Rail Industry News
Man dies after falling down Amtrak station escalator in New Carrolton
(Source: NBC Washington, December 18, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A man who was found dead in the stairwell of an Amtrak station in New Carrollton, Maryland, fell backward and hit his head after climbing up the down escalator, an Amtrak spokeswoman said. Full story: NBC...
California senators ask Amtrak to reconsider closing call center
(Source: Transportation Today, December 18, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) sent a letter on Dec. 14 to Amtrak President and CEO Richard H. Anderson urging him to reconsider the closure of a Riverside reservation...
Editorial: Stopping high-speed rail would betray California’s future
(Source: Editorial at Streetsblog San Francisco, December 18, 2018) SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — It’s the most expensive public works project in the history of California. Years behind schedule, it cost more than 25 times what was originally promised. Full story:...
Opinion: Amtrak’s second fire sale in a year
(Source: Railway Age opinion column by M.E. Singer, December 18, 2018) NEW YORK — In follow-up to my previously published article in Railway Age (“Does the Emperor Wear No Clothes?” June 23, 2017) critically analyzing why would Amtrak put sleeper compartments on sale...
NJ Transit to meet year-end PTC requirements, governor says
(Source: Progressive Railroading, December 18, 2018) New Jersey Transit will meet all of the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) year-end 2018 requirements for positive train control (PTC) implementation, Gov. Phil Murphy announced yesterday. Full story:...
Minor Amtrak Cascades derailment almost exactly one year after DuPont wreck; no injuries reported
(Source: NW News Network, December 18, 2018) SEATTLE — An Amtrak Cascades train arriving in Vancouver, B.C., from Seattle derailed at low speed Monday. Nobody was hurt, but the timing was unfortunate: The derailment occurred almost exactly one year after last...
Opinion: Are we safer a year after Washington Amtrak derailment?
(Source: The Hill opinion column by Russell G. Quimby, December 18, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A year ago today, the southbound inaugural Amtrak Cascades train 501 derailed over Interstate 5 near DuPont, Washington. The train was traveling at 78 mph through a curve with...
Chicago rail agencies: We were never asked to halt or slow trains prior to deadly police incident
(Source: Chicago Sun-Times, December 18, 2018) CHICAGO — When Chicago police officers are on Metra’s right-of-way, whether responding to a call about a suicidal subject or an accident or pursuing criminal suspects, there’s a practice that’s generally followed,...
Ottawa to announce $1.6 billion for battered energy sector
(Source: Canadian Press, December 18, 2018) OTTAWA — Canada's battered energy industry will get a $1.6-billion boost from Ottawa on Tuesday to try to slow the political and economic bleeding. Full story: www.cbc.ca
Siemens, Alstom offer to sell high-speed train technology: sources
(Source: Reuters, December 17, 2018) BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT — Siemens and Alstom have offered to sell either one of their high-speed train technology to address EU antitrust concerns about their plan to create a Franco-German rail champion, people familiar with the matter...
Genesee & Wyoming reports rail traffic for November 2018
(Source: Genesee & Wyoming press release, December 14, 2018) DARIEN, Conn. — Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) today reported traffic volumes for November 2018. G&W’s total traffic in November 2018 was 259,900 carloads, a decrease of 12,012 carloads, or 4.4%, compared with...
Teamsters reach last, best and final proposal with Anheuser-Bush
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, December 17, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Teamsters Brewery and Soft Drink Workers Conference announced that they have reached a last, best and final five-year proposal with Anheuser-Busch, subject to...
CP Rail unveils new high-efficiency trains
(Source: Swift Current Online, December 13, 2018) MOOSE JAW, Sask. — Earlier this week, CP Rail unveiled its next generation of grain transportation at the G3 Pasqua elevator near Moose Jaw, Sask. The 8,500-foot High Efficiency Product (HEP) train features new, and...
Amtrak to meet PTC deadline in Pacific Northwest
(Source: www.tdn.com, December 17, 2018) TACOMA, Wash. — Amtrak and state transportation officials say they’ve completed installation of a new train control system that could have prevented a fatal accident a year ago today near Tacoma. Full story: www.tdn.com
Long-awaited NJ Transit reform bill sent to Governor for final approval
(Source: www.northjersey.com, December 17, 2018) BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — More than two years since a fatal commuter train crash in Hoboken prompted lawmakers to investigate systemic problems at New Jersey Transit, the Legislature voted unanimously on Monday to send Gov....
Oil companies, railroads clash over tank car reform
(Source: Houston Chronicle, December 18, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three years ago, following a series of catastrophic spills, Congress ordered rail tank cars built heavier and stronger while allowing older cars to be retrofitted to improve their safety. But after a...
Unions protest at South Station over possible outsourcing of Amtrak jobs
(Source: Boston Globe, December 17, 2018) BOSTON — Dozens of Amtrak employees and their supporters rallied in front of South Station Monday morning to protest changes to the rail company’s dining service, and the possible outsourcing of 1,700 union food and beverage...
2 Chicago police officers killed by Metra commuter train while pursuing suspect
(Source: National Public Radio, December 18, 2018) CHICAGO — Two Chicago police officers were killed by a train while pursuing a suspect along railroad tracks on the city's far South Side on Monday. The officers were hit by a Metra commuter train shortly after 6 p.m....
Group hopes private company will lead to Tucson-Phoenix rail service
(Source: Arizona Daily Star, December 17, 2018) TUCSON, Ariz. — A group is hopeful that Arizonans will see a new passenger rail service between Phoenix and Tucson sooner rather than later — but a deal for the long-talked-about proposal has yet to be made. Full story:...
BNSF makes opening statement over maintenance workers’ alleged injuries in San Bernardino
(Source: Northern California Record, December 16, 2018) SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Even as attorneys for BNSF Railway Co. concede that the company failed to safeguard some of its equipment, they argued during opening statements of a trial where a former laborer suffered...
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