NS, BRS Partner to Enhance Safety

Norfolk Southern (NS) and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) on Oct. 19 announced a partnership to create the Signal Safety Collaboration initiative, a one-year pilot program developed with input from the

WMATA photo

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, AECOM, WMATA

Amtrak introduces a simplified fare structure. Also, AECOM is appointed by Metrolinx to serve as technical advisor for the Hamilton Light Rail Transit (LRT) project; and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) prepares for its Auto Doors function.

ASLRRA Legal and Office Administrator Kathi Birch

Birch Joins ASLRRA as New Legal and Office Administrator

The American Short Line and Railroad Association (ASLRRA) recently announced that Kathi Birch has joined as the new Legal and Office Administrator. She will be responsible for a range of administrative and paralegal duties, and will report to Senior Vice President, Law and General Counsel Sarah Yurasko.

Metra: $169.3MM CMAQ Grant for BEMUs

Metra announced Oct. 17 that it will receive a $169.3 million federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) grant to purchase BEMUs (battery-electric multiple-unit) zero-emission trainsets, making the agency one of the first in the nation to operate such equipment.

AAR: U.S. Intermodal Up, Carloads Down in Week 41

For the week ending Oct. 14, 2023 (Week 41), total U.S. rail traffic was 492,781 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.5% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Oct. 18. It is the fifth consecutive week of gains for intermodal units while carloads took a dip.

Patrick Whitehead, Executive Vice-President and Chief Networking Operating Officer, CN (left); and Derek Taylor, Executive Vice-President and Chief Field Operating Officer, CN (right).

Whitehead, Taylor to Succeed Harris at CN

CN on Oct. 18 announced the appointment of Patrick Whitehead as Executive Vice-President and Chief Networking Operating Officer and the appointment of Derek Taylor as Executive Vice-President and Chief Field Operating Officer, effective Nov. 15. Whitehead and Taylor will succeed Ed Harris, who will take on a consultant role until March 30, 2024, to “ensure a seamless transition.”

Cara Chell, diesel mechanic, is photographed in the Winnipeg CP service yard April 17, 2019.

RAC Announces Scholarship Recipients

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) on Oct. 15 announced the first scholarship recipients from the proceeds of its Women in Rail 2023 conference, which took place in June.

BLET Presses FRA for Emergency Order on ‘Excessive’ Train Length (UPDATED)

Citing numerous recent accidents caused in part by “excessively long” trains, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is urging the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to issue an Emergency Order establishing

From Left to Right: George Moubayad, Chief Sustainability and Strategy Officer, Caterpillar; Patrick Watz, Midwest District Transportation Leader, WSP; Matthew Lunemann, Vice President and Engineering Director, Tunneling and Geotechnical Group, STV; and Angel Peña, Vice President for Rail and Transit, Texas/Mountain Region, STV.

People News: Caterpillar, WSP, STV

Caterpillar, Inc. names George Moubayad as its new Chief Sustainability and Strategy Officer. Also, WSP promotes Patrick Watz to Midwest District Transportation Leader; and STV appoints Angel Peña as Vice President for Rail and Transit in the firm’s Texas/Mountain Region and welcomes Matthew Lunemann as Vice President and Engineering Director in its Tunneling and Geotechnical Practice.

Class I Briefs: NS, CPKC, CN

Safety improvements are coming to Norfolk Southern (NS)-served communities in Birmingham and Trussville, Ala. Also, CPKC hosts a delegation at its headquarters in Kansas City, Mo.; and CN’s Dangerous Goods team earns the TRANSCAER National Achievement Award.

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