Merrimac Bridge Project is Complete
SAUK COUNTY, Wis. – The Merrimac Bridge traverses Lake Wisconsin and can now support 286,000-pound railcars at 25 mph.
FRA
Automated Track Inspection Waiver Is Back
WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Railroad Safety Board has approved a new temporariy waiver allowing U.S. railroads to expand field testing of automated track inspection (ATI) technology and collect crucial data to improve safety.
FRA Notice of Funding Opportunity Labeled ‘The Trump Dividend’
WASHINGTON, D.C. –– The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity that it’s calling “The Trump Dividend” because of funding that was redirected from the California High Speed Rail program.
USDOT Will Train More Than 160 Federal and State Track Inspectors
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation announced it will train more than 160 Federal and State Track Inspectors across the country.
FRA Withdraws More Than $175MM From Rail Projects
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) withdrew more than $175 million in funding for four projects related to California High-Speed Rail.
FRA Withdraws More Than $175MM From Rail Projects
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) withdrew more than $175 million in funding for four projects related to California High-Speed Rail.
Mark Your Calendar: Light Rail 2025 Event Set for Oct. 1-2
Join Railway Age and Railway Track & Structures in Pittsburgh, Pa., this October for the Light Rail 2025 Conference. This event will offer a comprehensive review of the specialized technical, operational, environmental, and socio-economic issues associated with
USDOT Clears $2.9B for Infrastructure Projects
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on June 10 reported approving another 529 infrastructure grants totaling more than $2.9 billion. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Transit Administration will administer grants to 47 rail-related projects, totaling approximately $919 million.
FRA Issues Safety Advisory 2025-01 for Proper Configuration of Grand Master 4000 and 4000A Switch Machines
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Safety Advisory was issued to increase awareness of the potential for “unintended movement” of the machines. If improperly configured, the machines could allow for the presence of power that would lead to unintended switch movement.
Penn Station Reconstruction To Be Overseen By Federal Railroad Administration
WASHINGTON, D.C. –– The Penn Station Reconstruction project, for which MTA has served as the leading organization overseeing the project, will now be overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration, according to Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
To Electrify—or Not? Commentary from Railway Age
NEW YORK –– On Jan. 15, 2025, the Federal Railroad Administration released on its website the final report titled Cost and Benefit Risk Framework for Modern Railway Electrification Options
Kansas State Team Developing In-Track Measurement for Rail Stress
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Engineers from Kansas State University are working to develop advanced technology to monitor stress in tracks without physical contact.
Kansas Communities Receive More Than $4M for Railroad Crossing Infrastructure
TOPEKA, Kan. – More than $4 million was awarded to two communities in Kansas as part of the USDOT FRA’s Railroad Crossing Elimination program.
City of Lincoln and RTSD Receive $66.7MM Grant
LINCOLN, Neb. – The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration awarded a $66.7 million grant that will go toward improving two railroad crossings and intersections in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Amtrak’s G.K. Butterfield Station Receives Upgrades
WILSON, N.C. – Amtrak’s G.K. Butterfield Station received renovations as part of a $4 million project with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the City of Wilson, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and CSX.
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.
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.
Reports: Cleanup, Investigation Under Way After Bridge Collapses Under MRL Train (UPDATED)
STILLWATER COUNTY, Mont. – A bridge collapse in Stillwater County, Mont., on June 24 sent a Montana Rail Link (MRL) train, hauling hot asphalt and molten sulfur, into the Yellowstone River below. The regional railroad is leading cleanup efforts and an investigation is under way by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
FRA Awards $570MM for Grade Crossing Elimination Projects
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on June 5 reported that 63 projects will share more than $570 million in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding to address safety at 400-plus at-grade crossings nationwide. The awards for
FRA Issues RFI For Old Crossties
The Federal Railroad Administration is seeking information on “potential uses and options for disposal or repurposing of used creosote-treated railroad ties (CTRTs).” (Presumably not for landscaping, though Home Depot actually sells them