Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
January 11, 2021
Reading & Northern Continues to Grow Even During the Pandemic
Despite the economic slowdown caused by COVID-19, Reading & Northern Railroad had another banner year breaking previous records for carloadings and freight revenue.
January 8, 2021
U.S. Transportation Secretary Announces $173 Million Grant Agreement for Double Track Northwest Indiana Project
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced a $173 million federal grant agreement with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) for the Double Track Northwest Indiana Project, which will improve transportation options in northwest Indiana, including residents traveling to downtown Chicago and South Bend International Airport.
January 7, 2021
MBTA Commuter Rail Schedule Changes Take Effect January 23
The MBTA is reminding customers that, as of January 23, 2021, MBTA Commuter Rail schedules take effect which were approved in December 2020 by the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB). It represents an increase in weekday service levels from the current schedule and provides more than 50% of weekday service levels from the same time last year, while current ridership levels are approximately 10%.
January 6, 2021
Rail Traffic for December and the Week Ending January 2, 2021
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 2, 2021, as well as volumes for December 2020. U.S. railroads originated 1,101,324 carloads in December 2020, down 3.7 percent, or 42,666 carloads, from December 2019. U.S. railroads also originated 1,334,495 containers and trailers in December 2020, up 12.2 percent, or 145,126 units, from the same month last year. Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in December 2020 were 2,435,819, up 4.4 percent, or 102,460 carloads and intermodal units from December 2019.
January 6, 2021
LIRR Crews to Perform Signal Testing as Part of Main Line Expansion Project
Long Island Rail Road crews will perform signal testing in Mineola as part of the Main Line Expansion Project during the weekends of Jan. 9-10, 16-17 and 23-24. This critical infrastructure work will require both existing Main Line tracks to be taken out of service for 48 hours each weekend between New Hyde Park and Hicksville, resulting in service changes on the Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma Branches and schedule adjustments on the LIRR’s other branches.
January 5, 2021
CN Sets Grain Movement Record for Tenth Consecutive Month
CN announced that for the tenth consecutive month it has set a new record by shipping over 2.84 million metric tonnes (MMT) of Canadian grain and processed grain products via carload. This brings the volume of grain moved in the 2020-2021 crop year to-date via carload to 14.5 MMT, exceeding the previous all-time record pace volume by nearly 2 MMT, or over 15%.
January 5, 2021
CP reports best ever year, quarter, December for Canadian grain transport
Canadian Pacific moved 31.32 million metric tonnes (MMT) of Canadian grain and grain products in 2020, more than any prior calendar year in its history, the company announced Monday. At year’s end, CP also completed its best ever quarter and best ever December for hauling these commodities.
January 4, 2021
New Renewable Energy Contracts in Effect at MBTA
Taking effect this week, two new 100% renewable energy contracts with BP Energy Company and Direct Energy LLC will reduce the MBTA’s carbon footprint and save the T over $3 million per year. Finalized in October 2020, these contracts make the MBTA the largest transit agency in the United States to be 100% renewable and result in a significant reduction in the MBTA’s carbon footprint.
January 4, 2021
MTA Metro-North Railroad Announces Opening of Major Segment of Empire State Trail in Putnam and Dutchess Counties
MTA Metro-North Railroad today announced the completion of the Maybrook Trailway, a 23-mile segment of the Empire State Trail in Dutchess and Putnam Counties. The Maybrook Trailway is a vital link in the Empire State Trail, launched by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo as the longest state bike and walking pathway in the nation, spanning 750-miles from New York City to Canada and from Albany to Buffalo, and completed last week.
December 31, 2020
MTA Announces the Grand Opening of the East End Gateway at Penn Station—an Iconic New Entrance to the LIRR Concourse at Seventh Avenue and 33rd Street
MTA Construction & Development (MTA C&D) today announced the grand opening of the East End Gateway to the East End Gateway Concourse at Penn Station, a visually remarkable high-capacity entrance at 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue. The new entrance gives Penn Station a front door identity on Seventh Avenue for the first time as well as provides direct access for customers headed from street level to the LIRR, as well as to NYC Transit’s and subway lines
