A look at Thursday morning rail news:
— Light rail operators on the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro Transit system told a state legislative panel that they fear for their safety while at work, and that they often witness criminal activity including drug deals and assaults, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The two operators testified during a hearing on a proposed bill calling for an independent assessment of safety on the Metro Transit system, which saw a 35% increase in violent crime and 26% increase in property crime in 2019.
— Two crew members were killed when a high-speed train derailed early this morning in Lodi, Italy, about 30 miles south of Milan. The BBC reports this is the first such accident for Italy’s high-speed network. Only 28 people were reported to be on the train when the accident occurred about 5:30 a.m. local time. Many suffered minor injuries.
— A group of Houston residents have sued Union Pacific for more than $100 million, claiming the railroad is responsible for contaminating their properties and groundwater with toxic chemicals. The Gibson Law Firm said in a news release that the suit was filed in response toa recent state report identifying a “cancer cluster” in the area around UP’s Englewood Yard.
— The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is set to announce infrastructure plans for 2020 at a press conference today, detailing work schedules and possible service disruptions on its subway and commuter rail lines. The 1:30 p.m. (EST) press conference wil also unveil a new web tool to provide commuters with current information on line closures and transit alternatives, Masslive.com reports
— Canadian Pacific set a record for January grain movements in Canada last month, breaking a mark set in January 2019, the railroad reported in a press release. The 2.09 million metric tons moved surpassed the old mark by 200,000 metric tons. (A metric ton is 1,000 kilograms, or 2,205 pounds.)
