Rail Industry News
Amtrak to seek PTC extension, will operate current routes after Jan. 1
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 14, 2018) Amtrak will seek a deadline extension from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to complete positive train control (PTC) implementation on all its railroad operations, an Amtrak executive told a congressional...
NJ Transit to start hiring out-of-state train, bus operators
(Source: CBS New York, September 15, 2018) NEW YORK — NJ TRANSIT will soon be able to hire more out-of-state train and bus operators. In the past, state law has banned the agency from recruiting employees from New York or Pennsylvania. That will soon change after a...
KCS VP Grafton sells $87,319 in company stock
(Source: www.xnewspress.com, September 13, 2018) NEW YORK — Kansas City Southern (KCS) Vice President Suzanne M. Grafton sold 729 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 29. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.78,...
Rail advocate says high-speed rail needed for Texas
(Source: Longview News-Journal, September 12, 2018) KILGORE, Texas — In six years, a new mode of travel between the state’s two largest metro areas could be a 90-minute train ride over 240 miles of Texas. Full story: Longview News-Journal
Texas Central lands $300 million loan for Dallas-Houston bullet train project
(Source: Dallas Morning News, September 14, 2018) DALLAS — Texas Central Partners has secured a $300 million loan to continue its pursuit of a new 240-mile high-speed rail route from downtown Dallas to Houston. Full story: Dallas Morning News
Amtrak testing trains this weekend at site of 2017 DuPont fatality
(Source: King 5 News, September 13, 2018) SEATTLE, Wash. — Train testing begins this weekend along Point Defiance Bypass, a rail line between DuPont and Tacoma. The Washington State Department of Transportation is testing the implementation of positive train control,...
CSX derailment and oil spill in W.Va. leads to federal lawsuit
(Source: West Virginia Record, September 14, 2018) CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Federal and state officials accuse CSX Transportation of several environmental torts in response to oil spilled from a derailed train. The United States of America, the state of West Virginia and...
CN halts ethanol rail deliveries to Argo hub in Chicago
(Source: Reuters, September 13, 2018) NEW YORK — Canadian National Railway Co has halted deliveries of ethanol by rail to Kinder Morgan’s Argo terminal near Chicago, citing congestion and oversupply, the company confirmed on Thursday. Full story: Reuters
Canada’s railways hope more trains, track and staff will void grain shipment snags
(Source: Canadian Press, September 13, 2018) SASKATOO — They're not guaranteeing improved grain transportation by this winter, but Canada's two biggest railways say they believe new locomotives, hopper cars and extra staff will make a difference getting crops to...
9th Circuit blocks California hazmat fees on railroads
(Source: San Francisco Chronicle, September 13, 2018) SAN FRANCISCO — Rejecting a 2015 state law, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday that California cannot charge railroads a $45-per-car fee for carrying crude oil, gasoline and other hazardous materials into the...
Amtrak may put passengers on buses in fight over PTC
(Source: Bloomberg, September 13, 2018) NEW YORK — As railroads across the nation race to complete a congressional deadline for installing safety technology, Amtrak is threatening to substitute buses for trains on lines that lack the equipment, triggering a furious...
10 years after deadly Metrolink crash, NJ Transit struggles with PTC
(Source: NorthJersey.com, September 13, 2018) BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — Wednesday marked the 10th anniversary of a deadly commuter train crash in Southern California that led to a safety requirement NJ Transit is struggling to meet by year's end. Full story:...
Congress holds yet another hearing on PTC
(Source: Washington Post, September 13, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Robert S. Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, has been there before and on Thursday he virtually begged a congressional subcommittee to end the habit of holding hearings...
At House hearing, NTSB chief expresses concern that not all railroads will meet Dec. 31 PTC deadline
(Source: Transport Topics, September 13, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Equipping the country’s freight and commercial trains with technology designed to automatically slow down or stop trains traveling at dangerous speeds would improve safety, the head of the National...
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending September 8, 2018
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, September 12, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 8, 2018. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was...
Aboard the Union Pacific fire train as it battles Delta fire
(Source: A News Cafe, September 12, 2018) REDDING, Calif. — I had the most amazing day. I first caught footage of this train while it was fighting the Delta fire in northern Shasta County. I made contact with the crew, and two days later, I was invited aboard for a...
Trafficker sentenced for shipping heroin, cocaine via Amtrak
(Source: Associated Press, September 12, 2018) CHICAGO — A California man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for taking part in a drug-trafficking ring that used Amtrak trains to ship heroin and cocaine to Chicago from Los Angeles. Full story: www.usnews.com
No Metra fare hike, but service cuts loom without state aid
(Source: Chicago Daily Herald, September 12, 2018) CHICAGO — Metra leaders gave riders a 2019 fare-hike holiday Wednesday but promised doomsday-scenario downsizing unless state funding materializes. That could mean eliminating stations, trains and even routes,...
Amtrak, VRE adjust schedules ahead of Florence, flooding
(Source: WTOP, September 12, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — VRE is cutting back service Friday ahead of expected heavy rainfall. Amtrak is canceling all service south of Washington Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A handful of regional trains are canceled entirely Friday. Full...
Coal exports face delays as U.S. East Coast rail service slows for Florence
(Source: Freight Waves, September 12, 2018) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Hurricane Florence will interrupt the main rail and maritime conduits for U.S. coal exports, according to Susquehanna Financial Group. Full story: Freight Waves
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