MBTA says new Orange, Red Line cars are now exceeding requirements

Rapid transit train operates on open-air track with city skyline in distance

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s issues with new rapid-transit equipment built by China’s CRRC have eased, CEO Phillip Eng said last week, with the equipment now arriving on the revised schedule developed earlier this year and performing reliably. “Just last month was the first month they were required to deliver three married pairs, […]

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Pennsylvania governor’s move averts SEPTA fare increase, service cuts

SEPTA train near sunset with Philadelphia skyline in background

  PHILADELPHIA — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced he would transfer $153 million in federal highway funds to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, a move he said would avert “critically damaging service cuts and fare increases ahead of our next state budget.” In a Friday, Nov. 22, announcement, Shapiro noted recent highway-repair efforts before saying, […]

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Truck goes off overpass, hits and derails CN train in Winnipeg

Canadian National logo

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — A semi truck went off an overpass and struck a Canadian National train today (Friday, Nov. 22) in Winnipeg, sending the truck’s driver to the hospital and derailing an unknown number of railcars. “It appears the semi hit the train,” Winnipeg police spokeswoman Dani McKinnon told the Winnipeg Free Press. “There is […]

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Amtrak restores most Empire Service through March 2

Train at large station with covered walkways

NEW YORK — Amtrak has agreed to restore most of the Empire Service between New York City and upstate New York through March 2 following requests from Gov. Kathy Hochul and part of the state’s congressional delegation, the passenger operator has announced. Beginning Dec. 2, the Adirondack and Maple Leaf will again operate as separate […]

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“F” stands for Front

A close-up image of the side of a yellow and black disel switch engine, showing the letter F stenciled on the frame

If you look closely at a diesel locomotive, you’ll see the letter “F” stenciled near the stairs. As obvious as it seems, the “F” stands for Front, and it’s required under the Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards section of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Title 49 CFR Part 229.11 reads, “The letter “F” shall be […]

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Rail labor seeks regulations to protect workers from technological advancements

A train passes through a tall, gray, open-ended shed

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, the umbrella group that includes all railroad labor unions, today urged Congress and federal regulators to protect workers whose jobs are affected by the rollout of automated and autonomous railroad technology. In a broadside against technological advances — including automated track and train inspection systems, automated […]

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CRISI grant to enhance wheel bearing monitoring with integrated wayside, on-board tech

Close-up of wheel sensor device

WASHINGTON — The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen is joining forces with rail tech company Hum Industrial Technology Inc. and the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley’s Center for Railway Safety, to research and develop technology to enhance wheel bearing condition monitoring. The project will integrate railcar sensors with wayside infrastructure capable of transmitting wheel […]

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Two arrested in derailment of Union Pacific train

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

BARTONVILLE, Ill. — Two Bartonville men were arrested Monday for allegedly derailing a Union Pacific locomotive, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office announced. Caleb Finley, 18, and Jimmy Johnson, 20, were arrested for criminal damage to property, criminal trespass to property, reckless conduct, and placing an object on railroad tracks, the Sheriff’s Office said in a […]

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BNSF reports record agricultural shipments in October

FORT WORTH, Texas — Federal regulators this summer questioned whether BNSF Railway would be ready to handle this year’s fall harvest. Today the railway reported that it carried a record level of agricultural traffic last month, with ag volume and velocity both up 7% from last year. “We at BNSF are proud to support the […]

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