Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
August 30, 2022
Freight Railroads Reach Tentative Agreements with Three Unions
The nation’s freight railroads have reached tentative agreements with the Transportation Communications Union/IAM, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Together, these unions represent more than 15,000 rail employees.
August 30, 2022
Ridership on Amtrak’s Virginia Routes Hits All-Time High
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) and Amtrak announced today that ridership on its state-supported trains hit an all-time high in July with more than 110,000 passengers traveling. This is an increase of 28.9 percent over June of 2022 and an increase of 19.8 percent over pre-pandemic ridership in July of 2019.
August 29, 2022
National Agreement Negotiations Continue
On Monday, August 22, the SMART TD and BLET, along with the other remaining United Rail Unions, met with the Rail Carriers via Zoom to determine if PEB 250’s recommendations could serve as a basis for a tentative agreement. In-person meetings were then held on Thursday and Friday in Chicago, Illinois. Unfortunately, the meetings did not result in any tentative agreement language that operating crafts would accept, or that could be presented to our members for ratification.
August 26, 2022
GCRTA Awarded $11.5 Million from Two ODOT Transit Funding Programs
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) announced today the award of $11.5 million from two ODOT transit funding programs. The first award of $8 million will go towards GCRTA’s Rail Car Replacement Program. That funding comes from ODOT’s Ohio Transit Partnership Program (OTP2).
August 24, 2022
Rail Traffic for the Week Ending August 20, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 20, 2022. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 501,548 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.1 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending August 20 were 237,404 carloads, up 2.9 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 264,144 containers and trailers, down 2.4 percent compared to 2021.
August 23, 2022
MBTA Green Line E Branch 16-Day Closure Successfully Completed, E Branch Service to Resume Early
The MBTA had announced that Green Line E Branch service resumed August 21, earlier than previously scheduled following the successful completion of track and Green Line Train Protection System (GLTPS) work during a 16-day closure along the line. As part of the MBTA’s Capital Programs, the Capital Transformation team has delivered improved safety and service reliability to Green Line riders with crews having replaced over 2,750 feet of track, two pieces of special track work, and installed wayside equipment across the branch.
August 22, 2022
Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 Inspection Completed
The Virginia Museum of Transportation is pleased to announce that this week, 611 Engine Crew members supported by CMO Scott Lindsay and Strasburg Rail Road have been hard at work completing the engine’s fifth annual FRA inspection.
August 22, 2022
Amtrak Releases FY21 Sustainability Report:
Amtrak released its FY21 Sustainability Report that showcases sustainability projects across Amtrak’s regions and operations. Throughout the report are details of Amtrak’s measured progress against annual and long-term sustainability goals that encompass greenhouse gas emissions, diesel fuel and electricity usage.
August 19, 2022
New SEPTA Regional Rail Schedules
SEPTA is advising customers that some changes are being made to Regional Rail schedules starting this weekend. New timetables will go into effect on Sunday, August 21. This schedule includes the extension of service to Wawa Station on the Media/Wawa Line, with early-morning inbound, late-night outbound, and express trips
August 18, 2022
Biden Administration, USDOT Announce Over $233 Million in Grants to Upgrade Intercity Passenger Rail Service
The U.S. Department of Transportation today awarded over $233 million to 11 projects in 8 states to improve and modernize vital intercity passenger rail service. Funded by the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program (Partnership Program), these investments will help replace bridges and tunnels along the Northeast Corridor in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut, each of which is more than 100 years old. Additional funds will increase the safety, reliability, and sustainability of rail infrastructure in California, Michigan, and Massachusetts and make needed improvements to the busiest train station in the Midwest: Chicago Union Station.
