NEW YORK — Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have approved a $230 million, multi-year program to address track and rolling stock issues for the Port Authority Trans Hudson, or PATH, rail system, NJ.com reports. Commissioners voted 12-0 to approve the state-of-good-repair projects at their Tuesday, Nov. 21, meeting. The […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
FRA issues safety advisory urging railroads to be prepared for nasty weather
WASHINGTON — Railroading is an outdoor sport, and the Federal Railroad Administration is encouraging railroads to step up their play in bad weather. In a safety advisory issued Monday, Nov. 20, the FRA urged railroads to take steps to ensure that they take proper precautions while operating through extreme weather events, including tornadoes, high winds, […]
Mexican government seeks passenger service on seven lines
MEXICO CITY — The Mexican government has identified seven routes where it seeks the establishment of passenger rail service under a decree issued Monday, an edict that will require the companies holding the nation’s freight concessions to operate those services or accommodate government-operated trains. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obardor announced his plan to issue […]
Engineers, conductors for SEPTA Regional Rail vote to authorize strike
PHILADELPHIA — Engineers and conductors for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s Regional Rail operations have authorized a strike, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen announced on Monday. The vote by engineers was unanimous, the BLET said. The union representing conductors, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), also […]
Driver killed at Norfolk Southern Chicago intermodal facility
CHICAGO — One person was killed when a train struck a truck in a Norfolk Southern intermodal facility in Chicago’s Fuller Park neighborhood today (Monday, Nov. 20), the Chicago Tribune reports. The Chicago Fire Department reported the truck was stopped on tracks within the NS facility at 350 West Garfield Boulevard when it was struck […]
CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs encourages railroads to work together and set higher service standards
NEW YORK — CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs dished out some tough love for the industry last week while reflecting on his nearly 14 months at the helm of the railroad. The former Ford Motor Co. executive has learned a lot about railroading in his travels around the CSX system but is puzzled by the industry’s […]
Dispatching center error played part in Amtrak collision and derailment in Michigan
NEW BUFFALO, Mich. — A technical issue at a 911 dispatching center and misidentification of the grade crossing played a part in the collision and derailment involving an Amtrak train in New Buffalo on Thursday, Nov. 16, according to the head of the dispatching center in Berrien County, Mich. The incident occurred at about 10 p.m. […]
TSB to investigate collision involving two BNSF trains in British Columbia
DELTA, British Columbia — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating a collision and derailment involving two BNSF Railway trains that occurred early today (Sunday, Nov. 19) in Delta, the CBC reports. Railroad spokeswoman Lena Kent told the CBC two locomotives and five cars derailed in the incident at about 2:30 a.m. A small […]
Three injured as light rail train derails in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS — Three people suffered minor injuries Saturday night when a Metro Transit light rail train derailed in downtown Minneapolis, WCCO-TV reports. A concrete object on the tracks caused the derailment between the Nicollet Mall and Warehouse District/Hennepin stations about 8:30 p.m., according to Metro Transit. None of those injured required hospitalization. Replacement buses substituted […]
Metra, CTA set plans for holiday trains
CHICAGO — Metra has launched use of specially decorated trains for the holidays in regular commuter service, while the Chicago Transit Authority’s Holiday Train is set to begin operation on Nov. 24. The debut of the Metra trains — decorated for already sold-out holiday rides with Santa Claus in December — came on Friday, Nov. […]
NTSB chair says ‘design problem’ with brakes is factor in CTA collision
CHICAGO — A design problem with the braking for the CTA equipment played a role in Thursday’s collision between a Yellow Line train and a piece of train maintenance machinery, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said today (Saturday, Nov. 18). Homendy was speaking at a press briefing on the investigation into the accident […]
Swiss plan will significantly increase weekend passenger traffic through Gotthard Base Tunnel
BERN, Switzerland — The Swiss Federal Railways plans to begin operating 31 passenger trains through the Gotthard Base Tunnel on weekends beginning in December, while increasing freight movements during the week, the national rail operator — known by its German initials, SBB — said in an updated plan for operations through the damaged tunnel announced […]