commuter rail contract

anybody know when the tri-rail contract is going to be awarded? I know Amtrak bid on it last month or so, just curious.

Why would Amtrak bid on the Tri-Rail contract when they have
been trying to get out of running commuter trains at other
agencies?

They basically gave up Metrolink, Coaster, and MBTA contracts because
of having to shoulder all liabilty from any accidents.

good question, you're asking the wrong person though.

Herzog has the contract to operate Tri-Rail commuter service here and I
have not heard anything about any changes to this one.
Supposedly there has been an agreement made with CSX for Tri-Rail to
take over the dispatching of this line sometime in 2007. This can't come
too soon to suit me. In my opinion, CSX does a poor job both in the
dispatching and in the maintenance of this line.
Noel Weaver

The contract went up for bid:
http://www.sfrta.fl.gov/docs/Procurement/RFP_06_112.pdf

[quote="braves2905"]The contract went up for bid:
http://www.sfrta.fl.gov/docs/Procurement/RFP_06_112.pdf[/quote)

This is interesting but it may be for the dispatching and maintenance of
the line rather than train operation but I am not too sure. There has not
been anything in the local newspaper regarding the Herzog contract being
up for renewal.
I will keep watch of the local paper and if there is anything regarding this,
I will post it on here and try to provide a link as well.
Noel Weaver

Appreciate it Noel, my friend at Amtrak was telling me they were hiring managers contigent on being awarded a commuter rail contract. Like yourself, I could not find anything in the news, just the link I found at the official site. Any new news about the FEC study?

braves2905 wrote:Appreciate it Noel, my friend at Amtrak was telling me they were hiring managers contigent on being awarded a commuter rail contract. Like yourself, I could not find anything in the news, just the link I found at the official site. Any new news about the FEC study?

No news on the FEC study but I would not expect anything anytime soon.
In fact, I think it is a long time away if ever as the FEC hauls a lot of
freight traffic and while there is room on the roadbed in some areas for
more capacity, a good share of the roadbed has little or no room for
expansion and the FEC is not going to allow anything to interfere with their
busy and profitable freight traffic. They run 12 plus through freight trains
in each direction most days and you need good track capacity to handle
that kind of traffic.
Noel Weaver

According to their web-site, (from the RRB) Amtrak is seeking a Supervisor, Commuter Operations (Tri-Rail). Bulletin says position is contingent upon Amtrak being awarded the contract to operate trains for Tri-Rail.

http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news ... leID=33104

Amtrak and Veolia(used to be Connex) has been selected to run Tri-Rail. This gives Veolia a 3rd commuter rail operation in the US.