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Digest: South Dakota seeks federal funds for RCP&E line upgrade
South Dakota will ask FRA for money for $84 million Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern project The South Dakota Railroad Board will ask the Federal Railroad Administration for $22 million to help rebuild the Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern line between Rapid City and Fort Pierre, S.D. KELO-TV reports the federal money, along with $20 […]
Senate committee advances bill with major funding for Amtrak, rail infrastructure programs
WASHINGTON — The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved a transportation bill providing $78 million over five years to fund projects including significant rail components, drawing praise from two major freight rail organizations. The Washington Post reports the Surface Transportation Investment Act — the product of efforts led by committee chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and […]
Digest: Fernandez confirmed as head of Federal Transit Administration
Senate confirms Fernandez to head FTA The U.S. Senate has confirmed appointment of Nuria Fernandez as administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, becoming the first confirmed administrator in more than a decade and the first Senate-confirmed woman of color to lead the agency. “I am humbled and extremely grateful for the confidence bestowed upon me […]
Maryland’s Purple Line receives funding for project oversight, provides first look at trainsets
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A Maryland agency has approved more than $180 million for a consultant to continue overseeing contracts for Maryland’s troubled Purple Line light rail project until the companies managing the project can hire a new lead contractor. Also, the Maryland Transit Administration has provided a first look at the equipment for the 16-mile, […]
U.S. rail traffic remains well ahead of 2020 figures
WASHINGTON — U.S. freight rail volume for the week ending June 12 remains well ahead of pandemic-depressed figures for the corresponding week in 2020, and showed a notable increase from the previous week in 2021, as well. Statistics from the Association of American Railroads show traffic for the week included a total of 529,635 carloads and intermodal […]
Interiors near completion on three ‘Mark Twain Zephyr’ cars
TREGO, Wis. — After surviving 62 years in storage and seven previous owners unable to fulfill their plans for the historic Budd-built streamliner, Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad’s restoration of the Mark Twain Zephyr has turned a corner, with three of the five cars nearing interior completion. “I am thankful every day for the individuals and […]
Digest: Ruling delays closure of UP car shop in Palestine, Texas
Judge delays closure of UP car shop until at least July 8 A district court judge in Texas has blocked Union Pacific’s plans to close its Palestine, Texas, car shop at least until a July 8 hearing that is part of the efforts by the city of Palestine and Anderson County, Texas, to prevent the […]
Amtrak plans to offer dining-car service to coach passengers, return traditional meals to eastern trains
CHICAGO — Amtrak plans to again offer dining car meals to coach passengers, and to again offer meals prepared onboard on its eastern overnight trains, as part of coming enhancements to its long-distance operations. Dates and details for the roll-out of those changes are still to come, says Robert Jordan, vice president operations and customer […]
The story behind three hard-working Western Pacific Railroad F units in the 1960s
You have to be tough to survive the railroad. Just look at any train crew, mechanic, or switchman. Just look at any piece of motive power or rolling stock. Just look at this trio of Western Pacific diesel locomotives awaiting their next call to duty in this Stockton, Calif., roundhouse scene in August 1965. […]
Analysis: The Precision Scheduled Railroading Pivot to Growth is a myth
If you believe the storyline, Precision Scheduled Railroading has two chapters. The first is an obsession with costs and efficiency that ultimately results in a railroad that moves its tonnage with far fewer locomotives, freight cars, shops, yards, and people. The second chapter is the so-called Pivot to Growth, in which the lean-and-mean railroad uses […]
Wabtec, GM sign deal to develop battery, hydrogen technology for locomotives
PITTSBURGH — Wabtec Corp. and General Motors have announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on power systems for Wabtec locomotives, developing GM’s Ultium battery technology and Hydrotec hydrogen fuel cell systems. Wabtec CEO Rafael Santana said in a press release that the company’s FLXdrive batter-electric locomotive, which recently completed testing on […]
