BNSF production gang boosts network efficiency in Minnesota

In BNSF’s latest edition of Rail Talk, the focus is on the accomplishments of a production gang in Minnesota that completed important track work just before the beginning of harvest season traffic.

151-car CN train derails, but cause still unknown

A 151-car-long Canadian National train derailed just outside Detroit on Sept. 29.

HDR will do final track design, engineering services on CREATE project

The CREATE partners are pleased to announce Union Pacific has selected HDR to provide final track design and engineering services for the Union Pacific-led portion of the 80th Street Junction Replacements (EW2) project, a major component of CREATE’s 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project.

Jim Florio, 1937-2022

James J. Florio, the former Governor of New Jersey and eight-term congressman who was the principal author of the 1980 Staggers Rail Act that partially deregulated the industry, died Sept. 25. He was 85.

Train derailment leaves rail bridge heavily damaged; transit accident sends three to hospital

Two derailments occurred on Sept. 21; one happened in dramatic fashion while the other showed more of a pattern.

Railway supply groups pledge future collaboration

This year at Innotrans, the annual railroad trade fair held in Berlin each year, U.S., Canadian, and European rail supply groups pledged to collaborate more effectively from this point forward.

More funds for CREATE’s rail line modernization project

The Chicago Region Environment and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE) partners announced that $70 million in federal funds will soon be on the way to Chicago, allowing for a $170 million project to modernize a 2-mile stretch of rail lines that provide a critical connection for freight moving across the Chicago region.

NTSB releases preliminary report on UP employee fatality

A Union Pacific conductor was killed in August during a reverse movement on the railroad. The NTSB has released the preliminary report on the accident.

U.S. Class 1 rail employment rose in August

According to data from the Surface Transportation Safety Board, Class 1 railroad employment rose in August to its highest level since December 2020.

NRC column: Sustainability has staying power

If your company is on the fence about whether or not to take sustainability or ESG initiatives by Class 1s, short lines, and transit railways seriously, let me encourage you to get on board.

Koppers announces new director of sales

Koppers announced John McDonald has joined the company as the new Director of Class 1 Sales for Koppers Railroad Products and Services (RPS) segment.

September issue of RT&S is now online

The September issue of RT&S features our 2022 Engineer of the Year John Cech from BNSF.

Watch: Federal grant awarded to BNSF’s Salmon Bay Bridge project

On Sept. 9, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) announced that $25 million will be awarded to the Salmon Bay Bridge project by the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program.

Oregon wildfire impacts Union Pacific operations

Union Pacific told customers in a service announcement that a curfew for train movement has been initiated in the area of Oakridge, Ore., due to the Cedar Creek fire.

rail bridges

BNSF, county refuse to take ownership of troubled railroad bridge

The Osage Avenue railroad bridge in Adams County, Neb., is going unclaimed.

Rail project on deck for Kansas City Southern will bolster freight capacity in and out of Mexico

Kansas City Southern will soon begin a construction project that will double the amount of freight trains moving in and out of Mexico.

Cole County, Mo., receives $1.5 million grant for transportation infrastructure

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that its Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $1.5 million grant to Cole County, Mo. for transportation infrastructure that will include a rail spur and other infrastructure needed to build a multi-modal transload facility within the Algoa Industrial Park in Jefferson City.

BNSF’s John Cech named 2022 Engineer of the Year by Railway Track & Structures

John Cech, vice president, Engineering at BNSF, is the recipient of the 2022 Engineer of the Year Award from Railway Track & Structures Media.

UP conductor killed after train hits derailment device

Work done on railroad track earlier in the day on Aug. 29 may have led to a derailment that killed a Union Pacific conductor.

Watch: Crews remove third segment of Merchants Bridge; final installation now complete

The $222 million project to replace the Merchants Bridge that links Missouri and Illinois near downtown St. Louis is nearing completion, and the St. Louis Regional Freightway gave invited guests and the public the opportunity to see one of the last significant milestones in the project firsthand from the special vantage point of a riverboat cruise.

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