CHSRA releases EIS for 49-mile high-speed rail project

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is releasing its second project-level Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the 49-mile project that would provide service between the Salesforce Transit Center in

U.S. House to Amtrak: we may have some extra money for you, but you gotta run trains to get it

The U.S. House drafted a bill this week that would provide significant funding for Amtrak, provided the railroad does not cut service. RT&S News reported Tuesday that some in Congress believe Amtrak

Businesses want Portland’s Metro Council to delay tax for massive transpo package

The Metro Council has chosen its tax. Officials have been looking at a variety of funding mechanisms for Portland’s largest transportation package in history, which stands at $7 billion. The decision should

Metrolink introduces tool to help passengers social distance

With the pandemic and social distancing on the minds of everyone today, transit riders have been particularly wary of returning to rail transit and commuter rail. When people, organizations and even nations

Canadian National breaks multiple grain records

Canadian National announced [Tuesday] that it has achieved another monthly record in June moving 2.7 million metric tonnes (MMT) of Canadian grain. In the first half of 2020 through June 30, CN

REMSA webinar on navigating a post-COVID world

The Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association will hold a webinar on July 21, 2000 entitled “Navigating All Things Talent Acquisition In A Post-COVID World.” For more information, and to register, please visit the

REMSA webinar on export opportunities for U.S. maintenance-of-way companies

The Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) will hold a webinar on July 16, 2020. Please check the REMSA website for more information and to register.

Intermodal makes a move, but rail traffic still down for the year

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 4, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 437,989 carloads and intermodal units,

Metro Red Line train derails; officials believe operator ran red light

Washington, D.C., Metro officials are trying to figure out how a Red Line train derailed on July 7. No injuries were reported, and the train was carrying 32 passengers. The operator ran

Canadian Pacific announces best-ever quarter and June for transporting Canadian grain

Canadian Pacific announced [yesterday] its best-ever quarter and June for moving Canadian grain and grain products. The two records are the latest in a standout crop year of linking Canadian producers to

Federal Railroad Administration announces more than $500,000 to deter trespassing

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded more than half a million dollars in Railroad Trespassing Enforcement Grants to law enforcement agencies today to support life-saving trespass abatement in

Is Amtrak leveraging the pandemic to permanently cut train service?

Amtrak is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2021. The celebration may be muted, however, due to the animosity Amtrak faces and, indeed, has faced throughout the 49 years since the

Watco to acquire rail assets from Dow

Dow Inc. has selected Watco Companies to acquire the rail infrastructure assets and related equipment at six major North American sites. Watco, a transportation service company, will provide select rail services at

Affiliates of Paceline Equity Partners expand Rail Maintenance Leasing platform

Affiliates of Paceline Equity Partners, LLC (“Paceline”), a Dallas-based private equity manager, today announced they have acquired R.E.L.A.M., Inc., a leading lessor of railroad maintenance-of-way (“MOW”) equipment, as well as Acme Construction

light-rail transit

Hero Pay is approved for DART front-line workers

One of the challenges of the pandemic is that, like many things in life, the impact on the economy and workers has been uneven. Many are able to work from home since

American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association

ASLRRA comments on House passage of the Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2)

In response to [yesterday’s] House passage of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), which represents the nation’s 600 small business freight railroads and

Plaintiffs argue Initiative 976 misled voters at the ballot box

Initiative 976 will see if it once and for all has a life as a Washington State Supreme Court judge heard opening arguments on June 30. Initiative 976 was passed by voters

Southern California-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail service gets another key nod

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) on authority from the California State Transportation Agency has entered into a lease agreement allowing XpressWest, a Brightline company, to use existing state right-of-way along I-15

Encouraging trends, but will they continue?

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 27, 2020, as well as volumes for June 2020. U.S. railroads originated 794,256 carloads in June

Caltrain seeing a ridership increase

As of June 30, the number of new COVID cases in the state of California over the previous 14 days was +48.3%, or 69,357 cases. However, Caltrain reported on Monday that their

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