Possible Paths to New-Tech Safety Improvements
Crew Heimer joins Railway Age Contributing Editor Jim Blaze to look at what improvements can be done with respect to train derailments like that in East Palestine, Ohio. They suggest a better-quality
Regulatory
NS Enhances East Palestine Track Excavation/Remediation Plan
Norfolk Southern on Feb. 22, the day before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report on the Feb. 3 East Palestine, Ohio, derailment, announced that it will, in a
HART Expects Rail Project Launch By July 2023
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has announced that while a grand opening date for the first segment of its rail project remains to be determined, the authority anticipates service will launch within six months.
Judge Rules RTD ‘Not Responsible’ for Commuter Rail Costs
A Denver District Court judge on Feb. 10 ruled that the Regional Transportation District (RTD) is not responsible for more than $100 million in costs related to crossing gate problems on three of its commuter rail lines, according to a CPR News report.
Lac-Mégantic Bypass Land Acquisitions Proving Problematic
Nearly 10 years after Lac-Mégantic, the crude-oil train wreck that claimed 47 lives and led to new tank car regulations in Canada and the U.S., problems persist in the efforts to build
Metrolinx Targets Accessibility Improvements Across GO Network
With the completion of the Early Station Improvements project, Metrolinx announced Feb. 9 that two major components of that work are now improving GO station accessibility.
CTA Awards $75M Contract for Racine Blue Line Station Accessibility Improvements
The Chicago Transit Authority’s Racine Blue Line station will soon undergo a significant restoration that will include the installation of an elevator and other accessibility-related upgrades, making it the latest project to receive upgrades under the CTA’s All Stations Accessibility Program.
Authorities Call for Better Oversight Along Canada’s Provincially Regulated Railways
With the release of investigation documents surrounding a 2019 accident in which a GO Transit train struck two people at a public crossing in Ontario, officials from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are expressing concerns about the safety oversight of provincially regulated railways.
ICC Approves Grade Crossing Projects in Logan, Randolph Counties
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) on Feb. 6 reported signing off on stipulated agreements to improve safety at highway/rail grade crossings in Logan and Randolph counties.
Authorities Continue Monitoring Norfolk Southern Ohio Derailment Site
The East Palestine, Ohio, community is still feeling the effects this week after a 50-car Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed and caused a fire, filling the area with smoke on Feb. 3 and prompting an evacuation order near the Pennsylvania state line.
Amtrak Requests PTC System Regression Testing Waiver for ACSES II
Amtrak has requested a waiver for regression testing of its certified Positive Train Control system, according to a Federal Register notice published on Feb. 2.
Biden Visits MTA, Announces Funding at LIRR West Side Yard
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority welcomed President Joe Biden Jan. 31 to the MTA Long Island Rail Road West Side Yard at Hudson Yards.
Biden Visits Baltimore Rail Tunnel Replacement Location Set to Modernize Northeast Corridor
President Joe Biden traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, on Jan. 30 to kick off the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel replacement project funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.
State Officials, Railroads Clash Over Legislative Overhaul of Broadband Railroad Crossing Fees
During this year’s legislative session, bills introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate seek to standardize the process and associated fees for broadband providers crossing railroads.
Gov. Parson Requests Funding to Improve Rail Crossing Safety After Fatal Collisions
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson requested a new line item in the fiscal year 2024 budget to increase safety measures at railroad crossings during his State of the State address on Jan. 18.
Researchers Identify Subway Station Air Quality Degradation Near River Crossings
A new study from New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine has found that subway stations near river tunnels can have much greater quantities of potentially harmful particles, a phenomenon known as the “river-tunnel effect.”
Second Portion of Ohio’s Historic Hamilton Train Station Relocated
Last month, onlookers witnessed the roughly 1,000-foot relocation of a two-story building that was previously part of a CSX train depot to the intersection of Maple Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Hamilton, Ohio.
GDOT Completes Upgrade Project for HOG
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) in January wrapped up its first Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program grant project, which included upgrades along 138 miles of the 219-mile Heart of Georgia (HOG) Railroad.
Ohio Commission OK’s Grade Crossing Safety Projects
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved safety upgrades at highway/rail grade crossings in Clinton, Fairfield and Jackson counties.
ASLRRA Working to Advocate for Railroads Experiencing Damage from Natural Disasters
Railway Track & Structures’ cover story for the November 2022 issue focused on the severe damage to the Seminole Gulf Railway in southwest Florida by Hurricane Ian. The storm not only impacted the railroad, but the service it provides to the community after a natural disaster occurs, especially moving building materials along its lines to support rebuilding efforts.