Posts tagged Trains
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Some residents could receive free or reduced transit fare as part a DC pilot program
For many low-income residents in DC, the cost of transportation is a hurdle that makes it difficult to get to jobs, appointments, and other destinations. A new pilot program will provide some residents in DC with low fare or free unlimited access to Metro for six to nine months. Keep reading…
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Is MARC’s newest plan to improve service a step backwards?
The MARC Cornerstone Plan lays out how the country’s ninth-largest commuter rail system aims to increase ridership and improve reliability and service. However, the latest iteration the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) released in November has no timeline for some important goals, and lacks information that existed in previous versions of the plan.v Keep reading…
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Virginia plans to expand the Long Bridge connection with another crossing
The state of Virginia plans to add another crossing to supplement the capacity of the 115-year-old Long Bridge and expand service throughout the region. Addressing the Long Bridge bottleneck is vital to Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express’s (VRE) ability to run more frequent trains and prepare for expected growth in ridership. Keep reading…
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Metro Reasons: All doors on an Orange Line train were open when it was moving, a report says
All doors on an eight-car Orange Line train were open back in May when it left the Dunn Loring station, a Metro report submitted to the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) says. Metro engineers traced the issue back to a broken cable, and they’re actively working to replace hardware in all similar cars. Keep reading…
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MARC’s commuter train connecting West Virginia to DC may drop to only one round trip per day
This past August, the Maryland Transit Administration announced a plan to cut back all but two of the six trains which stop at the MARC Brunswick Line’s three West Virginia stations each day. The new schedule was slated to take effect on November 4 unless West Virginia pays the $3.4 million Maryland wants to continue the line’s current level of service. Now that deadline has been pushed back to the end of the month. Keep reading…
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Virginia is planning an east-west rail route connecting the Blue Ridge Mountains to the beach
A passenger rail advocacy group wants to bring back long-defunct east-west rail lines to connect the Blue Ridge Mountains and Virginia Beach. In its recent report, Virginians for High Speed Rail (VHSR) envisions a “Commonwealth Corridor” that would connect Christiansburg and the New River Valley with Hampton Roads. Keep reading…
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Virginia won’t let anything derail its growing Amtrak service
This month marks a decade since Virginia debuted its first state-sponsored Amtrak routes: two lines from Lynchburg and Richmond that both terminate in DC. Such milestones are important, but the Commonwealth has other figures to celebrate—like the fact that its rail ridership has grown more than 7% within the last year. Keep reading…
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Maryland and Virginia’s commuter rail look great together on one map
Maryland’s MARC train and Virginia’s VRE are very similar regional rail systems. This map shows what they might look like as a single integrated regional network. Keep reading…
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National links: Would you swap a flight for a train trip to help the environment?
Germany’s Green Party is pushing to end domestic flights and replace them with more trains. Cincinnati is moving ahead with plans to install 3D crosswalks, despite safety warnings. Saudi Arabia is building a $500 Billion megacity that may include robot cage fights and flying taxis. Keep reading…
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So you want to see the country by train? Here are some tips.
If you can spare the time, a long distance trip on Amtrak is a relaxing way to see the nation’s beautiful landscapes without the perils and costs of driving. After having ridden most of the Amtrak system on half a dozen long distance sojourns, I’d like to share some tips for getting the most out of your vacation. Keep reading…