Brightline Reaches 130mph, Completes CRISI Grant Program
After hitting speeds of 130 mph, Brightline is officially the fastest train in Florida and the Southeastern U.S.
Norfolk Southern announces six-point safety plan
ATLANTA–Norfolk Southern Corporation announced Monday a six-point plan to immediately enhance the safety of its operations. The initiatives are based on the preliminary findings of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) following the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment.
Digital Issue of March 2023 RT&S Now On Line
The March 2023 issue of RT&S is now on line. This month, we have our regular March piece on ballast maintenance, featuring the product and service offerings of eight vendors.
Alabama Railroad Spur Construction Complete, Service Begins for Facility
Alabama officials announced that construction of a local railroad spur has been completed.
AAR: Class I’s On Board With C3RS; FRA Data Points to ‘Strong Safety Record’
All seven North American Class I railroads have agreed to join the Federal Railroad Administration’s voluntary Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies said
FRA Publishes Scenario-Based Training, Drone Inspection Studies
The Federal Railroad Administration recently issued two new documents on scenario-based training and drone bridge inspection.
Union Pacific Highlights Derailment Prevention Efforts
To help keep trains on the tracks, Union Pacific employs technology, optimal response and maintenance methodologies, and an aggressive capital renewal strategy. Total Union Pacific derailments have decreased by 21% from 2019 to last year.
Seminole Gulf Railway Identifies Track Issue as Cause of Derailment
After six cars completely derailed from a Seminole Gulf Railway train in Bradenton on Feb. 28, a derailed Seminole Gulf Railway train car carrying 30,000 gallons of liquid propane gas in Manatee County is back on the track.
Work to Resume on Pittsburgh’s Mt. Lebanon Light-Rail Tunnel
Pittsburgh Regional Transit has announced that work inside the Mt. Lebanon light-rail tunnel will resume next week.
DRPT Issues Rail Industrial Access Program Grant
The Ashton Creek Industrial Park LLC in Chesterfield County, Va., will receive a $450,000 Rail Industrial Access Program grant to support construction of a rail spur, to be served by CSX, according to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), which administers the program.
Transport Canada Allocates C$5.4MM for Rail Resiliency
Transport Canada is distributing up to C$5.4 million to 20 infrastructure projects country-wide that it says will make railroads “more resilient to extreme weather risks.”
MTA to Raise Frequently Struck LIRR Bridge in Garden City During Weekend Work
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority recently announced that crews will raise the height of the bridge that carries the LIRR Hempstead Branch over Cherry Valley Avenue in Garden City over the next five weekends.
Norfolk Southern Joins Confidential Close Call Reporting System
ATLANTA–Norfolk Southern Corporation today announced that it is joining the Federal Railroad Administration’s Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). Norfolk Southern was already actively participating in the C3RS Working Group that is
Kawasaki Begins Autonomous Track Fastener Monitoring Test in North America
Kawasaki Track Technologies announced the start of testing of track fastener monitoring technology in North America. This technology, while installed on a locomotive, will capture high resolution pictures and provide the necessary data for Kawasaki to utilize machine learning algorithms to identify potential track fasteners that need to be inspected and repaired.
Oregon Lawmakers Propose Bill to Require Cascade to Extend to Eugene
The proposed bullet train from Portland to Seattle to Vancouver would need to include service all the way to Eugene, according to a bill that was submitted in the Oregon Legislature.
OCTA to Study Railroad Relocation to Protect San Clemente Tracks
While the Orange County Transportation Authority’s emergency work to stabilize railroad tracks in San Clemente nears completion, the agency and its partners say they are continuing work on long-term solutions to protect the coastal rail line.
Kansas Gov. Kelly Allocates Nearly $5M for Shortline Projects
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced on Feb. 28 that the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Short Line Rail Improvement Fund program will award nearly $5 million to nine shortline rail maintenance and rehabilitation projects.
WMATA Considers Open Gangway Design for 8000-Series Rail Cars
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is considering changes to the design of its next generation of rail cars—the 8000 series—stating that the changes would increase capacity while allowing passengers to move between cars and avoid crowding.
Metra to Begin Rehabilitation Project for Homewood Station
Metra will begin rehabilitation work on its Homewood Station on March 13, closing access to the tunnel on the east side.
Eglinton Crosstown West Extension Reaches Tunneling Milestone
The first tunnel boring machine passed the halfway point earlier this month, digging more than three kilometers of the roughly six-kilometer tunnel in less than a year for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension project in Toronto, according to Metrolinx.