Page 75 - All Scale Rails Magazine Issue 18 January February 2018

www.AllScaleRails.com

News

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) announced that come mid-
January 2018, it plans to phase out the sale of tokens at its Market-Frankford and Broad Street
Line subway stations. With more passengers moving to the reloadable “Key” card fare pay-
ment system, which SEPTA implemented last February, token sales have declined prompting
SEPTA to remove the 40 remaining token machines from the lines over a six week period,
with token sales to cease completely in March of 2018.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Legislation has passed in the Canadian Senate focusing on streamlining air and rail transporta-
tion between the United States and Canada. Known as C-23, the bill establishes a streamlined
customs procedure first for air travel, and eventually including passenger rail service, between
the two countries. The bill allows the Canadian government to designate preclearance areas
and perimeters and allows United States agents the power to create preclearance as well. This
law is akin to the United States’ Promoting Travel, Commerce and National Security Act,
which had become law in 2016. Sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt), this legislation
aims to “improve border security and better economic growth.”

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After two years of construction, Norfolk Southern began train operations across its new Porta-
geville Bridge in December 2017. Built across the 235 foot deep Genesse River Gorge in
Letchworth State Park, the 963 foot steel arch, single track bridge is located on the Norfolk
Southern Southern Tier Line. The new bridge replaces the old iron truss bridge built in 1875
by the Erie Railroad that was unable to sustain model freight rail loads, both in speed and
weight.

The $75 million project was funded using both public and private funds between Norfolk
Southern, the New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Ad-
ministration. Norfolk Southern states that the bridge will speed up train travel and allow for
heavier rail car loads to be run over the line, easing a major rail bottleneck for freight ship-
pers. The bridge was also designed to minimize the railroad’s environmental footprint in the
Genesee River Gorge.

Issue # 18 2018 75