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(Courtesy of Hitachi Rail)

Hitachi Rail Releases 2025 Sustainability Statement

Hitachi Rail on Nov. 26 (World Sustainable Transport Day) published its 2025 Sustainability Statement, reaffirming a commitment to “leading the sustainable development of the mobility sector by driving innovation, reducing environmental impact,

(Courtesy of Willie D. Mills)
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WIR Conference 2025: Connecting, Inspiring, Innovating

Railway Age and Railway Track & Structures on Oct. 15-16 hosted the third-annual in-person Women in Rail Conference with a packed lineup of influential women and their allies, who shared experiences, celebrated achievements, and discussed the future

PANY/NJ’s Rick Cotton (far left) and AASHTO’s Russell McMurry (far right) and Marc Williams. (Photographs courtesy of the respective organizations)
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People News: RRB, PANY/NJ, AASHTO

The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) appoints Jebby Rasputnis as Director of Programs. Also, Rick Cotton is stepping down as Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANY/NJ); and a new President and Vice President are taking the helm at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

Transit Briefs: DART, OC Streetcar, Denver RTD

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) releases its first Point B Strategic Plan Annual Report. Also, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) tests a new electric OC Streetcar ahead of its 2026 launch; and the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) launches a near-term plan to enhance the customer experience and increase transit utilization.

New FTA Safety Advisory Urges Review, Analysis of Safety Performance Data Related to Trespassing and Suicide Events

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Nov. 24 issued Safety Advisory 25-1 (SA 25-1) recommending that State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) direct Rail Transit Agencies (RTAs) within their jurisdiction to use their Safety Management Systems (SMS) “to identify hazards related to rail trespassing and suicide events, perform safety risk assessments, identify safety risk mitigations as necessary to reduce safety risk associated with trespassing and suicide events, and utilize safety performance monitoring and measurement procedures to assess the effectiveness of mitigations.”

“For 70 years, The Canadian has given Canadians a chance to slow down and experience the beauty of this country in a way that no other journey can offer,” VIA Rail President and CEO Mario Péloquin said on Nov. 21. (Courtesy of VIA Rail)

Transit Briefs: Denver RTD, TriMet, VIA Rail

Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Colorado releases its third-quarter financial results. Also, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) takes delivery of its last Type 6 MAX LRV on order; and VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) celebrates The Canadian’s 70th year of service and provides an update on its new Pan-Canadian fleet.

Union Pacific International Railroad Bridge view from Piedras Negras, Mexico. Wikimedia Commons/Manuel Velez

Class I Briefs: BNSF, CSX, UP

BNSF provides an intermodal network update. Also, CSX’s TRANSFLO Petersburg Terminal is coming to Virginia in 2026; and Union Pacific (UP) enhances safety and security at its Eagle Pass border crossing.

Commentary

Why a Unified Rail Network Makes Sense

The U.S. transportation system is being pushed beyond the limits of what it was built to handle. Freight volumes continue climbing, supply chains are more time-sensitive, and our roads — long the

Commentary

Putting Teeth in a Merger Approval

To those of us having experience as both a Class I pricing officer and a railroad shipper, it’s axiomatic that the primary advantage of shipping by rail is price. Now that the

Nebraska, West Virginia, Georgia GOP AGs Support UP+NS

Shortly after nine Republican state attorneys general wrote to the Surface Transportation Board expressing serious concerns about the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, three counterparts, also Republicans—Mike Hilgers, Nebraska; J.B. McCuskey, West

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UP’s Makerov Earns AAR Environmental Excellence Award

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) recently recognized Union Pacific’s (UP) Mike Makerov with its 2025 Environmental Excellence Award for his contributions to “environmental stewardship and sustainability across the freight rail industry.” CN’s Kari Harris, CSX’s Brian Booth, and Norfolk Southern’s (NS) Terri Allen were also honored as nominees.

CSX earlier this month participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for customer Saint Paul Commodities’ $2.33 million blending plant in Selma, N.C. (Screen Grab From CSX Video)

Class I Briefs: CSX, BNSF, NS, UP

CSX and BNSF celebrate the advancement of separate industrial-development projects in North Carolina and Arkansas, respectively. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) supports Habitat for Humanity and Children’s of Alabama; and Union Pacific’s (UP) Roseville Terminal in California marks a safety milestone.

Commentary

Omissions, Errors Flaw Rail Study

The late Henry G. Manne, a pioneer in melding the academic disciplines of economics and law through a lens favoring free markets and reduced government regulation, gained international acclaim through creation of

“In 2021, the MTA was looking at a $2.5 billion annual deficit, but we have been able to get back on track thanks to the amazing support from Albany,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said Nov. 19 upon release of the agency’s final 2026 operating budget and four-year financial plan. “That support allowed us to stay afloat without cutting service, without any layoffs—and another major factor in this agency’s fiscal stability has been the cost savings that we’ve achieved in recent years.” (MTA Photograph)

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, KC Streetcar, NCTD, WMATA, DART

New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) releases its final 2026 operating budget and four-year financial plan. Also, KC Streetcar will soon reveal plans for the new northern terminus and CPKC (Canadian Pacific Kansas City) Pavilion; North County Transit–San Diego Railroad (NCTD) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) move forward on transit-oriented development projects; and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board approves contracts to improve security and cleanliness systemwide.