Railroad News

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry last week announced an extension for a proposed light-rail line in the Tennessee city.

The Charlotte Avenue light-rail corridor would be extended beyond its endpoint at Interstate 440 and continue toward White Bridge Pike. The change would help provide better transit coverage for the West Nashville community, according to a press release issued by Barry's office.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) last week approved proposed rail-crossing improvement projects in Fulton, Hardin, Medina, Portage and Stark counties.

In Fulton County, Norfolk Southern Railway will upgrade light and gate circuitry, including new LED lights at the South Munson Road grade crossing in Swanton.

Sound Transit logged 5,596,453 boardings on its Link light-rail system in the third quarter, marking a 13.5 percent increase over the same period last year.

Average weekday ridership grew 13 percent to 76,822 boardings. Year to date, Sound Transit logged 17.5 million total light-rail rides, or a 26 percent increase over the same period in 2016.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has proposed a $1.51 billion operating budget for 2018 that would increase rail and bus fares for the first time in several years.

Under the proposal, a ride on the agency's rail system would increase 25 cents to $2.50, while the price of a bus ride would increase from $2 to $2.25. Additionally, the CTA would raise the cost of a 30-day unlimited pass by $5.

The Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council last week issued the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the proposed Vancouver Energy crude-oil terminal project.

The council is scheduled to vote tomorrow on its recommendation regarding the project. Council members will send their recommendation to Gov. Jay Inslee, who will have 60 days to make a final decision.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) proposed a balanced $1.51 billion operating budget Nov. 22, with its capital program seeing a raise from a new revenue stream.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) proposed a balanced $1.51 billion operating budget Nov. 22, with its capital program seeing a raise from a new revenue stream.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) proposed a balanced $1.51 billion operating budget Nov. 22, with its capital program seeing a raise from a new revenue stream.

U.S. railroads moved 554,066 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Nov. 18, a 1.2 percent increase compared with the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Total carloads for the week declined 1.6 percent to 266,927 units, while the number of intermodal containers and trailers rose 3.9 percent to 287,139 units compared with the same week in 2016, according to an AAR press release.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) Fiscal and Management Control Board last week awarded a $723 million contract to a Cubic-John Laing consortium for the design, integration and implementation of an automated fare collection system.

Known as AFC 2.0, the new system will enable riders to pay fares by tapping debit and credit cards at fare gates and fare boxes. In addition, a new contactless fare card will replace the existing CharlieCard. What's more, passengers will be able to buy tickets may on mobile phone apps.

Canadian National is substantially complete with a rehabilitation project on a bridge linking its Minnesota and Wisconsin network.

Work on the Oliver Bridge over the St. Louis River between Duluth, Minn., and Oliver, Wis., will wrap up prior to the end of the year. CN says the strengthening project is part of its 2016 and 2017 capital programs.

Canadian National is substantially complete with a rehabilitation project on a bridge linking its Minnesota and Wisconsin network.

Work on the Oliver Bridge over the St. Louis River between Duluth, Minn., and Oliver, Wis., will wrap up prior to the end of the year. CN says the strengthening project is part of its 2016 and 2017 capital programs.

Canadian National is substantially complete with a rehabilitation project on a bridge linking its Minnesota and Wisconsin network.

Work on the Oliver Bridge over the St. Louis River between Duluth, Minn., and Oliver, Wis., will wrap up prior to the end of the year. CN says the strengthening project is part of its 2016 and 2017 capital programs.

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry unveiled plans to expand the proposed Charlotte Avenue Light Rail project by two miles in order to better connect West Nashville.

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry unveiled plans to expand the proposed Charlotte Avenue Light Rail project by two miles in order to better connect West Nashville.

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry unveiled plans to expand the proposed Charlotte Avenue Light Rail project by two miles in order to better connect West Nashville.

Former Conrail President and Chief Operating Officer Ron Batory has been selected as a rail adviser to U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) spokesman Marc Willis confirmed late last week.

Earlier this year, Batory was nominated to serve as FRA administrator. The Senate has yet to confirm his appointment.

The number of people killed in U.S. rail accidents increased to 733 last year from 708 in 2015, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced last week.

Among the rail incidents, 487 of the deaths were due to trespassing on freight-, passenger- or commuter-rail property, according to the NTSB's annual report on U.S. transportation fatalities.

U.S. Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) late last week joined representatives from the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad for a tour of Budde Enterprises Inc.'s facility in Newtown, Kansas.

At the shop, Budde handles a variety of rail-related repair and fabrication work, including repairs on hi-rail vehicles and track equipment.