he US Department of Transport has indicated that several significant rail projects are under development across the country. An extension for Chicago's Red Line, first promised over 50 years ago, looks set to finally move ahead after a $2.9 billion construction contract was awarded in August 2024. Plans for this project include four new rail stations and 5.6 miles of new track.
"The Red Line Extension corrects past transit inequity and increases access to the most affordable transportation in the city," explains Chicago Transit Authority President Dorval R. Carter Jr.
Honolulu's Skyline - a rapid transit system set to be the first fully automated, driverless urban light metro system in the U.S. - recently received a green light for its next phase. Plans include six rail stations and approximately three miles of elevated rail guideway. "This is another huge milestone for our rail project. "This is the largest single contract of the entire project and sets the course for completing the project through downtown Honolulu," reports Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina.
In June 2024, new designs were also revealed for four new stations on the long-awaited California High-Speed rail line – Merced, Bakersfield, Fresno and Kings Tulare.
Stefan Behling, head of studio at Foster + Partners, one of the firms associated with the projects, comments:
"We are developing an architectural language for the four Central Valley stations, including soaring canopies that draw in fresh air and shield waiting passengers from harsh sunlight. The station design reflects the sustainable ethos of the wider project."
Around 3.2TWh of electricity a year is required to power California's network which carries 3m passengers and tens of thousands of tonnes of freight a day. The majority of electricity supplied is used to power electric trains, which now account for 55% of rail traffic. This is set to grow considerably over the coming years as the network carries out work to electrify more than 2,000 miles of track.
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