Federal Officials Tour Coastal Erosion in San Clemente, Del Mar
Another top federal official visited Southern California on April 13 to see two places where the vital coastal railroad is threatened by erosion.
Freight
Harsco Rail Lands Network Rail O&M Contract
Harsco Corporation on April 5 reported that its Rail division has been awarded a five-year, more than $130 million stoneblower operation and maintenance (O&M) contract from Network Rail, which owns, operates and
NS Takes Home Technology Innovation Awards
Norfolk Southern (NS) late last month was presented with 2023 “Innovation-Driven Company” awards from the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) for its rail wear predictive analytics and digital train inspection programs.
Union Pacific Works to Shore Up Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, which is home to 338 bird species, is also home to Union Pacific’s Great Salt Lake causeway, a 20-mile-long raised rock-filled railroad track.
PUCO Approves Rail Crossing Upgrades in Hamilton County
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) on Mach 22 approved safety upgrades at a rail crossing in Hamilton County.
Engineering Partnership, Local First Nations to Mitigate Wetland Geotechnical Issues
With roughly 86,486,883 acres of wetland in Ontario, officials face unique issues when managing the operation and maintenance of railway lines.
Illinois Awards $200MM in Freight Mobility Grants
In Illinois, 22 port, rail and highway projects will share $200 million in grant funding to address bottlenecks, increase mobility, and improve the supply chain up and down the state, Gov. JB
LA Metro’s Foothill Gold Line Project Marks Milestone
All reconstruction work requiring long-term street closures is now finished for the 21 at-grade crossings along Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LA Metro) Foothill Gold Line light rail project. This is
MnDOT, NJDOT Award $35MM in Freight Rail Improvement Grants
The departments of transportation in Minnesota (MnDOT) and New Jersey (NJDOT) are investing $6.95 million and $27.8 million, respectively, in projects that will improve freight rail infrastructure.
Alberta Explores Reinstating Shortline Rail in Oyen
The Alberta Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 23 with Oyen Regional Rail Company, Special Areas and Oyen Development Corporation and Canada Infrastructure Bank to support their assessment of whether the rail line between Oyen and Lyalta should be restored.
ICC Approves Annual Crossing Safety Improvement Program; Greenlights Automatic Warning Device Projects
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) announced March 24 that it has approved its annual five-year Crossing Safety Improvement Program (FY 2024-2028) to implement highway-rail safety projects at local roads across the state. More than $476 million dollars from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) and Rebuild Illinois (RBI) will help communities and railroads pay for improvements at 424 crossing locations.
MnDOT: $151.4MM Needed to Renew, Expand Minnesota’s Freight Rail System
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has released its 2023-2028 Forecast, focusing on the $151.4 million in funding required to go toward planned local projects needing state support for rail and bridge upgrades, new industrial parks and job creation.
California Allocates $37M to San Diego Transportation Infrastructure Repairs
The California Transportation Commission announced March 24 that millions of dollars in state funds will be directed to local San Diego governments to restore transportation infrastructure.
South Dakota Approves $6M for Sisseton-Milbank Rail Line
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed Senate Bill 16 into law last week, authorizing $6.25 million in state funds for the restoration of a railroad line from Milbank to Sisseton. The appropriation is conditional upon receiving federal grant funds for rail line rehabilitation.
FRA: Safety Device, Human Error Caused Washington Derailment
A safety device intended to prevent trains from tumbling into Puget Sound forced a BNSF Railway train off the tracks last week, causing 3,100 gallons of diesel fuel to spill in Washington state, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.