WRI 29 Is In The Books
CHICAGO – I have just returned from the 29th annual Wheel/Rail Interaction Conference in Chicago, and the event exceeded my expectations.
Ballast, Ties, Rail
Two Technical Reports From FRA: Concrete Railroad Ties; Visual and Automation-Aided Track Inspections
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has published two technical reports; one on the concrete railroad tie freeze-thaw durability and the other is supplemental to a previous study on track inspections.
29th Annual AAR Research Review Round-Up
PUEBLO, Colo. – As one of the sponsors for the 29th Annual AAR Research Review hosted by MxV Rail, RT&S headed to Pueblo.
WATCH: Amtrak’s Laura Mason Tours Harrisburg Track Renewal Project
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Laura Mason, Amtrak Executive and Railway Age 2024 Influential Leader, tours the Harrisburg Track Renewal Project in Pennsylvania.
FRA and AAR Report: Design and Testing of EPC Ties
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Railroad Administration and the Association of American Railroads collaborated to investigate the design and testing of engineered-polymer (EPC) ties.
Camp Hall Rail Project Construction Moves Forward in South Carolina
BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – Palmetto Railways’ Camp Hall Rail Project continues in 5 phases before completion in spring 2026.
WATCH: SMART Gauntlet Track Construction for Petaluma North Station
PETALUMA, Calif. – From April 13th to 14th, SMART will have a partial system closure to install a gauntlet track for a new Petaluma North station.
Smart Rocks, Smart Tamper: Investigating the Mechanics of Ballast Tamping
ATLANTA – Railway Track & Structures, April 2024 Issue: There are many forces that work to deteriorate track geometry over time. These forces don’t begin and end at the wheel/rail interface; they are transmitted to the vehicles and their components and into the track structure and its components. On ballasted track, ballast absorbs these forces, and its maintenance is critical to preserving and correcting several types of track geometry defects.
2021 CP Derailment Caused by Undetected Rail Flaw
Winnipeg, MANITOBA – The TSB in Canada reported an undetected rail flaw led to a broken rail and subsequent derailment of a CP train back in October 2021.
TriMet’s MAX Blue Line Disruption in April for Rail Crossing Upgrades
PORTLAND, Ore. – A section of Gresham’s MAX Blue Line will be closed for a week in April to allow for rail crossing upgrades.
MTA’s F and M Lines Regular Service To Be Restored April 1st After Track Replacement Work
NEW YORK CITY – In Manhattan and Queens, MTA workers completed track replacement and a station re-NEW-vation. Regular service will resume on both lines on April 1st.
PRT Invests Over $150MM in Light-Rail Infrastructure
PITTSBURGH – Combining multiple rehabilitation projects, Pittsburgh Regional Transit will rehabilitate its light-rail system through 2028.
Squats & Studs: Emergent Damage Mechanisms on Rail Transit Systems
ATLANTA – Railway Track & Structures, March 2024 Issue. The unforgiving environment of the wheel/rail interface creates many damage mechanisms. These manifest in defects as varied as corrugations, rolling contact fatigue, and gage-corner cracking, to name only a few.
Limited Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Rail Service Set to Resume Through San Clemente on Wednesday
ORANGE – Amtrak Pacific Surfliner is scheduled to resume limited passenger service through San Clemente beginning Wednesday morning (March 6), as work continues to build a catchment wall at Mariposa Point to protect the rail right of way.
NS Engineering Teams Broke Records for Laying Rail
ATLANTA – Norfolk Southern commends the work of its Capital Production Gangs for laying 556 miles of Program Rail.
Examining Autonomous Track Geometry Testing and Instrumented Revenue Vehicle Technology
ATLANTA – Railway Track & Structures, February 2024 Issue: A pair of speakers from different continents discussed the benefits of autonomous track geometry collection and the advantages of monitoring revenue-service vehicles’ response to track conditions at the 2022 Wheel/Rail Interaction Conference. Development and the rate of implementation is ongoing.
Union Pacific Begins Infrastructure Projects in Missouri
TRENTON, Mo. – Union Pacific crews are working near Trenton, Missouri to replace 83,000 ties and 17 miles of rail.
Norfolk Southern Improves Infrastructure in Ohio
CAMPBELLSTOWN, Ohio – Norfolk Southern removed double track and extended siding east to 15,000 feet in Ohio.
MBTA Completes ‘Critical Track Work’ on Green Line; Removes 16 Speed Restrictions
BOSTON – The MBTA announced it has completed track work on its Green Line, including replacing more than 1,300 ties and 10,800 feet of rail.
AWPA Standardizes DCOI for Additional Crosstie Wood Species
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The American Wood Protection Association has standardized the use of DCOI for additional crosstie wood species.