Author: Carolina Worrell

UP'S Big Boy No. 4014 will return to the rails on June 7.

Class I Briefs: UP, CSX

Union Pacific’s (UP) famed steam locomotive, “Big Boy No. 4014”, returns to the rails on June 7. Also, 30 tons of ammonium nitrate being transported by UP that went missing on a rail shipment from Wyoming to California in April has still not been found, according to a New York Times report; and CSX is recognized as the “top-performing railroad in North America” by the Journal of Commerce.

PennDOT Releases 2045 Freight Movement Plan

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) on May 17 released its 2045 Freight Movement Plan (FMP), a comprehensive strategic plan for moving goods throughout the Commonwealth.

Nicholas J. Randall, COO, FreightCar America (left); and Rahul Jalali, Executive Vice President, UP (right).

People News: FreightCar America, UP

FreightCar America, Inc. (FreightCar America) appoints Nicholas J. Randall as Chief Operating Officer. Also, Union Pacific (UP) promotes Chief Information Officer Rahul Jalali to Executive Vice President.

(Screen-Capture Courtesy of NS video, via YouTube)

NS Launches Customer-Focused Rail Emissions Report

Norfolk Southern (NS) has launched a tailored Rail Emissions Report tool to provide customers with “comprehensive data on the positive environmental impact of shipping by rail, including total carbon dioxide emissions, fuel consumption, and train miles traveled,” the Class I announced May 18.

As part of the Blue-Ribbon Panel's Final Report on Fare Evasion, the New York MTA plans to reimagine its subway fare gate system to "improve accessibility and deter evasion." (MTA photo)

Transit Briefs: VIA Rail, SMART, Austin’s Project Connect, NYMTA

VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) provides yearly progress update on sustainability plan. Also, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) offers free public transit for K-12 youth; Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) recommends two Austin Light Rail options to transit leaders; and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Blue-Ribbon Panel unveils multi-layered plan with cutting-edge technology to reduce fare and toll evasion.

NS photograph

AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 19 Weeks

For the first 19 weeks of 2023 (ending May 13), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 4.0% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) May 17 report. Both Canada and the U.S. saw declines, while Mexico saw an increase.

Alstom's Coradia iLint hydrogen train. Photo Credit: Alstom

Supply Side: Alstom, PSC Group

Alstom enters a strategic partnership with Export Development Canada (EDC) for sustainable mobility financing. Also, PSC Group, a Portfolio Company of Aurora Capital Partners, acquires Steel Line Rail Services LLC.