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Posts published in February 2018

Brightline steps up safety initiatives in response to rail-crossing deaths

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 1/22/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation Brightline steps up safety initiatives in response to rail-crossing deaths Brightline President and COO Patrick Goddard held a press conference last week to announce additional safety initiatives on the passenger-rail service's route. Photo – Brightline Brightline executives are expanding safety outreach…

Amtrak train carrying GOP lawmakers hits truck at grade crossing

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 2/1/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation Amtrak train carrying GOP lawmakers hits truck at grade crossing NTSB investigators look over the scene of yesterday's crash in Crozet, Virginia. Photo – NTSB's Flickr account The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into what caused an…

House railroad subcommittee schedules PTC hearing

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 2/2/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation House railroad subcommittee schedules PTC hearing The U.S. House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials will host a Feb. 15 hearing on positive train control (PTC) implementation.The committee anticipates it will receive testimony from Amtrak, the National Transportation Safety Board,…

MARTA to sign contract for new rail cars in 2018

MARTA Interim GM and CEO Elizabeth O'Neill said the contract will be worth nearly $1 billion. Photo – MARTA's YouTube account By Daniel Niepow, Associate EditorThe Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) late last week unveiled plans to replace its entire rail-car fleet.In the 2018 "State of MARTA" address, Interim General Manager and Chief Executive…

Metra issues RFP for locomotives

The railroad is seeking proposals for both new and remanufactured engines. Photo – Metra Metra last week issued a request for proposals (RFP) for new or remanufactured locomotives to start replacing its aging fleet.The RFP calls for a base order of at least 12 new locomotives or 15 remanufactured ones, with options for up to…

MTA board OKs $4 billion Kawasaki rail-car order

In December 2017, New York City Transit presented prototypes of the new cars. Photo – Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin [Editor's note: This story was updated at 1:10 p.m. CST.]The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) board yesterday approved a $1.4 billion contract with Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. for 535 next-generation subway cars.Known as R211 units,…

BNSF budgets $3.3 billion for 2018 capex plan

BNSF Railway Co. will spend $3.3 billion on capital expenses this year, the Class I announced yesterday.The investment is the same amount as last year's capital budget, according to a BNSF press release.This year's capital plan reflects BNSF's continued focus on maintaining its network as well as expansion projects aimed at meeting customer demands, BNSF…

ARCI: Mixed results for Q4 car orders, deliveries

Rail-car orders in fourth-quarter 2017 totaled 8,501 units compared with 8,671 units in the third quarter and 4,866 units in fourth-quarter 2016, according to quarterly statistics released this week by the Railway Supply Institute's American Railway Car Institute Committee (ARCI).Car deliveries in Q4 2017 rose to 13,404 units from 11,015 units in Q3. Deliveries for…

Rail Insider-BNSF budgets $3.3 billion for 2018 capex plan. Information For Rail Career Professionals From Progressive Railroading Magazine

BNSF Railway Co. will spend $3.3 billion on capital expenses this year, the Class I announced yesterday.The investment is the same amount as last year's capital budget, according to a BNSF press release.This year's capital plan reflects BNSF's continued focus on maintaining its network as well as expansion projects aimed at meeting customer demands, BNSF…