DOT awards Brightline West $2.5 billion in private activity bonds

WASHINGTON – The $12 billion Brightline West high-speed passenger rail project got a boost today in the form of $2.5 billion in private activity bonds, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced. Brightline West aims to build a 218-mile dedicated passenger railroad between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Trains would operate at speeds of up […]

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FRA administrator stands in the way of brake safety progress: Analysis

Diesel-powered coal train in rolling hills. FRA railroad brakes safety.

Imagine that you’re the head of the Federal Railroad Administration. A railroad proposes inspecting brakes with wayside detectors that find 10 times more defects than carmen can see during an inspection in a yard. It’s a significant improvement in safety. Rail labor’s on board, and your own safety experts back the proposal, too. You’d give […]

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Monon heritage locomotive emerges from CSX paint shop

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX has taken the wraps off of its ninth heritage locomotive at the Waycross, Ga., paint shop: No. 1897 representing the Monon. “Here is a sneak peek of our ninth ONE CSX Heritage locomotive … another great job by the team in Waycross,” CEO Joe Hinrichs wrote in a LinkedIn post today. […]

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California state agency called on for leadership role of struggling Surf Line

train by ocean

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In the wake of a difficult 2023 for Southern California’s struggling Surf Line route, the Senate Transportation Subcommittee on LOSSAN (Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo) Rail Corridor Resiliency is requesting a formal partnership and shared goals with the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) in a leadership role. The […]

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Two appointed to Canadian Transportation Agency

Logo of Canadian Transportation Agency

OTTAWA, Ontario — J. Mark MacKeigan has been reappointed to the Canadian Transportation Agency, while Marisa Eva Victor has been newly appointed to the regulatory body, Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced. MacKeigan was reappointed for a four-year term, effective Nov. 28, 2023. He rejoined the agency in 2018 after having previously served as a member […]

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STB seeks answers for delay on Gulf Coast settlement: Analysis

aerial view of land along railroad tracks near water

WASHINGTON —The Surface Transportation Board has called for Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and the Port of Mobile, Ala., to provide “detailed information regarding the status of the implementation of the settlement agreement” agreed to in November 2022 to allow Amtrak service to begin between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. — and scheduled a February hearing […]

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Florida East Coast Railway unveils multiple paint schemes

Repainted diesel locomotive sits outside of shops.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — The new year brings two new looks for the Florida East Coast Railway. A paint scheme unveiling for employees and invited guests took place at the Class II’s locomotive facility on Jan. 18, 2024. GE ES44C4 Nos. 816 and 820 debuted in what is to be the new official look […]

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G&W outlines locomotive rebuilding and fuel-conservation efforts

Three locomotives lead train reflected in water

DARIEN, Conn. – Genesee & Wyoming’s latest sustainability report outlines how locomotive modernizations and other fuel-saving efforts will help reduce the carbon footprint of its more than 100 short line railroads. “We are committed to upgrading our locomotives and improving the performance of our existing fleet to reduce carbon emissions,” says the report, which was […]

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Customers name CSX as top-performing intermodal railroad

CSX train with orange and blue intermodal containers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX is touting its top ranking in a recent survey of railroad intermodal customers. The railroad was named the intermodal service “top performer” in a survey by the Journal of Commerce. The survey, conducted between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, involved shippers and intermodal marketing companies. Among the four U.S. Class I […]

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U.S. carload volume sinks, intermodal grows in 2024’s second week

Association of American Railroads logo

WASHINGTON – Rail traffic declined 4.1% in the U.S. last week compared to the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported yesterday. Total carloads for the week ending Jan. 13 were down 10.2% compared with the same week in 2023, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was up 1.9% compared to 2023. Three […]

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Wabtec’s Trip Optimizer surpasses the billion-mile mark

PITTSBURGH – Wabtec’s Trip Optimizer has reached a new milestone: Railroads have racked up more than a billion miles using the locomotive smart cruise control system that was introduced in 2009. “This billion-mile accomplishment is a tribute to our customers and our team of innovators,” Nalin Jain, president of Wabtec Digital Intelligence, said in a […]

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CSX trained more than 6,000 first responders in 2023

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX trained more than 6,000 first responders in communities across its network last year. The railroad held more than 60 sessions covering hazardous materials handling and incident response tactics, ensuring that first responders, contractors, and local government officials are informed and prepared to handle potential emergencies on and around railroad property. “CSX […]

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