Still more Tuesday morning rail news:
Brightline, FDOT resume negotiations on Orlando-Tampa route
Brightline has resumed negotiations with the Florida Department of Transportation on a route for Tampa-Orlando service, the Tampa Bay Business Journal reports in a paywalled article, which says negotiations had halted in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The railroad has proposed building its route along the median pf State Route 417 and Interstate 4 [see “Virgin Trains reveals Tampa expansion details …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 3, 2018]. As part of the negotiations, Florida DOT has asked Brightline to address a number of questions and requirements, including a method to recover toll revenue lost because of Brightline’s construction and operation; a resolution from Orlando’s airport authority supporting the Orlando-Tampa service; and execution of an agreement meeting the requirements for use of the Central Florida Rail Corridor, as outlined in earlier communication. Brightline must address these points by July 31, the article reports.
Transportation Safety Board releases report on fatal grade-crossing accident involving Exo commuter train
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada cautions drivers to take winter weather conditions into consideration and to clear the track immediately if caught by lowered crossing gates as a result of its investigation into a fatal February 2020 grade-crossing accident involving an Exo commuter train in Montreal. The driver of the vehicle was killed and an evaluator was seriously injured when the driver, a man in his 70s, was taking a driving test to attempt to regain a license which had been suspended because a healthcare professional had determined his vision was not sufficient to operate a vehicle. His vehicle was caught on the tracks when crossing gates lowered, and the driver failed to respond to requests to move by the instructor, or guidance from a firefighter who happened to be involved in a training exercise nearby. No one on the train was injured. The full report is available here.
CN adds to string of records for Canadian grain movement
Canadian National announced it has set a record for Canadian grain movement for the 12th consecutive month, shipping over 2.28 million metric tons in February to surpass the previous mark of 2.19 million metric tons set in February 2019. The railroad has now moved 19.7 million metric tons of Canadian grain during the 2020-21 crop year, 24% higher than the three-year average of 15.9 million metric tons and 17% ahead of the record 16.9 million metric tons set in the 2018-19 crop hear. The railroad has also set a record by moving more than 700,000 metric tons of grain from Canada via containers.
