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Amtrak to require masks for employees NEWSWIRE
Monday morning coronavirus-related rail news: — Effective today, Amtrak will require all customer-facing employees wear a facial covering of some kind — a mask if available— and strongly encourages all other employees and passengers to wear coverings. At Friday’s employee town hall, the first hosted by new CEO William Flynn, CEO asked employees to start […]
As Earth Day turns 50, Wabtec and rail industry tout sustainability improvements NEWSWIRE
Dominique Malenfant, Wabtec chief technology officer Wabtec The railroad industry is increasingly touting its sustainability efforts and using its lower carbon footprint as a selling point as more and more shippers look to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. As the 50th anniversary of Earth Day approaches on Wednesday, April 22, three Class I railroads — […]
US Department of Transportation makes available $311.8 million for capital rail projects NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on Friday for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. “We’re committed to addressing the unmet transportation needs of rural areas, which face unique challenges in safety, infrastructure condition, and passenger and freight usage,” said […]
BNSF freight train derails, puts cars into Mississippi River NEWSWIRE
EAST DUBUQUE, Iowa — BNSF Railway confirms in a customer advisory that one of its trains derailed on the Aurora Subdivision Monday morning. The advisory says both BNSF main tracks were affected after a derailment at 10:53 am. Central time. The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald newspaper reports that more than five cars derailed and that some landed […]
NJ Transit’s rail manager dies from coronavirus NEWSWIRE
Sunday morning rail news: — Raymond P. Kenny, 69, NJ Transit’s senior vice president and general manager of rail operations, has died of complications from the COVID-19 virus, NJ Transit announced Saturday. NJ.com reports that Kenny, who came to NJ Transit in January 2019 after 50 years at the Long Island Rail Road, was praised […]
MTA seeks another $3.9 billion in federal aid NEWSWIRE
Saturday morning rail news: — New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority is seeking another $3.9 billion in federal aid to offset losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The MTA received $4 billion as part of the coronavirus relief act passed in March, but Newsday reports that MTA chairman Patrick Foye says the agency’s original estimates of […]
Connecticut approves funding for commuter coaches NEWSWIRE
A Metro-North Waterbury Branch train approaches the station in Bridgeport, Conn., in August 2019. The branch will not be among the Metro-North operations receiving new passenger cars funded by Connecticut. TRAINS: David Lassen More Friday morning rail news: — The planned purchase of new passenger cars for Metro-North commuter rail service in Connecticut will include […]
CSX joins in Operation Gratitude effort for medical workers NEWSWIRE
Still more Friday morning rail news: — Nonprofit organization Operation Gratitude and CSX Transportation are teaming to deliver supplies and gifts of gratitude to frontline medical workers today for a network of 11 hospitals in eastern Pennsylvania. The newly formed Coalition to Support COVID-19 Frontline Responders was formed with Operation Gratitude by companies including CSX, […]
Fundraising for No. 576 passes $1 million mark NEWSWIRE
No. 576 is moved from its longtime display location in a Nashville park in January 2019. Fundraising for restoration of the locomotive has passed the $1 million mark. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn Friday morning steam and preservation news: — The fundraising campaign to restore Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis steam locomotive No. 576 has passed the […]
KCS first-quarter gains overshadowed by virus uncertainty NEWSWIRE
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Southern reported higher-first quarter volume, revenue, and profits today but withdrew its outlook for the year in light of ongoing uncertainty related to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. KCS also scaled back this year’s capital spending plans by at least 10% due to anticipated volume declines, which are […]
San Diego scraps plans for transit ballot initiative NEWSWIRE
San Diego Trolley trains meet at the Middletown station in January 2020. The Metropolitan Transit System has scrapped plans for a ballot initiative this year because of the coronavirus. TRAINS: David Lassen Transit and coronavirus-related rail news for Friday morning: — San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System has officially abandoned its plans for a November ballot […]
