Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts published in May 2018

Court ruling authorizes Carload Express to operate Pennsylvania short lines

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 5/8/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation Court ruling authorizes Carload Express to operate Pennsylvania short lines Carload Express officials say the court's ruling means the company is authorized to operate five short lines in Pennsylvania. Photo – carloadexpress.com [Editor's note: This story was updated at 1:48 p.m.…

NJ Transit to reduce trains to try and meet safety deadline

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Transit said Thursday it will reduce its train service over the next several months as it tries to install a federally mandated safety system by a Dec. 31 deadline. Last week, the Federal Railroad Administration sent a letter expressing concern that NJ Transit, the nation's third-largest transit system, would…

APTA leaders question Trump plan to cut funds for transit capital projects

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 3/20/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation APTA leaders question Trump plan to cut funds for transit capital projects APTA President and CEO Paul Skoutelas Photo – APTA [Editor's note: This story was updated with new figures from APTA at 3:45 p.m. today.] President Donald Trump's proposed funding…

Begeman officially becomes STB chair

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 3/21/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation Begeman officially becomes STB chair STB Chairwoman Ann Begeman Photo – stb.gov President Donald Trump has designated Ann Begeman as chair of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), the White House announced yesterday.Begeman, a Republican, is serving her second five-year term on…

FRA: PTC operating on 56 percent freight route miles

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 3/21/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation FRA: PTC operating on 56 percent freight route miles FRA Administrator Ronald Batory Photo – fra.dot.gov Positive train control (PTC) systems are operating on about 56 percent of freight railroads' route miles that are required to be governed by PTC systems,…

CN to purchase 350 lumber cars

"CN needs to and will do better moving lumber to market," said JJ Ruest, CN's interim CEO. Photo – CN CN announced today it will buy 350 centerbeam cars to meet a growing demand from lumber-producing customers across the Class I's network.The new, 73-foot riserless centerbeams will have a maximum load capacity of 286,000 pounds…

UP to repower locomotives to cut emissions in California

Union Pacific Railroad is partnering with two California air management districts to repower 10 low-horsepower diesel-electric locomotives into new Tier 4 switchers for its yard-switching locomotive fleet starting in fall.The new switchers will reduce particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen emissions by more than 90 percent during operations when compared to older locomotives, UP officials…

Metra breaks ground on mechanical shops expansion

The 49th Street shop houses Metra's rail-car rehabilitation program. Photo – Julie Sneider Metra yesterday kicked off a $29.4 million renovation and expansion of the mechanical shops that house its rail-car and locomotive rehab programs.Expected to take nearly two years to complete, the project calls for expanding the 49th Street coach shop, as well as…

BNSF addresses STB’s service concerns

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 3/27/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation BNSF addresses STB's service concerns BNSF Railway Co.'s $3.3 billion capital investment plan will put the railroad in a position to meet customers' growth and service expectations this year, President and Chief Executive Officer Carl Ice told the Surface Transportation Board…