Railroad News

A legal victory could help get Maryland's Purple Line light rail project back on track after a federal judge dismissed environmental claims in a lawsuit that has blocked the project since August 2016.

The $2.4-billion 16-mile line between Bethesda and New Carrollton, Md., would include 21 stations and connect with MARC, Amtrak and Washington's Metro.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) earlier this week kicked off its "ArtBound" program, which is aimed at integrating art throughout its rail system.

To mark ArtBound's launch, the agency hosted a ceremony June 19 at the Five Points rail station, according to a MARTA press release.

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) has presented interactive workshops and training programs to dozens of participants in recent months.

The institute developed the sessions to help teach short lines and regionals how to build a strong safety culture at railroads, SLSI officials said in a press release.

Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) announced yesterday the new members who have joined the nonprofit organization's board.

The new members are John Allberry, Steven Covey, Kenneth Glover, John Irwin, Mark Schultz and Jeffrey Songer, according to an OLI press release.

The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) on Friday and Saturday will host rallies across the country in support of federal funding for long-distance Amtrak routes.

President Donald Trump's fiscal-year 2018 budget calls for eliminating federal support for Amtrak's long-distance routes. The budget calls these services a "vestige of when train service was the only viable transcontinental transportation option."

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) has taken educational training on the road. Using presentations and interactive workshops, SLSI has presented its Ten Core Elements of Safety Culture to more than 90 participants this spring.

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) has taken educational training on the road. Using presentations and interactive workshops, SLSI has presented its Ten Core Elements of Safety Culture to more than 90 participants this spring.

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) has taken educational training on the road. Using presentations and interactive workshops, SLSI has presented its Ten Core Elements of Safety Culture to more than 90 participants this spring.

Metropolitan Stevedore Co. (Metro Ports) will become the new bulk terminal operator at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor on July 1, port officials announced yesterday.

Metro Ports will manage the loading and unloading of shipments along the port's East Harbor for port tenants and outside shippers of bulk cargo, including products for steelmaking, agriculture, manufacturing, energy and construction.

Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP's $6 billion petrochemical construction project on the U.S. Gulf Coast has reached a milestone with the completion of mechanical work on its two polyethylene (PE) units, the company announced this week.

Based in Old Ocean, Texas, the PE units are now undergoing commissioning activities, system checks and final certifications to ensure a safe and reliable startup. When operational, each unit will produce at least 500,000 metric tons of product annually, company officials said in a press release.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 17, 2017.

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 543,179 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.2 percent compared with the same week last year.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo advanced legislation that would give the state majority control of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), citing the transit agency's "state of crisis."

New York state has six seats on the MTA Board, New York City has four and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Putnam compromise the balance of the board's 14 total voting seats with no voting majority.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo advanced legislation that would give the state majority control of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), citing the transit agency's "state of crisis."

New York state has six seats on the MTA Board, New York City has four and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Putnam compromise the balance of the board's 14 total voting seats with no voting majority.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo advanced legislation that would give the state majority control of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), citing the transit agency's "state of crisis."

New York state has six seats on the MTA Board, New York City has four and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Putnam compromise the balance of the board's 14 total voting seats with no voting majority.

MTA Metro-North Railroad President Joseph Giulietti will retire by August's end, according to New York City-area news media.

Giulietti plans to spend time with his family before making a decision about his next steps, the Hartford Courant reported.

Bombardier Transportation has signed a $1.1 billion contract with FirstGroup and MTR Corp. to supply and maintain 750 Aventra passenger-rail cars for operation on the South Western franchise in the United Kingdom. The deal marks the largest single contract for Aventra trains, Bombardier officials said in a press release. The trainmaker also will execute a technical services and spares supply agreement with an extension option for the seven-year franchise. Rock Rail, the UK-based rolling stock investment consortium, will finance the procurement. Aventra electric multiple units will feature regenerative braking and passenger amenities that include air conditioning, Wi-Fi, USB sockets and improved passenger information systems.

GE Transportation has signed a $575 million letter of intent with Egyptian National Railways (ENR) and Egypt's Ministry of Transportation to supply 100 ES30ACi Light Evolution Series locomotives for freight and passenger services. The locomotives are equipped with 3,200-horsepower GE Evolution series engines, according to a GE press release. The company also signed a 15-year agreement covering locomotive parts and technical support for ENR's new and current fleet.

Valley Metro Rail and the Refrigeration School Inc. (RSI) have established a customized training program that provides certification for maintaining HVAC equipment on the agency's light-rail cars.

Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway Co. Inc. (QNS&L) and Champion Iron subsidiary Quebec Iron Ore Inc. (QIO) have signed a contract for the transportation of iron ore concentrate generated from Bloom Lake Iron Mine near Fremont, Quebec.

The agreement calls for iron ore concentrate from the Bloom Lake mine to be carried on the QNS&L from the Wabush Lake Junction in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, to Sept-Iles, Quebec.

More than half of U.S. House members have signed a letter calling for a long-term funding solution to maintain the Highway Trust Fund.

Signed by 253 House members from both parties, the letter was sent June 12 to the chairman and ranking member of the House Committee on Ways and Means. The letter seeks a "long-term dedicated, user-based revenue stream" to maintain the trust fund's solvency.