“Between improved reliability, safety enhancements, and amenities, R211 cars will make a world of difference for G train riders,” MTA NYCT President Demetrius Crichlow said March 4. “The R211 [rapid transit] cars are state of the art and less prone to breakdowns, which means smoother trips and more reliable service for decades to come.” The cars operate with an open gangway; NYCT debuted them on the C line in 2024. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

Transit Briefs: NYCT, NJT, LACMTA, Tri-Rail, Fort Worth

The first set of Kawasaki-built open-gangway rapid transit cars is now running on MTA New York City Transit’s (NYCT) crosstown G line. Also, New Jersey Transit (NJT) is speeding up efforts to replace windows on all Multilevel commuter railcars in revenue service; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) is expanding a pilot program that screens riders for weapons; South Florida’s Tri-Rail commuter rail system may face a $90 million annual deficit; and Fort Worth, Tex., eyes a downtown rail system.

An aerial view of the Mission Island Lands, a 183-acre industrial property in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where Frontier Lithium plans to build a lithium conversion facility. (Map Courtesy of CNW Group/Frontier Lithium Inc.)

Industrial Development Briefs: 5V/UP, Frontier Lithium/CPKC

5V, a newly formed partnership between Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC and Viserion Grain, LLC, will develop a new Union Pacific (UP)-served facility in Dalhart, Tex. Also, Frontier Lithium has closed on the acquisition of a Thunder Bay, Ontario-based industrial site, with access to Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) service.

(Courtesy of Railway Age)

Railway Age March 2025 Digital Edition Spotlights Small-Road Standouts

Railway Age’s Short Line and Regional of the Year program recognizes two Honorees and four Honorable Mentions for outstanding achievement—from ingenuity in dealing with the unexpected, safety improvements, and community initiatives to

Rayhawk technology is said to integrate computer vision, machine learning, and autonomous operations to ensure safe and efficient rail loading. (RayHawk Image)

Supply Side: VINCI Energies/X-Rail, RayHawk

France-based VINCI Energies and its subsidiary TCI+ of Quebec, Canada, acquire railway signaling design, installation and maintenance company X-Rail Signalisation Inc. (X-Rail). Also, RayHawk Technologies Inc. (RayHawk) receives funding from the government of Canada to commercialize its railcar loading/unloading technology.

“At Norfolk Southern, we are leveraging cutting-edge AI and enhanced imaging to set new industry standards for safety and operational excellence,” EVP and Chief Information and Digital Officer Anil Bhatt reported via LinkedIn on March 3. “Our Digital Train Inspection portals are a testament to this innovation—combining advanced AI algorithms, developed by our Data Scientists in close collaboration with our Mechanical experts, to analyze railcars at full speed. Each portal captures approximately 1,000 images per passing railcar, generating petabytes of data every month. This vast dataset is processed in real-time by AI models that detect emerging conditions with precision, helping our teams take proactive action.” (Photograph Courtesy of Anil Bhatt)

Class I Briefs: NS, UP

Norfolk Southern (NS) achieves a milestone with its Digital Train Inspection Portal and launches an employee-focused branding campaign. Also, Union Pacific (UP) supports an Illinois nonprofit that empowers U.S. veterans.

Union Pacific last fall reported utilizing technology and enhancing security to protect its customers’ cargo, its property, and its employees. (UP Photograph)

AAR: Cargo Theft on the Rise

Cargo theft cost Class I railroads more than $100 million in 2024, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR), which is calling for government support to combat it.

VIA Rail on March 28 launched an RFQ, seeking a co-development partner for its Dorval Hub Project. (VIA Rail Photograph)

Transit Briefs: VIA Rail Canada, Sound Transit, WMATA

VIA Rail, Canada’s national passenger rail service, launches a request for qualifications (RFQ) for its Dorval Hub Project. Also, construction for a transit-oriented development (TOD) project begins on land contributed by Seattle’s Sound Transit and the City of Bellevue, Wash.; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) celebrates “cherry blossom season” with special train and bus wraps.

Rendering of Siemens Mobility S200 LRVs for GCRTA. (Courtesy of Siemens Mobility)

Siemens Mobility Lands Another GCRTA Order

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) now has a total of 48 Siemens Mobility S200 LRVs (light rail vehicles) on order to replace its current fleet operating on the Red, Blue and Green lines.

(CSX Photograph)

CSX, Machinists Union Ratify Agreement

CSX machinists and roadway mechanics represented by the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) have ratified a five-year collective bargaining agreement, the Class I railroad reported March 3.

(CPKC Photograph)

Rail-Served Grain Facilities Coming Online, Earning Awards

Viterra recently broke ground on its newest grain elevator in Dalhart, Tex., to be served by Union Pacific (UP), and G3 Canada announced plans to build a new grain terminal at the

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