WMATA expands waterproofing after pilot success
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is expanding a water leak mitigation project on its Red Line after positive early results from the pilot project that began in July.
ON Track Maintenance
Port Mac rail extension is 75% complete; embankment closed for travel
The Port MacKenzie Rail Extension has reached 75 percent completion, but officials say the 32-mile embankment is closed to travel due to increased rates of vandalism.
Houston Metro launches pilot program for pedestrian safety at rail crossings
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro) is launching a pilot program to test a Bluetooth pedestrian alert system (BPAS) at four locations.
Keolis, MBTA perform cleaning to prevent slippery rail
In lieu of the changing season, Keolis Commuter Services (KCS) will perform rail-cleaning services on Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) rail to reduce slippery rail.
MTA wraps up Metro-North Hudson, Harlem Line track improvements
Following completion of recent track improvement projects, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Metro-North Railroad will begin schedule changes to certain Harlem Line and Hudson Line trains on October 8. All new fall schedule adjustments are three minutes or less in effort to improve on-time performance.
Amtrak CUS Great Hall work under way
Amtrak’s $22-million project to restore and improve historic Chicago Union Station’s Great Hall is under way. The year-long project will result in a public space painted in its original colors, and made brighter by a restored and protected skylight with improved lighting.
Class 1s spread U.S. Rail Safety Week message
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), is spearheading the inaugural Rail Safety Week (RSW) in the U.S. Sept. 24-30. Class 1s are supporting the focus on rail safety with their own efforts throughout the week.
MBTA moves forward with Wollaston Red Line Station project
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is moving forward with improvements at the Wollaston Red Line Station.
NTSB dockets opened for NJ Transit, LIRR crashes
Dockets for the fatal Sept. 29, 2016, New Jersey Transit commuter rail collision in Hoboken, N.J., and the Jan. 4, 2017, Long Island Rail Road collision at the Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn, New York, were opened to the public Sept. 21 by the National Transportation Safety Board as part of its ongoing investigations of the two accidents.
Iowa Transportation Commission awards funding to rail projects
The Iowa Transportation Commission approved more than $2.6 million in funding for three rail infrastructure and related rail development projects under the Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant (RRLG) Program.
HDR to lead design efforts of Class 1 rail bridge over Mississippi
HDR has been awarded a contract to lead the final design of a Class 1 fixed, high bridge near Clinton, Iowa.
WMATA, SacRT to install Protran safety systems
Protran Technology, part of the Harsco Rail division, has received orders to install enhanced safety systems to regional transit districts serving Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, Calif.
Loram acquires HyGround Engineering
Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc., has acquired HyGround Engineering, a substructure maintenance management company.
GREX intros next evolution of its Aurora platform
Georgetown Rail Equipment Company (GREX) unveiled the next development of its Aurora platform: Aurora XivTM.
BNSF, WSDOT awarded W.W. Hay Award
The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) presented the 2017 Dr. William W. Hay Award for Excellence to BNSF and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for the Improvements for Passenger Rail Service and Reliability on BNSF Railway in Washington State project.
CN, Metra to replace track on Rock Island Line
Canadian National (CN) and Metra workers are set to replace track this weekend on the Rock Island Line.
Metra awards $21.6-million contract for Fox River bridge
Metra’s Board of Directors has awarded a $21.6-million contract to replace the 136-year-old Fox River bridge to Illinois Constructors Corporation of Elburn.
MTA aligns FASTRACK work with Subway Action Plan on Q line
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) began what its calling “an extensive list of maintenance, cleaning and repair work” yesterday on the Q line.
CN reopens B.C. coal line
Canadian National Railway (CN) has reopened its Tumbler Ridge branch located in the coal fields of east-central British Columbia.
Canada names negotiator, readies to step in to fix (or sell) HBR line to Churchill
Reiterating the importance of rail to the region, the government of Canada named a negotiator and said it is willing to explore interim funding options or potential sale of the Hudson Bay Rail Line in order to see service restored.