The Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train has completed its 24th year, raising more than C$1.3 million and collecting 121,000 pounds of food for local food banks and food shelves so far, with final numbers still being calculated, the Class I reported on Dec. 22.
Brightline opens two new stations in South Florida. Also, the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) celebrates completion of new MARC Riverside Heavy Maintenance Facility; and the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Metro) in Houston debuts new generation of more accessible railcars.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) making available nearly $9 billion to upgrade and expand passenger rail service along the Northeast Corridor (NEC), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced Dec. 22.
OmniTRAX and Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway, LLC (BRG) contribute $100,000 to Brownsville community. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) donates $200,000 to eight local Toys for Tots chapters.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced 15 grants totaling $686 million in nine states to modernize older transit stations and improve accessibility, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced Dec. 19.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced Dec. 21 that it has approved its 2023 budget and four-year financial plan; is taking action to reduce costs of capital projects, including Second Avenue Subway and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Third Track; and is awarding a $382 million contract for the Metro-North Park Avenue Viaduct rehabilitation project.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced Dec. 19 that $2.5 billion through 19 procurements will be invested to “combat climate change, expand accessibility and improve service,” following MTA Board approval.
For the week ending Dec. 17 (Week 50), total U.S. rail traffic was down 5.5% over the same week last year; carloads were down 3.2% and intermodal volume continued its downward trend, dropping 7.5%, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Dec. 21 report.
CSX will implement a revised Attendance Policy, effective January 1, 2023, to “provide CSX employees a more flexible policy and respond to concerns expressed by craft employees and labor organizations,” the Class I recently announced.
The Alaska Railroad is getting ready to mark 100 years since the completion of its 470-mile mainline with winter service and a new travel package.