Railroad News

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) crews and contractors are set to perform work starting April 7 as part of a series of projects intended to improve the authority's service reliability along its Chestnut Hill East Regional Rail Line.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors has approved the agency's annual two-year operating budget for fiscal years 2019 and 2020 at $1.2 billion.

Ontario has committed an initial investment of more than CA$11 billion (US$8.6 billion) to make high-speed rail service between Toronto and Windsor a reality as early as 2025.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne was at Info-Tech in London on April 6 to highlight the investment that the province said would connect communities and create jobs and economic growth across Southwestern Ontario.

 Union Pacific (UP) detailed plans to invest $38 million during 2018 into its New Mexico network. The railroad says the investment will enhance safety, operating efficiency and support customer service.

Norfolk Southern (NS) has announced its safety train will visit 23 cities throughout 2018 as part of its Operation Awareness & Response program.

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have invited three teams to submit proposals for two stations and an operations facility along the Milton GO Corridor.

The project will support Metrolinx's work to provide faster, more frequent and convenient transit service across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), as part of the GO Regional Express Rail (RER) program.

The next several weekends ahead will entail work for Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) crews on a series of projects to test East Side access signals and positive train control (PTC), in addition to tie replacement work.

Metra will conduct 54 Operation Lifesaver Safety Blitzes in 2018 at 54 train stations across its service six-county region around Chicago. Metra says the blitzes are part of its ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the importance of safe behavior around its trains and tracks.

During a safety blitz, Metra safety employees will be at one of the commuter railroad's 242 stations during the morning commute, distributing educational materials about train and grade-crossing safety, answering questions and listening to commuters' safety concerns. A short video about grade crossing safety is also available for customers to view while they wait for their train. Local police and fire officials are also invited to participate.

Seven years after it was announced, BNSF Railway is preparing to break ground on an industrial park to serve Northern Colorado and Denver.

Dewberry has added Steven H. Santoro, former executive director of New Jersey Transit, as its new director of rail and transit.

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued two Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) for the next phase of the GO Regional Express Rail (RER) expansion.

One RFQ is for interested parties to design, build and finance two of the Stations and Off-Corridor projects. The projects - new Regional Express Rail (RER) Stations and Smart Track Stations - are part of a larger, system-wide plan to improve GO Transit service.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) shared details of its new "Local Trax" matching grant program, which will make at least $125 million available for high-priority railroad safety projects on local roads statewide.

The funds available through Local Trax will aid Indiana cities, towns and counties interested in pursuing high-priority railroad grade separations, crossing closures and other safety enhancements at railroad intersections with local roads. The initiative requires local governments to provide 20 percent of funding for land acquisition and construction with the state providing the remaining 80 percent.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) shared details of its new "Local Trax" matching grant program, which will make at least $125 million available for high-priority railroad safety projects on local roads statewide.

The funds available through Local Trax will aid Indiana cities, towns and counties interested in pursuing high-priority railroad grade separations, crossing closures and other safety enhancements at railroad intersections with local roads. The initiative requires local governments to provide 20 percent of funding for land acquisition and construction with the state providing the remaining 80 percent.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's (SCVTA) Board of Directors is set to vote at its April 5 meeting on the staff-recommended BART Silicon Valley Phase II extension project description.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's (SCVTA) Board of Directors is set to vote at its April 5 meeting on the staff-recommended BART Silicon Valley Phase II extension project description.

Union Pacific detailed plans to invest $45 million during 2018 into its Oklahoma network. The railroad says the investment will enhance safety, operating efficiency and support customer service.

Union Pacific detailed plans to invest $45 million during 2018 into its Oklahoma network. The railroad says the investment will enhance safety, operating efficiency and support customer service.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) has voted to offer a $102.7 million contract to Barletta Heavy Division for work to rebuild its Wellington Rail Yard and upgrade its signal systems.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) has voted to offer a $102.7 million contract to Barletta Heavy Division for work to rebuild its Wellington Rail Yard and upgrade its signal systems.

BNSF Railway could begin a project to build a second bridge across Lake Pend Oreille this fall. The railroad has applied for permits that would see the new bridge constructed adjacent to the existing bridge.

"The new infrastructure will provide the capacity needed for BNSF's current traffic and future growth, benefiting all the commodities that we transport and the Amtrak trains that run on our mainline," the railroad said. "When completed, trains will run in both directions across the bridges, reducing the need for trains to stop as they wait for clearance to cross. The result will be reduced congestion, enhanced safety, shorter wait times at crossings and improved service to our customers."