RAC Releases Rail Trends 2023 Report
The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) on Dec. 20 released Rail Trends 2023, a rolling 10-year review of financial and statistical results.
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![According to Parallel Systems, its autonomous battery-electric freight cars “form platoons through bumper-to-bumper contact.” Traditional coupling is not required, allowing “freight to [be] sort[ed] on the rail network,” it reports. (Parallel Systems Photograph)](https://www.old.railwayage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2023-12-20-at-3.22.51-PM-315x168.png)
Watch: Parallel Systems Tests Railcar ‘Platooning’ in California
Los Angeles, Calif.-based Parallel Systems on Dec. 20 released a video of its new autonomous battery-electric freight cars, which it said showed them “successfully platooning,” or “connecting with one another through bumper-to-bumper contact,” at its Southern California test track.
AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Uptick Continues in Week 50
For the week ending Dec. 16 (Week 50), total U.S. rail traffic was 502,583 carloads and intermodal units, rising 7.6% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Dec. 20.
Transit Briefs: Metrolinx, NJ Transit, FTA, CTA, SFMTA, TTC
Metrolinx teams up with Canadian whisky brand Forty Creek to provide free rides on GO Transit and UP Express on New Year’s Eve. Meanwhile, NJ Transit’s systemwide beverage ban remains in effect, and the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) takes nationwide steps to address assaults on transit workers. Also, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) kicks off a community engagement process to activate new spaces under new Red Line Tracks; the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) introduces the first LRV4s with a new seating arrangement; Scarborough’s Rapid Transit (RT) trains could have a new home in Detroit; and NJ Transit sells a stuffed animal to support Ricardo the Bull.
CSX: Boone Recognized for Sales Success, CSX TRANSFLO Marks Milestone
CSX on Dec. 19 reported that Chief Commercial Officer Kevin Boone, a Railway Age readers’ Most Influential Leader honoree for 2022, earns a spot on The Top 100 Global Sales Leaders list
People News: Tracsis North America; Latinos In Transit
Marcelo Bravo is the new Vice President of Rail and Transit at Fairport, N.Y.-based Tracsis North America, formerly known as RailComm. Also, Burns Engineering’s Alva Carrasco concludes her term as President of Latinos In Transit (LIT).
Railinc’s TransmetriQ Brand Earns ‘Manufacturing + Supply Chain’ Award
The North Carolina Technology Association (NC TECH) recently presented TransmetriQ, a Railinc® brand that provides rail management software, with an award “for advancing technology in the supply chain.”
NCDOT Invests $10.2MM in Short Line Railroads
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on Dec. 19 announced that it is investing $10.2 million as part of 50-50 matching grant funding for rail infrastructure projects along 10 short line railroads and at the North Carolina Ports.
RSI Announces 2024 Quality Assurance Committee Leaders
The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) on Dec. 19 announced that executives at GATX Corporation and TrinityRail, Inc., will lead its Quality Assurance Committee in 2024, and advocate for “quality and continuous improvement in the performance, safety, and reliability of the rail supply industry’s products and services.”
Commentary
A Look Back at 2023
Indeed, 2023, despite its rough patches, was on balance a very good year for the rail industry. In the spirit of the Holiday Season, the Association of American Railroads highlighted a few
Transit Briefs: SRPRA, SCVTA, WMATA
Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) in Pennsylvania selects a consultant to prepare a Reading-Philadelphia service development plan. Also, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) closes on a $23.8-million land purchase near Diridon Station in San Jose, Calif.; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) eliminates the $2 SmarTrip fare payment card fee for seniors.
Class I Briefs: CSX, CN, NS
CSX upgrades its Positive Train Control (PTC) system. Also, CN’s SCIO platform is recognized by the Digital Engineering Awards in the Digital Transformation of the Year category; and Norfolk Southern (NS) grants $5 million to promote safety and build communities and begins construction on its East Palestine Field Office.
Ports of Indiana Taps Rail, Marine Execs to Build Business
Senior rail executive Matt Service and maritime industry veteran Ian Hirt have been hired to help develop new cargo and rail projects for the Ports of Indiana, a statewide port authority managing three ports (Burns Harbor; Mt. Vernon; and Jeffersonville, Ind.) on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan.
Intermodal Briefs: POLB, ITS Logistics
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) awards the Port of Long Beach (POLB) $283 million for its Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility project. Also, ITS Logistics releases its December forecast.
Report: Ohio Rail Commission Releases Public Rail Crossing Impact Tool
The Ohio Rail Development Commission (Rail Commission) has released a free, publicly accessible tool to “measure the impact of blocked rail/roadway at-grade crossings in Ohio, according to a Circleville Herald report.
SMART East-West Rail Corridor Receives Federal Boost
The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) announced Dec. 18 that its east-west rail corridor, connecting the City of Novato to Suisun City, has been designated for inclusion under the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) program.
TSB: Railcar Structural Failure Led to 2019 CN Tunnel Derailment
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) on Dec. 18 reported that structural failure of a bathtub gondola car led to the 2019 derailment of a CN train proceeding through the CN Paul M. Tellier Tunnel en route from Sarnia, Ontario, to Port Huron, Mich. At the time of the accident, “there was no industry or regulatory requirement to periodically conduct a full inspection of the car to ensure it maintained its structural integrity,” the TSB reported. “As a result, its structural integrity deteriorated and this was not identified. …”
Commentary
Ensuring Trust, Based on Humanity
The pandemic and subsequent initiatives emanating from the Biden Administration have catapulted supply chain to the public domain and raised awareness of how critical warehousing and transportation are to the health of
Monterrey to Explore Passenger Rail
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) has agreed to support a study to host a regional/commuter passenger train service in Monterrey, Mexico. Monterrey, which has a small light rail system, is the capital
Commentary
BNSF Intermodal Snaps Back
Over the past few weeks we’ve been observing and discussing the unanticipated strength in BNSF domestic intermodal volumes, which began in October, and how the operating team has handled it. We’re using