Will Government Spending Cuts Impair Rail Safety?
Great Care Must Be Taken When Re-Scoping Projects RT&S “From The Dome” May 2025 Issue The debate over government spending has reached a fever pitch in 2025. While most spending can be
Opinion
Editor’s Opinion and Commentary –– New York Governor Kathy Hochul Announces Budget Increases to Improve Subway Safety.
ALBANY, N.Y. — I have written before about the challenges of subway safety in New York and elsewhere in the United States. I am a huge fan of public transit, especially rail and light rail, and the safety challenges riders and operators have endured for years have been of great concern to me. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced funding measures to help combat safety issues. The question is, how much good will these investments really do?
Commentary –– Anecdotes Are Not Data
NEW YORK –– On Nov. 1, we ran a commentary by David Schanoes, a Railway Age Contributing Editor, in which David shares his thoughts on PTC regulations. Here is the second part of that piece, posted by RA today.
Commentary –– Just What is PTC Initialization?
NEW YORK –– “We”—old timers, old heads, just plain old—sometimes refer to ourselves as “fossils,” but we’re not really. Fossils, as far as “we” know, can’t think, change positions, make jokes, whine, or delude themselves and others. We can, like human beings, do all of that and even do all of that at once. I could give you an example (of dubious value, of course), but not today. Today belongs to my fossildom.
NRC Chairman’s Message –– November 2024
ATLANTA –– “Relationship Building Is The Fundamental ‘Joint Bar'”
Editor’s Notebook: Are We Looking At A Smooth Busy Season?
ATLANTA –– FROM THE NOVEMBER 2024 ISSUE OF RT&S –– Labor agreement progress, a wary eye on the weather.
Automation Always Eliminates Jobs? –– Not So Fast
ATLANTA –– From the October 2024 Issue of RT&S –– As I write this, I have just returned from the annual AREMA Conference in Louisville, Ky. While the conference was excellent, as usual, one session really caught my attention –– one on Emerging Technologies during the Monday morning general session.
Rail Emissions Regulation on Wrong Track
ATLANTA –– Railway Track & Structures has filed several reports on the concerns surrounding locomotive emissions and the search for emission-free fuel, including the recent rule proposal by the State of California to require emission-free locomotives by 2030. Our colleagues at Railway Age ran a commentary yesterday by Rep. Marc Molinaro (R. – N.Y.) about the sizable negative impact this rule could have on our supply chain, particularly if this rule gains nationwide appeal. I thought this commentary would be of great interest to our readers. DCL
NRC Chairman’s Column –– NRC Contractors and Suppliers Are Busy . . . and Doing Great Work
FROM THE JULY 2024 ISSUE OF RT&S: Whoever originated that old adage – “If you want something done, ask a busy person” – must have been thinking about railroaders. Railway contractors and suppliers aren’t taking it easy this summer. Business is strong so that means we all are working hard to advance projects during warm weather and more daylight hours.
NRC Chairman’s Column: Mentors Can Make All the Difference in Building a Successful Career
ATLANTA – Railway Track & Structures, May 2024: Have you ever looked back on your life and asked yourself, “How did I get here?” If you have, I’m willing to bet you can attribute your success to at least one person who taught, guided, influenced or encouraged you. In an industry that is all about people, where would any of us be without these mentors?
NS: Proxy Battle Ends With Favorable Results
The votes from Norfolk Southern’s May 9 42nd Annual Meeting Shareholders have been tabulated and the results are clear. Following a months-long proxy battle launched by activist investor Ancora Holdings Group and
Innovate or Die –– From Our Colleagues at Railway Age
ATLANTA –– This commentary is from David Peter Alan, a Contributing Editor with Railway Age and is made available to RT&S through colleagues at our sister magazine.
Commentary: Will We Ever Learn?
MARCH 2024 ISSUE OF RAILWAY TRACK & STRUCTURES –– Editor’s Notebook
Keeping the Proper Focus
Louisville, Ky. – I have spent more than 50 years in the rail industry, all of it in the Communications & Signals segment. I will be retiring after the joint REMSA/RSSI Exhibition
RailWorks Co-Workers Performed Life Saving CPR on L.K. Comstock Project
LOS ANGELES – RailWorks Corp. shares its sincere appreciation for the heroism of three employees’ actions that saved a life on L.K. Comstock’s LAX ConRAC – Arbor Vitae Street Grade Crossing Improvements project in Los Angeles.
Editor’s Commentary: Women In Rail –– Progress, But a Long Way to Go
RAILWAY TRACK AND STRUCTURES DECEMBER 2023 ISSUE –– CHICAGO –– I was fortunate to participate in the Railway Age/Railway Track and Structures “Women in Rail” conference in Chicago on November 2, 2023.