California Zephyr (Photo Courtesy of Amtrak)

Amtrak Issues RFP to Replace Long-Distance Fleet

Amtrak on Dec. 22 issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to railcar manufacturers to begin the process of replacing its current Long-Distance Fleet.

Union Pacific International Railroad Bridge view from Piedras Negras, Mexico. Wikimedia Commons/Manuel Velez

Eagle Pass, El Paso Rail Crossings Resume Operations

Following five days of closures at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced Dec. 22 the reopening of these key international crossings, according to an Association of American Railroads (AAR) release.

David J. Meyer has been elected as the eighth member of L.B. Foster's Board of Directors, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

L.B. Foster Expands Board; Elects Meyer as Eighth Member

L.B. Foster, a global technology solutions provider of products and services for the rail and infrastructure markets, announced Dec. 21 that its Board of Directors has voted to expand its size to eight members and elect David J. Meyer to the Board, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

(William C. Vantuono photo)

TTC Approves C$2.6B 2024 Operating Budget

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Board on Dec. 20 approved a 2024 C$2.6 billion ($1.95 billion) operating budget that “freezes fares, continues to increase service, and invests millions of dollars in system safety and cleanliness.”

Shawn M. Donaghy will serve as NCTD's new CEO, beginning March 1, 2024.

NCTD Appoints Donaghy as CEO

The North County Transit District (NCTD) Board of Directors on Dec. 21 unanimously approved Shawn M. Donaghy as the agency’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective March 1, 2024.

Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez (left) and RAC President and CEO Marc Brazeau (right).

Transport Canada, RAC Join Forces to Reduce Emissions

Canada’s Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez and Railway Association of Canada (RAC) President and CEO Marc Brazeau on Dec. 21 jointly announced a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that “reflects a shared vision of working toward net-zero emissions by 2050 and builds upon the meaningful progress made to date by the Canadian rail sector.”

OIG recommends that Amtrak "develop an overarching strategy and analyze the data necessary to measure its service quality."

Amtrak OIG Identifies Opportunities to Improve Hiring Efficiency

Amtrak met its agreement workforce hiring targets in fiscal year 2023 (FY23) and expects to meet hiring needs in FY24, but there are opportunities for the company to improve the efficiency of its hiring process, according to an Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) report released Dec. 18.

LA Metro Celebrates Full Year of Continued Growth Ridership

The Los Angeles Country Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) on Dec. 20 announced that the agency saw an 11.3% increase in total system ridership in November 2023 compared to the previous year with more than 24 boardings, marking the twelfth consecutive month of year-over-year ridership growth.

RAC Releases Rail Trends 2023 Report

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) on Dec. 20 released Rail Trends 2023, a rolling 10-year review of financial and statistical results.

AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Uptick Continues in Week 50

For the week ending Dec. 16 (Week 50), total U.S. rail traffic was 502,583 carloads and intermodal units, rising 7.6% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Dec. 20.

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