2/16/2017
Rail News: Safety
As part of its modernization efforts, the MBTA will completely replace its Red Line subway fleet.Photo – CRRC MA Corp. — By
Railroad News
Feb
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Feb
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The head of Amtrak told lawmakers a new era of infrastructure investment is needed to ensure a healthy future for long-distance passenger rail travel in the U.S.
Amtrak President and CEO Wick Moorman urged a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security to invest in the carrier's infrastructure, fleet, and stations.
Feb
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Feb
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2/16/2017
Rail News: Passenger Rail
Feb
16
2/16/2017
Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
Feb
16
2/16/2017
Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
Feb
16
2/16/2017
Rail News: Short Lines & Regionals
Feb
16
Rail News Home Passenger Rail February 2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
As part of its modernization efforts, the MBTA will completely replace its Red Line subway fleet.Photo – CRRC MA Corp. — ByThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Associate EditorTwo years ago, a series of unforgiving winter storms pummeled the Boston area. In February 2015 alone, a record 64.8 inches of snow blanketed the region.The storms had a devastating effect on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) commuter-rail system, which reported an average on-time performance rating of 33 percent that month. The agency's locomotives sustained significant damage as they struggled through the snow.While crews worked to dig out the system, the MBTA ran trains on limited schedules and even shut down service entirely on some segments.After the February storms, it took weeks for the agency's commuter-rail service to return to normal. In the wake of the service disruptions, Beverly Scott resigned as the MBTA's general manager, while Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker formed a panel to perform a comprehensive review of the agency. He also established a fiscal management and control board to keep closer tabs on the MBTA's finances.The panel's findings painted a bleak picture of the agency, known locally as The T."The catastrophic winter breakdowns were symptomatic of structural problems that require fundamental change in virtually all aspects of the MBTA," the group's report stated.Those problems included ballooning operating expenses, poor customer service and a general lack of accountability. The MBTA also had failed to use available funding to pay for much-needed infrastructure repairs and improvements, according to the report.Since then, however, the MBTA has made progress on several fronts, including boosting on-time performance, cutting costs and modernizing its system. Although more work remains, agency officials and observers say The T is headed in the right direction."We've seen a series of improvements and also different ways of doing business," says Joseph Aiello, chairman of the MBTA's fiscal control board. "The commuter-rail system is not where we want it to be, but it's significantly better than it was when we stepped in."Staying on scheduleAnd indeed, the metrics are trending in the right direction: For 2016, the commuter-rail system's on-time performance came in at 89 percent across all lines. When adjusted for factors beyond the operator's control, such as trespassers, that figure rose to 94 percent.Hiring additional locomotive engineers and conductors has helped improve performance, says David Scorey, general manager of Keolis Commuter Services, which has a contract to operate The T's commuter-rail system. The company brought on 100 more conductors over the past year.Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker called for a comprehensive review of the MBTA after severe service disruptions in early 2015.Photo – MBTA
As part of its modernization efforts, the MBTA will completely replace its Red Line subway fleet.Photo – CRRC MA Corp. — By
For this particular railroad, there's a strong connection between on-time performance and the number of conductors and engineers on hand, Scorey says.
"That's because a lot of the operations are quite manual, so it's directly affected by having the right number of people," he adds.
Feb
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2/15/2017
Rail News: Passenger Rail
Feb
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2/15/2017
Rail News: Passenger Rail
Feb
15
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending February 11, 2017.
Feb
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2/15/2017
Rail News: Passenger Rail
Feb
15
2/15/2017
Rail News: Canadian Pacific
Feb
15
2/15/2017
Rail News: Canadian Pacific
Feb
15
Rail News Home Canadian Pacific 2/15/2017 Rail News: Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific launched an awareness campaign that highlights the safety benefits of using inward-facing cameras in locomotives.The campaign includes a website, which specifies how CP intends to use the technology to reduce risk, improve safety and assist in preventing accidents. The Class I also continues to encourage Canada Minister of Transport Marc Garneau to pass new legislation that would "maximize" the benefits of such technology, according to a CP press release.In addition, the railroad is prepared to invest in and install the technology, also know as locomotive video and voice recorders, if it can be used to proactively improve safety, CP officials said."We are proud to be running the safest railway in North America, but we can always do better and having the ability to use inward-facing cameras allows us to be even safer," said CP President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel. "This is a preventative, proactive, behavior-changing tool the industry should have been allowed to use years ago." CP officials noted that Canada's Transportation Safety Board has been calling on Transport Canada to mandate the technology since 2012."This technology would be another tool in the broader package of rules, regulations and our safety management system suite – each of which protects the public, our employees and the goods we transport for our customers," said Creel. "We recognize the need to use this technology in a way that is respectful of our employees, and are committed to doing so." CP uses inward-facing cameras in 49 of its locomotives in the United States. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 2/15/2017
Canadian Pacific launched an awareness campaign that highlights the safety benefits of using inward-facing cameras in locomotives.The campaign includes a website, which specifies how CP intends to use the technology to reduce risk, improve safety and assist in preventing accidents. The Class I also continues to encourage Canada Minister of Transport Marc Garneau to pass new legislation that would "maximize" the benefits of such technology, according to a CP press release.In addition, the railroad is prepared to invest in and install the technology, also know as locomotive video and voice recorders, if it can be used to proactively improve safety, CP officials said."We are proud to be running the safest railway in North America, but we can always do better and having the ability to use inward-facing cameras allows us to be even safer," said CP President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel. "This is a preventative, proactive, behavior-changing tool the industry should have been allowed to use years ago." CP officials noted that Canada's Transportation Safety Board has been calling on Transport Canada to mandate the technology since 2012."This technology would be another tool in the broader package of rules, regulations and our safety management system suite – each of which protects the public, our employees and the goods we transport for our customers," said Creel. "We recognize the need to use this technology in a way that is respectful of our employees, and are committed to doing so." CP uses inward-facing cameras in 49 of its locomotives in the United States. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 2/15/2017
Feb
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2/15/2017
Rail News: Norfolk Southern Railway
Feb
15
2/15/2017
Rail News: Norfolk Southern Railway
Feb
15
Rail News Home Norfolk Southern Railway 2/15/2017 Rail News: Norfolk Southern Railway
NS operates six rail yards in Chicago.Photo – nscorp.com
NS operates six rail yards in Chicago.Photo – nscorp.com
Norfolk Southern Railway yesterday opened a new locomotive maintenance and repair facility in Chicago to improve operational efficiency for trains moving through the area.
NS' $9.5 million investment expands the Class I's locomotive repair capabilities in the Chicago region. Previously, locomotives in need of more extensive maintenance were transported to other repair shops on the NS system, company officials said in a press release.
Feb
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2/15/2017
Rail News: CSX Transportation
Feb
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2/15/2017
Rail News: CSX Transportation