December 21, 2020

CN Announces Partnership for New Logistics Park in Alabama

Canadian National is pleased to announce that, in collaboration with Alabama Export Railroad, and Ray-Mont Logistics, it is launching the first phase of a new, innovative, high-tech logistics park in Mobile, AL. expected to open in late 2021. The first phase of the project will be a facility for bagging and containerizing plastic pellets.

December 18, 2020

NJ Governor Murphy and NJ Transit Celebrate Major Milestone With PTC Certification

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy today, alongside NJ TRANSIT Board Chair and Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin Corbett, Amtrak President Stephen Gardner, Federal Railroad Administrator Ron Batory, and Parsons Corporation’s Terry Fetters, announced that NJ TRANSIT’s Positive Train Control (PTC) system has been certified by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as meeting the December 31, 2020 deadline for implementation.

December 17, 2020

MTA Services Operating Near Normally After Winter Storm

As of 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17, services of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) were operating well following the aftermath of a winter storm.

December 16, 2020

MTA Announces Preparations In Advance of Winter Storm Gail

With Winter Storm Gail forecast to bring between 6-18 inches of snow and wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has activated its 24/7 Command Center to monitor the storm and ensure safe, reliable service. MTA employees will be spreading salt and clearing platforms and stairs of snow and ice, keeping signals, switches, and third rail operating, and will remove any downed trees that may fall across tracks, and attend to any weather-related challenges during the storm.

December 16, 2020

Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending December 12, 2020

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending December 12, 2020.  For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 546,209 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.9 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending December 12 were 238,193 carloads, down 2.2 percent compared with the same week in 2019, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 308,016 containers and trailers, up 11.1 percent compared to 2019.

December 16, 2020

SEPTA Prepares for Winter Storm Descending on Region

December 16, 2020

As Washington Debates Next Coronavirus Relief Package, MTA Adopts 2021 Budget and Four-Year Financial Plan

As Congress debates the next COVID relief package in Washington, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board today adopted a 2021 budget and 2021-2024 financial plan. The MTA’s spending plan assumes $4.5 billion in federal aid in 2021, without which, the Board would be forced to take drastic actions to cut service by 40% across subways, buses and Staten Island Railway and 50% across Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad.

December 16, 2020

Amtrak Operating Modified Schedule in Parts of the Northeast

Due to winter weather expected in the Northeast, Amtrak is operating a modified schedule and cancelling select services on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 – Friday, December 18, 2020.

December 15, 2020

MBTA Control Board Approves Short-Term Service Changes to Match Current Low Ridership Patterns

The MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) approved a series of revised short-term service changes for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) that incorporate recent public input and additional analysis of ridership. These service changes help match service levels with current and near-term low ridership demand and are for FY21 only, which ends on June 30, 2021, as service levels for FY22 will be planned during the budget process this spring.

December 14, 2020

Federal Railroad Administration Modernizes Brake Safety Standards

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today issued a final rule, extending the amount of time freight rail equipment can be left off-air (meaning parked with its air brake system depressurized) before requiring a new brake inspection, which is expected to reduce the number of idling locomotives. The final rule incorporates longstanding waivers for brake inspections, tests and equipment, while clarifying existing regulations and removing outdated provisions.