Railroad News

Metra this week began several major projects as part of its 2020 construction program that will continue through the fall.

Commuter-rail service reductions related to the COVID-19 pandemic have enabled Metra to get an early start on its construction program, Metra officials said in a press release. 

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) board on April 2 will vote on the agency’s fiscal-year 2021 budget, which proposes expanded rail service hours and fare adjustments.

The board will vote on fare and service changes for its Metrorail system including:

Transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation between the United States and Canada and Mexico rose 1.5 percent to $97.1 billion worth of goods in January compared with January 2019 levels, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported last week.

Rail, the second-most used mode, moved $13.4 billion of freight during January, a 3.9 percent increase compared with the same period a year ago. Year over year, freight moved by rail between the United States and Canada fell 2 percent to $7.4 billion worth of goods; freight moved by rail between the United States and Mexico rose 12 percent to $6 billion, according to a BTS press release.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit's (DART) board last week approved reimbursement funds for a grade crossing project in Carrollton, Texas. 

Carrollton officials chose to seek reimbursement from DART for part of a $1.4 million project to install automatic gates, wayside flashers, medians and warning devices at 11 crossings along the BNSF Railway Co. corridor between the city’s northern border and Josey Lane.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is soliciting competitive grant applications from universities for four new Tier 1 University Transportation Centers (UTC) program.

The USDOT will award $4.9 million in grants under the program. The UTCs will support research needs that the department has identified under two priorities: promoting safety and improving mobility of people and goods, department officials announced in a press release.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) crews in May will begin a track replacement project near the train station in Orinda, California. 

Crews will replace four mainline switches and other critical railway components, some of which are more than 40 years old, BART officials said in a press release.

Texas Central officials expect to receive federal approval this summer for construction of its Dallas-to-Houston bullet train proposal, however the project's timeline could be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, company officials announced late last week.

The company is ready to begin the first phase of construction of its privately funded and operated high-speed rail line once global financial markets stabilize and the federal process is completed. Many of its project partners are based in Europe and Japan, Texas Central Chief Executive Officer Carlos Aguilar said in a press release.

Caltrain in April will begin testing its first seven-car electrified trainset at the Stadler Rail manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City.

The action will mark the start of two months of testing, Caltrain’s latest project newsletter reported last week.

The Canadian government today implemented new requirements for intercity passenger-rail companies to follow to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Under the new measures, intercity passenger railroads are required to screen passengers for COVID-19 symptoms before they board a train, and refuse riders who present those symptoms from boarding.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued some temporary regulatory relief to railroads so that they can respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FRA announced the decision last week after the Association of American Railroads, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) and the American Public Transportation Association petitioned the agency seeking relief.

Trinity Industries Inc. has realigned responsibilities for some of its most senior executives, effective April 1. Under the changes, Eric Marchetto has been appointed chief financial officer, succeeding Melendy Lovett, who will return to her previous position as chief administrative officer. W. Relle Howard, currently vice president and CAO, will return to his previous role as chief information officer. Trinity also discounted the role of TrinityRail group president. The realignment is part of Trinity transitioning its business model from a holding company structure to an operating structure, Trinity officials said in a press release. 

Abloy USA introduced a new channel partner program that is designed to help security integrators expand their product solutions in critical infrastructure markets. The program serves to support the needs of critical infrastructure end user customers, such as railroads. It also supports the sales expansion and growth objectives of security systems integrators who assist those railroads. Under the program, partners will be offered training, incentives, support and co-marketing opportunities.

The American Council of Engineering Cos. (ACEC) awarded the joint venture responsible for designing the first stage of the Confederation light-rail line in Ottawa, Ontario, for exemplary engineering achievement. 

The joint venture — which consists of STV Inc., AECOM, Morrison Hershfield and McMillen Jacobs Associates — was credited as the first conversion of an exclusive bus rapid transit system into a light-rail system in North America, ACEC said in a press release.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) on April 1 will begin construction on the East 79th Street Station.

The $10 million project calls for redesigning the Red Line station to include ramps and stairs, an upgraded pedestrian track crossing and a new entry plaza. 

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) earlier this week canceled its Rail Conference and International Rail Rodeo for 2020, as transit-rail agencies deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their operations.

The events were scheduled to be held June 14-17 and June 11-14, respectively, in San Francisco.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report on the derailment of a CSX high-hazard flammable key train in Draffin, Kentucky, last month.

The train, carrying denatured ethanol, derailed at 6:54 a.m. Feb. 13 in the CSX Kingsport Subdivision along a hillside adjacent to the Russell Fork River. The engineer and conductors sustained minor injuries, the NTSB report stated.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) yesterday implemented a reduced service schedule across its system to adapt to falling ridership as riders stay home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

According to the announcement, MTA New York City Transit's (NYCT) B, W, and Z subway lines will be suspended Monday through Friday; MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) as of March 27 will run 240 fewer weekday trains; and MTA Metro-North Railroad service as of March 27 will be reduced by 50 percent to 424 trains.


The Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) last week allocated $19,900 from its Grade Crossing Protective Fund to pay for safety improvements at a grade crossing in Newport, Washington. 

The funds will be used to install an accessible pedestrian surface at a crossing located at the intersection of Pine Street and Pend Oreille Valley Railroad tracks. The project must be completed by Dec. 31.