RAILWAY AGE, MAY 2024 ISSUE: Milling, grinding and welding maximize return onone of the railroads’ biggest investments—rail. Suppliers are continually refining their grinding, milling, and welding equipment and services to extend rail
The May 2024 issue of Railway Age is available digitally, featuring the honorees of our fifth-annual Readers’ Most Influential Leaders poll, plus Railinc’s locomotive report and MxV Rail R&D.
A second daily Amtrak train is launching between St. Paul, Minn., and Chicago, via Milwaukee, Wis., the state-supported Borealis. Also, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) unveil the Fair Fares pilot program; Northern California’s Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) logs record commuter rail ridership; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) announce a transit planning initiative for the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on May 1 reported that its Build America Bureau has approved the first transit-oriented development (TOD) TIFIA loan, which will support a Mt. Vernon, Wash., project located a short walk from the Amtrak-served Skagit Station.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on April 30 reported adopting Reciprocal Switching for Inadequate Service, STB Docket No. EP 711 (Sub-No. 2), by unanimous vote, implementing new regulations at 49 CFR part 1145, which it said “sets forth a path for shippers and receivers to petition the Board for the prescription of a reciprocal switching agreement.” The final rule “is designed to promote adequate rail service,” according to the STB. Board Member Robert Primus concurred with a separate expression, noting “I am voting for the final rule because something is better than nothing.” Frank N. Wilner, Railway Age Capitol Hill Contributing Editor, weighs in and provides a reciprocal switching “primer.”
Total Intermodal volume for first-quarter 2024 was up 8% from the prior-year period, according to IANA’s (Intermodal Association of North America) latest report. It was the second consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth.
Keolis North America (Keolis) appoints Jannet Walker-Ford as Board Chair. Also, the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) elevates Amanda Coates to Chief Commercial Officer; WSP Global, Inc. promotes Joseph Sczurko and Christopher Peters to President and Chief Operating Officer, respectively, in the United States; and Duos taps Adrian Goldfarb as Chief Financial Officer.
“We are pleased with the progress exhibited in Trinity Industries’ first quarter results,” Jean Savage, President and CEO of the railcar manufacturer and lessor said during a May 1 financial report. “Our results show strong performance in both segments of our business, demonstrating the strength of our platform.”
Union Pacific (UP) is honoring 137 customers with Pinnacle Awards for safely shipping hazardous materials (hazmat) in 2023.
Two Illinois state legislators propose merging the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra commuter rail and Pace suburban bus in Chicago. Also, VIA Rail Canada Inc. (VIA Rail) adds service between Ottawa and Toronto; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) improves faregate display-screen messaging.