Rail Industry News
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending Feb. 9, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, February 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending February 9, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 519,779...
Virgin Trains USA scuttles IPO
(Source: Railway Age, February 13, 2019) NEW YORK — Miami-based Virgin Trains USA LLC, previously known as Brightline before it rebranded itself following a 2018 partnership forged with Virgin Enterprises Ltd. and founder Richard Branson, has canceled issuing the IPO...
Penn Station commuters to get relief from crammed concourse as NJ Transit, Amtrak announce expansion
(Source: www.nj.com, February 13, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey commuters used to being jammed into a waiting area they’ve nicknamed “the pit” in New York’s Penn Station will get some much-needed breathing room. Gov. Phil Murphy joined Amtrak and NJ Transit...
Court OKs Amtrak conductor’s suit alleging 18 years of bias
(Source: HR Dive, February 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak must face some of the bias claims brought by a former conductor who alleged that she was subjected to misconduct for about 18 years, a federal district court judge determined (Garner v. National Railway...
Opinion: America without Greyhound, and no replacement passenger trains
(Source: Railway Age opinion column by David Peter Alan, February 14, 2019) NEW YORK — We are not usually concerned with buses at Railway Age, but what would happen if Greyhound buses suddenly disappeared from American roads, and Amtrak became the only provider of...
BNSF announces plan for 2019 capital investments
(Source: BNSF press release, February 13, 2019) FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) today announced its 2019 capital investment plan of $3.57 billion. The emphasis of this year’s capital plan continues to be on maintaining and expanding its network with an...
High-speed rail could still be a reality in California and elsewhere in U.S.
(Source: USA Today, February 14, 2019) LOS ANGELES — California could still bring the nation's first high-speed rail train to reality, proponents say – even if the size falls short of the original grand plans – and that could encourage other states to follow suit....
Workers claim retaliation as XPO, Verizon announce closure of facility in Memphis
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, February 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — XPO workers denounced today’s announcement by XPO Logistics, Inc. that it will be closing its Verizon-contracted Memphis facility beginning April 15, 2019. With this...
New York performed 20 counter-terrorism exercises along rail lines in 2018
(Source: Progressive Railroading, February 13, 2019) New York's counter-terrorism effort known as Operation NY-SECURE completed 20 exercises last year at rail stations statewide, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced yesterday. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Report: Fatal CP Rail derailment in Field, B.C., “eerily similar” to Lac-Megantic disaster
(Source: DeSmog Blog, February 12, 2019) NEW YORK — The only way to have a rail accident that is “eerily similar” to the Lac-Mégantic oil train disaster that killed 47 people and wiped out the small Quebec downtown is if a massive regulatory failure did not address...
NJ Transit settles $182 million back-payment debt with Amtrak
(Source: Associated Press, February 13, 2019) NEW YORK — New Jersey Transit paid $182 million to Amtrak to make good on missed payments for use of the Northeast Corridor line, state officials said Wednesday. Full story: News & Observer
Operation Lifesaver announces 2019 Rail Safety Week
(Source: Operation Lifesaver press release, February 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans and Canadians will observe Rail Safety Week together again this fall. Operation Lifesaver, Inc.(OLI) and Operation Lifesaver Canada are working to plan the observance of Rail...
Amid regulatory scrutiny, CSX leads nation in revenue from fees
(Source: Jacksonville Business Journal, February 13, 2019) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Surface Transportation Board, a federal regulator, is reviewing the revenue major railroads across the country collect from fees. Full story: Jacksonville Business Journal
BNSF VP says Galesburg is poised for growth
(Source: Register-Mail, February 12, 2019) GALESBURG, Ill. — A BNSF official said Logistics Park Galesburg is ripe for development Tuesday morning. Full story: Register-Mail
Trial tied to theft of guns from Chicago train begins
(Source: Associated Press, February 12, 2019) CHICAGO — A trial linked to the theft of 27 handguns and six assault rifles from a train at a Norfolk Southern rail yard in Chicago has started in federal court. Full story: CBS Chicago
Crash report says school bus driver stopped for train crossing prior to fatal accident in Texas
(Source: Tyler Morning Telegraph, February 12, 2019) TYLER, Texas — Athens police have released a report on the Jan. 25 fatal crash involving a school bus and a train that killed one middle school student and left the bus driver and another student injured. Full...
Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act enters House
(Source: Progressive Railroading, February 12, 2019) U.S. Reps. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) and John Katko (R-N.Y.), and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) have introduced the Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act (H.R. 1139). Full story: Progressive...
“Shocking” cut to California’s high-speed rail project solves some problems, creates others
(Source: Los Angeles Times, February 12, 2019) LOS ANGELES — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement that he intends to scale back California’s $77-billion bullet train project stunned many officials close to the project while also raising many questions about what it...
Editorial: Abandoning high-speed rail would be a mistake for California, the country and the planet
(Source: Editorial in the Los Angeles Times, February 13, 2019) LOS ANGELES — Gov. Gavin Newsom distressed some people and delighted others Tuesday when he announced that he was putting on hold California’s ambitious plans to build a bullet train from San Francisco to...
New California Gov. Gavin Newsom slams brakes on San Francisco-Los Angeles bullet train
(Source: NBC News, February 13, 2019) LOS ANGELES — California's new governor, Gavin Newsom, sharply scaled back plans to build a high-speed train from San Francisco to Los Angeles on Tuesday, saying the program had been botched and cost too much. Full story: NBC...
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