Whitewater advocates sue federal government over CSX’s Clinchfield repairs

ERWIN, Tenn. — Whitewater rafting advocates have filed lawsuits claiming the federal government has unlawfully allowed CSX Transportation to rebuild its former Clinchfield through the Nolichucky River Gorge and that the railroad’s repairs are environmentally disruptive. CSX has been rebuilding 40 miles of its Blue Ridge Subdivision between Erwin, Tenn., and Spruce Pine, N.C., after […]

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Amtrak marks completion of Keystone Line track project

Passenger train on newly rebuilt track

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Amtrak marked the completion of major track reconstruction and restoration of full service on its Keystone Line on Monday, capping an eight-month project to replace more than 43 miles of track between Harrisburg and Lancaster, Pa. The work also included installation of more than 113,000 concrete ties. The $122 million project required […]

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Three ports receive federal funding for rail projects

Aerial view of rail loop track at port

WASHINGTON — Three projects with a rail component were among 31 port improvement projects receiving a total of $580 million from the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration in grant awards announced today (Friday, Nov. 15). Funding comes from the Port Infrastructure Development Program, which received $2.25 billion under the Bipartisan Infrastruture Law. “Modernizing America’s port […]

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CRISI infrastructure grants make a big impact on small railroads

blue and silver locomotive

WASHINGTON — Short line railroads across the United States will be able to lay more welded rail, replace more crossties, add sidings and build bridges as a result of $2.4 billion in funding through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety (CRISI) grant program for fiscal years 2023-2024 [see “FRA awards $2.4 billion […]

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Kentucky awards $7.5 million for eight shortline rail projects

Line of people holding shovels

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Commonwealth of Kentucky is providing $7.5 million in grant funding for eight infrastructure projects on short lines, Gov. Andy Beshear announced on Thursday (Nov. 14). R.J. Corman Railroad Group, Transkentucky Transportation Railroad, and the Paducah & Louisville Railway each received funding for two projects, while the Tennken Railroad Co. and Louisville […]

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Community withdraws from talks over Lac-Mégantic bypass

Map of Lac-Megantic Bypass

NANTES, Quebec — Officials in a community on the route of the proposed Lac-Mégantic rail bypass have withdrawn from talks with the Canadian government about the project. The CBC reports that the municipal council in Nantes — which passed a resolution opposing the bypass in January 2023 — decided at a meeting on Tuesday, Nov. […]

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Amtrak service remains suspended between New York, New Haven

Electric multiple-unit trainset rounds curve

NEW YORK — Amtrak operations between New York’s Penn Station and New Haven, Conn., remains suspended to begin today (Wednesday, Nov. 13) as a result of Tuesday electrical fires in the Bronx. Service was suspended as of Tuesday afternoon because of a pair of fires, one involving a transformer fire at a warehouse and another […]

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MBTA work removes five Red Line speed restrictions

Maintenance crew working on track under bridge

BOSTON — Five days of service suspensions for maintenance work on the Red Line have resulted in the removal of five speed restrictions, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has announced, leaving just four slow orders on the entire MBTA rail transit system. Service was shut down between Broadway and North Quincy Nov. 5-10, as well […]

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ASLRRA president discusses CRISI’s short line transformation

Green and yellow locomotive with short string of cars on straight track in snow.

WASHINGTON — Thousands of miles of railroad right-of-way have been upgraded, new rail has been built, and emerging technologies have been explored since the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant program began injecting federal dollars into the rail industry seven years ago. CRISI has awarded more than $5.2 billion to […]

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