TSB cites poor communication for Via derailment in July
The derailment of a Via passenger train on July 5 could have been averted if local authorities and the railroad had communicated about flood waters. That’s the finding of an investigation of
Chicago suburb pays up to fight Amtrak Hiawatha project
Glenview, Ill., a village about 15 miles from Chicago, has reportedly approved spending a significant chunk of funding to continue its opposition efforts in regards to the proposed Amtrak Hiawatha project.
MTA strikes deal with Amtrak for new commuter stations in the East Bronx
New York’s MTA will build four new stations in the East Bronx for Metro-North commuter rail service, after Governor Andrew Cuomo brokered a deal between the agency and Amtrak. But the deal
Chuck Baker leaves NRC, becomes president of ASLRRA
Chuck Baker, president of the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC), is stepping down Feb. 4 to become president and CEO of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA.) “It
Port of Memphis gets $1.7 million grant for new track
The Port of Memphis will receive a $1.7 million grant to add track at the public terminal on President’s Island. The funds will pay for 4,900 feet of new track and four
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.
R.J. Corman names new president, signals boss
R. J. Corman Railroad Group LLC announced a slew of changes in its executive suite, including a new president and a new vice president in charge of signals. Ray Goss is now president of R. J. Corman
KCS capital spending to rise in 2019; maintenance and track stay flat
Kansas City Southern (KCS) plans to increase capital spending to between $640 million and $660 million this year, up substantially from the $530 million in capital expenditures in 2018. But those capex
CP plans overhaul of Rogers Pass tunnel
The Canadian Pacific Railway is planning extensive work in its famed Mount MacDonald Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in the western hemisphere. It’s our current most important asset,” John Leonardo, general manager
Sen. Schumer urges DOD attention on new railhead at Fort Drum
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) met with Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan last week, and reportedly urged the Department of Defense (DOD) to focus on the construction of a new
Hawaii’s auditor raises questions about HDR’s role in transit agency
A report from Hawaii’s state auditor suggests inadequate oversight of third-party consultant HDR Engineering, Inc. (HDR) may have contributed to cost overruns in the project to build a transit system for Honolulu. At
Railroad turntable from Atlanta draws attention in Tennessee
City officials in Watertown, Tenn., are predicting what they expect to be a dramatic boost to the city’s tourism with the addition of a new attraction. A railroad turntable arrived during the
Bushue leads new Quandel Consultants DC office
Veteran transportation executive Sandy Bushue leads the new Washington D.C. office of national passenger and freight rail and rail transit firm Quandel Consultants. Bushue, the former Acting and Deputy Administrator of the
BART awards Phase II extension contract to Mott MacDonald/PGH Wong Engineering
A joint venture of of Mott McDonald and PGH Wong Engineering has won the contract to provide general engineering services for Phase II of the 16-mile, six-station Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
WSP seen blessing Cuomo’s alternative plan for “L” Train tunnel repairs
Engineering giant WSP is expected to give its support to a controversial plan to repair the MTA’s storm-damaged Canarsie Tunnel without shutting down service. On Tuesday, representatives from WSP will appear before a
TranSystems adds Hovanec to Board
TranSystems Corp., which provides engineering and architectural planning, design and construction services to railroads, has added John Hovanec to its Board of Directors.
WMATA’s Patel joins Stantec
Hitendra (Hiten) Patel, PE, former Deputy Chief of Construction and Design Engineering with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), has joined global design and engineering firm Stantec as a principal and
BART prepares for legacy train car retirement as ‘Fleet of the Future’ draws near
With Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) preparing to welcome its new Fleet of the Future trains in 2019, BART is making plans regarding what to do with its “legacy” train cars, some
MARTA adds three to leadership team
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has added three members to its leadership team: Chief of Capital Programs, Expansion and Innovation Frank Rucker; Chief Administrative Officer Luz Borrero; and Chief of
HART board elects new board officers
The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) Board of Directors elected its new board officers for 2019 this week.