Category: Rail
FRA solicits input on trespasser data collection request - 3/26/2021
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is seeking public comments on a proposed information collection request (ICR), related to the gathering of law enforcement data that...
U.S. railroads earn 'B' on infrastructure report card - 3/09/2021
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave railroads a B on their quadrennial report, the highest grade from ASCE for railroads ever; ASCE attributed...
NTSB closes PTC recommendations for CN, CSX, Metra - 1/26/2021
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) closed three positive train control (PTC) safety recommendations, after all required railroads met the federally-mandated PTC installation deadline on...
FRA: PTC is operating on all required rail lines - 1/19/2021
Positive train control (PTC) technology was active on all freight and passenger railroad miles, operated by 41 railroads, as required by the Federal Railroad Administration...
Class I railroads expect to meet year-end deadline, then pursue post-PTC implementation advances - 12/09/2020
While all seven Class I railroads expect to meet the deadline for positive train control (PTC) implementation by December 31, 2020, the railroads expect completing...
Norfolk Southern Makes It Official: It’s Moving HQ to Atlanta - 12/19/2018
By the year 2021, Norfolk Southern Corp. will relocate its entire headquarters from Norfolk to Atlanta. Currently, the company has 2,025 employees in midtown Atlanta....
FRA Awards $25 Million in Grants to Upgrade Safety at Railroad Crossings, Stations - 9/20/2016
On September 12, 2016, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded $25 million in grants to increase safety at railroad crossings, train stations, and tracks across...
FRA Awards $25 Million in Grants for Positive Control Implementation - 8/23/2016
On August 16, 2016, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded $25 million in grants for 11 projects in six states and the District of Columbia...
DOT Announces $199 Million Available for Positive Train Control Implementation on Commuter Railroads - 8/09/2016
On July 28, 2016, the U.S Department of Transportation announced that it will accept applications for $199 million competitive grant funding for Positive Train Control...
Surface Transportation Board Determines Rail Industry's Cost of Capital for 2015 - 8/09/2016
On August 5, 2016, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced its decision in determining the railroad industry's cost of capital for 2015. The cost-of-capital represents...
AAR: U.S Rail Traffic Drops 17.2 Percent in Week 27 - 7/25/2016
According to the Association for American Railroads, railroad traffic has significantly decreased. Compared to a year ago U.S railroad traffic fell 17.2 percent to 442,113...
AAR's State of the Industry Report Focuses on Impact of Railroads on U.S. Economy - 7/13/2016
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) recently released its second "State of the Industry Report" that focuses on the impact of rail on the nation's...
Governor Cuomo Announces $16.3 Million in Rail Infrastructure Improvements Statewide - 6/16/2016
On June 7, 2016, Governor Cuomo announced $16.3 million to fund rail and port improvement projects under the Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program. These...
Federal Railroad Administration Awards Louisiana $1.1 Million to Increase Safety at Rail Crossings Along 6-Mile Route in Baton Rouge - 2/22/2016
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded $1.1 million to the state of Louisiana to upgrade and increase the safety of railroad crossings along energy...
U.S Rail Carload and Intermodal Volumes are Down for Week Ending November 7, reports AAR - 11/19/2015
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported that both U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes were down for the week ending November 7. Carloads were...
Senate Passes PTC Deadline Extension, Confirms Feinberg as FRA Administrator - 11/02/2015
The U.S. Senate passed a short-term surface transportation funding extension that includes a long-term extension of the positive train control (PTC) implementation deadline. The legislation...
Study Takes Aim at Rail Gridlock in Chicago - 10/08/2015
Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman released a findings report on September 30, 2015, to a group of academics and rail industry officials stating that...
Funding Shortfall Puts New US 395 North Spokane Corridor Highway Project on Hold - 6/03/2015
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Acting Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau met with workers today in Spokane, WA and received a progress report on the...
DOT Agencies Take Coordinated Actions to Increase the Safe Transportation of Energy Products - 5/08/2015
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced with its agencies, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a package...
RAILS: Communication key to avoid deadly crashes, experts say - 4/24/2015
Without proper communication between the rail and trucking industry, the railroads proposed high tech safety system will do little to prevent crashes at road crossings....
Hearing on Freight Rail Transportation - 2/12/2015
On January 28, 2015, the U.S. Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing to explore challenges facing the United States' freight rail...
Minnesota Department of Transportation Seeks Public Input on State Rail Plan - 1/26/2015
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will be holding nine public outreach meetings and accepting written comments on the draft Minnesota State Rail Plan. This...
Iowa Rail Toolkit to Promote Freight Rail - 1/12/2015
The Iowa Department of Transportation has developed a rail toolkit to serve as a resource guide geared toward new freight rail users and economic development...
Quantifying Economic Benefits for Rail Infrastructure Projects - 1/12/2015
The Missouri Department of Transportation has published a report investigating a methodology to better quantify economic benefits for rail infrastructure projects. This report presents three...
South Dakota Public-Private Partnerships Result In $56 Million Rail Investment - 12/31/2014
South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard has announced a $56 million public-private railroad investment. This investment will benefit four rail projects through the State. Due to...
Wisconsin Finalizes Rail Purchase to Support Freight Rail System - 12/31/2014
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker finalized the purchase of 70 miles of rail line in Wisconsin bringing the total of State-owned track to nearly 600 miles....
Freight Railroads Sound Alarm for Chicago Gridlock - 12/05/2014
Using lessons learned from last winter, railroads in Chicago are rushing to prepare for the upcoming winter season. Railroads have added additional container parking spaces,...
Federal Railroad Administration Eliminates One of the Nation's Largest Rail Chokepoints in Chicago - 10/27/2014
The Federal Railroad Administration's High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program has provided $126M in funding to the Englewood Flyover project in Chicago to reduce rail...
Truck-Rail Intermodal Toolkit: User Manual - 10/15/2014
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a truck-rail intermodal toolkit to assist planners with relating truck and rail freight movements within...
South Dakota Prepares 2014 State Rail Plan - 9/29/2014
The South Dakota Department of Transportation has presented their 2014 State Rail Plan to the state's Railroad Board. This plan addresses both freight and passenger...
Deal with Washington Seaport to Send Rail Cars to North Dakota - 8/29/2014
An agreement between the Port of Vancouver and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture will provide a dedicated service to ship grains and other agricultural...
Investing in Infrastructure: State of Wisconsin Moves Forward with Rail Purchase - 8/04/2014
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Wisconsin River Rail Transit Commission are moving forward with purchasing a 70-mile segment of freight rail line to support...
National Freight Advisory Committee Issues System Improvement Recommendations, Moves Closer to Strategic Plan - 8/04/2014
The National Freight Advisory Committee (NFAC) has published their report to the United States Department of Transportation that includes 81 recommendations to improve the country's...
Wyoming Seeks Public Input on Statewide Freight Plan - 7/15/2014
The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is developing a Statewide Freight Plan to integrate freight elements into the Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan, expand economic...
Draft California Freight Mobility Plan Available for Public Comment - 7/01/2014
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has released the California Freight Mobility Plan (CFMP) public-review draft. The CFMP is a statewide, long-range plan with the...
Multimodal Freight Project Prioritization Review and Methodology - 7/01/2014
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has completed a study to understand the gap between the state of the science for freight project impact estimation...
North Dakota Department of Transportation Accepting Public Input on State Strategic Freight System - 5/21/2014
The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) is holding three public input sessions to discuss the designation of a state strategic freight system and the...
Missouri Department of Transportation Launches Next Phase of Missouri Freight Plan - 4/29/2014
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has begun their next phase of the Missouri Freight Plan: engaging business, local leaders, and freight industry stakeholders in...
Great Northern Corridor Coalition Aims to Improve Freight-rail Transportation from Pacific Northwest to Midwest - 4/15/2014
Together, representatives from seven states and several freight-rail constituents formed the Great Northern Corridor Coalition in early 2014 with an objective of improving freight-rail movements...
Best Practices and Strategies for Improving Rail Energy Efficiency - 4/01/2014
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released a report highlighting best practices and strategies for improving rail energy efficiency. This publication provides an overview of...
Enhancing Our Rail Safety: Current Challenges for Passenger and Freight Rail - 3/20/2014
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator Joseph Szabo recently presented the current challenges to enhancing rail safety for passenger and freight rail to the Senate...
Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Hearing on Improving the Nation's Highway Freight Network - 3/20/2014
On February 27, 2014 the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit held a hearing on the nation's highway freight network. During this...
North Carolina Receives $15.5 Million for Railroad Upgrades - 1/08/2014
The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) has paid $15.5 million in dividends to North Carolina's new Freight Rail and Safety Fund to support railroads and...
South Dakota 2014 State Rail Plan - 11/26/2013
The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) is developing their 2014 State Rail Plan to address both freight and passenger rail. This plan will detail...
Illinois Governor Quinn Opens $29.8 Million Railroad Underpass - 11/12/2013
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn recently opened the new 71st Street railroad underpass in Bridgeview, Illinois. This $29.8 million project is a grade separation project part...
Washington State Rail Plan Public Review Draft Now Available - 10/16/2013
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has published a draft State Rail Plan for public review and comment. WSDOT's State Rail Plan outlines a...
10-Mile Freight Rail Corridor Returns In Wisconsin - 10/01/2013
Wisconsin state officials have recently approved a $2.3 million grant to restart a 10-mile freight rail corridor south of Madison, Wisconsin. This rail line will...
Wisconsin Department of Transportation Awards $7.6 Million in Freight Rail Loans - 8/19/2013
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has approved four awards for freight rail loans totaling over $7.6 million to improve railroad infrastructure and support economic growth within...
Connecticut Department of Transportation Announces Millions of Dollars for Freight Rail Improvements - 7/01/2013
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) has announced more than $8 million in funding through their Rail Freight Infrastructure Funding program for freight rail around...
Canada's Largest Train Operator Says Crude-by-Rail on Track to Expand - 5/01/2013
North American oil companies are seeing dramatic increases in the amount of oil shipped by rail. Shipments of crude-by-rail in the United States have increased...
California's Green Port Gateway Project will Create Jobs, Boost U.S. Exports - 4/17/2013
The California Green Port Gateway project to improve the connection between the Port of Long Beach and the Alameda Corridor rail line has recently broken...
Los Angeles Harbor Commissioners Approve $500M Rail Project - 3/19/2013
Los Angeles Harbor Commissioners have approved a $500 million project to facilitate the movement of goods from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach...
Safety at All-Time High for American Railroad Industry - 3/19/2013
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released 2012 safety data for the railroad industry finding that 2012 had the fewest safety incidents on record. This...
CREATE Grade Separation Project Now Underway Near Chicago - 3/06/2013
The Illinois Department of Transportation recently broke ground for a Chicago Regional Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) grade separation effort including an intersection reconstruction and...
The Use of Natural Gas an Opportunity for both Railroads and North Dakota - 3/06/2013
Natural gas is currently being produced faster than the infrastructure can capture it in the oil fields of North Dakota. The excess natural gas must...
Alabama State Port Authority Ramps up Intermodal Rail Facility at Port of Mobile - 1/30/2013
The Alabama State Port Authority's board of directors has recently approved two measures that will advance the port's new intermodal rail facility. The board has...
Freight Railroads Make Post-Storm Strides in the Northeast - 11/07/2012
Freight railroads in the Northeast United States are beginning to progress on their post-Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts. Several railroads have resumed service to areas dreamed...
Rising Energy Costs May Usher in Freight Rail Revival - 11/05/2012
Rising energy costs are increasing freight rail's competitiveness with other modes of transportation. Moreover, increasing demand for greener fuels coupled with low supplies in Europe...
Port of Tampa Prepares to Unveil New Railroad Line to Boost Cargo and Ethanol Markets - 10/10/2012
After completion of an $11 million Tampa Gateway Rail Terminal, the Port of Tampa will be the first port-based rail facility in the Florida with...
Freight Train on Track for First North River Run Since 1989 - 8/28/2012
For the first time since 1989, a freight train will complete a 30-mile trip from North Creek to the closed Tahawus mines in upstate New...
How a Canadian Pacific Strike Affects Canada's Supply Chain - 6/21/2012
Canadian Pacific (CP) had nearly 4,800 workers go on strike on May 23 due to pension negotiations. These employees were forced back to work on...
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Plans to Spend $202 Million in Nebraska - 5/11/2012
Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway announced that the company is planning to spend over $200 million on maintenance and rail capacity improvement projects in...
First Train Operates Over NCDOT's Piedmont and Northern Railroad Corridor in More Than 20 Years - 3/20/2012
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has recently turned over the Piedmont and Northern Railroad corridor to a short line railroad company for future inspection,...
Increased Amount of Rail Freight Requires Cities to Change - 3/20/2012
While moving freight by rail can provide a more sustainable transportation network than moving freight over the road, an increase in rail traffic can cause...
Michigan Releases 20-Year Rail Plan - 2/23/2012
The Michigan Department of Transportation released their 20-year plan guiding the development of freight and passenger rail within the state. This rail plan identifies current...
