RailComm appoints new CEO
RailComm appointed Joe Forgione as president and chief executive officer, succeeding former President and CEO Joe Denny, who has steped down after almost 15 years of continuous service since founding RailComm in 1999.
Safety
CN unveils WinterREADY plan
Canadian National says it has spent the past 12 months engaging customers in order to better position the railroad for success during the upcoming winter. The result is CN’s WinterREADY Plan 2013-2014, which the railroad says adds resiliency to its network and improves communication flow.
NTSB closes seven WMATA safety recommendations
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has closed seven more of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) outstanding safety recommendations, bringing the total number of recommendations closed to 20 out of 29.
PUCO approves upgrades to three CSX crossings
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission under which, CSX Transportation will install mast-mounted flashing lights and roadway gates at three crossings.
CN’s Mongeau says Canadian railroads are safe and continue to improve
Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer of Canadian National said that Canadian railways have a solid record of improving their overall safety performance and remain committed to achieving further safety gains.
MoDOT details possible second UP mainline project
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.
BART puts permanent moratorium on “simple approval” procedure
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has moved to make permanent a temporary moratorium on a procedure known as “simple approval” in which trackside workers are responsible for their own safety.
AAR: PTC delay needed to safely install federally mandated interoperable PTC
Editor’s note: The Association of American Railroads submitted the following commentary following the report “Industry leaders discuss PTC progress” RT&S posted earlier this month.
There has been debate about the railroad industry’s ability to meet the federal mandate for interoperable positive train control (PTC) technology across huge swaths of the U.S. rail network by 2015. There also have been some critics who have inferred that by seeking an extension of the 2015 deadline set by Congress for implementing PTC, the railroad industry is looking to dodge its commitment to safety. Nothing could be further from the truth and I would like to address this issue and hopefully provide some clarity for RT&S readers.
Canadian transport minister discusses strengthening safety with the Advisory Council on Railway Safety
Canadian Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt discussed the critical role of the railway industry as the government strengthens railway safety standards with the Advisory Council on Railway Safety.
CTC allocates $167 million to California rail projects
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.
Industry leaders discuss PTC progress
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.
Expo Line Phase 2 reaches halfway point, marks safety milestone
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.
USDOT seeks comment on ways to strengthen, coordinate transit safety and asset management
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is seeking public comment on the most significant regulatory step taken under FTA’s new transit safety authority.
NURail Center among USDOT grant winners
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) awarded approximately $63 million in grants to 33 University Transportation Centers (UTCs) to advance research and education programs that address critical transportation challenges facing our nation.
Power failure stalls Metro-North’s New Haven Line, repairs could take weeks
A failure in a Con Edison feeder cable resulted in a lack of electricity to power overhead wires along MTA Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven Line on Sept. 25. The railroad was forced to run limited service using diesel locomotives until further notice between Stamford, Conn. and Grand Central Station in New York City.
UIC study: Pedestrians, cyclists need consistency at rail crossings
The risk of pedestrian and bicycle accidents at railroad grade crossings would decrease with sustained enforcement and education by local governments, along with consistency in design standards for warning devices, according to a study by the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Caltrain Modernization Program kicks off advanced signal system work
California’s Caltrain has begun work on an advanced signal system that will improve the performance and enhance the safety of the rail system, formally kicking off the first element of the Caltrain Modernization Program.
GAO issues PTC report, urges flexibility with implementation
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) made public its report on positive train control (PTC) implementation and issued a trio of recommendations including extending the deadline, approving alternative safety technologies and granting provisional certification of PTC systems.
FRA and MaineDOT to test rail trespassing system
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded a research grant for the city of Brunswick, Maine, the Northern New England Passenger Authority (NNEPRA) and the Maine Department of Transportation, among other partners, to participate in a field research program to develop and test new trespass detection and deterrent technologies.
CTA, LIRR launch rail safety campaigns
As part of its continuing focus on customer safety, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has launched a new informational campaign reminding “L” riders about the dangers of trespassing on CTA railroad tracks.