Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern, officials work to try and expand passenger rail service in western Pa.

A standing room only crowd at a Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee hearing is proof that the topic of increasing passenger rail service in western Pennsylvania is a hot one.

Southern Rail Commission receives $4.36 million grant from U.S. DOT

U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced yesterday that DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded $4,360,000 to the Southern Rail Commission to help restore intercity passenger rail service

Gateway project rail bridge continues to decay; funding still elusive

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer wants to see a project involving the Portal Bridge “cross the finish line.” Trying to secure funding, however, has been an endless marathon.

Light rail transit

Light rail in Phoenix expected to thrive, not die

Building a Better Phoenix did not want anything to do with building more light rail. However, the majority in the city wants to see more track.

Long Island Rail Road bridge

Long Island Rail Road sets bridge in place over a weekend

Crews used accelerated bridge construction techniques to replace a rail bridge in just two days in New York City’s New Hyde Park. The bridge was open for Monday commuters on Aug. 26.

Outside of Atlanta, Gwinnett County eyeing MARTA – again

Gwinnett County is a large (436 square mile) suburban/exurban county included in the metropolitan Atlanta area, northeast of the city center.  Proponents and opponents of extending the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

SEPTA General Manager resigning at end of 2019

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that Jeff Knueppel, the general manager of SEPTA, is choosing not to renew his contract, and will be leaving at the end of 2019.  Under Knueppel’s leadership,

North County Transit District joins Confidential Close Call Reporting System

The North County Transit District (NCTD), which serves North San Diego County in California, reports it is participating in the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), a program designed to allow employees

Erosion and a rising sea level put commuter train tracks in Calif. in danger

A proposal to construct railroad tracks in a bluff trench in Del Mar, Calif., is raising some eyebrows with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). Facial expressions, however, are not always

railroad news

Bells & Whistles, Episode 5

What were the top news items RT&S was following the week ending Aug. 16? For the latest episode of Bells & Whistles, click here.

Over $244M in grant money available for freight, passenger rail

The U.S. DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. The NOFO includes more than $244 million

Metro-North employees fight being fingerprinted before and after shift

Metro-North rail employees do not want to leave any fingerprints … and they have the backing of the Association of Commuter Rail Employees (ACRE).

Amtrak

Canadian Pacific puts Amtrak expansion on hold in Wisconsin, Illinois

Leave it to the state of Illinois to mess up something Wisconsin wants to accomplish.

BLET and SEPTA agree on new contract

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has ratified a new contract with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) that covers health care benefits, pay, and work rules for the next

Sound Transit

Falsework for Sound Transit bridge ready to be removed

Crews working on the Sound Transit project are getting ready to work on the rail portion of a light-rail bridge that crosses over I-405 in Bellevue, Wash. Lanes and ramps on I-405

NJ Transit withholds PTC costs from public view due to “trade secret”

Bloomberg is reporting that New Jersey Transit is withholding the cost of recent expenditures for its Positive Train Control (PTC) project from public view.

Metrolink announces three executive appointments

Yesterday, Metrolink Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Wiggins announced three chief-level appointments to the agency’s leadership team.

Amtrak matches Oregon DOT grant application

In support of an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) grant application, Amtrak announced a matching $750,000 contribution to reduce delays in the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor. ODOT’s grant application, if successful, will

Theresa Impastato named Metro’s new safety chief

Metro recently announced that Theresa M. Impastato, a 20-year veteran of rail safety and operations, is the transit agency’s new EVP/Chief Safety Officer. Impastato will begin August 12.

GAO PTC report – update

RT&S reported Thursday (Aug. 1) that the Government Accounting Office (GAO) released a statement saying that while the railroads are making good progress on the installation of Positive Train Control (PTC) on

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