Rail related fatalities up 3.5 percent in 2016
Railroad fatalities were up in 2016 as compared to 2015, following the overall trend upwards for total transportation deaths, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Author: Mischa Wanek-Libman
WSOR hosts WisDOT Sec. Ross for tour
Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Secretary Dave Ross joined a group of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (WSOR) employees recently for a tour of the railroad.
CN wrapping up Oliver Bridge work
Canadian National is substantially complete with a rehabilitation project on a bridge linking its Minnesota and Wisconsin network.
Planned Nashville LRT corridor gets expansion
Nashville Mayor Megan Barry unveiled plans to expand the proposed Charlotte Avenue Light Rail project by two miles in order to better connect West Nashville.
Panel recommends two tunnels for BART extension
A peer review panel convened by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has recommended a twin-bore option for a BART extension into Silicon Valley.
UP updates PTC progress; plans to increase Minnesota track speed
Union Pacific (UP) gave an update on its progress toward implementing Positive Train Control (PTC) and also announced plans to increase track speeds in southwest Minnesota following completion of a project.
RSI’s Simpson to retire; O’Malley named president
The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) said Mike O’Malley will become president of the association on Feb. 1, 2018, when current president, Tom Simpson, is scheduled to retire.
Metra kicks off Fox River bridge replacement project
A long-anticipated project to replace a 136-year-old bridge over the Fox River on Metra’s Milwaukee District West Line kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony Nov. 17.
Utah becomes third state with FTA-certified SSO Program
Utah has become the third state to receive certification of its rail transit State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program, according to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
Fairfax shows interest in joining partnership to purchase HBR
A Toronto-based holding company has expressed interest in a partnership that could purchase the beleaguered Hudson Bay Rail line, the Port of Churchill and other associated assets.
Russ Gehl appointed to NRC Board
The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) has appointed Russ Gehl, vice president of Sales and Marketing (Maintenance-of-Way), at Holland LP to its Board of Directors.
Delachaux Group bringing rail businesses under Pandrol brand
The Delachaux Group is launching a rebranding effort aimed at bringing the entirety of its rail businesses under the Pandrol brand.
Amtrak: We’re building our safety culture
Amtrak laid out a series of initiatives it has implemented and continues to implement since a derailment in April 2016 left two of the railroad’s employees dead and 39 others injured.
NTSB cites lack of safety culture in Chester, Pa., derailment
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said ignored safety procedures and a fractured safety program are to blame for the April 3, 2016, derailment of Amtrak train 89 near Chester, Penn.
Canada moves forward with legal action against OmniTRAX
What began with a 200-year flood event may now be brought to a close through legal action. The government of Canada is following through with an ultimatum it issued to OmniTRAX Inc. in October: Repair the Hudson Bay Railway (HBR) line in 30 days or face a breach of contract lawsuit.
MBTA to fund PTC installation with TIFIA and RRIF loans
Two federal loans totaling $382 million will help the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) with its positive train control (PTC) project.
USDOT issues final rule to expand drug testing panel
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued a final rule to expand its current drug testing panel to include a greater array of opioids among USDOT-regulated industries.
Canada and Quebec to fund 11 transit projects in Montreal
Rehabilitation projects to rail infrastructure have been included in a funding commitment from the governments of Canada and Quebec to improve the Montréal area’s transit system.
Port of Oakland progresses planned logistics facility at former Army base
The Port of Oakland is progressing a plan 15 years in the making to expand onto a former Army base.
Draft Supplemental document released for Fresno-Bakersfield section of California HSR project as state seeks to take over environmental reviews
The state of California is looking to assume federal environmental responsibilities for the California high-speed rail project.