The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is concerned Transport Canada’s lack of firm action indicates there is no clear strategy in place to address the rail safety issues identified by the board.
The Las Vegas Railway Express, Inc. (X Train), has terminated its agreement with Union Pacific, effective October 31, 2013, citing an alternative capital plan which will relieve the company from raising $100 million from its own equity to finance the Los Angeles to Las Vegas rail route.
Amtrak has named Gerald Sokol, Jr., as its new chief financial officer (CFO), reporting directly to Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman, effective December 3.
The Northeast Corridor (NEC) is a national transportation asset and is aging, failure prone and lacks redundant systems to keep it operating in the event of failure, Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman told a Congressional committee October 28.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) held a public open house to detail a possible project that would add a second main track between Lee’s Summit and Strasburg. The route is experiencing capacity issues and currently serves four Amtrak trains and close to 30 freight trains a day.
VIA Rail Canada has confirmed CA$3.5 million (US$3.4 million) in contracts to Winnipeg-based companies for renovations to its Heritage station in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) awarded 17 technical assistance grants to implement smart growth principles of the South Coast Rail Economic Development and Land Use Corridor Plan.
Amtrak and 19 state transportation departments and other entities have negotiated contracts to increase state control and funding of 28 current passenger rail routes.
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated $359 million to 36 projects. The CTC says the funds represent an investment that will create jobs bolstering the state’s economy, reduce traffic congestion, repair highways and bridges and improve rail service.
After signing the construction contract for the first 29 miles of high-speed rail from Madera to Fresno, Calif., the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) called for contractors to submit their qualifications to bid on the next 60-mile phase of construction from Fresno south to the Tulare-Kern County line near Bakersfield.
Las Vegas Railway Express, Inc. (X Train), entered into an agreement with the city of Fullerton, Calif., to extend its previous Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The Illinois Department of Transportation and Union Pacific are performing the last of three phases of 2013 upgrades to Illinois’ signature high-speed route, Chicago-St. Louis, for future 110 mph operation of Amtrak Lincoln Service trains.
The last of three Michigan track improvement phases for the 2013 construction season begins between Jackson and Kalamazoo on October 14. While the project will cause some delays and modified schedules, the result will be upgraded tracks and more reliable service as part of the Accelerated Rail Program being carried out by Amtrak for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).
All Aboard Florida, the intercity passenger rail project to connect Miami to Orlando, reached two significant agreements this week for right-of-way access and station development.
Six industry leaders representing five Class 1 railroads and Amtrak participated in a panel discussion updating attendees of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) Annual Conference on their progress toward PTC implementation.
Skanska-Rados Joint Venture (SRJV) reached the half way point in construction of the Exposition Transit Corridor, a 6.6-mile extension from Culver City, Calif., to Santa Monica. SRJV has worked one million hours worked on the project without a lost time incident.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has, for the first time, given written approval for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to amend the Piedmont Improvement Program cooperative agreement to provide the city of Raleigh an additional $15 million for the Raleigh Union Station project.
The second of three Michigan track improvement phases for the 2013 construction season begins between Jackson and Battle Creek on September 30 as part of the Accelerated Rail Program being carried out by Amtrak for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).
A critical first step was taken towards preserving a right-of-way for new rail tunnels under the Hudson River designed to withstand future flooding with the start of construction of an 800-foot concrete casing at the Hudson Yards facility in the heart of Manhattan. Construction of the concrete casing is expected to be complete in October 2015.
