Ballast maintenance update: Better, faster ballast
Suppliers and contractors aim to provide railroads with efficient ballast delivery methods and long-lasting solutions. Here’s a look at what’s happening in ballast maintenance in 2019.
ON Track Maintenance
Amtrak state of good repair backlog tops $33.3 billion
There’s a lot of work to be done on Amtrak. The railroad said its state of good repair backlog (SOGR) has passed $33.3 billion, with $28.1 billion of that on the Northeast
Midwest floods have maintenance crews scrambling to restore track
Record-setting floods have caused extensive damage to railroad infrastructure across large sections of the Midwest, prompting a surge in construction and repair work.
Shortline Maintenance: Focus on the Fundamentals
Shortlines rely on track inspection, efficient use of resources, application of the industry’s best practices, and compliance with railroad rules and federal regulations to meet day-to-day and long-term track maintenance challenges.
DART rail replacement scheduled for Downtown Dallas
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will carry out rail replacement work during weekends beginning March 30 and continuing into September of 2019.
The anatomy of a rail milling cutting head
Rail milling is a spark- and dust-free rotational cutting process that is popular in Europe. In this article, we look at the key item that makes it work.
‘SpikeEase’ pulls in big orders
Focused Technology Solutions is the recent winner of four major contracts for the first ever battery-operated spike puller, the “SpikeEase.”
Rail milling comes to North America
There has been talk for years about if and when rail milling technology would be coming to America. Well, the talking is over. A milling machine, the product of a joint venture
Tie-marking technology captures attention of maintenance teams
Norfolk Southern, looking to improve efficiency in tie replacement, is the first Class 1 railroad to adopt new automated tie-marking technology from Georgetown Rail (GREX.)
Refining Approaches to Corrective and Preventive Rail Grinding
Railroads and transit systems are adopting innovative approaches to improve efficiency and productivity. As service providers look to better define grind quality. When it comes to correcting or maintaining the profile and
Pittsburgh and Norfolk Southern spar over maintenance; Politician seeks investigation
A Pittsburg politician has suggested that Norfolk Southern fails to follow up when its own inspections show damage to tracks or bridges.
Getting a Grip on Friction Management
Friction management remains one of the best tools available to reduce wear, lateral track loading and energy consumption. Managing friction is a balancing act. Too much friction (resulting from little or no
Vegetation management for railroads: Weeding out the problem
Though the winter months can pose additional challenges for railroads, vegetation management requires efforts year-round. This month, RT&S highlights the recent developments in brush fighting equipment and weed controlling herbicides, in addition
Research: Future of Weibull Defects Analysis in the Railway Industry
Editor’s Note: From time to time we will publish cutting-edge research in the world of rail engineering. In this piece, researchers ponder the possible flaws of Weibull analysis in preventing defect-caused derailments.
MARTA taps RailWorks to perform rail upgrades
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has awarded RailWorks Corp., a provider of rail track construction and maintenance services, with a seven-year, $133 million contract to carry out upgrades along MARTA’s
Rep. Courtney visits NECR to view upgrade progress
U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) visited the New England Central Railroad (NECR) near Stafford Springs, Ct., on Oct. 22, to view progress the shortline has made to upgrade the rail line between
Groundbreaking ceremony held for Presidio International Rail Bridge
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Texas Pacifico Transportation, LTD. (TXPF) held a groundbreaking event Oct. 22 for the reconstruction of the international rail bridge at Presidio, Texas.
Rehab planned for bridge carrying MBTA Franklin Line
The East Street Bridge that carries the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Franklin Commuter Rail Line will undergo weekend work Oct. 19 and Nov. 9, MBTA has announced.
Upgrade for Northern Lines crossings
A Midwest shortline operator will see grade crossings upgraded, per plans by a state transportation office.
Metra forms P3 to test reverse-commute service to Lake County
Metra has reached an agreement with Lake County business and civic organizations to split the costs of a potential two-year pilot project for two new reverse-commute trains along its Milwaukee District North