• March 23, 2023
• Shortline/Regional

Watco’s Stefan Loeb Moving to Norfolk Southern, Matt Walsh Named ASLRRA Board Chairman

WASHINGTON –The American and Short Line Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) today announced the progression of Matt Walsh, Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Development, Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc., to fill the ASLRRA Board Chairman position vacated by Watco’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Stefan Loeb, who has accepted a position at Norfolk Southern Railway.  Walsh currently holds the position of Vice Chairman for the ASLRRA.

• March 23, 2023
• ON Track Maintenance

Racine Railroad Products Announces Dominic DaPra Will Assume Leadership Role

Mt. Pleasant, Wis.–Racine Railroad Products President Steve Birkholz retired March 7, 2023 following more than 29 years of service to the company, serving as the President for more than 28 years. Dominic DaPra, previously Vice President at Generac Power Systems, succeed Birkholz as President. DaPra started with Racine Railroad on Dec. 5, 2022, to allow for an extended transition period.

• March 22, 2023
• News and Opinion

Construction Begins on Metra’s Two-Year Homewood Station Project

Metra has begun a two-year construction project at its Homewood Station. The tunnel on the east side of the train station in suburban Homewood, Illinois, has been closed by the commuter rail system that serves Chicago and its suburbs.

• March 22, 2023
• News and Opinion

Trinity Railway Express Requests to Amend PTC System

Trinity Railway Express submitted a request for amendment to its Federal Railroad Administration-certified positive train control system on March 3.

• March 22, 2023
• News and Opinion

PATH to Debut 9-Car Service on Newark-World Trade Center Line

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will begin the first phase of a massive expansion of PATH service along the Newark-World Trade Center line on March 23.

• March 22, 2023
• Freight

TSB: Unstable Track Subgrade Indicated in 2020 Derailment Near Ignace, Ontario

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has released its investigative report (R20W0102) regarding the 2020 derailment of a Canadian Pacific Railway Company freight train near Ignace, Ontario.

• March 22, 2023
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

Maryland Approves FY24 Funding Commitment for Southern Maryland Rapid Transit

The State budget for FY24, which includes a sizeable financial commitment for the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit Project, has been approved by the Maryland House of Delegates.

• March 22, 2023
• Passenger

SEPTA Requests to Amend PTC Plan, Seeks Approval of Railroad Signal System Modification

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority submitted a request for amendment to its Federal Railroad Administration-approved Positive Train Control Implementation Plan on Feb. 22.

• March 21, 2023
• Passenger

Watch–Three-Week MAX Disruption Coming This Spring for TriMet’s A Better Red Project

PORTLAND–Plan a three-week disruption to the MAX Blue, Green and Red lines starting next month.

• March 21, 2023
• Class 1

Watch: CSX Completes Nahunta Connector

JACKSONVILLE–CSX is delivering more fluid operations in Georgia thanks to a new line the railroad recently installed to enhance operations.

• March 21, 2023
• Passenger

Metro-North to Adjust Schedules to Support State of Good Repair Projects

NEW YORK–MTA Metro-North Railroad this week announced upcoming schedule adjustments on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines to support state of good repair work. The new schedule will go into effect on Sunday, March 26, and be in effect through Saturday, June 10. The minor adjustments on the schedule will support ongoing infrastructure improvements happening on all three of the railroad’s East of Hudson lines. 

• March 21, 2023
• News and Opinion

Geotechnical Testing Lays Groundwork for Metrolinx GO Expansion

Geotechnical testing is being completed as part of the Metrolinx GO Expansion program’s next steps, which will eventually increase the number and speed of GO trains operating throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton region.

• March 20, 2023
• Freight

Florida East Coast Railway Requests To Amend PTC System

Florida East Coast Railway submitted a request for amendment to its Positive Train Control Safety Plan on March 7. The FRA published a notice and is seeking public feedback on the railroad’s RFA to its PTC safety plan because the request could entail a request for FRA approval of planned major modifications to a FRA-certified positive train control system.

• March 20, 2023
• News and Opinion

LACMTA Removes Temporary Decking at Future Wilshire/Fairfax Station for Purple Extension

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Purple Line (D Line) Extension hit a significant milestone earlier this month when the design-builder, STS, finished removing temporary street decking at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue.

• March 20, 2023
• Supplier News

MxV Rail: Registration Now Open for 28th Annual AAR Research Review

MxV Rail announced March 20 that registration is now open for the 28th Annual Association of American Railroads (AAR) Research Review, which will take place in Pueblo, Colo., June 26-28, 2023, bringing together MxV Rail experts, leaders from Class I and short line railroads, university students, and suppliers from around the world.

• March 20, 2023
• Passenger

Sound Transit CEO Pledges to Revamp Downtown Light-Rail Stations

New Sound Transit CEO Julie Timm recently announced that improvements, including security guards and cleaning teams, will be implemented this month.

• March 17, 2023
• News and Opinion

MTA Pushes Ahead With $7.7B East Harlem Subway Extension

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority expects to launch construction on Phase 2 of its Second Avenue subway line into Manhattan’s East Harlem segment in 2024, assuming federal funding is allocated, according to Charles Gary, MTA’s deputy general counsel.

• March 17, 2023
• News and Opinion

Metrolinx Upgrades Add Capacity Along Kitchener GO Line

Metrolinx has been completing upgrades to the Kitchener GO Line since taking ownership of the track between Georgetown and Kitchener in 2018.

• March 17, 2023
• News and Opinion

CTDOT Preps for Track Improvements on Metro-North New Canaan Branch Line

The Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced that the agency expects track improvements to be completed on the New Canaan Branch Line this summer, informing passengers that all train service will be replaced by substitute bus service.

• March 17, 2023
• News and Opinion

Honolulu’s HART Service to Open in July

In his State of the City address, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced this week that the Honolulu Rail will open to the public in July.