Four Amtrak board nominees to be questioned at Senate hearing

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee will hold a confirmation hearing tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept. 11) for four nominees to the Amtrak board of directors. The hearing will take place in Room 253 of the Russell Office building and will be live-streamed on the committee’s website starting at 10 a.m. Eastern. Written testimony from the […]

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No deal for planned Brightline station in Stuart, Florida

Passenger train at grade crossing

STUART, Fla. – Nearly six months after its March 4 ceremony, announcing a new intermediate station to be constructed in downtown Stuart, Brightline is now heading back to the drawing board. The TC Palm newspaper reported a city commissioners meeting on Sept. 9 to rescind both its ground lease and interlocal agreements with the passenger […]

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The future of the locomotive

A black and orange trimmed locomotive

Predicting the future is tricky business. Circumstances can change at the drop of a hat, opening up previously unforeseen possibilities. However, with analysis and careful guesswork, a prediction can be made. With that in mind, let us examine the future of the locomotive on the U.S. rail network. The current state of railroading To predict […]

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In remarks to regulators, rail shippers reveal preference for trucks

WASHINGTON — More regulatory oversight is needed to keep rail volumes from shifting to trucks and limiting the railroads’ growth potential, rail customers have told the Surface Transportation Board. Their testimony, along with that of railroads, unions, industry consultants and others, has been filed with STB ahead of a two-day hearing at the agency next […]

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Los Angeles light rail project gains $893 million in federal funding

Illustration of light rail train running in street

WASHINGTON — The Federal Transit Administration on Friday signed a $893.3 million grant agreement for LA Metro’s planned light rail line in the San Fernando Valley. The 6.7-mile, $3.57 billion East San Fernando Valley Light Rail project will largely follow Van Nuys Boulevard, and connect the bus rapid transit Orange Line to two Metrolink lines, […]

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OmniTRAX becomes partner in Arizona commerce park

DENVER — Shortline holding company OmniTRAX has acquired Central Arizona Commerce Park’s rail infrastructure and remaining park acreage. With the acquisition, OmniTRAX becomes the exclusive infrastructure partner of the 679-acre industrial park located in Casa Grande, which is midway between Phoenix and Tucson. This move marks OmniTRAX’s third rail transaction in the past six months […]

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