For BMWED, Paid Sick Leave Agreement With U.S.-Based CN Roads

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED) on Jan. 24 reported finalizing a paid sick leave agreement with the former Bessemer & Lake Erie, Grand Trunk Western,

STB Adopts Emergency Service Rules Revision (Updated 1/26)

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is amending its emergency service regulations to provide “immediate relief” for shippers in certain situations. On Jan. 24, it reported adopting a final rule clarifying that it

(Siemens Mobility Photograph)

Wabtec Wins $157MM Siemens Brake Order

Wabtec Corporation on Jan. 24 reporting landing a $157 million brake system order from the Mobility Business of Siemens India Private Limited for Indian Railways’ (IR) new line of 1,200 electric locomotives for freight service.

The CN network “is in great shape”; “we have the right people”; “CN-specific growth initiatives are producing”; and “our pivot to profitable growth is under way,” said Tracy Robinson, CN President and CEO and Railway Age’s 2024 Railroader of the Year.

CN’s Robinson: ‘Our Pivot to Profitable Growth Is Under Way’

“Through 2023, our team of dedicated railroaders leveraged our scheduled operating model to deliver exceptional service for our customers and remained resilient in the face of numerous external challenges,” said Tracy Robinson,

San Francisco Bay Area transit in California will take on a whole new look later this year. Transit agency and Metropolitan Transportation Commission officials unveiled design prototypes for a common set of signs to be used by all agencies at all locations. (Image Courtesy of BART)

Transit Briefs: Bay Area Transit, LACMTA, CTA, Amtrak Virginia

A project is under way to unify San Francisco Bay Area transit maps and signs. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) renames the West Santa Ana Branch Corridor Project to avoid rider confusion; and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Amtrak Virginia set ridership records in 2023.

ITS Logistics U.S. Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index for January 2024. (Image Courtesy of ITS Logistics)

ITS Logistics Issues January Port/Rail Ramp Index

The January forecast for ITS Logistics’ U.S. Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index shows increased transpacific volumes on the U.S. West Coast due to seasonal Lunar New Year restock and geopolitical unrest, as well as the strong possibility of congestion at East Coast ports and at rail ramps throughout the U.S., the Nevada-based third-party logistics (3PL) firm reported Jan. 22.

“Connecting Las Vegas and Southern California will provide wide-spread public benefits to both states, creating thousands of jobs and jumpstarting a new level of economic competitiveness for the region,” Brightline Founder and Chairman Wes Edens said. “We appreciate the confidence placed in us by DOT and are ready to get to work.” (Rendering Courtesy of Brightline West)

Brightline West Lands $2.5B in Private Activity Bonds

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Jan. 23 reported approving a $2.5 billion private-activity bonds allocation to the Brightline West High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail project linking Las Vegas and Southern California.

Transit Tech Lab Releases Results for Human Capital, Operational Efficiency Challenges

The New York MTA/Partnership for New York City Transit Tech Lab on Jan. 22 released the results of its 2023 human capital and operational efficiency challenges. The 13 winners, including Humatics, TekTracking and Wi-Tronix, each completed proof-of-concept collaborations with area transit agencies, which aim to use their LiDAR (light detection and ranging), AI (artificial intelligence), and IoT (Internet of Things) technologies “to mitigate service disruptions, automate operations, and combat workforce shortages,” Transit Tech Lab reported.

WMSC Issues Safety Audit of WMATA’s Automatic Train Control, Signals Program

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail has implemented improvements to its automatic train control and signals program, but “is not carrying out some key safety commitments,” according to the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission’s (WMSC) most recent safety audit, released Jan. 18. In addition to providing five findings and three recommendations for WMATA to address, WMSC outlined positive practices at the rapid transit system serving 98 stations in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

STB Calculates Five-Year Change in Railroad Productivity

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Jan. 18 presented its calculation for the change in railroad productivity for the 2018-2022 averaging period. Comments are due by Feb. 5.

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