Singapore Mass Transit Video

Singapore has one of the world’s most efficient mass transit systems. Enjoy!

Amaravathi Express from Vasco to Howrah

Spectacular video of scenery and of course the train, 8047 Amaravathi Express from Vasco to Howrah hauled by Gooty Alco WDM-3a 14013 and banked by twin Gooty Alco WDM-3a 14714 & 14656 at Dudhsagar Falls Station on the Vasco-Londa Braganza Ghat Section with 1 in 37 (2.7%)gradient.

CityRail A set Waratah Train departing from Olympic Park Station

What a first class facility!

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

India continues high speed rail

India continues high speed rail

India yet again passes the US when it comes to high speed rail. Amazing how the US is the top economic country in the world, yet we are poorer than a country where millions are literally starving.

“Going ahead with its ambitious high-speed train proposal, Railways have joined hands with Japan to begin the ground work to reduce travel time by half on the Delhi-Mumbai corridor.” – see link.

Two Positive Transit Developments

Even in these budget crisis times, we occasionally see good news for transit and train supporters.  Today, I make note of two developments:

  • North Texas TEXRail – a Fort Worth, Grapevine and Dallas/Fort Worth Airport commuter line in development has a target date in 2016 for passenger service to begin. Read more here.
  • Dayton Florida – plans are underway to bring Amtrak service back to the east coast of Florida.  Read more here.

This is not where we want to be, it is not bullet or high speed rail, but it is a step in the right direction for those that want to see us become a greener, more energy dependent country.

Rail Line Likely for Oahu Hawaii

An elevated track is reportedly nearing construction according to this NYTimes article. I was in Honolulu several years ago.  I loved the city as a city.  Very multicultural and still Hawaiian.  But I was very surprised at the congestion and traffic we encountered.  Continue reading

Chicago High Speed Rail Hub

My kind of town, Chicago. It has historically been a hub of all sorts, particularly for trains and 2011 has seen nothing but continued activity in the plans for high speed rail for the city. Wisconsin’s refusal to accept federal funds for high speed rail, citing “ongoing operating subsidy costs” for their taxpayers as the reason, affects Chicago in that the proposed Chicago to Minnesota’s twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis is unlikely to happen. It is still an amazing refusal of funds that would boost jobs and economic activity in the state and region, not to mention continued economic thriving from the existence of a high speed corridor. But, as it is, Chicago is still to benefit from a high speed route to St. Louis and I expect that would simply mean more economic benefits to these two cities at the expense of the state of Wisconsin.

Amtrak to increase security due to terrorism threat

“Amtrak President Joseph Boardman says he wants to step up security patrols of the passenger rail network and explore new technologies able to provide advance warning of track tampering following revelations that al Qaida considered attacking U.S. trains.” – from Associated Press.

Currently, it seems Amtrak’s security involves bomb-sniffing dogs and close contact with security agencies in the US and abroad.

Technologies such as ultrasonic and laser could be developed to detect track problems, but it seems as though this is not currently being done.

This to me sounds like a big red flag and something needs to be done sooner rather than later.