It’s official: Batory sworn in as FRA Administrator
WASHINGTON – Ronald L. Batory officially became the 14th United States Federal Railroad Administrator on Feb. 28, 2018.
Freight
BNSF eyes $110M Nebraska investment in 2018
BNSF Railway Company plans to invest $110 million in its Nebraska network, where it moves nearly 2 million carloads of freight annually.
NY state grant to help build rail siding
State Sen. James L. Seward, representatives from Hoober Feeds and officials from Schoharie County announced a $200,000 state grant Feb. 26 that will pay for improvements to the rail line in Central Bridge, the New York State Senate announced.
South Shore expands railcar storage options
Short line Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad (CSS) is offering expanded capacity for railcar storage.
OL Canada aims to reduce train vs. snowmobile accidents
Virtually, all incidents involving winter recreation vehicles and trains can be avoided says Operation Lifesaver’s (OL) Canadian arm, which released a new video campaign addressing the subject.
B-256 gets an extended life span
One of the oldest railroad bridges in Wisconsin, a more-than-century-old, 2,200-foot timber structure spanning the Wisconsin River at Spring Green on the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad’s (WSOR) Prairie Subdivision, has undergone a a major improvement project. WSOR, a Watco Cos.subsidiary, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) collaborated on the project.
New York state has $26.5 million available for rail and port grants
New York state has $26.5 million in funds available for rail and port projects as part of the Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program.
BNSF to spend $260 million in Illinois, Oklahoma this year
BNSF plans to invest $260 million in its Illinois and Oklahoma network as part of its $3.3 billion 2018 capital plan.
Canadian railway accidents up per TSB preliminary numbers
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its preliminary transportation occurrence statistics for 2017. Total railway incidents were up, but still in line with five-year averages.
Quebec transshipment center awarded government funds
A project to develop a railroad transshipment center at the regional industrial park in Saint-Tite, Quebec has been awarded funds from the Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED).
NCRR, High Point partner on rail improvements
The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) and the city of High Point, N.C., are tackling $5.1 million in improvements to the railroad corridor and drainage in the city’s downtown.
House T&I Committee holds PTC hearing
The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing on Feb. 15 examining the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC).
NTSB issues three safety recs following LIRR, CSX/Amtrak incidents
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued three urgent safety recommendations, two to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and one to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) based on the agency’s findings in two ongoing railroad accident investigations.
BNSF to spend $375 million on Texas capital program
BNSF plans to spend more than 11 percent of its total capital program in Texas this year, with nearly half of the $375 million state plan going toward maintenance projects.
BNSF details capital programs for Montana, Missouri and Kansas
BNSF unveiled details of its planned $385 million capital plan across Montana, Missouri and Kansas. The focus of all three state programs will be on maintenance projects.
Senate confirms Batory as FRA Administrator
The Senate by voice vote early Tuesday evening, Feb. 13, confirmed Ronald Batory as Federal Railroad Administrator, the nation’s rail safety watchdog agency.
Acting FRA chief Hall resigns
Heath Hall, the acting administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, the nation’s rail safety watchdog, resigned Feb. 11 amid allegations that he was working a second job as a public relations consultant.
Small-railroad tax credit in budget bill
The regional and short line railroad investment tax credit (known as 45-G for its provision in the Internal Revenue Code) is poised to be signed into law by President Trump following its unexpected insertion into the massive two-year Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 passed in the predawn hours Friday, Feb. 9, by the House and Senate.
BNSF plans $160M Washington state capital program
BNSF Railway plans to spend $160 million in Washington state during 2018. The state capital plan is part of its larger $3.3 billion 2018 capital plan.
CDPQ Infra awards REM contracts; set construction date
CDPQ Infra said two consortia, Groupe NouvLR and Groupe des Partenaires pour la Mobilité des Montréalais (PMM), won contracts for the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project, which will begin construction in April.