WASHINGTON — Eighteen major projects in 11 states have been recommended for some $4.45 billion in construction funding as part of President Joe Biden’s fiscal 2024 Budget Request to Congress, the Federal Transit Administration has announced. This includes nine projects that would receive federal funding for the first time. Two rail projects are among those […]
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has named nine new members to its Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee, which advises the board on issues regarding rail movement of coal, ethanol and other biofuels, and other energy resources. Newly appointed are: — Adam Anderson, CEO of Western Fuels Association, appointed as a representative of private railcar […]
WASHINGTON — In the wake of a Norfolk Southern derailment in Springfield, Ohio, railroads should take certain new steel coil cars out of service until their wheelsets can be replaced, the Association of American Railroads says. “Yesterday, Norfolk Southern identified loose wheels on a series of cars that presents an increased risk of an out […]
PIEDMONT, Ala. — Thirty-seven cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed this morning (Thursday, March 9) in rural Calhoun County near the town of Piedmont, shortly before the railroad’s CEO began testimony before Congress on the railroad’s derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. No hazardous materials were involved in the Alabama incident, which occurred about 6:50 […]
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has reached paid sick time agreements with three more unions. The railway said today that it reached agreements with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW); the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS); and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical and Engineering Department […]
WASHINGTON — Members of a Senate committee today grilled Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw and environmental officials over the response to the Feb. 3 toxic derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Shaw repeated his promise that the railroad will do whatever it takes to make things right in East Palestine, now and over the long term. […]
SANDSTONE, W.Va. — CSX Transportation has completed removal of the 22 empty coal hoppers that derailed Wednesday when its train hit a rock slide in the New River Gorge, the railroad reports, as it continues efforts to reopen its rail line. The derailment occurred at 4:51 a.m. Wednesday when the train hit several large boulders, […]
CHARLESTON, W.Va — A bill allowing West Virginia’s Public Service Commission to investigate and fine railroads for safety and operational violations will advance to the full Senate after being advanced by the Senate’s judiciary committee. WCHS-TV reports a CSX Transportation representative testified earlier this month that the railroad believes federal law would prevent HB3059 from taking […]
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas has joined the list of states considering legislation to limit the length of freight trains. Senate Bill 271, introduced at the request of state Sen. Mike Petersen (R-Wichita) would limit trains to a length of 8,500 feet. It also requires rolling stock stored on sidings to be at least 250 feet […]
WASHINGTON — A conductor’s use of an emergency door release to open a car door while her train was operating at 40 mph, and Amtrak’s accepted practice of allowing such doors to be opened to monitor platforms while approaching a station, contributed to the death of the conductor in a January 2022 accident in Westerly, […]
BALTIMORE — Amtrak will begin early construction activity on the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program this Friday, March 10, with tie and rail replacement and track drainage work as part of its preparations for the $6 billion project. “This initial project will directly reduce impacts during later construction phases and maximize the benefits of the new […]
WASHINGTON — Reflecting another week in which intermodal traffic showed a double-digit decline from the same week a year earlier, overall U.S. rail traffic was down 6.3% for the week ending March 4, 2023. Total rail traffic was 474,191 carloads and intermodal units. That included 237,413 carloads, down 1%, and 236,778 containers and trailers, down […]
