Commentary –– Anecdotes Are Not Data
NEW YORK –– On Nov. 1, we ran a commentary by David Schanoes, a Railway Age Contributing Editor, in which David shares his thoughts on PTC regulations. Here is the second part of that piece, posted by RA today.
OCTA Receives Funding from Federal and State Agencies for Vital Coastal Rail Corridor Improvements
ORANGE, Calif. – The Orange County Transportation Authority secured essential funding [last] month from state and federal partners that will advance vital enhancements to help stabilize the rail corridor where it runs along the vulnerable coastline through San Clemente.
Amtrak Awarded $126M in Federal Grants
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Amtrak has been awarded nearly $126 million from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) competitive grant program. Many Amtrak partners also received funding that will improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of Amtrak service and support the expansion of intercity passenger rail.
Commentary –– Just What is PTC Initialization?
NEW YORK –– “We”—old timers, old heads, just plain old—sometimes refer to ourselves as “fossils,” but we’re not really. Fossils, as far as “we” know, can’t think, change positions, make jokes, whine, or delude themselves and others. We can, like human beings, do all of that and even do all of that at once. I could give you an example (of dubious value, of course), but not today. Today belongs to my fossildom.
CRISI Grants Awarded to OmniTRAX and R.J. Corman
DENVER, Colo. and NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. –– This week, OmniTrax and R.J. Corman were awarded CRISI grants for a variety of rail projects.
Canadian Ports Face Striking Workers
MONTREAL –– This week, workers at two Montreal ports went on strike, and most port terminals in British Columbia face a walkout early next week.
RSI Announces New Directors
WASHINGTON, D.C. –– The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) on Oct. 31 named three new members to its Board of Directors.
NRC Chairman’s Message –– November 2024
ATLANTA –– “Relationship Building Is The Fundamental ‘Joint Bar'”
SANDAG and Caltrans Begin Construction of Batiquitos Lagoon Double Track Project in North County
SAN DIEGO –– This week, SANDAG and Caltrans crews [started] construction on the Batiquitos Lagoon Double Track project.
Federal Railroad Administration Proposes Supplemental PTC Regulations
WASHINGTON, D.C. –– The FRA has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that focuses on additional regulations for positive train control operation.
AAR Releases Inaugural Jobs Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. –– The Association of American Railroads (AAR) on Oct. 29 released the “Rail Jobs Report: The Value and Opportunities in Railroading,” which provides a comprehensive review of the benefits and opportunities that come with freight rail careers.
Editor’s Notebook: Are We Looking At A Smooth Busy Season?
ATLANTA –– FROM THE NOVEMBER 2024 ISSUE OF RT&S –– Labor agreement progress, a wary eye on the weather.
Washington Rail Projects Receive $115MM
SPOKANE, Wash. – Projects across the state of Washington have received $115 million for infrastructure upgrades.
NTSB Board Members Applaud New FTA Action to Protect Rail Transit Roadway Workers
WASHINGTON –– [This week], the National Transportation Safety Board applauded a new Federal Transit Administration final rule aimed at protecting rail transit roadway workers.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $2.4 Billion in New Rail Projects
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) [this week] announced more than $2.4 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for 122 rail improvement projects in 41 states and Washington, D.C. These projects will make rail safer, more reliable, and more resilient, getting goods and people where they need to be quickly with fewer disruptions, lower shipping costs and less pollution.
Sound Transit Completes Longest Bridge in Light Rail System
SEATTLE – Sound Transit has completed the longest bridge in light rail work. In the Federal Way and Kent neighborhoods, Sound Transit could begin testing its system integration by the end of 2024.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Rule to Protect Rail Transit Workers Nationwide
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is issuing a regulation to make transit workers safer, nationwide, by mandating standards to protect them while working on transit railways. This is the latest action from the Biden-Harris Administration to protect transit workers, keeping them safer at work.
BNSF Rail Talk: New Bridges Over Troubled Waters
FARGO, N.D. – From BNSF’s Rail Talk, Mike Pagel writes about bridge construction in the Fargo, North Dakota/Moorhead, Minnesota region.
San Francisco’s MUNI About to Begin Long-Awaited Replacement of Floppy Disks in Train Control System
SAN FRANCISCO –– The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA or MUNI) is about to embark on a project to replace the floppy disk-driven computer system that was installed in 1998.
Delta Railroad Services Expands to East Coast With Headquarters in New York
NEW YORK CITY – Delta Railroad Services has expanded its East Coast footprint with offices in New York City.