WASHINGTON — A Chicago Transit Authority train was in an emergency brake application when it struck a snow removal machine last month, according to the preliminary report released today (Tuesday, Dec. 12) by the National Transportation Safety Board. While preliminary reports set basic facts of an accident and do not determine cause of an incident, […]
WASHINGTON — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has released a budget for the fiscal year beginning in July 2024 that calls for drastic cuts to rail and bus service unless money can be found to address an operating deficit of $750 million — roughly 25% of the current budget. The proposed budget will include […]
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cheyenne’s mayor has launched a new group to aid in efforts to bring passenger rail service back to Wyoming’s largest city. Mayor Patrick Collins announced creation of the 10-member Cheyenne Passenger Rail Commission on Monday, saying the group’s first meeting is set for this Friday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m. It will […]
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern Railroad announced today it has moved one million tons of coal this year, reaching that long-sought goal for the first time in its 33-year history. The milestone reinforces the “Road of Anthracite” slogan adopted by owner and CEO Andy Muller since launching the railroad with an initial […]
OTTAWA, Ontario — The Canadian government has announced new rules regarding rail air brake inspection and maintenance, to take effect Dec. 1, 2025. The new changes to the federal Railway Freight and Passenger Train Brake Inspection and Safety Rules, announced on Friday, Dec. 8, require railroads to: — Perform more robust brake inspections for heavy […]
CHICAGO — In a rarity on a number of fronts, Metra operated a special train today (Sunday, Dec. 10) for members of Congress between Chicago Union Station and the O’Hare Airport station on the North Central Service line. The train, using one of Metra’s decorated holiday train sets generally led by F40PH-3 No. 104, the […]
President Joe Biden and passenger rail advocates on Friday hailed announcement of two major Federal Railroad Administration programs — one providing $8.2 billion in grants for construction of passenger-focused projects [see “FRA announces $8.2 billion in Federal-State Partnership passenger grants,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 8, 2023] and the other announcing routes selected for further passenger […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has released its list of routes selected for the first step of its Corridor Identification and Development Program, a catch-all group of 69 potential future Amtrak routes, possible extensions to existing routes, efforts to increase service on existing routes, and future high speed rail systems. Thirty-three of these routes […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has selected 10 projects for grants under its Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grant program, according to a list released today (Friday, Dec. 8) on the FRA website. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the grants in a press release that linked those awards with the selection of […]
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board is calling for backup cameras on maintenance-of-way machinery, as well as other safety recommendations, as a result of a fatal accident involving a Norfolk Southern track gang at Reed, Pa., in December 2021. The NTSB issued its final report on that accident on Thursday (Dec. 7). The probable […]
WASHINGTON — BNSF Railway will receive a federal grant for $14.9 million toward infrastructure improvements in and around Malta, Mont., U.S. Sen. Jon Tester announced Thursday. The money, from the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program, is to improve service on the route of the Empire Builder. Specifically, it will help with final […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration on Thursday announced a proposal to amend its Freight Car Safety Standards to place restrictions on newly built freight cars placed in service in the U.S. to address concerns over foreign parts and technology — rules essentially aimed at China, although the regulation does not say so explicitly. The […]
