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TSB: More rail accidents reported last year in Canada

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 2/21/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation TSB: More rail accidents reported last year in Canada In 2017, 1,090 railway accidents were reported to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), a 21 percent increase over 2016 but close to the five-year average of 1,028, the board reported…

FTA: Commuter-rail corridor improvements may qualify for grants

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 2/21/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation FTA: Commuter-rail corridor improvements may qualify for grants Commuter railroads may qualify for a portion of the $73 million in federal grant funding that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) made available last week for positive train control (PTC), grade-crossing improvement and…

Trump nominates Drake to serve as FTA administrator

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 2/15/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation Trump nominates Drake to serve as FTA administrator Thelma Drake Photo – President Donald Trump has nominated former U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake to serve as administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).Drake is an assistant director of public works for Norfolk,…

We’ll stop service on tracks lacking speed controls

Amtrak is considering suspending service on tracks that don't have sophisticated speed controls by a Dec. 31 deadline, the railroad's top executive said Thursday, threatening to disrupt operations across the U.S. in a push to strengthen safety after a series of deadly wrecks. President and CEO Richard Anderson told a House subcommittee that Amtrak is…

U.S. Congress urges railroads to meet looming safety deadline

WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - The chair of a congressional committee on Thursday urged U.S. railroads and transit agencies to meet a looming deadline to install an anti-crash technology called positive train control after a series of recent crashes. "I think the American public is tired of excuses," Representative Jeff Denham, a Republican who chairs…

Train carrying automobiles derails; 2 crew members treated

ATTICA, N.Y. (AP) — A freight train carrying automobiles has derailed in rural western New York, sending up a plume of black smoke but apparently posing no public danger. Norfolk Southern Corp. spokesman Jon Glass says a train pulling 43 autorack cars derailed in rural Wyoming County near the village of Attica late Thursday afternoon.…

Batory confirmed as FRA administrator

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 2/14/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation Batory confirmed as FRA administrator Ron Batory speaking at RailTrends in 2016. Photo – Progressive Railroading The U.S. Senate last night approved President Trump's nomination of Ronald Batory as the administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).The Senate also confirmed Raymond…

TriMet unveils plans to replace oldest light-rail vehicles

The Type 1 vehicles have been operating since the MAX Blue Line began service in 1986. Photo – TriMet's blog The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) this spring will begin the process to replace 26 of its oldest light-rail vehicles.The "Type 1" vehicles have been operating since light-rail service began in 1986. TriMet…

Trump’s FY2019 budget would slash Amtrak funding

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 2/13/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation Trump's FY2019 budget would slash Amtrak funding President Donald Trump yesterday proposed a fiscal-year 2019 budget that would cut in half the subsidy for Amtrak passenger-rail service.The proposal is similar to one that the Trump administration called for last year, but…

Schumer calls on USDOT to reconsider sleep apnea rule

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 2/13/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation Schumer calls on USDOT to reconsider sleep apnea rule The senator said a proposal for sleep apnea testing was a "common-sense approach to combating fatigue on our roads and rails." Photo – Schumer's office U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) yesterday called…