Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
September 26, 2023
Amtrak Awarded Nearly $200M in Federal Grants
Amtrak and partners have been awarded nearly $200 million from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) competitive grant program.
September 25, 2023
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $1.4 Billion in Infrastructure Funding for 70 Projects That Will Improve Rail Safety, Strengthen Supply Chains, and Add Passenger Rail Service
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced today that it has invested more than $1.4 billion from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law into 70 rail improvement projects in 35 states and Washington, D.C. This is the largest amount ever awarded for rail safety and rail supply chain upgrades through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program.
September 22, 2023
Norfolk Southern Breaks Ground on Regional Safety Training Center in Ohio
Norfolk Southern Corporation broke ground Thursday on its First Responder Training Center. The new regional safety training center in East Palestine, Ohio will provide ongoing, free training for first responders from Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the greater region. This center will further strengthen coordination between railroads and first responders and build upon the company’s Operation Awareness and Response (OAR) program, which trains 5,000 first responders annually across its 22-state footprint.
September 21, 2023
Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending September 16, 2023
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 489,790 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.8 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending September 16 were 232,723 carloads, up 0.2 percent compared with the same week in 2022, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 257,067 containers and trailers, up 3.3 percent compared to 2022.
September 20, 2023
Norfolk Southern and RapidSOS Enhancing Safety Information Access for First Responders
Norfolk Southern Corporation and RapidSOS announced a partnership Wednesday to help equip first responders with critical information to safely respond to a rail emergency. Together, the companies will make it quicker and easier to access cargo and hazardous materials information, enable the ability to call for mutual aid, all while providing ongoing training.
September 19, 2023
Amtrak Names Eliot Hamlisch Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer
Amtrak has appointed Eliot Hamlisch to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, responsible for corporate marketing, sales distribution, network and consist planning, market research and pricing and revenue management for the Northeast Corridor, State Supported and Long Distance service lines.
September 15, 2023
NJ Transit Continues Rail Operations’ 40TH Anniversary Celebration with Employee Recognition
As part of its 40th anniversary celebration of NJ TRANSIT Rail Operations, NJ TRANSIT honored the “Forty Year Club,” which consists of 28 employees who have been with the railroad or its corporate predecessors since the initiation of Rail Operations service in 1983.
September 14, 2023
Gulf & Atlantic Railways Buys Pioneer Railroad
Gulf & Atlantic Railways, LLC (GAR) (www.garailways.com) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the rail assets of Pinsly Railroad Company (Pinsly). The transaction includes the 18-mile Pioneer Valley Railroad (PVRR) short line and Pinsly’s Railroad Distribution Services, Inc. (RDS), a rail-served warehousing and distribution business. The purchase is subject to regulatory approval.
September 13, 2023
AAR Reports Rail Traffic the Week Ending September 9, 2023
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 9, 2023. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 447,345 carloads and intermodal units, down 1.7 percent compared with the same week last year.
September 13, 2023
Brightline Orlando Service Commences September 22
Brightline announced that service to Orlando International Airport will begin on September 22, 2023. Trains will run between Orlando and South Florida (Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach).
