NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit has announced that the Presidential Emergency Board addressing the ongoing labor dispute with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has determined the transit agency’s offer as “the most reasonable proposal.” The union, however, cites a portion of the board’s decision that says aspects of that offer “that we do […]
WASHINGTON – Patrick Fuchs has been named chairman of the Surface Transportation Board. The appointment of Fuchs, a Republican, was announced Monday, Jan. 21. He was confirmed to his second five-year term on the board on May 14, 2024. Prior to his appointment to the STB in 2019, Fuchs was senior professional staff member working […]
WASHINGTON — A Houston-New York route received the highest preliminary ranking in the Federal Railroad Administration’s newly released Long-Distance Service Study final report, which considers 15 previously identified routes for new or restored Amtrak service. However, the report says the rankings “do not reflect prioritization for implementation funding,” but may “provide guidance on future priorities […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration will allow Parallel Systems to test its autonomous, self-propelled flatcar system on a pair of Genesee & Wyoming short lines in Georgia. The FRA last week approved the request from Parallel, Georgia Central Railway, and Heart of Georgia Railroad. In August 2023 the Los Angeles-based Parallel and the G&W […]
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — When people in shipping or logistics discuss the advantages of trucking over railroads, one of the things they talk about is ease of use. Union Pacific is working on addressing that, at least when it comes to its online portal for customers, says Kenny Rocker, executive vice president, marketing and sales. “Some […]
Developing and adhering to a structured operating plan gives railroads a step-by-step process to running their trains. The structure is required to drive long-term success. And whether it’s your daily routine or running a 23-state railroad network, having a plan is important. In recent years, it’s been a template of fewer but longer scheduled trains […]
WASHINGTON — The House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials has announced plans to hold a hearing on freight and passenger rail issues and the state of the railroad industry this Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. The hearing, entitled “America Builds: Examining America’s Freight and Passenger Rail Network,” is set for 10 a.m. ET in […]
WASHINGTON — A federal court has struck down a Department of Transportation rule on transportation of liquefied natural gas enacted in 2020, saying the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration did not sufficiently consider the safety risks involved. Specifically, the decision by a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia […]
WASHINGTON — While global transportation transitions to a cleaner future fueled by alternative power sources, North American railroads have fewer good options outside of diesel fuel. “We love diesel; we like to take showers in diesel,” joked Michael Nicoletti, a partner at Innovative Rail Technologies (IRT), at “Toward Zero Emissions in Rail: Lessons Learned,” a […]
LONDON — Hitachi Rail will acquire digital rail monitoring business Omnicom from infrastructure firm Balfour Beatty, the companies announced on Friday, Jan. 17. The newly acquired business will become a key part of Hitachi Rail’s digital asset management business, HMAX. Omnicom produces hardware and software for surveying, inspecting, and monitoring rail infrastructure, including gauge clearance […]
RONKS, Pa. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has ordered the Strasburg Rail Road to reinstate an employee fired for refusing to issue locomotive and conductor licenses to an untrained, unqualified management official. The Department says OSHA investigated a whistleblower complaint by the employee, who claimed the firing came after […]
NEW YORK — Former Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Thomas Prendergast has been named as CEO and president of the Gateway Development Commission, the bi-state agency overseeing construction of the new rail tunnel between New Jersey and Manhattan, as well as other Northeast Corridor projects. Prendergast succeeds Kris Kolluri, the original commission CEO who is now […]
