NS on Sept. 21 reported via LinkedIn: “We are excited to break ground on our new regional safety training center in East Palestine today! This facility will provide ongoing, free specialized training for first responders from Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the greater region.” Pictured here from L to R: State Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel, East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway, NS President and CEO Alan H. Shaw, East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick, State Sen. Mike Rulli, and NS VP of Safety John Fleps.

NS Breaks Ground on Regional Safety Training Center in Ohio

Work on Norfolk Southern’s (NS) new regional first-responder training center in East Palestine, Ohio, got under way Sept. 21 with a groundbreaking event attended by railroad and local officials as well as

Rail Safety Week Under Way: Sept. 18-24 (Updated Sept. 21)

Operational Lifesaver Inc. (OLI), Operation Lifesaver Canada, and the Mexican Association of Railroads (AMF) is leading Rail Safety Week 2023 across North America on Sept. 18-24.

“When a rail incident occurs, seconds count,” NS Vice President Safety John Fleps said. “Through our partnership with RapidSOS, 911 call centers and first responder agencies throughout our 22-state network will have faster access to the information they need to safeguard their response, save lives and protect the communities in which we operate.” (NS Photograph)

NS, RapidSOS Team on First Responder Initiative

Norfolk Southern (NS) on Sept. 20 reported partnering with RapidSOS to help “make it quicker and easier” for first responders to access cargo and hazardous materials information and enable the ability to call for mutual aid, all while providing ongoing training.

(The Greenbrier Companies Photograph)

Greenbrier Lands Record Railcar Orders

The Greenbrier Companies boosted its order book by 15,300 railcars in its fiscal fourth quarter ending Aug. 31, 2023. Customers operating in “various commercial sectors” are purchasing a “range of railcar types” with an aggregate value of $1.9 billion, the manufacturer reported Sept. 21. TD Cowen offered insight.

South Carolina Ports Authority’s rail-served inland ports continue to see strong volumes, serving as key connections between inland markets and the Port of Charleston.(Photo/SCPA/English Purcell)

Intermodal Briefs: SC Ports, IANA

South Carolina Ports Authority’s (SC Ports) rail-served Inland Port Greer handles record cargo in August. Also, the University of North Texas (UNT) notches another win in the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) case study competition.

New York MTA has received a strengthened credit rating outlook from Moody’s Investors’ Service, which amended the outlook of its A3 rating for MTA’s Transportation Revenue Bonds rating to “positive” from “stable.”

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, SacRT

Moody’s Investors’ Service ups the credit rating outlook for New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Also, the state of California has awarded Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) $4.4 million for three transportation infrastructure projects.

Pictured: Norfolk Southern’s Floyd Hudson, Vice President Field Engagement (left) and Joe Gioe, Vice President Transportation.

NS Promotes Hudson, Gioe

Norfolk Southern (NS) has elevated Floyd Hudson to the newly created position of Vice President Field Engagement. Succeeding him as Vice President Transportation is Joe Gioe, the Class I railroad told Railway Age on Sept. 20.

The North Platte Nebraska Volunteer Fire Department on Sept. 14 at 4:25 p.m. reported via social media platform X that “NP Fire & Hazmat are on scene with UPRR. The incident is contained at this time. They are monitoring the situation and the weather, adjusting their tactics and evacuations to keep responders and citizens safe. Stay alert to any changes that may come.” (Photograph Courtesy of NPVFD, via X)

Report: Explosion at UP’s Bailey Yard in Nebraska (Updated Sept. 20)

The Sept. 14 explosion from inside an intermodal container loaded on a railcar at Union Pacific’s (UP) Bailey Yard was contained within hours, allowing yard operations to resume. An investigation is under way.

Beaver County, PA Emergency Communications Center. (Photograph Courtesy of AAR)

AAR, NS Boost AskRail Access

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) on Sept. 18 reported working with member company Norfolk Southern (NS) to integrate AskRail into the dispatching services of the Columbiana County, Ohio, and Beaver County,

Catherine Rinaldi. New York MTA photo.

Rinaldi to Step Down as Interim LIRR President

MTA Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi has announced that she will transition out of her role as interim President of MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), which she took on in February 2022

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