Railroad News

Nearly half, or 48 percent, of rail tank cars that carried Class 3 flammable liquids in 2019 met the new safety requirements, up from 33 percent in 2018, according to a report released yesterday by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

The Fleet Composition of Rail Tank Cars Carrying Flammable Liquids 2020 Report outlines industry-wide progress in manufacturing and modifying rail tanks cars that transport flammable liquids. It tracks the transformation of the fleet carrying Class 3 flammable liquids to be a fleet of DOT-117s, which meet new safety requirements.

Wabtec Corp. has signed an agreement with the New Mexico Rail Runner Express (NMRX) to upgrade the wireless network of NMRX’s commuter fleet, in cooperation with Rajant Corp. The order is the first for Wabtec and Rajant since they formed a strategic partnership to accelerate the adoption of wireless technology in the global rail industry, Wabtec officials said in a press release.

Rajant Corp. has developed a new, high-performance BreadCrumb® platform, the Falcon. The platform offers multiple-input and multiple-output radios, high throughput, enhanced security performance, and edge computing capabilities for third-party applications and artificial intelligence. Combined with Rajant's patented InstaMesh® protocol, the Falcon is capable of bridging Kinetic Mesh wireless networks with other networks such as LTE/5G. “The Falcon will be interoperable with all our technology to expand market capabilities for industries like rail, shipping ports, military, mining and heavy construction,” Rajant officials said in a press release.

Sound Transit today will hold a virtual public hearing to gather feedback on the agency’s 2021 Service Plan, which outlines changes and revisions to commuter- and light-rail service for the upcoming budget year.

The service plan calls for maintaining the Link light-rail and Sound commuter-rail service levels that were in effect this month.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) earlier this week inducted the late Paul Jablonski into its Hall of Fame.

Jablonski, who was chief executive officer of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS) when he died in May at the age of 67, was recognized for his contributions to public transportation over a 40-year career.

Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. (IAIS) Vice Chairman Dennis "Denny" Miller announced he will retire Sept. 30, after serving the railroad industry for 47 years.

Miller held various positions during his years at IAIS, including vice president of customer services, VP of operations, executive VP-chief executive officer, president and, most recently, vice chairman, IAIS officials said in a press release.

U.S. freight railroads hauled 521,956 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending Sept. 19, a 1.3 percent decrease compared with the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Railroads moved fewer carloads during the week — 226,687 units, down 9.6 percent versus the same week in 2019. However, they posted an increase in intermodal volume, which rose 6.3 percent to 295,269 containers and trailers.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) yesterday released its full list of 50 projects in 29 states granted funding under the fiscal-year 2020 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. 

The $320.6 million worth of projects selected include a wide variety of railroad investments that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of freight and intercity passenger service, FRA officials said in a press release.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) earlier this week partnered with social network Nextdoor to share agency construction updates, major service issues and other announcements to residents near MARTA service lines and stations.

Nextdoor is social network for neighborhoods where users verify their residence and communicate privately and exclusively with other residents in their neighborhood. The site has users in nearly 2,5000 neighborhoods in Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton counties and Atlanta. 

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) yesterday announced the winners of the 2020 Bus and Rail Safety and Security Excellence Awards, which recognize “innovative and proactive” safety and security programs. 

“These awards help to build the industry by benchmarking successful programs so other systems can implement and fine-tune their programs based on the findings of their peers,” APTA officials said in a press release.

Class Is employed 117,764 workers in mid-August, up 0.46 percent from July's employment level but down 15.45 percent year over year, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data.

Five of six employment categories logged decreases from mid-July to mid-August. They were: maintenance of equipment and stores, down 1.97 percent to 19,165 employees; maintenance of way and structures, down 1.66 percent to 29,433; executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.4 percent to 7,491; professionals and administrative, down 0.27 percent to 10,353; and transportation (other than train and engine), down 0.12 percent to 5,069.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) last week identified four rail station access improvement projects to receive a combined total of $3.5 million in Measure RR funding.

The projects are part of the agency’s Safe Routes to BART program, which focuses on improving bike and pedestrian connections to BART stations. Grants include:

Ten Massachusetts lawmakers are calling on the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to purchase Pan Am Railways' assets and freight rights along the Route 2 Rail Corridor to secure the area for future passenger-rail service.

In a letter to MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack, the lawmakers noted that under Massachusetts law, the state has the first right of refusal in the sale of any railroad right of way or related facilities within the state. The lawmakers encouraged Pollack to take action in relation to the potential sale of Pan Am Railways.

A protestors' blockade has obstructed rail tracks between Caltzontzin and La Vinata, Mexico, which has affected Kansas City Southern de Mexico's rail traffic for the past three weeks, MexicoNewsDaily.com reported.

More than 70 teachers and teachers in training have been blocking the tracks in Michoacan, Mexico, halting the movement of freight to and from the Port of Lazaro Cardenas. The KCSM traffic mainly consists of steel, petroleum and automotive products, the news site reported.

A protestors' blockade has obstructed rail tracks between Caltzontzin and La Vinata, Mexico, which has affected Kansas City Southern de Mexico's rail traffic for the past three weeks, MexicoNewsDaily.com reported.

More than 70 teachers and teachers in training have been blocking the tracks in Michoacan, Mexico, halting the movement of freight to and from the Port of Lazaro Cardenas. The KCSM traffic mainly consists of steel, petroleum and automotive products, the news site reported.

Senators and congressmen from four states this week announced the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded millions of dollars in fiscal-year 2020 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grants to railroads in their states.

U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.) announced in a press release a $13.67 million CRISI grant was issued to a project to install over 70 miles of rail and other infrastructure upgrades on the Buckingham Branch Railroad North Mountain Subdivision line between Charlottesville and Clifton Forge, Virginia.