Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
December 27, 2023
Maryland Transit Administration’s Light Rail Service Resumes:
The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration had announced the resumption of Light Rail service, effective December 23. Service was temporarily suspended to facilitate emergency inspection of the entire Light Rail vehicle fleet on Friday, December 8. Following recent inspections that identified potential issues with punctured conduits on Light Rail vehicles, the Maryland Transit Administration worked closely with its contractor to complete an accelerated inspection and correction plan.
December 27, 2023
Amtrak Reaches Next Major Milestone in Transforming Long Distance Train Service
Amtrak is taking a major step towards improving overnight, cross-country train travel by issuing a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) to railcar manufacturers to begin the replacement of Amtrak’s current Long Distance fleet.
December 22, 2023
SEPTA and Drexel University Announce Station Naming Rights Agreement
SEPTA’s 30th Street Station for the Market-Frankford Line and City Trolleys will soon include the name of an iconic Philadelphia institution served by this transit hub. Under a new naming rights agreement between SEPTA and Drexel University, the station will be transformed into Drexel Station at 30th Street. This marks SEPTA’s most recent station naming rights agreement, which helps generate revenue and improves the customer experience.
December 22, 2023
Amtrak Awards Three Important Contracts for the Susquehanna River Rail Bridge Replacement Program
Amtrak has selected the Flatiron/Herzog Joint Venture as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) contractor for construction of two new bridges and associated track work, along with two supporting contracts that will advance replacement of the existing 117-year-old Susquehanna River Rail Bridge.
December 22, 2023
Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending December 16, 2023
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending December 16, 2023. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 502,583 carloads and intermodal units, up 7.6 percent compared with the same week last year.
December 21, 2023
Maryland Transit Administration Completes Feasibility Study, Advances North-South Corridor Transit Initiative to Next Phase
The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration has completed the feasibility study for the North-South Transit Corridor, designed to provide better transit connections between the Towson area of Baltimore County and downtown Baltimore. The study, which will advance to analyze various options in the coming year, is part of the Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan, a 25-year plan released in October 2020 by a team that included the Regional Transit Plan Commission, the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, the public, and representatives from local jurisdictions.
December 20, 2023
Facing massive Budget Shortfall, Metro Releases Budget Proposal That Slashes Service and Increases Fares
Metro released a proposed budget for its next fiscal year that, without additional contributions from Metro’s funding partners, would necessitate fare increases and drastic cuts to service and to Metro’s workforce, a worst-case scenario for the region’s economy, quality of life, and environment.
December 20, 2023
Biden-Harris Administration Takes Nationwide Step to Address Assaults on Transit Workers
With assaults on transit workers at an unacceptable level, the Biden-Harris Administration is calling on the nation’s transit agencies to take further action to protect these critical frontline workers. Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published a proposed General Directive on required actions regarding assaults on transit workers in the Federal Register that will allow it to better assess and address the risk frontline transit workers face.
December 19, 2023
Norfolk Southern Grants $5 Million to Promote Safety, Build Communities
Norfolk Southern Corporation has distributed nearly $5 million in local grants to 330 organizations across its 22-state network as part of its Safety First and Thriving Communities grant programs.
December 19, 2023
SEPTA and FOTP Reach Tentative Contract Agreement
SEPTA and FOTP Lodge 109 reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for Transit Police officers. As a result of this agreement, SEPTA officers have returned to their regular patrols, ending a strike that began on Wednesday.
