Railroad News

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) has shut down the entire subway system in Baltimore to make emergency repairs that could take up to four weeks to complete.

The agency announced the closure on Feb. 11 after performing a systemwide inspection. MTA determined that the system would remain closed through at least March 11 "to ensure the safety of all customers," agency officials said in a press release.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Senior Associate Editor

When freight-rail executives and advocates meet in Washington, D.C., for the annual Railroad Day on Capitol Hill on March 7, they will come armed with a wish list for Congress and President Donald Trump's administration to consider when it comes to policies, legislation and regulations that impact the railroad industry.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Senior Associate Editor

Class I and freight-rail industry executives are continuing to raise concerns about the economic turmoil that would occur if renegotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) break down and President Trump follows through on his threat to pull the U.S. out of the trade deal if he doesn’t like the final results.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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As President Donald Trump releases his long-awaited infrastructure plan today, a coalition of Northeast business leaders are calling on the president and Congress to provide federal resources to repair and upgrade the Northeast Corridor.

Trump is expected to unveil a plan today that would ask Congress to invest $200 billion over the next 10 years for infrastructure improvements such as roads and bridges. Federal dollars would serve as matching funds to encourage states and local communities to invest in infrastructure projects.

In 2017, TransLink logged a record 407 million boardings, marking a 5.7 percent increase over 2016.

Ridership grew across all modes of transit except the West Coast Express commuter-rail line, which experienced a 5.5 percent drop. That decline occurred because some riders moved to the new Evergreen SkyTrain extension, agency officials said in a press release.

The Maryland Department of Transportation has determined the entire Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) rail system will remain closed for up to four weeks following an inspection.

MTA says the shutdown is to ensure the safety of all customers and will extend through March 11. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan authorized $2.2 million in emergency funding to run supplemental bus bridges in addition to regular Baltimore Link bus services.

The Maryland Department of Transportation has determined the entire Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) rail system will remain closed for up to four weeks following an inspection.

MTA says the shutdown is to ensure the safety of all customers and will extend through March 11. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan authorized $2.2 million in emergency funding to run supplemental bus bridges in addition to regular Baltimore Link bus services.

Friday is the deadline to submit nominees for Progressive Railroading's sixth annual Rising Stars Awards program.

The magazine defines a Rising Star as an employee of the railroad industry who is under the age of 40 and who is making a positive difference in his or her company, department or team. Rising Stars are viewed as up-and-comers by their peers, colleagues, supervisors, clients or associates.

Wabtec Corporation has signed a contract valued at about $62 million to implement its positive train control (PTC) technology along the Central Florida Rail Corridor (CFRC), the operator for the SunRail commuter line.

Wabtec Corporation has signed a contract valued at about $62 million to implement its positive train control (PTC) technology along the Central Florida Rail Corridor (CFRC), the operator for the SunRail commuter line.

Heath Hall, the acting administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, the nation's rail safety watchdog, resigned Feb. 11 amid allegations that he was working a second job as a public relations consultant.

Heath Hall, the acting administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, the nation's rail safety watchdog, resigned Feb. 11 amid allegations that he was working a second job as a public relations consultant.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 12, 2018 – Edward R. Hamberger, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), issued the following statement in reaction to infrastructure principles released today by the Trump administration.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) crews have sectioned and aligned existing Green Line rail with new tracks for the Crenshaw/LAX Line.

Rail, fasteners, screws, nuts and bolts are in place and await final assembly, Metro officials said in a blog post.

The Chicago Infrastructure Trust has received four proposals to design, build, finance and maintain an express rail line to O'Hare International Airport.

The new service would take 20 minutes or less to travel from downtown Chicago to O'Hare, trimming the current transit time by about 50 percent. The Chicago Transit Authority's Blue Line trains take about 45 minutes to travel from downtown Chicago to O'Hare, according to the agency's website.