news

David Nahass, Railway Age Financial Editor
Commentary

It’s Not the Size of the Gift. It’s the Cost!

FINANCIAL EDGE, RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2023 ISSUE: Everyone’s Holidays are costing more in 2023. Heck, everything costs more in 2023. After three years of rising prices, it is taxing. “Financial Edge” has spilled plenty of ink regarding rising railcar costs. If some is good, perhaps more is, well, maybe not better but necessary.

(Shutterstock.com/ TierneyMJ)
  • News

UMD Issues Call for Papers on Rail Cybersecurity

The University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) is seeking papers on cyber and digital information in railway engineering and operations for a short course and workshop, to be held March 7-8, 2024.

Figure 1. Training course in progress at the ARTC located at the TTC. (TTC Operated by ENSCO)

Alternative Power, Specialized Response

TTC Operated by ENSCO, RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2023 ISSUE: Addressing the critical need for specialized hazmat training in lithium-ion battery and hydrogen railway vehicle emergencies.

WMATA photo

WMATA Reinstates Auto Doors on Red Line

Following weeks of certifying operators to use Automatic Door Operation on some Red Line trains, the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) has given concurrence to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to allow the agency to fully operate in Auto Door mode on the Red Line, beginning Dec. 5.

Commentary
  • News

Brighter Days Ahead

2024 FREIGHT RAIL OUTLOOK, RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2023 ISSUE: In more ways than one, 2023 was marked by a few dark clouds. In 2024, look for them to scatter, pushed by warmer

Commentary

Oberman, the Pragmatist, May be Missed

WATCHING WASHINGTON, RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2023 ISSUE: News item: Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairperson Martin J. Oberman will not seek renomination to a second term and depart in “early 2024.” Since his

Commentary
  • News

2023 Was a Very Good Year — Really!

FROM THE EDITOR, RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2023 ISSUE: A tumultuous 2023 comes to a close on many positive notes, enough to say that, on balance, it was a very good year (to

“Nonpolice community service officers” at Metro Transit in Minneapolis/St. Paul began checking fares Dec. 4 on the Blue and Green light rail lines. (Metro Transit Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Metro Transit, SCVTA

Metro Transit in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., launches a fare enforcement program. Also, more affordable housing will be built on Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA)-owned property.

Commentary

Union Pacific Running Well

Since the early 2022 Service Crisis, we’ve seen the U.S. railroads, one-by-one, reach a point where service is arguably fully restored, at least to where it was prior. CSX was quick to

“I said from the beginning that Norfolk Southern would be here for the long haul and we will be here to see this community through,” NS CEO Alan Shaw told attendees of a Nov. 30 economic development roundtable discussion in East Palestine, Ohio. (NS Photograph)

Class I Briefs: CPKC, NS

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) in November unloaded its first 8,500-foot grain train in the U.S. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) late last month held a roundtable discussion in East Palestine, Ohio, with local officials, focusing on long-term economic opportunities for businesses and residents.

WMATA Addressing ‘Pressing’ Problem

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has begun a wheelset retrofit program on its problematic 748-unit Kawasaki Rail USA 7000-series railcar fleet to return them to service and resume a “normal”

Bob Bainter, Manager of Operations and Safety Training, BNSF (Photograph Courtesy of BNSF)
Commentary

Umpire Finds Railroading Career Is Home Base

Bob Bainter is something of a rules guy. On the job with BNSF, he’s a manager of Operations and Safety Training based out of Cicero, Ill. He’s responsible for ensuring that Transportation employees—train crews, switch crews and others who handle trains and railcars—follow operating procedures for their and their coworkers’ safety.

(Photograph Courtesy of HYDRA)

Patriot Rail Acquires HYDRA

Patriot Rail has expanded its integrated freight services capabilities with the assumption of ownership and operations of Hydra Distribution & Rail Services and Hydra Transport (HYDRA), providers of warehousing, transloading, distribution and

(VRE Photograph Courtesy of BLET)

BLET Ratifies Keolis/VRE Agreement

Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) have ratified a new five-year contract with Keolis Rail Services Virginia. The contract ratification vote took place in November. The new agreement runs

“The National Supply Chain Office will enhance the resilience, efficiency and reliability of our transportation systems,” Canada’s Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez said Dec. 1. “This is one of many initiatives by the government of Canada to reduce congestion throughout the transportation supply chain, benefiting Canadians across the country.”

Canada Launches National Supply Chain Office

Transport Canada on Dec. 1 reported that Assistant Deputy Minister Robert Dick will lead its new National Supply Chain Office, whose aim is “to strengthen Canada’s supply chains and increase the economy’s competitiveness.”