Railroad News

Shortline railroads continue to emphasize their role as a critical economic link and job provider in events with elected representatives.

Rep. John Carter, a Republican from the 31st District, on Wednesday met with company executives to tour the Temple & Central Texas Railway, one of 12 short line railroads managed by Patriot Rail Company LLC, a member of the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association.

Shortline railroads continue to emphasize their role as a critical economic link and job provider in events with elected representatives.

Rep. John Carter, a Republican from the 31st District, on Wednesday met with company executives to tour the Temple & Central Texas Railway, one of 12 short line railroads managed by Patriot Rail Company LLC, a member of the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association.

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) will develop training and education efforts to address and enhance railroad safety culture following the completion of a systematic review of Safety Culture Assessments.

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) will develop training and education efforts to address and enhance railroad safety culture following the completion of a systematic review of Safety Culture Assessments.

Due to recent repeated delays and power flow failures throughout the entire Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway system, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has directed Con Edison to take significant and immediate actions to improve the subway's power reliability.

According to the PSC, during the past 12 months alone, power-related issues have caused more than 32,000 subway delays and service disruptions. PSC says the outages stem from four problem areas including: loss of power, frequent surges in power that force the system to go into failsafe mode (shutdown), frequent power dips which cause equipment to fail and an insufficient power back up system in the event of a power failure.

Due to recent repeated delays and power flow failures throughout the entire Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway system, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has directed Con Edison to take significant and immediate actions to improve the subway's power reliability.

According to the PSC, during the past 12 months alone, power-related issues have caused more than 32,000 subway delays and service disruptions. PSC says the outages stem from four problem areas including: loss of power, frequent surges in power that force the system to go into failsafe mode (shutdown), frequent power dips which cause equipment to fail and an insufficient power back up system in the event of a power failure.

Stephen C. Tobias, former Norfolk Southern vice chairman and chief operating officer and former member of the Canadian Pacific Board of Directors, died Aug. 7.

"Steve was COO for most of the years I was chairman, president and CEO. He was a tower of strength for me and the company. He was a great railroader and, I believe, the best operations man in the business," said David Good, former chairman, president and CEO of NS.

Stephen C. Tobias, former Norfolk Southern vice chairman and chief operating officer and former member of the Canadian Pacific Board of Directors, died Aug. 7.

"Steve was COO for most of the years I was chairman, president and CEO. He was a tower of strength for me and the company. He was a great railroader and, I believe, the best operations man in the business," said David Good, former chairman, president and CEO of NS.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) is asking the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to reverse the withdrawal of pending regulation that would require sleep apnea testing of workers in safety critical roles.

"We don't want train engineers with undiagnosed sleep apnea, who actually hold lives in their hands, to fall asleep at the switch and we don't want big-rig drivers to doze off at the wheel. That's why NTSB's recommendations to get this done should be the law of the land and why I have pushed so hard on this subject for years. This abrupt and uncalled for withdrawal by [U.S. Department of Transportation] commemorates a disaster waiting to happen and that's why I'm now calling on the both of these agencies to get these rules and this process back on track," said Sen. Schumer.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) is asking the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to reverse the withdrawal of pending regulation that would require sleep apnea testing of workers in safety critical roles.

"We don't want train engineers with undiagnosed sleep apnea, who actually hold lives in their hands, to fall asleep at the switch and we don't want big-rig drivers to doze off at the wheel. That's why NTSB's recommendations to get this done should be the law of the land and why I have pushed so hard on this subject for years. This abrupt and uncalled for withdrawal by [U.S. Department of Transportation] commemorates a disaster waiting to happen and that's why I'm now calling on the both of these agencies to get these rules and this process back on track," said Sen. Schumer.

SNC-Lavalin appointed Chantal Sorel to executive vice president, Capital. This appointment is in addition to her current role as managing director. Sorel will serve on the Executive Committee.

As Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Capital Sorel will continue to oversee all aspects of Capital, SNC-Lavalin's investment, project financing and asset management arm.

SNC-Lavalin appointed Chantal Sorel to executive vice president, Capital. This appointment is in addition to her current role as managing director. Sorel will serve on the Executive Committee.

As Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Capital Sorel will continue to oversee all aspects of Capital, SNC-Lavalin's investment, project financing and asset management arm.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have withdrawn a proposed rule that would have regulated actions addressing sleep apnea for workers in safety sensitive positions.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have withdrawn a proposed rule that would have regulated actions addressing sleep apnea for workers in safety sensitive positions.

The FMCSA posted a notice on its website Aug. 4 and the official notice was published in the Federal Register Aug. 8.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio outlined a proposed tax plan he says could raise as much as $800 million for the city's transit system by raising taxes on the wealthiest residents.

The mayor says the tax adjustment would be levied on fewer than one percent of the city's wealthiest tax filers and would allow the city to reduce transit fares by 50 percent for the low-income residents.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio outlined a proposed tax plan he says could raise as much as $800 million for the city's transit system by raising taxes on the wealthiest residents.

The mayor says the tax adjustment would be levied on fewer than one percent of the city's wealthiest tax filers and would allow the city to reduce transit fares by 50 percent for the low-income residents.

Amtrak will continue to provide maintenance-of-way and dispatching services to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Attleboro Line through 2021.

The agreement, which governs the operation and maintenance of use of the 37.9-mile line, ends a dispute over applicability of the federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) of 2008, Section 212, which created the Northeast Corridor Commission and mandated the development of the Commuter and Intercity Rail Cost Allocation Policy. The policy was jointly developed by all the owners and operators of rail services from Boston to Washington, D.C., and is meant to provide a consistent methodology for calculating and assessing costs for all users of the Northeast Corridor.

Amtrak will continue to provide maintenance-of-way and dispatching services to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Attleboro Line through 2021.

The agreement, which governs the operation and maintenance of use of the 37.9-mile line, ends a dispute over applicability of the federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) of 2008, Section 212, which created the Northeast Corridor Commission and mandated the development of the Commuter and Intercity Rail Cost Allocation Policy. The policy was jointly developed by all the owners and operators of rail services from Boston to Washington, D.C., and is meant to provide a consistent methodology for calculating and assessing costs for all users of the Northeast Corridor.

KC Streetcar has plans to expand. With increased ridership and the need to provide additional service and track, the KC Streetcar Authority (KCSA) says that it is working on a Streetcar Southern Extension Project.

In coordination with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) and the city of Kansas City, Mo. (KCMO), KCSA issued a notice to being planning work for the Southern Extension Project. A team led by HDR Engineering will provide the planning and engineering services with support from Burns & McDonnell, HNTB, Trekk Design Group, Hg Consult, Parson + Associates, VSM Engineering and Architectural & Historical Research.

KC Streetcar has plans to expand. With increased ridership and the need to provide additional service and track, the KC Streetcar Authority (KCSA) says that it is working on a Streetcar Southern Extension Project.

In coordination with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) and the city of Kansas City, Mo. (KCMO), KCSA issued a notice to being planning work for the Southern Extension Project. A team led by HDR Engineering will provide the planning and engineering services with support from Burns & McDonnell, HNTB, Trekk Design Group, Hg Consult, Parson + Associates, VSM Engineering and Architectural & Historical Research.