Canadian government revises rules for winter operations, hazardous-material trains
The Canadian government has revised rules regarding winter operation and hazardous material trains, updating rules first issued in response to derailments in 2020. The rules announced by Transport Minister Omar Alghabra will:
— Define “higher risk key trains” as those carrying large quantities of crude oil or liquid petroleum gases, and set speed restrictions for such trains;
— Require railroads to develop winter operation plans specific to each subdivision where such trains operate, and to have these plans approved by a professional engineer;
— Require new technology for broken rail detection where it is not currently in use;
— Strengthen track inspection and maintenance requirements.
More information, including links to the full ministerial orders, is available here.
Virginia approves legislation creating New River Valley passenger rail authority
Virginia legislators have approved legislation to create a passenger rail authority In the New River Valley as part of the effort to extend Amtrak service to Christiansburg, Va. The Roanoke Times reports the authority would include various governmental bodies and universities to share the cost of building and maintaining a Christiansburg station. The two houses of the state legislature are still negotiating the funding the budget will provide for the new service; the House of Delegates version includes $50 million, the amount requested by Gov. Ralph Northam, while the Senate wants to provide $137 million. The cost of starting the service could reach $200 million; negotiations with Norfolk Southern are ongoing.
Philadelphia, SEPTA introduce plan for major transit changes by 2045
Officials from Philadelphia and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority have introduced a plan for regional transit that aims, by the year 2045, to have Regional Rail commuter trains every 15 minutes, subway expansion, and single-card interchange between SEPTA, NJ Transit and PATCO, among other features. WHYY Radio reports the 192-page plan seeks to create a system not focused on 9-to-5 commuters that addresses current inequities — but includes no funding plans.
