The Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO has written letters to all six Class I railroads (download below) urging them to join the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) voluntary Confidential Close Call Reporting
GATX Corporation elevates three senior executives. Also, a new President and CEO takes the throttle at IntelliTrans; and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Chief Safety Officer resigns.
U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Aug. 12, 2023 (Week 32) dipped 4.2% from the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Aug. 16.
Cando Rail & Terminals and Caltrax team to provide railcar cleaning and repair on-site in Alberta, Canada. Also, Duos Technologies installs its 13th Railcar Inspection Portal; Railroad Software earns a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing U.S. private companies; and Siemens Mobility achieves the highest ranking in the EcoVadis Sustainability Rating 2023.
California’s North County Transit District (NCTD) appoints an interim Executive Director. Also, the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada considers light rail in Las Vegas; Santa Clara Valley (Calif.) Transportation Authority (VTA) reports a double-digit increase in light rail and bus ridership from 2022 to 2023; and Sound Transit light rail in Seattle sets ridership records.
Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway, LLC (BRG), a managed affiliate of OmniTRAX, has presented a $9,000 donation to the Point Isabel Independent School District (ISD) in honor of nine shippers demonstrating a commitment to safety.
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) on Aug. 14 reported the 14 North American organizations and leaders earning its annual awards for “vision, leadership and commitment to public transportation,” plus the induction of six new members into the APTA Hall of Fame.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on June 21 reported proposing a new rule that would require all railroads to “always maintain—and update in real-time—accurate, electronic information about rail hazmat shipments in a train consist that would be accessible to authorized emergency response personnel.” On Aug. 15, the government agency extended the comment period for that proposal.
ES44AH No. 1869, in Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) colors, is the fifth heritage-schemed locomotive to roll out of CSX’s Waycross, Ga., shop. Its number recognizes C&O’s founding year.
Crime declines at Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Also, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Metro Transit in St. Louis reach labor agreements; Metrolinx will announce the long-overdue opening of Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) line; the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will review Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) maintenance and safety protocols; Seattle’s Sound Transit allows riders to track service performance in their neighborhoods; and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) riders will soon be able to pay fares using Interac® Debit.