Sound Transit installing overhead wires on N. 1st Street and on Stadium Way this week at night

Sound Transit crews will install electrical wires over both sets of tracks on N. 1st Street, continuing in the Stadium curve and on Stadium Way to the traction power substation (between S. 4th St. and Division Ave.) this week.

HDR Engineering

HDR’s Joanna “Asia” Alvord promoted to transportation project controls director

With more than 20 years of innovative digital project management experience and recent management of the project controls cross sector, Joanna “Asia” Alvord has been promoted to serve as HDR’s transportation project controls director.

NRC names Chuck Baker, Mike Choat and Stan Herzog to its hall of fame

The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) inducted three railway industry leaders into it Hall of Fame on January 7, 2022, at its annual conference in Phoenix.

BART undertaking critical cable replacement work in Lafayette

BART is replacing electrical lines and other support components that are critical for maintaining reliable train service through Lafayette.

Rail cybersecurity with Shift5’s Josh Lospinoso

In December 2021, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration deployed a Security Directive that shined a spotlight on rail cybersecurity following a series of global cyberattacks that occurred at the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Class I CSX and short-line operator OmniTRAX, as well as several rail companies around the globe.

SFMTA Central Subway revenue service update

SFMTA Central Subway construction team is working aggressively to have line open by October 2022.

NRC announces 2021 special award winners, 2022 Hall of Fame inductions, and Safety Award winners

The NRC has announced major awards for 2021 and 2022.

Just for fun: the restoration of Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 #1309

Much of the recent steam locomotive restoration news focuses on Union Pacific’s 4-8-8-4 “Big Boy” #4014, which has been operating periodically for the past couple of years.

Digital transformation and rail – news and commentary

The railroad industry is becoming more digital each day.

MTA extends signal modernization

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that the MTA Board approved the first of three contract awards that will extend signal modernization along the Queens Boulevard Line east of Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike station with Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC).

Honolulu suffers major cyberattack on its transit system last week

Hawaii’s island of Oahu suffered a massive cyberattack on its transit system last Thursday, Dec. 9, at 1:00 am.

Metrolinx selects Bechtel as delivery partner for Ontario Line

Metrolinx has selected Bechtel as the delivery partner for its Ontario Line. Sub-vendors will be Bantrel Co. and Comtech Group Inc.

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART)

HART will resolve electricity problems with special equipment

HART trains can have a negative impact on the Honolulu power grid.

Federal Railroad Administration announces availability of $198 million for intercity passenger rail projects

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Grant Program (Partnership Program).

BART single-tracking in some areas to complete critical electrical work

BART has several projects underway to replace sections of its critical electrical network that powers their trains.

Caltrain electrification project on time, but will cost more

The cost of the Caltrain electrification project just went up.

STV announces appointments to its senior leadership team

STV this week announced it has added two key members to its senior leadership team. Beth Miller has joined STV in the newly created position of vice president of communications, and Athena Ullah has been promoted to chief of staff.

Railway Supply Institute appoints Patty Long president

The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Patty Long, an experienced and skilled association leader, as its president.

How the Hurontario LRT team keeps night work noise to a minimum

When it comes to one of Peel Region’s busiest streets, construction for the Hurontario light rail transit (LRT) project is a balancing act. Night construction can be disruptive to neighbours, and daytime construction can impact traffic flow. Find out how the Hurontario LRT team makes it work.

Purple Line Transit Partners selects design-build contractor to complete Purple Line

RT&S Editor-in Chief Bill Wilson has been reporting extensively on the ups and downs of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Purple Line Project over the past several months. A big issue has been the need for Purple Line Transit Partners to select a new design-build partner, and now that selection has been made.