The News This Week 

North American Transit Industry  

Transportation Secretary Mineta Hears Southland Priorities at Regional Forum: More than 170 transportation leaders from across Southern California convened for a unique regional forum with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta even as Congress and the Bush Administration prepare to develop the new comprehensive federal transportation measure known as the Transportation Equity Act (TEA-3).

BART Marks Its 30th Year: Says senior Board member, James Fang of San Francisco - "We must continue to move along with the planned expansions, open the new airport line, which is now targeted for January, complete a major seismic retrofit of the system's infrastructure, and prepare for expansion of passenger capacity.”

Amtrak’s discloses Acela Problems Cost $9M: Amtrak says the equipment problems that sidelined its high-speed Acela Express trains, some of which are still being repaired, cost about $9 million in ticket revenue and an estimated 76,000 passengers last month.

Hudson-Bergen Light Rail To Connect To Hoboken: NJ Transit said that its Hudson-Bergen light-rail service will connect with Hoboken, N.J., starting Sunday, Sept. 29.

Security Bills Languish in Congress: Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation said they were concerned that Congress had done little to increase security for non-aviation transportation during a hearing to review progress in aviation security since the terrorist attacks.

Subway Stations Near WTC to Reopen: The Rector Street and South Ferry stations for the No. 1 and No. 9 trains and the Cortlandt Street stop for the N and R lines were reopening for the first time since last year, according to the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

Amtrak to Offer Internet Access: In a test planned for next month, riders in a cafe car on an Amtrak line with stops in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and New York will be able to watch movies and television shows, check e-mail or shop online using interactive touch screens.

To read the complete news stories please visit our website at iRail.com.

North American Freight Industry  

International and miscellaneous

Taiwan High Speed Rail to issue NT$50 B. in preferred stocks: The preferred stock issue is part of the THSRC's capital expansion plan to raise funds to finance the construction of the on-going high speed rail project.

South Korean consortium wins dlrs 197 million subway train deal in Greece: The contract requires the South Korean firms to provide 21, six-car subway trains by 2004 to Attiko Metro that operates subway systems in Athens.

ERGOSE to announce tender for underground rail line study: ERGOSE, the Greek railways subsidiary in charge of organizing new railway construction projects, will soon be announcing a tender for a study on building an underground rail line between Piraeus-Rendi-Athens-Tris Gefyres.