Railroad News

Chicago's Regional Transit Authority (RTA) yesterday adopted 2018 operating budgets for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace totaling $3 billion.

The budgets mark the first time in nine years in which all three agencies' boards proposed a fare increase, RTA officials said in a press release.

The Quebec Port Authority (QPA) on Tuesday announced plans to build a container terminal that could serve as a new international economic hub geared toward logistics facilities, distribution centers and other new businesses.

The CA$400 million terminal project will include an extension of the Port of Quebec’s wharf line and links to 
existing rail and road networks. The port is served by CN, Canadian Pacific and the Quebec Gatineau Railway.

The National Conference of Firemen & Oilers SEIU (NCFO) on Wednesday announced its members have ratified a five-year agreement with the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC), which bargains with 12 rail labor unions for more than 30 U.S. railroads, including the Class Is.

Expiring Dec. 31, 2019, the contract covers NCFO members employed by BNSF Railway Co., CSX, Norfolk Southern Railway, Kansas City Southern, Union Pacific Railroad and numerous smaller freight railroads. The contract’s effective date is Dec. 1, 2017, although some new pay rates and health-care plan modifications take effect Jan. 1, 2018. In addition to retroactive and previously approved wage hikes, the contract calls for a 2.5 percent pay increase on July 1, 2018, and a 3 percent increase on July 1, 2019.

Amtrak co-Chief Executive Officer Wick Moorman will step down Dec. 31 and then assume the role of senior adviser, the railroad announced yesterday.

Richard Anderson, who joined Amtrak in June 2017 as co-CEO, will assume full chief executive responsibilities in addition to serving as president.

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board of Directors has adopted the 2018 operating budgets for the RTA, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace, totaling $3 billion.

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board of Directors has adopted the 2018 operating budgets for the RTA, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace, totaling $3 billion.

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board of Directors has adopted the 2018 operating budgets for the RTA, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace, totaling $3 billion.

The governors of New York and New Jersey on Wednesday pledged to fund 100 percent of their states' share of the new Gateway Hudson Tunnel.

The tunnel is an essential part of the Northeast Corridor that connects New York and New Jersey and is the nation's most critical major infrastructure project, according to a joint press release issued by the governors' offices.

Amtrak's Charles "Wick" Moorman will step down from the co-CEO position effective Dec. 31 and assume the role of senior advisor, starting Jan. 1, 2018.

Amtrak's Charles "Wick" Moorman will step down from the co-CEO position effective Dec. 31 and assume the role of senior advisor, starting Jan. 1, 2018.

Amtrak's Charles "Wick" Moorman will step down from the co-CEO position effective Dec. 31 and assume the role of senior advisor, starting Jan. 1, 2018.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Managing Editor

CSX President and Chief Executive Officer E. Hunter Harrison has taken medical leave due to unexpected complications from a recent illness, the Class I announced last night.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Managing Editor

CSX President and Chief Executive Officer E. Hunter Harrison has taken medical leave due to unexpected complications from a recent illness, the Class I announced last night.

On Oct. 13, Amtrak and New Jersey officials hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Portal North Bridge project, a $1.5 billion effort to replace the century-old, double-track swing-span bridge that carries thousands of rail commuters daily from New Jersey into Manhattan. For Amtrak, the ceremony was a milestone. It marked the start of construction on one of its major projects designed to improve the national passenger railroad’s deteriorating infrastructure along the highly trafficked Northeast Corridor (NEC). Replacing the Portal North Bridge is one component of Amtrak’s Gateway program, a comprehensive plan to build, repair and expand the NEC passenger-rail network between New York and New Jersey.

New York and New Jersey have reached a deal to fund 100 percent the local share of the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project originally laid out in a 2015 framework agreement, which calls on the federal government to fund 50 percent of the project.

The $12.7-billion rail project has been called the nation's most urgent, critical major infrastructure project and is along an essential portion of the Northeast Corridor connecting New York and New Jersey. The commitment to fund the local share represents $5.55 billion of the total cost and consists of $1.9 billion by New Jersey Transit, $1.75 billion by the state of New York and $1.9 billion committed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) in its 10-year capital program approved in February 2017.

New York and New Jersey have reached a deal to fund 100 percent the local share of the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project originally laid out in a 2015 framework agreement, which calls on the federal government to fund 50 percent of the project.

The $12.7-billion rail project has been called the nation's most urgent, critical major infrastructure project and is along an essential portion of the Northeast Corridor connecting New York and New Jersey. The commitment to fund the local share represents $5.55 billion of the total cost and consists of $1.9 billion by New Jersey Transit, $1.75 billion by the state of New York and $1.9 billion committed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) in its 10-year capital program approved in February 2017.

New York and New Jersey have reached a deal to fund 100 percent the local share of the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project originally laid out in a 2015 framework agreement, which calls on the federal government to fund 50 percent of the project.

The $12.7-billion rail project has been called the nation's most urgent, critical major infrastructure project and is along an essential portion of the Northeast Corridor connecting New York and New Jersey. The commitment to fund the local share represents $5.55 billion of the total cost and consists of $1.9 billion by New Jersey Transit, $1.75 billion by the state of New York and $1.9 billion committed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) in its 10-year capital program approved in February 2017.

Expanded Amtrak Cascades service will start Dec. 18, following years of planning, construction and $800 million in passenger-train improvements, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced yesterday.

Additional trains will run daily and riders will be able to use the new Amtrak Cascades Tacoma Dome Station for the first time, according to WSDOT's blog.

In October, the Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) reached an all-time high of 129.2, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The previous record index of 129.0 was set in August.

The Freight TSI inched up 0.6 from September’s level and climbed 5.3 percent from October 2016’s mark. The index measures month-to-month changes in shipments moved by rail, truck, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.