Railroad News

Add Norfolk Southern to the growing list of railroads that have joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance.

Caltrain's Los Gatos Creek Bridge Replacement Project has been recognized with the Construction Management Association of America's (CMAA) Northern California Project Achievement Award in the transportation category.

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) has ratified a new five-year contract with CN, the railroad announced yesterday.

The agreement, which runs through Dec. 31, 2022, provides wage and benefit increases each year that it's in effect. The pact also modifies work rules that were "of concern to both CN and engineers," CN officials said in a press release.

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) has ratified a new five-year contract with CN, the railroad announced yesterday.

The agreement, which runs through Dec. 31, 2022, provides wage and benefit increases each year that it's in effect. The pact also modifies work rules that were "of concern to both CN and engineers," CN officials said in a press release.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold an investigative hearing July 10-11 on two recent Amtrak crashes.

The public hearing will explore issues involved in the Amtrak Cascades derailment in DuPont, Washington, on Dec. 18, 2017; and an Amtrak collision with a freight train on Feb. 4 near Cayce, South Carolina, NTSB officials said in a press release.

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) President Andy Byford yesterday unveiled a sweeping plan to modernize the agency's subways and buses.

Titled "Fast Forward: The Plan to Modernize New York City Transit," the plan calls for updating the subway system's signals and track infrastructure to boost performance.

CN plans to acquire 1,000 new generation high-cube grain hopper cars over the next two years, the Class I announced today.

The investment is aimed at rejuvenating aging equipment needed to serve increasing annual crop yields, CN officials said in a press release. The new jumbo hopper cars will have 5,431 cubic feet of capacity.

CN plans to acquire 1,000 new generation high-cube grain hopper cars over the next two years, the Class I announced today.

The investment is aimed at rejuvenating aging equipment needed to serve increasing annual crop yields, CN officials said in a press release. The new jumbo hopper cars will have 5,431 cubic feet of capacity.

The Réseau de transport métropolitain (RTM) officially rebranded itself as exo May 23.

The growth trend in U.S. freight-rail traffic continued during the week ending May 19, when railroads logged a 3.6 percent increase in carloads and intermodal units compared with the same week last year.

Total U.S. carloads for the week rose 1.2 percent to 261,273 units, while intermodal volume climbed 5.9 percent to 285,142 containers and trailers compared to a year ago period, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Officials announced last week California's approval of a $750,000 grant for planning efforts to connect the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) rail systems.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Virgin Hyperloop One and AECOM yesterday announced they're advancing the second half of a feasibility study for a proposed hyperloop line in the state.

In late 2017, CDOT and Virgin Hyperloop One joined forces with AECOM to initiate the study, which is examining the technological and economic feasibility of a hyperloop transportation system in Colorado.

Shortly after Huron Central Railway's (HCRY) announcement that it will cease operations by year's end, the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) on Tuesday called on the Canadian government to establish programs to help short lines invest in their infrastructure.

Earlier this week, HCRY owner Genesee & Wyoming Canada Inc. cited a "lack of necessary provincial funding" among its reasons for shuttering the 176-mile short line, which runs between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury, Ontario.

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) is calling on the government of Canada and its provinces to support programs that provide shortline railroads with dedicated funding for infrastructure investment.

There have been two high-profile shortline rail issues in Canada in the past year with the closing of the Hudson Bay Rail Line in Manitoba due to flood damage and the recently announced plans to cease operations on the Huron Central Railway in Northern Ontario.

MTA New York City Transit President Andy Byford on May 23 revealed "Fast Forward: The Plan to Modernize NYCT," an estimated $19 billion* program described as "a comprehensive plan to completely modernize every major aspect of the organization and its services, from subways to buses to accessibility to corporate culture."

Miner Enterprises has acquired DFW Grating, a manufacturer of metal grating products. The acquisition will help expand Miner's existing product line, which includes draft gears, outlet gates, side bearings, brake beams, hatch covers and other rail-car components, Miner officials said in a press release. Financial terms were not disclosed. DFW Grating manufactures bar grating, diamond safety grating and round-hole safety grating. Those products have a range of applications, including rail-car running boards, intermodal platforms, end platforms and brake steps.

Wavetronix has agreed to acquire Island Radar Co. LLC, a developer of radar-based systems used to detect vehicles and trains in rail applications. Under the agreement, Island Radar products and systems will be marketed under the Island Radar brand through Wavetronix Rail, a newly formed division. When finalized, the acquisition will enable the new division to leverage the leadership and strengths of both companies, Wavetronix officials said in a press release. Financial terms of the agreement weren't disclosed.

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) in fall will add several trains along the A, D, E and F subway lines to accommodate growing ridership.

The additional trains primarily will run before or after rush hours. The service increase will take effect in November.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced Monday that work has begun on the first phase of its $33 million Safe and Secure initiative.

The agency will begin the initiative by upgrading more than 600 security cameras on the Red and Blue subway lines, along the Blue Line O'Hare branch and at the Clark/Lake Station in the Chicago Loop.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will host a webinar next month for applicants interested in recently announced federal grant dollars to help pay for positive train control (PTC) deployment.

Last week, the FRA issued a notice of funding opportunity for $250 million in grants to help fund PTC implementation on freight, intercity passenger and commuter railroads.