Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
September 25, 2020
Norfolk Southern’s 2020 Corporate Responsibility report highlights commitment to a more sustainable future
Customers who ship with Norfolk Southern helped avoid almost 15 million metric tons of carbon emissions in 2019 by choosing rail for their transportation needs instead of highway shipping, according to Norfolk Southern’s recently released Corporate Responsibility report. That equates to saving approximately 1.5 billion gallons of diesel fuel.
September 25, 2020
Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway Recieves $13 Million CRISI Grant
The Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway (ACWR) was thrilled and grateful to receive news that it was awarded a $13 million grant award of federal assistance through the USDOT Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program. The ACWR is a Class III railroad located in southcentral North Carolina.
September 24, 2020
Following Phase 1 Expert Panel R179 Review, NYC Transit to Begin Returning Cars to Service in Coming Weeks
MTA New York City Transit Interim President Sarah Feinberg today announced that the first phase of a comprehensive review of its R179 fleet has been completed and that the 318-car fleet will begin its return to service in the coming days. The review panel, comprised of outside experts, was tasked with reviewing previous production quality issues and incidents with the cars provided by Bombardier Transportation Group spanning from May 2019 to June 2020, and recommending appropriate steps for NYC Transit to return the cars to service.
September 23, 2020
Rail Traffic for the Week Ending September 19, 2020
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 19, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 521,956 carloads and intermodal units, down 1.3 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending September 19 were 226,687 carloads, down 9.6 percent compared with the same week in 2019, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 295,269 containers and trailers, up 6.3 percent compared to 2019.
September 23, 2020
U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces $320.6 Million for Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has selected 50 projects in 29 states to receive competitive grant funding under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. The projects selected include a wide variety of railroad investments that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of freight and intercity passenger service.
September 23, 2020
Amtrak-Led Coalition Wins Another Southwest Chief Grant
Amtrak, committed to the national network of long-distance, interregional trains, is thanking the Federal Railroad Administration for a $5.6 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant to stabilize and rehabilitate the route of the Amtrak Southwest Chief in Colorado and New Mexico.
September 23, 2020
Amtrak Provides Real-Time Look at Seat Availability
To provide passengers with an extra level of confidence and security while traveling, Amtrak has made a few updates to its website and mobile app. Now, when booking, passengers can easily see how full their reserved train will be (i.e. 20 % full). The percentage is displayed in real-time when customers search for their train.
September 22, 2020
“Operation Clear Track” Goes Virtual For Largest Rail Safety Program In The U.S. And Canada
The Amtrak Police Department, Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI), first responders and railroads across the U.S. and Canada are delivering virtual simultaneous rail safety messages as part of “Operation Clear Track,” the single largest rail safety education initiative across the U.S. and Canada during Rail Safety Week, September 21-27.
September 21, 2020
New York City Transit Interim President Sarah Feinberg Issues Update on A Train Incident at 14 St.
NYPD is actively investigating the incident in which a northbound eight-car train came into contact with debris on the tracks at approximately 8:17 a.m. at 14th St., on August 20, 2020. At this time, the cause of the incident appears to be an act of vandalism.
September 18, 2020
Government of Canada announces ongoing investments to improve railway safety
The Government of Canada is committed to keeping Canadians safe by improving rail safety and increasing public awareness and confidence in Canada’s rail transportation system. The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau, announced funding of more than $25 million over three years for the Rail Safety Improvement Program.
