Author: Douglas John Bowen

Railroad accidents decline

The latest Federal Railroad Administration accident report, covering this year’s first four months, again shows strong safety gains for railroads.

Amtrak touts NEC needs as HSR gathering looms

Timing its latest revision of plans for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) to coincide with an international high speed rail conference this week in Philadelphia, Amtrak Monday released an updated vision of NEC HSR, estimating the cost at $151 billion.

CN beefs up B.C. North Line capacity

Canadian National announced that it will build five extended sidings this year as part of a multiyear C$155 million program to expand capacity in the Edmonton, Alta.-Prince Rupert, B.C., corridor.

“Other” Arlington, Va., streetcar route OK’d

Members of the Arlington Transportation Commission in Virginia voted 10-0 last Thursday to support the proposed Columbia Pike Streetcar initiative, overshadowed in recent weeks by a second streetcar effort being advanced by Arlington County and neighboring Alexandria, Va.

China acquires Bombardier tram technology

Bombardier Transportation has signed an agreement providing CSR Puzhen, a subsidiary of China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corp. with a 10-year license to manufacture and sell 100% low-floor trams with Bombardier technology in China.

U.S. freight carload volume sluggish again

U.S. intermodal volume continued its torrid 2012 pace for the week ending June 30, but U.S. freight carload traffic resumed falling short of 2011 volume, the Association of American Railroads reported. U.S. freight carload volume fell 2.5% compared with the same week last year; U.S. intermodal volume advanced 7.0%.

California legislature OKs state HSR effort

California’s state Senate Friday afternoon, in a close vote, approved $5.8 billion to initiate the state’s high speed rail network, following a less contentious vote by the California state Assembly Thursday to approve (or retain) initial funding for the state’s 700-mile high speed rail project.

Railroad Development Corp. wins legal battle

Pittsburgh-based Railroad Development Corp. Thursday said it “has prevailed in its five‐year international arbitration against the Republic of Guatemala brought under the Dominican Republic‐Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).”