An Alaska Railroad charter train is positioned near the Nenana Alaska Railroad Depot for the centennial celebration on July 15, 2023. (Photo Courtesy of ARRC)

Alaska Railroad Celebrates 100 Years of Service

The Alaska Railroad on Saturday, July 15, 2023, commemorated the 100th anniversary of its 1923 golden spike moment in Nenana, Alaska.

A cargo ship filled with goods sails through Charleston Harbor. South Carolina now has the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet. (Photo/Provided by Matthew Peacock Media)

Intermodal Briefs: SC Ports, Port Houston, Port Milwaukee

South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) finishes Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) with a strong June. Also, Port Houston reports steady volumes through the first half of the year; and Port Milwaukee celebrates the grand opening of the Agriculture Maritime Export Facility.

According to CRRE, Ronald L. Batory will "help fulfill the vision" of the center’s benefactor Ed Burkhardt.

Batory to Serve MSU’s Center for Railway Research and Education

Michigan State University’s (MSU) Center for Railway Research and Education (CRRE) announced July 20 that former Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator Hon. Ronald L. Batory will provide the center with “leadership, vision,

Supply Side: American Seating, Wabtec, Smart North Florida/TRAINFO

American Seating reveals plans for new headquarters. Also, Wabtec Corp. (Wabtec) will invest $2.7 million to increase capacity in Virginia’s City of Salem; and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) partners with Smart North Florida and TRAINFO in a pilot program aimed to ease traffic congestion at a railroad crossing in San Marco, Fla.

Screenshot Courtesy of CSX, via LinkedIn

Class I Briefs: CSX, NS, BNSF

CSX’s team at Fruit Growers Express reaches 1,000 days incident free. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) awards more than 100 scholarships to its employee’s children; and BNSF is recognized with the Top 10 Enterprise-Wide ERG Award.

Canada TSB: UDR Led to 2019 CP Train Derailment

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) on July 19 released its investigation report into the January 2019 Canadian Pacific (CP) freight train derailment in the Upper Spiral Tunnel, near Field, British Columbia (BC), citing the undesired release of air brakes (UDR) as the cause.

Transit Briefs: NJ Transit, Metra, MBTA, LA Metro, SMART, OC Transpo

NJ Transit signs lease for new headquarters. Also, Metra launches survey for 2024 fare structure proposal; the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) eliminates significant speed restriction in Orange Line Tunnel; LA Metro launches new fare capping policy on Cubic-powered TAP system and is honored with the 2023 Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) Agency of the Year Award; Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) reduces price of 31-day pass in response to hybrid work week; and OC Transpo announces that it does not have a firm timeline for when service will resume on its LRT Confederation Line following a shut down due to a bearing issue.

Industrial Development Briefs: UIPA, U.S. Energy

The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) approves resolution to create Spanish Fork Verk Industrial Park. Also, U.S. Energy expands its freight service and refined products offerings in Las Vegas.

Canada TSB’s Fox Reappointed as Chair

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) announced July 13 via a Twitter post that Kathy Fox has been reappointed as Chair, effective Aug. 21, for the next year as the process to find her successor continues.

NextDecade Announces FID for Rio Grande LNG Phase 1

Texas-based energy company NextDecade Corporation (NextDecade) on July 12 announced that it has made a positive final investment decision (FID) for Phase 1 of its proposed Rio Grande liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, which consists of the construction of the first three liquefication trains, to be built at the Port of Brownsville.

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