news

13 Companies Earn NS Thoroughbred Sustainability Partner Awards

Norfolk Southern (NS) on Dec. 8 announced the recipients of its fourth annual Thoroughbred Sustainability Partner Awards recognizing the Class I’s customers and suppliers who are leading the way in the areas of efficiency, innovation and environmental stewardship.

(Screen Grab from Metrolinx Construction Video)

Finch West LRT Opens (UPDATED 12/8)

The Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) long-awaited, C$2.6 billion Line 6 Finch West LRT launched Dec. 7. Serving 16 light rail stops and two end-point stations along 6.4 miles (10.3 kilometers) of Finch

Marty Thomas, TTX (left), and Katie Choe, VRE. (Photographs courtesy of the respective organizations)
  • News

People News: TTX, VRE

TTX Company elevates Marty Thomas to President, and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) appoints Katie Choe as CEO.

Parsons has landed a five-year contract, with two potential one-year extensions, to support Sound Transit’s $60 billion capital program. (Courtesy of Sound Transit)

Transit Briefs: Sound Transit, WMATA, NYMTA

Parsons Corporation (Parsons) secures a position on Sound Transit of Seattle’s 2025 Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC). Also, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is rolling out a holiday-themed vehicle fleet; and New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) subway sets a post-pandemic ridership record, and its commuter railroads install new TVMs (ticket vending machines).

CPKC AVP of U.S. Government Affairs Larry Lloyd (far left) who traveled to Washington, D.C., with President and CEO Keith Creel (center), where they met with Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas), among others. (Courtesy of Lloyd)

Class I Briefs: BNSF, CSX, CN, CPKC

BNSF provides an operational performance update and marks the 11th consecutive month of “record-breaking” terminal dwell. Also, Newsweek ranks CSX as No. 1 in the Transportation and Logistics category of its 2026 Most Responsible Companies List; CN teams with Ts’îl Kaz Koh First Nation on an emergency preparedness and spill response exercise; and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) President and CEO Keith Creel visits Capitol Hill.

Commentary

Chicagoland Transit Gets Reprieve

Since the emergency infusion of federal funds for transit enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic started to run out, Railway Age has been reporting on how major transit providers have been faring. Some,

Amtrak’s twice-daily Mardi Gras between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., has served more than 46,000 riders since its Aug. 18 launch. (Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, SEPTA, TriMet, NJT, TTC, MBTA

Amtrak’s newest service, the Mardi Gras, is seeing strong demand. Also, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is taking delivery of 10 leased coaches from MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter Rail); Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) promotes Alan Lehto to Executive Director of Planning, a newly created position; New Jersey Transit (NJT) earns the 2025 Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award; Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) considers advertising installations in subway tunnels; and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis) release a year-in-review report.

WMSC Issues Safety Audit of WMATA Communication Systems

The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) on Dec. 4 issued a Safety Audit of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) communication systems performed through in-depth interviews, site visits, and document and data reviews conducted from March 2025 to June 2025.

(Courtesy of Sunport)
  • M/W

Sunport Reactivates Albuquerque Rail Spur

The first 1.5 miles of Albuquerque International Sunport’s (Sunport) 4-mile rail spur in New Mexico have been rehabilitated through a public-private partnership with New Mexico Transloading LLC (NMT).

(Courtesy of Railway Age)
  • News

Railway Age December 2025 Digital Edition Now On Line

Railway Age’s December 2025 issue is now available digitally, spotlighting the Freight Rail Outlook for 2026. Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono and Wall Street Contributing Editor Jason Seidl address the topic that will preoccupy the industry for most if not all of the year: the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern U.S. transcontinental merger.

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, VIA Rail, Mass. Government

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) unveils a collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Also, VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) unveils its 2026-2029 Accessibility Plan; and a new Massachusetts law shields transit workers from assaults.

Robert E. Primus (Screen Grab from Government Hearing)
Commentary

Primus, Late of STB, Alleges Racial Bias

Democrat Robert E. Primus, fired Aug. 27 from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) by Republican POTUS 47, alleges in an amended legal challenge filed in federal district court Dec. 4 that the

“Increased state of good repair work and some service increases have been made possible by RTD’s healthy financial position and debt prepayment,” according RTD’s FY26 budget announcement via social media. “However, this is not sustainable, and RTD is working toward cost reduction and revenue growth opportunities.” (Courtesy of RTD)

For Denver RTD, FY26 Budget Tops $1.5B

Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) on Dec. 3 reported that its Board has adopted a $1.5 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which includes appropriations for operating expenses, state of good repair work before carryforward expenditures from the 2025 budget, and debt service.

  • News

KRRI Signs MOU With ENSCO, MxV Rail

The Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with both ENSCO, Inc., operator of the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Transportation Technology Center (TTC), as well as MxV Rail, a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) to “expand collaboration in railway safety, technology and innovation.”

Small-Road Briefs: G&W, Alaska Railroad Corporation

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) reports that overall satisfaction with its service is up for the third consecutive year and celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Rochester & Southern Railroad (RSR). Also, the Alaska Railroad Corporation closes on a $112 million revenue bond for the refinancing of cruise port redevelopment.