Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
August 15, 2022
Federal RAISE Grant Provides $12 Million MDOT MTA Investment for Baltimore Transportation Hub
The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) has been awarded a $6 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) 2022 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program. The grant will assist the $12 million Building Baltimore Penn Station Connections project to improve access in and around Baltimore’s Penn Station.
August 15, 2022
MBTA Releases Diversion Plan Ahead of Orange Line Closure Beginning August 19
The MBTA released the Rider’s Guide to Planning Ahead as the T prepares for a 30-day full closure of the Orange Line from Oak Grove to Forest Hills stations beginning at 9 PM on Friday, August 19, and the 28-day closure of the Green Line from Union Square to Government Center stations beginning Monday, August 22.
August 12, 2022
Norfolk Southern Issues Environmental, Social, and Governance Report
Norfolk Southern Corporation released its 15th annual Environmental, Social, and Governance report. The 2022 report highlights the company’s progress reducing its environmental impact, creating a culture of inclusion, investing in its people, strengthening governance practices, and helping customers achieve their sustainability goals.
August 11, 2022
Amtrak Penn Station New York Improvements
Amtrak has started work on an accessibility improvement project to the 7th Avenue and 32nd Street entrance at New York Penn Station, taking advantage of adjacent private investments to improve the customer experience in this critical station entrance. The project will add an elevator to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and ease the path of travel for passengers who have wheeled luggage, strollers, and other heavy items. Work is also being done to widen this entrance and replace the stairs and the two existing escalators with three transit-grade escalators.
August 11, 2022
Rail Traffic for the Week Ending August 6, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 6, 2022. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 496,526 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.6 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending August 6 were 230,573 carloads, down 1.6 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 265,953 containers and trailers, down 3.4 percent compared to 2021.
August 10, 2022
New Crown Class Seating Available on Lehigh Gorge Trains in Jim Thorpe
An updated passenger coach has been added to the Lehigh Gorge trains in Jim Thorpe, PA. Coach number 450, “The Pagoda”, is named after the famous Reading Pagoda found just south of the City of Reading.
August 9, 2022
Patriot Rail to Acquire Pioneer Lines, Enhancing Rail Shipper Capabilities for Customers
Patriot Rail Company LLC announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Denver-based Pioneer Lines, Inc., a railroad holding company operating 15 short line railroads across 12 states, from BRX Transportation Holdings.
August 8, 2022
KCS, CP, GATX, Local Rotary Clubs and NASCO Launch 60,000 Tree Challenge North American Boxcar Tour to Help Save the Monarch Butterfly
Kansas City Southern (KCS), Canadian Pacific, Monterrey Metropolitan Rotary Club (Rotary) and NASCO announced the launch of the Save the Monarch Butterfly 60,000 Tree Challenge North American Boxcar Tour to raise $100,000 USD. The funds raised will be used to plant 60,000 oyamel trees at El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Michoacán, Mexico to help reestablish the monarch population. This past week, the Monarch Mariposa Boxcar rolled out of the GATX shop in Hearne, Texas.
August 8, 2022
Direct Amtrak Service to New York State Fair
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, in conjunction with Amtrak and New York State Department of Transportation, today announced the resumption of direct train service this summer to and from the Empire State’s largest annual event – the Great New York State Fair. As part of their 20-year partnership, Amtrak customers and Fair visitors can combine the benefits of traveling sustainably and experiencing the best in New York State entertainment and agriculture with fun games, delicious food and one-of-a-kind exhibits. Tickets are available now at Amtrak.com, via the Amtrak mobile app, at station ticket counters or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL for travel between Wednesday, August 24 and Monday, September 5.
August 5, 2022
Collective Agreements Between VIA Rail and Unifor Ratified
Following the tentative agreements reached on July 12, 2022, VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) is pleased to announce the ratification of the collective agreements for some 2,400 VIA Rail employees working in its stations, on board its trains, in its maintenance centres, the VIA Customer Centre, and administrative offices.
