Norfolk Southern suffers derailment in Pennsylvania
A Norfolk Southern train derailed on Monday evening in Pennsylvania. Amtrak tweeted that two of it’s trains that run on this line were canceled.
Amtrak
Amtrak locomotives return to deadly derailment site in state of Washington
Positive Train Control (PTC) could have prevented the Amtrak derailment over I-5 that killed three people in DuPont, Wash. The technology was not yet installed in 2017. It’s there now, and officials
Controversial Amtrak plan becomes more, well, controversial
In response to a plan that was openly criticized a few years ago, Amtrak is responding with a heavy closing statement. The passenger rail service re-issued a plan for fences and gates
Amtrak OIG: positive train control will be interoperable but could better measure system reliability
Amtrak has installed Positive Train Control technology on the tracks it owns and expects its systems to be interoperable with host and tenant railroads by year’s end, but it can take steps
New Portal North Bridge across Hackensack River one step closer to reality
Construction of a new Portal North Bridge has taken a big step forward following NJ Transit’s approval of a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) with the Federal Transit Administration. The new span
Amtrak completes Delaware third track project
Amtrak, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and the Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC) recently completed a $71.2 million project to increase capacity between Wilmington and Newark, Del. on the Northeast Corridor. This
Amtrak names Stephen Gardner president; wins contract to operate Metrolink trains
The newsroom at Amtrak has been busy for the past couple of days. Yesterday, Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn announced that Stephen Gardner has been named president of the agency, effective today. Gardner’s
SEPTA, Amtrak, PennDOT to improve signaling on Harrisburg Line
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), in conjunction with Amtrak and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), will upgrade the signaling and train control system between Paoli and Overbrook, along the Harrisburg, Pa.,
Rail agencies pledge readiness to work with President-Elect Biden
The Association of American Railroads, Amtrak, the American Public Transportation Association, and the Railway Supply Institute are among the agencies congratulating President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris and expressing enthusiasm
Alan S. Boyd, first Secretary of Transportation and railroad president, dies
Although no longer a familiar name to most of today’s railroaders, Alan S. Boyd was a transportation industry icon during the 1960s and ’70s. He died at the age of 98 yesterday
Look before you cut: Amtrak deploys GPR for ballast maintenance
Editor’s Note: This story appeared in the August issue of RT&S. The authors are Amanda Kessler, P.E., and Evan Whatley, EIT. Each fiscal year, Amtrak spends approximately $20-55 million undercutting between 25
Amtrak furloughing 2,000 employees
The Hill is reporting that Amtrak is going to furlough 2,000 employees over the next several weeks. The furloughs will affect about 1,950 agreement employees and 100 management positions. The reason for
Process has begun to permanently close railroad lift bridge in New Jersey
Amtrak wants to dock the Dock Bridge, which crosses the Passaic River in Harrison, N.J. The 85-year-old structure is a massive twin span lift bridge that carries six lines of tracks, and
Amtrak completes PTC implementation
Following installation on approximately one mile of slow-speed track in the Chicago terminal, Amtrak has now implemented Positive Train Control (PTC) on all of its owned or controlled tracks and locomotives. In
Northeast Corridor Portal Bridge in N.J. will be replaced
The Northeast Corridor crosses the Hackensack River near Kearny, N.J. on what’s known as the Portal Bridge. This bridge is 110 years old and carries a combined daily total of 450 NJ
Wis. project will alleviate rail traffic in Milwaukee
A rail project in Muskego, Wis., is now up for public debate. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on the Muskego Yard Freight Rail Bypass project, which will upgrade
U.S. House to Amtrak: we may have some extra money for you, but you gotta run trains to get it
The U.S. House drafted a bill this week that would provide significant funding for Amtrak, provided the railroad does not cut service. RT&S News reported Tuesday that some in Congress believe Amtrak
Is Amtrak leveraging the pandemic to permanently cut train service?
Amtrak is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2021. The celebration may be muted, however, due to the animosity Amtrak faces and, indeed, has faced throughout the 49 years since the
Skanska to rehabilitate rail transit infrastructure in Northeast region for about $40 million
Skanska has signed a contract with Amtrak to rehabilitate and restore maintenance facilities for the Next Generation Acela 21 high-speed rail service in Washington, D.C., Boston, and New York. The contract is
INVEST Act appears to fund Gateway Project but comes down hard on liquefied natural gas transport by rail
The House of Representatives has introduced the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act. The measure, introduced by House Transportation and Infrastructure