CRISI grant announcements continue

Federal Railroad Administration logo

WASHINGTON — More Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement, or CRISI, grants from the Federail Railroad Administration have been announced by members of Congress whose areas will receive the funding. Among the latest announcements: California grants worth more than $46 million U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) announced awards of more than […]

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Kansas announces grants for rail infrastructure work

Logo of Kansas Department of Transportation

HUMBOLDT, Kan. — The state of Kansas is awarding $11.5 million in grants for 17 railroad infrastructure rehabilitation and construction projects, Gov. Laura Kelly and Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz announced. The projects, involving seven railroads and eight shipper locations, will be funded through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s State Rail Service Improvement fund. Grants range […]

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Drone whirs through East Broad Top tunnels

Man in orange high-visibility clothing inspects drone on ground

ROCKY RIDGE, Pa. — Flying a 21st-century drone to plot the future of two 19th-century tunnels, the East Broad Top Railroad took a step forward Thursday, May 26, by revisiting its past. Specialists set up, calibrated, and flew a drone through the Ray’s Hill (some spell it Wray’s Hill) and Sideling Hill tunnels, nestled in […]

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Oil leak from derailment near Pittsburgh closes river (update)

Map showing area near Allegheny River

HARMAR TOWNSHIP, Pa. — An oil spill from a Norfolk Southern derailment on Thursday has led to the closure of the nearby Allegheny River to boating for the Memorial Day weekend as well as an ongoing road closure. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Thursday afternoon’s derailment in Harmar Township, on the northwestern edge of Pittsburgh, […]

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Federal grants announced for rail projects in Pennsylvania, Kentucky

Federal Railroad Administration logo

WASHINGTON — Members of Congress have begun announcing Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements, or CRISI, grant awards from the Federal Railroad Administration, with funding for projects in Pennsylvania and Kentucky announced Thursday. Two awards announced in Pennsylvania U.S. Sen Bob Casey (D) announced CRISI awards of $14.7 million for the Berks County Rail Project […]

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More bolt issues found in MBTA railcars

Rapid transit trainset in factory

BOSTON — Seven more of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s newest rapid-transit railcars have been found to have improperly installed bolts in brake assemblies, the agency’s board of directors learned Thursday. The Boston Herald reports MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak told the board that six Orange Line cars and one Red Line car had the […]

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CN train derails in Saskatchewan (updated)

Canadian National logo

EDGELEY, Saskatchewan — A Canadian National train derailed after striking a road grader near the community of Edgeley on Thursday afternoon, CKRM radio reports. The CBC reports the driver of the vehicle, a 57-year-old man from the rural municipality of Lajord, Sask., was pronounced dead at the scene. Global News reports officers from three detachments […]

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Family of victim sues transit agency over San Jose mass shooting

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority logo

SAN JOSE, Calif. — One year after a disgruntled employee killed nine Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail coworkers and himself, the family of one of the victims has filed suit against the transit agency, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, and a private security firm for failing to prevent the mass shooting. Courthouse […]

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UP coal train derails in Nebraska

Clean-up continues Thursday evening of a Union Pacific coal train derailment near Gothenburg, Neb. (Nebraska State Patrol Troop D, via Twitter)

GOTHENBURG, Neb. — An estimated 30 cars of a Union Pacific coal train derailed Thursday morning two miles southeast of Gothenburg, KOLN/KGIN radio reports. The accident about 7:30 a.m., involving a train eastbound from Wyoming, blocked all three tracks of the UP main line about 35 miles southeast of North Platte, with the railroad working […]

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Norfolk Southern train derails near Pittsburgh

Norfolk Southern logo

HARMAR TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Norfolk Southern train derailed after a grade crossing accident with a construction vehicle in a Pittsburgh suburb Thursday afternoon, injuring the driver and both members of the train crew. Seventeen cars derailed, with several going into a tributary of the Allegheny River, WTAE-TV reports, and a railroad bridge was damaged. […]

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