Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
July 26, 2022
MTA Moving Forward with Capital Projects
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials detailed an update to the Authority’s 2020-24 Capital Program that adjusts mass transportation needs for a post-COVID world. In a presentation to the MTA Board’s Capital Program Committee, MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer put forward a proposed capital program amendment that allows the MTA to move projects along at a faster pace, offers support for megaproject expansions and rebalances priorities while accounting for the pandemic’s impact on external factors such as inflation, supply chain and labor market issues.
July 25, 2022
LIRR Announces Service Changes as Crews Prepare to Incorporate Third Track to Main Line
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) announced eastbound service between New Hyde Park and Westbury will experience changes in August and September as crews begin incorporating the newly built third track to the LIRR Main Line by demolishing temporary platforms and completing track and signal systems work and testing.
July 22, 2022
Brightline Welcomes New Trainsets
Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly intercity rail welcomes two more trains to Orlando, “Bright Green 2” and “Bright Pink 2.” Brightline’s two trains arrived together at Brightline’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility located south of Orlando International Airport, adding to the fleet of trains that will carry passengers between Orlando and South Florida.
July 21, 2022
NJ Transit Adopts Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget
The NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors today adopted the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 2023) operating budget and updated capital plan that supports continued investments in personnel, infrastructure, and equipment to maintain the system in a state-of-good-repair and enhance the overall customer experience.
July 21, 2022
Norfolk Southern Increases Conductor Trainee Pay to $25 an Hour; Adds Biweekly $300 Incentive
Norfolk Southern Corporation today announced that it has increased Conductor Trainee pay to $25 per hour, with a minimum of $200 in earnings per shift. Additionally, Conductor Trainees are eligible for an on the job training incentive of $300 per bi-weekly pay period, provided they make themselves available to work. Applicants can apply online at Jobs.NSCorp.com.
July 21, 2022
Rail Traffic for the Week Ending July 16, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 16, 2022. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 498,899 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.8 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending July 16 were 229,809 carloads, down 2.4 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 269,090 containers and trailers, down 3.2 percent compared to 2021.
July 20, 2022
CP applauds agreement to extend Kansas City Southern de México’s concession exclusivity until 2037
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited today applauded the announcement by Kansas City Southern and its affiliate Kansas City Southern de México, S.A. de C.V. (“KCSM”) of an agreement extending the concession exclusivity rights granted to KCSM for an additional 10 years.
July 20, 2022
MBTA Selects Contract For Red Line Yard Improvements
The MBTA Board of Directors awarded a construction contract for Codman Yard Expansion and Improvements. As part of the MBTA’s Capital Programs, the Capital Transformation will make improvements to Codman Yard that will increase capacity and enhance the overall reliability and quality of service for all riders.
July 19, 2022
Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul Announce Agreement on Financial Framework to Support Reconstruction, Potential Expansion of Penn Station
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced an agreement on a financial framework between New York City and New York state that will help fund the reconstruction and potential expansion of Penn Station and the revitalization of the surrounding area. The framework ensures that the city maintains a current and consistent level of property tax revenue, while requiring that funding for the station, vibrant open space, and public realm improvements come in part from private development. This agreement also affirms the state’s ongoing commitment to rebuilding Penn Station without raising taxes on New Yorkers or fares for transit riders.
July 18, 2022
13 R. J. Corman Short Lines Win Jake Awards for Safety
On June 29th, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) announced that 13 R. J. Corman short lines were winners of Jake Awards for their above-industry average safety performance during 2021. The Jake Awards is an annual recognition presented by the ASLRRA, a group that represents the entrepreneurial owners and operators of short line and regional railroads throughout North America.
