Railroad News

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says a refuse truck was on the grade crossing after gates were lowered when it was hit by Special Amtrak Train 923 in Crozet, Va.

NTSB's preliminary report says the crossing was active and equipped with crossbuck signs, warning lights, bells and gates. Data extracted from the locomotive's forward-facing track camera showed that as the crossing came into view, the gates were down and the refuse truck was on the grade crossing. NTSB reports that witnesses to the crash reported that the refuse truck entered the crossing after the gates were down.

New York state has $26.5 million in funds available for rail and port projects as part of the Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program.

The TriMet Board of Directors has named Shelley Devine, the transit agency's current general counsel, as its new interim general manager.

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has appointed Catherine Rinaldi as the sixth President of MTA Metro-North Railroad, the first woman to serve in that capacity.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo yesterday announced the availability of $26.5 million in state funding to preserve and improve rail and port services in major trade and passenger corridors across the state.

The funds come from the Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program, which was included in the New York State Department of Transportation's (NYSDOT) $29 billion, five-year state transportation plan.

U.S. railroads moved 539,963 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Feb. 17, a 3.1 percent increase compared with the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads' (AAR) data.

The railroads logged 260,454 carloads, down 0.6 percent, and 279,509 intermodal units, up 6.8 percent, compared with the same week last year.

A garbage truck involved in a fatal Amtrak accident late last month had entered a grade crossing after the warning gates were lowered, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced yesterday.

On Jan. 31, an Amtrak train struck a garbage truck that was stopped at the crossing in Crozet, Virginia. The train was carrying Republican members of Congress on their way to a legislative retreat in West Virginia.

Metra's board yesterday approved the purchase of up to 21 used F59PHI locomotives for $1.3 million apiece. 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has appointed Catherine Rinaldi president of MTA Metro-North Railroad.

She has served as the railroad's acting president since July 2017. Before that, she was Metro-North's executive vice president.

By Richard Kloster and Rob Hart

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) yesterday announced it will expand its "GoLink" on-demand shuttle service to provide "last-mile access" for light-rail riders in southern Dallas and Plano, Texas.

Starting Feb. 26, the agency will roll out three new southern Dallas zones for the shuttle service. The Inland Port zone will cater to a largely unserved industrial and commercial area out of the light-rail stop on the University of North Texas at Dallas campus.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) is considering delaying a planned 2018 fare hike for at least another year to complete a comprehensive fare study.

The agency's operational planning and infrastructure committee recommended putting the fare increase on hold after yesterday's meeting of the full GCRTA board.

Siemens will provide the power infrastructure for the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit) light-rail system's latest expansion, officials announced.

BNSF Railway Co. will spend $110 million this year on network maintenance projects in Oklahoma.

The Class I's Oklahoma capital expenditures program in 2018 will primarily focus on replacing and upgrading rail, ties and ballast, according to a BNSF press release.

BNSF Railway Co. will spend $110 million this year on network maintenance projects in Oklahoma.

The Class I's Oklahoma capital expenditures program in 2018 will primarily focus on replacing and upgrading rail, ties and ballast, according to a BNSF press release.

As with is previously announced plans for Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Montana and Washington state, the focus of the state programs will be on maintenance.