news

AAR: North American Rail Volume Up in Week 38

Through the first 38 weeks of 2024 (ending Sept. 21), total North American carload and intermodal traffic rose 2.6% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). The U.S., Canada and Mexico all experienced gains.

NS’ Jason A. Zampi, Executive Vice President, CFO, and Treasurer (left), and Jason M. Morris, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary. (Image Courtesy of NS)

For NS, More Changes at the Top

Norfolk Southern (NS) has named Jason A. Zampi as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer, and Jason M. Morris as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary; both are company

“Today is a big day for us! It’s the Grand Opening of our Edmonton Distribution Centre, and we couldn’t be more proud of what that means for our customers in Western Canada,” Petro-Canada Lubricants reported in a LinkedIn post shared by CN on Sept. 24. (Photograph Courtesy of Petro-Canada Lubricants)

Class I Briefs: CN, UP

Petro-Canada Lubricants, an HF Sinclair brand, launches a CN-served distribution center in Edmonton, Alberta. Also, Union Pacific (UP) recognizes its Yermo, Calif.-based Mechanical team for 25 years of injury-free service.

Figure 1. Aerial view of the accident scene. (CSX Image, Courtesy of NTSB)

NTSB Releases August 2023 CSX Accident Report

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Sept. 24 issued the final report for its investigation of a Aug. 6, 2023, accident, in which a CSX Transportation conductor trainee was fatally injured during switching

Florida Awarded $18MM to Increase Supply Chain Capacity

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sept. 20 announced the award of $18 million in funding to invest in Florida’s supply chain and “boost aggregate storage for critical infrastructure and asphalt and concrete production.” These awards are the first of $100 million to be invested over five years.

(Cover Image Courtesy of APTA)

APTA Issues 2024 Public Transportation Vehicle Database

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has released its annual Public Transportation Vehicle Database, providing fleet details of approximately 158 U.S. and six Canadian transit agencies and representing systems that carry 77% of

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SMART-TD General Committees Ratify Agreement With Amtrak

General Chairpersons Francis Ariola (GO 663) and Rick Pauli (GO 769), who handle the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal Air, Rail and Transportation Workers’ (SMART-TD) Amtrak properties, on

Commentary

The Rail Growth Imperative: A Tale of Two Days

The landmark Surface Transportation Board (STB) hearing on U.S. freight rail industry growth, at which I was privileged to be one of the speakers, was a unique opportunity to listen a diverse

(Photograph Courtesy of Unifor)

Unifor Opens Negotiations With CN

Unifor on Sept. 23 reported that its Local 100 and Council 4000 have officially opened negotiations with CN, representing more than 3,600 rail workers across Canada.

Commentary

Lunch Has Been Served. Wake Up!!

When I started in this business in 1992, Bob Matthews ran the Railway Progress Institute (which years later merged with the Railway Supply Association into today’s Railway Supply Institute). Bob had a

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, Amtrak, Metro-North, DART, UDOT, MBTA

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) launches a new feature on its TrainTime app. Also, Amtrak launches the Floridian, with daily service between Chicago and Miami; Metro-North Railroad launches a pilot program for customers to report restrooms in need of maintenance; Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) signs a 10-year office lease at Knoll Trail Crossing; the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) gets ready to begin a statewide passenger rail feasibility study; and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) wins $472 million in federal funding to replace the North Station Draw One Bridge.

FLX Solutions worked with 28 MTA and NJT employees to determine the best maintenance tasks for its FLX BOT, which is described as a “handheld robot that enables maintenance and inspection in hard-to-reach locations.” (Photograph Courtesy of Transit Tech Lab)

Transit Tech Lab Releases Latest Challenge Results

The Transit Tech Lab, a joint initiative of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Partnership Fund for New York City, has released the proof-of-concept results for its three latest challenges.

Class I Briefs: CN, UP, CPKC

Pivotal Energy Partners Inc. opens its new facility on a CN Certified Rail Ready Site. Also, 19 Union Pacific (UP) employees graduate from the Leadership Development Program; and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) raises more than $550,000 for veterans experiencing homelessness in Canada and the U.S.

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People News: AAR, RSI

Michael Wiley is named as the new General Manager of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Mechanical Inspection Department. Also, Jeffrey Ostrander joins the Railway Supply Institute (RSI) to help manage the association’s Quality Assurance, Equipment Leasing and American Railway Car Institute (ARCI) Committees.