MBTA suspends weekend service on Fitchburg Line to perform track upgrades

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) plans to suspend weekend service on the Fitchburg Line from April 25 until November 22.

RailComm to install yard control system in Mississippi

RailComm says a North American Class 1 railroad with a large switching yard located in Mississippi has chosen the company to install a yard control system.

Arizona DOT gets federal OK on environmental assessment for grade separation

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), in partnership with the city of Maricopa, Union Pacific and the Federal Highway Administration, has received federal approval for the proposed bridge project on State Route 347 over the railroad crossing, clearing the way for the project to move forward when funding is available.

Uncertainty clouds key rail bills in Senate

Two bills of substantial importance to railroads—Staggers Rail Act revisions as part of reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), and extension of the deadline to implement Positive Train Control (PTC)—took meaningful steps forward March 25, gaining the imprimatur of the Senate Commerce Committee.

ASLRRA reveals full list of safety winners

The American Short Line Rail and Regional Association (ASLRRA) disclosed the winners of its 2014 Safety Awards including Safety Person of the Year, Safety Professional of the Year, Most Improved Award, the President’s Awards, Jake Awards with Distinction and Jake Awards.

FRA to hold annual Right-of-Way Fatality & Trespass Prevention Workshop in August

The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) 2015 Right-of-Way Fatality & Trespass Prevention Workshop will be held August 4 – 6, 2015, at the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel, in Charlotte, N.C.

WSOR begins track rehab to restore service between Plymouth and Kohler

The Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (WSOR) broke ground March 24 to reconstruct nearly 11 miles of state-owned freight rail track between Plymouth and Kohler, Wis.

LIRR begins work to replace Colonial Road Bridge

The Long Island Rail Road’s $45-million Colonial Road Improvement Project is now underway. The Colonial Road Bridge will close to vehicular traffic March 30 and contractors prepare to demolish the 115-year old bridge that spans the tracks in the Village of Thomaston near the LIRR’s Great Neck Station.

ASLRRA 2014 Safety Person of the Year: Billie Johnson, OmniTRAX

OmniTRAX Inc.‘s Billie Johnson, general manager for Newburgh & South Shore Railroad and Northern Ohio & Western Railway, has been named the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s (ASLRRA) 2014 Safety Person of the Year. Johnson will receive the award at the ASLRRA Convention in Orlando, Fla., March 28-30.

All Aboard Florida hires The Vailon Group to implement DBE program

All Aboard Florida has hired The Vailon Group to implement its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in Miami-Dade County.

CN continues major rehabilitation work on Quebec Bridge

Canadian National has planned its annual major work program for the Quebec Bridge.

Rep. Quigley calls for full funding of transit and passenger rail in 2016 THUD bill

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD), submitted a letter to the THUD Subcommittee with 10 members of the Illinois House delegation urging full funding for mass transit and passenger rail in next year’s THUD budget.

NJ Transit celebrates Newark Penn Station 80th birthday

Newark Penn Station, the gateway for New Jersey rail travel throughout the region, turned 80 years old March 23.

Low Level Road Project completion clears way for additional train capacity

The Low Level Road Project in North Vancouver, BC, Canada, is now complete.

Rep. Lowenthal proposes legislation to create Freight Transportation Infrastructure Trust Fund

Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) has introduced legislation he says will provide a dedicated revenue source to invest in rebuilding crumbling freight infrastructure.

Sens. Thune and Nelson introduce bill to streamline STB process

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who serve as the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, introduced S. 808, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Act of 2015.

CTDOT, Metro-North plan spring bridge and maintenance work on New Haven Line

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and Metro-North Railroad this spring will be making critical repairs on the Devon Bridge on the New Haven commuter rail line and doing maintenance work on the line’s Waterbury Branch.

Proposed TRAIN Act would reform environmental permitting process for rail projects

U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) introduced the Track, Railroad, and Infrastructure Network (TRAIN) Act, which the senators say will reform the environmental permitting process for rail projects in order to facilitate a more efficient way to approve rail infrastructure.

Rep. Maloney calls on FRA to perform deep dive examination of crossings

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) called for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to do a “Deep Dive” examination into measures to reduce collisions and deaths following what he called “a significant increase” in these accidents at grade crossings.

CARTA sells property originally planned for intermodal passenger hub

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) approved an agreement to sell its property at 4894 Dorchester Road in North Charleston for $6.5 million to Rushmark Properties, LLC.

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