CSX’s NaLonda Beckom, Dia Harris, Tiffany Stevens and Stephanie Toliver (pictured left to right) recently graduated from the National African American Women’s Leadership Institute. (CSX Photographs)

Class I Briefs: CSX, NS

Four CSX employees complete a leadership development program run by the National African American Women’s Leadership Institute. Also, a Norfolk Southern (NS) police officer has graduated from the FBI National Academy.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

First Look: Rail-Related RAISE Grantees for FY23

More than $244 million in FY 2023 RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) program grants will be distributed to 13 freight and passenger rail-related projects in 11 states, according to

Amtrak’s Adirondack train between New York and Montreal will now terminate at Albany-Rensselaer. The move comes just three months after the Adirondack restarted. It had been discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, East-West Rail, REM, SkyTrain

Service on Amtrak’s New York City-Montreal Adirondack train is suspended north of Albany, N.Y. Also, east-west passenger rail projects in Palmer and Pittsfield, Mass., will advance with the addition of $12 million in the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) newest capital investment plan; final pre-commissioning starts this month for the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) between Brossard and Gare Centrale stations; and the launch of SkyTrain’s new Capstan Station in metro Vancouver has been delayed.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

USDOT: Applications Welcome for $5.575B in Infrastructure Project Funding

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is now accepting infrastructure project applications for up to $5.575 billion in funding from three major discretionary grant programs. Applications are being solicited together under a

“In cooperation with federal, state, and local authorities, Norfolk Southern is advancing environmental recovery efforts in East Palestine,” reports the Class I, which says it has “reconstructed both mainlines after successfully excavating the impacted soil under the removed tracks and transporting it off-site.” (NS Photograph, June 18, 2023)

NS Reaches East Palestine Remediation Milestone

Norfolk Southern (NS) on June 26, nearly five months after the East Palestine, Ohio derailment, reported completing remediation of both tracks that run through the village, with rail traffic slated to resume “a normal schedule

(Wabtec Photograph)

Wabtec Wins G&W Order for ‘Pre-Owned’ Power

Wabtec on June 27 reported that it will deliver 69 “certified pre-owned” locomotives this year to six of Genesee & Wyoming Inc.’s U.S. subsidiaries in a deal that includes an extended warranty.

(NCTD Photograph)

NCTD Cutting Back Coaster Fleet

The Board of California’s North County Transit District (NCTD) on June 15 approved trimming the Coaster regional/commuter rail fleet by five legacy, Bombardier-built bi-levels and two just-delivered Siemens Chargers, and using the

BNSF, BRC Seek FRA Waiver Expansion for Brake Health Program (UPDATED June 26)

BNSF on June 20 reported that it is partnering with the TCU/IAM Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Division (BRC) to request a test waiver expansion from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for its

STB Rules in NTEC vs. BNSF Service Case

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on June 23 issued a preliminary injunction requiring BNSF this year to transport 4.2 million tons of coal from Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC’s (NTEC) Spring Creek Mine in Big Horn County, Mont., to the Westshore Terminals export facility in British Columbia, Canada. The mine is solely served by BNSF. STB is also requiring the Class I to transport an additional one million tons this year as trainsets and crews become available. Railway Age Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Frank N. Wilner weighs in.

The LACMTA Board has approved pursuing an in-house transit police department. (LACMTA Photo, Via Twitter)

Transit Briefs: LACMTA, MARTA, MBTA, Metra, TransLink

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) eyes an in-house transit police department, and in May marked the six consecutive month of year-over-year ridership growth. Also, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) advances the $230 million Streetcar East Extension project; Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in July will temporarily close the Green Line’s B Branch for a track upgrade; Metra launches a $33.9 million, three-station rebuild project in Chicago; and Vancouver’s TransLink releases study results showing that developer-sponsored incentives boost transit ridership and revenues.

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