Transportation secretary threatens to block New York highway projects unless congestion pricing ends

Street sign for New York congestion pricing zone

WASHINGTON — In the newest chapter of the ongoing battle between the Trump administration and state of New York over congestion pricing, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the federal government could block federal approval for highway projects if the Metropolitan Transportation Authority does not end the tolling program. In a letter today to New […]

Read More…

BNSF and Union Pacific at odds over Tehachapi trackage rights rates

WASHINGTON — Every day Union Pacific and BNSF Railway trains battle gravity and curvature as they wind their way up and down the former Southern Pacific main line through the rugged Tehachapi Mountains of Southern California. Now UP and BNSF are engaged in a different sort of fight: The railroads have been unable to come […]

Read More…

Three unions ratify deals with Santa Clara VTA

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority logo

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority announced three of its four unions have ratified new contracts, while negotiations continue with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265. Agreements have been reached with Service Employees International Union Local 521, representing more than 300 workers in information technology, communications and finane; the American Federation […]

Read More…

CEO of Germany’s Deutsche Bahn says company needs more than $170 billion for modernization

Train in glass-walled station

BERLIN — The CEO of German national railway Deutsche Bahn says the company needs some €150 billion ($170.5 billion) to upgrade and expand its rail network. CEO Richard Lutz, in an interview with the news site T-online on Friday, April 18, said that €80 billion ($91 billion) would be used to address repairs and upgrades […]

Read More…

News Wire Recommended Reading: High speed rail, transit safety

Brightline train

Here’s your latest installment of News Wire Recommended Reading, articles available online which Trains readers may find of interest: — The New York Times ran a pair of articles on high-speed rail earlier this month, the first on the various projects under consideration in the U.S. (which quotes, among others, Trains correspondent Bob Johnston), and […]

Read More…

Former Keolis official sentenced in $8.5 million fraud case

U.S. Department of Justice seal

BOSTON — A former official at Keolis Commuter Services, contract operator of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter trains, has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for defrauding Keolis of more than $8.5 million and the Internal Revenue Service of more than $2.6 million. John P. Pigsley, 59, was sentenced on Thursday, April […]

Read More…

U.S. railroads may benefit from some changes to proposed port fees on Chinese ships

WASHINGTON – In what’s likely to be a mixed bag for railroads, the U.S. Trade Representative yesterday watered down its plans to impose steep fees on Chinese ships that call on American ports. The U.S. Trade Representative modified many of the fees that were proposed in February but had received widespread criticism from importers, exporters, […]

Read More…

Posner, Iowa Interstate honored at short line conference

Three people outside private car

DENVER — The Hall of Fame induction of Iowa Interstate Railroad Chairman Henry Posner III highlighted the railroad’s week at the recent American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association conference in Denver, which also saw Iowa Interstate recognized with two major awards. Posner was inducted into the Short Line Railroad Industry Hall of Fame, along […]

Read More…

Oregon transit agency Tri-Met warns of potential service cuts

White light rail train at station

PORTLAND, Ore. — Add the Portland area’s Tri-Met to the list of transit agencies warning of dire consequences without an increase in funding. The agency is warning that it could face a 15% cut in service beginning in 2027, with additional 5% cuts every two years after that, unless its funding is boosted. The agency […]

Read More…