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.
OCTA Update; Still Pursuing Barrier Wall After Heavy Rain
SAN CLEMENTE – As debris continues to fall near Mariposa Point, OCTA gives an update on the rail right-of-way.
Orange County Coastal Rail Resiliency Study
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. –– The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the LOSSAN Rail Corridor (Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo) are working together on an Orange County Coastal Rail Resiliency Study. The study began in November 2023 and completion is expected in Fall 2025. OCTA is studying rail challenges in south Orange County to assess existing and future environmental risks and issues with operations and maintenance along the LOSSAN Rail Corridor. The study will evaluate strategies to address these challenges.
Amtrak Awards Contract to Build New Frederick Douglass Tunnel in Baltimore
BALTIMORE – Amtrak has achieved a major milestone for the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program with the selection of a Kiewit/J.F. Shea Joint Venture to build the brand new, state-of-the-art passenger rail tunnel that will serve electrified Amtrak and MARC commuter trains.
MBTA; South Coast Rail Project Almost Finished
BOSTON – The South Coast Rail Project is slated to be finished within weeks and includes six passenger stations.
Norfolk Southern Invests $472K to Improve Drainage Issue in Bellevue
BELLEVUE, Ohio – The Class I invests $472,000 to go toward repairing a drainage issue at the U.S. 20 underpass.
75th Street Corridor Improvement Project Update
CHICAGO – The CREATE Program gives a progress update on its 75th St. CIP, specifically projects P3, GS19, P2, and EW2.
FTA Grants $75M to NJ TRANSIT for New MOW Facility in Clifton
NEWARK, N.J. – The FTA has awarded $75 million from the Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program to go toward constructing a new MOW facility.
Tackling Fatigue Defects in Steel
ATLANTA – Railway Track & Structures, February 2024 Issue: Steel is one of the most important materials ever developed. From “A Deeper Look”, a monthly column from Dr. Gary T. Fry.
SacRT Works to Repair Storm Damage
SACRAMENTO – SacRT issued an alert that service is temporarily suspended as crews start working to repair damage to its line after storms.
Sound Transit’s 1 Line Resumes Service After Repairs
SEATTLE –– Sound Transit’s 1 Line Resumes Service After Repairs.
OCTA and Metrolink Will Construct Barrier Wall in San Clemente
SAN CLEMENTE – To prevent debris from falling on the track, crews will construct a barrier wall along the rail line in Orange County.
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.
MTA Repairs May Cost $43B Over Next Five Years
NEW YORK CITY – The State’s comptroller has released a report that details a possible MTA capital budget of $43 billion to go toward repairs over the next five years.
Norfolk Southern Improves Infrastructure in Ohio
CAMPBELLSTOWN, Ohio – Norfolk Southern removed double track and extended siding east to 15,000 feet in Ohio.
Now On Line: Railway Track & Structures February 2024 Digital Edition
ATLANTA –– The digital edition of the February 2024 issue of RT&S is now on line.
Report: Activist Investor Attempting NS Takeover — Commentary Through Our Railway Age Colleagues
ATLANTA ––According to an unsubstantiated late-Jan. 31 Wall Street Journal article, an investor group led by activist Ancora Holdings Group, LLC intends to run a proxy fight and replace Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw. Ancora has reportedly built a position in NS and would likely try to take control of the Board to enact management and operational changes. We highlighted this as the number one risk in our downgrade earlier this week. NSC was up ~5% after hours. Story by Jason Seidl, Matt Elkott, Elliot Alper and Uday Khanapurkar, TD Cowen
Winter Weather Storm Halts Service on Coos Bay Rail Line
COOS COUNTY, Ore. – Coos Bay Rail Line service stops as crews work to clear hundreds of fallen trees along the line.
NICTD Focuses on South Shore Line Service in 2024
INDIANAPOLIS – Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District is focusing on the projects along its South Shore Line service this year.