Despite posting company-wide financials in the second quarter of 2021 that dropped significantly from the prior-year period, GATX Corp. said it remains optimistic, as indicated by strong improvements in its two rail business units.
After months of warning about dire financial consequences brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on July announced that federal funding will provide financial stability through the first half of 2024, and negate the need for immediate fare increases.
The Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority (PNRRA) has signed a Joint Planning Agreement with Amtrak for proposed operation of new intercity service between Scranton, Pa., and New York Penn Station, using the long-dormant, State of New Jersey- and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania-owned Lackawanna Cut-Off. The service is one of the new routes in Amtrak’s 2035 system plan.
Canadian Pacific has responded to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigation update concerning the June 30, 2021 fire in Lytton, B.C., which occurred in the vicinity of Mile 98.3 on CN’s Ashcroft Subdivision by stating that “railways are not a significant cause of wildfires in B.C., contrary to media and government speculation” and that “it is irresponsible and misleading to imply that railways are to blame for the fire.”
Three noted Amtrak industrial designers, past and present — Ralph Dolinger, Blair Slaughter and Cesar Vergara — describe the history of locomotive and passenger car liveries in this video produced for the company’s 50th anniversary.
For the week ending July 10, 2021, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 451,825 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.6% compared with the same week last year, as intermodal losses offset carload gains, the Association of American Railroads reported on July 14.
The Northeast Corridor Commission on July 14 released CONNECT NEC 2035 (C35), a, $117 billion, 15-year plan “representing the most ambitious reinvestment program in the NEC’s history, and a new way of planning” for it.
The Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, North America’s oldest railroad history organization, marks its 100th anniversary this year, and has announced its 2021 scholarship recipients.
Keolis Commuter Services Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Scorey on July 8 was promoted to President and CEO of Keolis North America and named to the Keolis Group’s Management Committee. He replaces Interim CEO Clement Michel, appointed Keolis Group Director of Human Resources and Transformation on May 3.
On July 9, as expected, President Joe Biden signed his latest Executive Order, “Promoting Competition in the American Economy.” The 6,861-word document contains very little language directly pertaining to the USDOT, STB and the railroad industry, with the possible exception of how a Class I merger could affect Amtrak. Railway Age has extracted what we consider relevant.
