Savage Tooele Railroad Company has proposed reinstituting common carrier freight rail service over an approximately six-mile segment of the former “Warner Branch” (abandoned in 1983 by UP predecessor Western Pacific Railroad Company), and to construct approximately five miles of new railroad line within the Lakeview Business Park, which has been under development since 2020 in Tooele County, Utah. (STB Photograph)

STB Issues Environmental Assessment for Proposed 11-Mile Utah Rail Line

The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis has released a Draft Environmental Assessment for Savage Tooele Railroad Company’s (STR) proposal to construct and operate a new 11-mile rail line in Tooele

The “first-of-its-kind” National University Rail Center of Excellence “exemplifies our ongoing commitment to building a safer, more efficient and sustainable rail network for the benefit of all Americans,” FRA Administrator Amit Bose said Sept. 29.

UIUC to Launch National University Rail Center of Excellence

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) up to $5 million to establish the National University Rail Center of Excellence, an initiative “to develop the future

A $12.4 million grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation will go toward GCRTA’s Rail Car Replacement Program. In July, Siemens Mobility was contracted to replace the agency’s Red Line fleet with 24 S200s. (Rendering Courtesy of Siemens Mobility)

Transit Briefs: GCRTA, NCTD, SEPTA, VRE

Ohio’s Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) receives a $12.4 million state grant for railcar replacement. Also, California’s North County Transit District (NCTD) is awarded state funding for a climate vulnerability and needs assessment; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) rolls out contactless payment technology; and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) seeks public comment on fare changes proposed in its preliminary fiscal year 2025 budget.

Celebrating the launch of Watco Logistics’ warehouse and logistics operating center in Springdale, Ark., were (left to right) Andy Moran, Watco Senior Director of Retail Services; Eric Wolfe, Watco Logistics President; Doug Sprouse, Springdale Mayor; Dan Smith, Watco CEO; and Nick Coomes, Watco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. (Watco Photograph)

Small-Road Briefs: Watco, SRR

Watco opens a new warehouse and logistics operating center in Arkansas. Also, Sandersville Railroad (SRR) adds another customer to its list of Hanson Spur users in Georgia.

“As the rising cost of living continues to impact U.S. households, public transportation offers an economical and climate-friendly alternative to reduce daily expenses,” APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas said. (MARTA Photograph Courtesy of APTA, via X)

APTA: Public Transit Saves Users $13K Annually

Individuals who use public transportation instead of driving can save more than $13,000 per year, or $1,100 per month, due to auto cost and gasoline price increases, according to the latest Transit Savings report from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

Shutterstock/Manop Boonpeng

Final Day to Enter ‘Women in Rail’ Nominations!

Do you know a visionary woman in the rail industry? Nominate a colleague or yourself for the seventh annual Railway Age Women in Rail awards. The deadline is Friday, September 29.

The new opening date for Eglinton Crosstown LRT—the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) future Line 5—won’t be announced until the “high-risk testing phase” is completed.

Transit Briefs: Metrolinx, Miami-Dade County, St. Louis Metro Transit, STM

When will Metrolinx announce the opening date for Eglinton Crosstown LRT? Also, the price tag is going up for the planned commuter rail line between Miami and Aventura, Fla.; St. Louis, Mo., Metro Transit will test single-car light rail train service next month and has awarded the first construction contract for its Secure Platform Plan; and Société de transport de Montréal (STM) delays the Blue Line métro extension launch.

(FRA Photograph)

FRA Examines Vertical Split Rim Causes, Prevention

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) this month released a technical report on the causes and prevention vertical split rim (VSR), which is related broken wheel rims, one of the leading causes of FRA-reportable wheel-related accidents.

​​NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy (right) with some of the 15 new employees sworn in on Sept. 25. The agency now has 433 staffers. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of NTSB)

NTSB Boosts Staffing, Reduces Average Investigation-Completion Time

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Sept. 27 reported hiring a record number of employees this year “to keep up with emerging technologies and reduce the average time it takes to complete investigations.”

(Screen Grab Courtesy of TTX YouTube Video)

U.S. Rail Traffic Uptick Continues in Week 38

For the week ending Sept. 23, 2023 (Week 38), total U.S. rail traffic was 493,323 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.8% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Sept. 27. It is the second consecutive week of gains for carloads and intermodal units, following weeks of losses or virtually flat results for both.

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