large transportation bureaucracies while Republicans called him unqualified because of his relatively thin aviation experience.
Toxic wastewater from Ohio train derailment moved to Texas
February 24, 2023 GMTDEER PARK, Texas (AP) — Toxic wastewater used to extinguish a fire following a train derailment in Ohio has been transported to a Houston suburb for disposal, according to a county official in Texas who said there are outstanding questions about the transportation and disposal of the material.
Amtrak: Person on tracks came into contact with train
February 23, 2023 GMTBALTIMORE (AP) — A passenger train was stopped outside Baltimore after someone who was trespassing on the tracks came into contact with the train, an Amtrak spokesperson said Thursday.
The collision happened south of BWI Marshall Airport just before 10 p.m.
Georgia lawmakers pare back bill to increase truck weights
February 22, 2023 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Georgia lawmakers are watering down a bill to allow heavier trucks on state highways after widespread opposition to the original measure by state and local officials.
Rep. Steven Meeks, a Screven Republican, described the changes as “just really paring this back to agriculture and forestry.”
Buttigieg urges safety changes after fiery Ohio derailment
February 22, 2023 GMTOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wants the nation’s freight railroads to immediately act to improve safety while regulators try to strengthen safety rules in the wake of a fiery derailment in Ohio that forced evacuations when toxic chemicals were released and burned.
Wildlife bridges planned for Vegas-California rail line
February 15, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — A passenger rail company and two California state departments have agreed to build three wildlife overcrossings along the route of a planned high-speed rail line that would connect Las Vegas and Southern California, the parties said Wednesday.
Georgia considers heavier trucks despite official opposition
February 10, 2023 GMTATLANTA (AP) — It's the heavyweight lobbying battle of this year's Georgia legislative session: Should the state allow heavier trucks on its roads?
The House Transportation Committee voted 18-11 on Thursday to advance a House bill which would increase the weight limit for large trucks to 90,000 pounds (40,800 kilograms).
Police: 2 killed when commuter train hits SUV in Florida
February 9, 2023 GMTDELRAY BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Two people are dead after their SUV was struck by a high-speed commuter train in South Florida, the latest in a string of accidents that have plagued Brightline since its inception more than five years ago, authorities said.
Car crashes, hangs over edge of parking garage
February 4, 2023 GMTCAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — A crash on the top of floor of a Boston area parking garage on Saturday left a car hanging precariously off the edge and injured at least one, according to firefighters.
The Cambridge Fire Department in a tweet at about 2:15 p.m.
Companies pledge millions in fed effort to stem road deaths
February 3, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 50 businesses and nonprofits — including rideshare companies Uber and Lyft, industrial giant 3M and automaker Honda — are pledging millions of dollars in initiatives to stem a crisis in road fatalities under a new federal effort announced Friday.
Passengers disarm gunman who killed DC employee, shot others
February 1, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — A man “randomly” brandishing a firearm shot three people, killing one, in a Wednesday morning rampage in the nation's capital that started on a city bus and ended in a Metro tunnel after passengers attacked and disarmed him.
Freight car derailment in Detroit disrupts Amtrak service
February 1, 2023 GMTDETROIT (AP) — Some Amtrak commuter service between Detroit and Chicago has been disrupted after freight cars derailed along tracks on Detroit's southwest side.
An Amtrak spokesman said several routes were canceled through Friday, the Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday.
Should federal grants favor highway repair over expansion?
January 29, 2023 GMTArizona officials refer to a notoriously congested stretch of desert highway through tribal land as the Wild Horse Pass Corridor, a label that's less about horses than the bustling casino by the same name located just north of where the interstate constricts to four lanes.
‘Dropicana’: Stretch of I-15 in Vegas closing for weekend
January 27, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — A key stretch of the main vehicle travel route between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City will be closed all weekend as part of a project to reshape a busy interchange serving the Las Vegas Strip.
Passengers walk through tunnel after Boston subway problem
January 27, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — More than 100 passengers had to be escorted on foot through a Boston subway tunnel on Thursday night when three trains became stuck because of a signal problem, officials said.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority suspended Green Line service between Kenmore and Government Center stations because of a problem at the signal and track switch just west of Copley Station, an agency spokesperson said in an email Friday.
Light at the end of the tunnel: Grand Central annex opens
January 25, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — For decades, work on a massive rail project has been grinding 15 stories below the shuffling footsteps of millions of New Yorkers and beneath the East Hudson River and Manhattan skyscrapers.
Central American gangs raising fears in southern Mexico
January 25, 2023 GMTTAPACHULA, Mexico (AP) — With threatening phone calls, burned minibuses and at least three drivers shot to death, street gangs more closely associated with Central America are imposing their brand of terror-based extortion on public transportation drivers in southern Mexico.
Moore names Paul Wiedefeld Maryland transportation secretary
January 24, 2023 GMTANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore appointed Paul Wiedefeld, a former general manager and CEO of Metro, to be the state's transportation secretary Tuesday.
The appointment is a significant one for the new governor, who has made transportation a top priority of his administration in connecting people to jobs, boosting social equity and protecting the environment.
Officials: $78 million grant to aid safety on dangerous road
January 23, 2023 GMTPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Federal and city officials say a new $78 million federal grant will be used to make major safety improvements along a Philadelphia boulevard called one of the most dangerous in the city.
Railroad’s plan to test idea to cut train crews put on hold
January 19, 2023 GMTOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific's latest attempt to move toward cutting its train crews down to one person remains on hold because of the longstanding safety concerns of the union that represents conductors.
US fines Virgin Atlantic $1 million for flights over Iraq
January 18, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Transportation Department has fined British airline Virgin Atlantic up to $1.05 million for flying over restricted airspace in Iraq while operating flights in a partnership with Delta Air Lines.
Collision with avalanche field derails train near Girdwood
January 17, 2023 GMTANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — No one was injured when an Alaska Railroad train derailed Tuesday near Girdwood after running into an avalanche field.
Three crew members were aboard the freight train when it hit the snow field just before 2 a.m., railroad spokesperson Christy Terry told KTUU.
Officials: 18-month project to snarl busiest Nevada highway
January 17, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — An 18-month-long construction project starting Tuesday will snarl traffic on Interstate 15 while crews raise and widen a key interchange serving the Las Vegas Strip, transportation officials said.
National Guard sent to Mexico City subway on sabotage worry
January 13, 2023 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — The mayor of Mexico City announced Thursday that 6,060 National Guard officers will be posted in the city’s subway system after a series of accidents that officials suggested could be due to sabotage.
Florida-bound Amtrak train delayed for almost a day
January 11, 2023 GMTSANFORD, Fla. (AP) — A Florida-bound Amtrak passenger train that started in Virginia was delayed for almost a day by the derailment of a freight train and a crew change, stranding hundreds of passengers in rural South Carolina for hours with few options.
Flight delayed or canceled? Experts share some advice
January 11, 2023 GMTThousands of travelers were stranded at U.S. airports Wednesday due to an hours-long computer outage.
Operator of MBTA train involved in crash acquitted
January 11, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The driver of a Boston light-rail trolley that crashed into the rear of another train in the summer of 2021, sending 27 people to the hospital, was cleared by a jury Wednesday of a gross negligence charge.
Southwest starts on reputation repair after cancellations
January 6, 2023 GMTDALLAS (AP) — With its flights running on a roughly normal schedule, Southwest Airlines is now turning its attention to repairing its damaged reputation after it canceled 15,000 flights around Christmas and left holiday travelers stranded.
NTSB: Operator involved in Boston crash says he blacked out
January 5, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The operator of a light rail train that struck the rear of another train in the Boston area in the summer of 2021, sending 24 passengers and three workers to the hospital, told investigators that he blacked out and may have fallen asleep, according to a federal report.
Feds say railroad must deliver grain to California chickens
January 3, 2023 GMTOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal regulators have ordered Union Pacific railroad to make sure a livestock producer gets the grain it needs in California to prevent millions of chickens and hundreds of thousands of cattle from starving.
Boston subway cars pulled from service over safety concerns
December 31, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Just months after transit officials shut down Boston's entire Orange Line subway line for 30 days to conduct repairs, officials pulled nine new Orange Line subway cars from service Friday because of safety issues.