Watco Completes Major Projects in 2024
Last year, Watco partnered with government agencies, customers, and others to maintain infrastructure and grow freight opportunities across its network.
news
CHSRA Provides 2025 Project Update Report
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) on March 1 submitted its 2025 Project Update Report (download below) to the California Legislature, fulfilling its requirement to provide biennial updates on the development and implementation of intercity high-speed rail service.
Transit Briefs: VIA Rail Canada, Sound Transit, WMATA
VIA Rail, Canada’s national passenger rail service, launches a request for qualifications (RFQ) for its Dorval Hub Project. Also, construction for a transit-oriented development (TOD) project begins on land contributed by Seattle’s Sound Transit and the City of Bellevue, Wash.; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) celebrates “cherry blossom season” with special train and bus wraps.
Class I Briefs: BNSF, CN, CSX
BNSF makes “significant progress” in its recovery efforts in the Class I’s Northern Corridor. Also, CN partner Crowley will launch its Mexico Gulf Express service in May; and CSX begins its 2025 Responder Incident Training in Baldwin, Fla.
Siemens Mobility Lands Another GCRTA Order
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) now has a total of 48 Siemens Mobility S200 LRVs (light rail vehicles) on order to replace its current fleet operating on the Red, Blue and Green lines.
Transport Canada Establishes Supply Chain Advisory Council
Canada’s Minister of Transport Anita Anand and Internal Trade on Feb. 28 announced the establishment of the Supply Chain Advisory Council, comprised of experts and senior leaders in their fields.
People News: BRC, STV
Jerry Peck is selected to lead The Belt Railway of Chicago (BRC). Also, Allison Dane Camden joins STV as Vice President and Pacific Northwest Area Manager within the firm’s Transportation West group.
CSX, Machinists Union Ratify Agreement
CSX machinists and roadway mechanics represented by the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) have ratified a five-year collective bargaining agreement, the Class I railroad reported March 3.
Rail-Served Grain Facilities Coming Online, Earning Awards
Viterra recently broke ground on its newest grain elevator in Dalhart, Tex., to be served by Union Pacific (UP), and G3 Canada announced plans to build a new grain terminal at the
STB Calculates Five-Year Change in Railroad Productivity
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Feb. 28 presented its calculation for the change in railroad productivity for the 2019-2023 averaging period. Comments are due by March 17.
Officially Merged: CN and IANR
CN and Iowa Northern Railway Company (IANR) on March 1 officially joined their operations, following Surface Transportation Board (STB) approval earlier this year.
WMATA Revises FY26 Budget Proposal, FY27 Forecast
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) on Feb. 27 issued a revised Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) proposed budget, which it said reflects “a positive trend in ridership and revenue.” FY26 starts July 1, 2025.
Alabama Port Authority, CSX Break Ground on Inland Port
The Alabama Port Authority and CSX on Feb. 27 kicked off construction of the Montgomery Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF), which is expected to be operational by 2027.
New AAR Study Underscores ‘Substantial’ Economic Impact of U.S. Rail Transportation Industry
A new study by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) underscores the “substantial” economic impact of the rail transportation industry in the U.S. In 2023, the rail transportation sector contributed $233.4 billion in total economic output, supporting nearly 749,000 jobs across various industries.
Transit Briefs: CTA, Metro-North, Caltrain, BART, NJ Transit
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) unveils final designs for blocks under new Red Line tracks. Also, Metro-North Railroad unveils the sixth wrapped locomotive from its Heritage Series; a new poll shows strong regional approval for Caltrain; Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) customer satisfaction rate hits its highest mark in 10 years; and NJ Transit announces new customer experience enhancements at key transit hubs.
NYMTA, Google Public Sector Announce Preventive Track Maintenance Pilot Program
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Feb. 27 announced a pilot program in partnership with Google Public Sector, “building on the success of its proven TrackInspect prototype, to proactively detect potential track defects before they escalate into operational issues that disrupt service to customers.”
Strike Averted, Again: USMX, ILA Reach Tentative Agreement (UPDATED 2/28)
The U.S. East and Gulf Coast port employers, represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) union reached a tentative deal—just days before the new Jan. 15, 2025, contract
UP’s Rocker Issues ‘Status of the Railroad’ Report
Despite severe winter weather affecting many areas of Union Pacific’s (UP) 23-state network this year—including a “once-in-a-lifetime winter storm hitting Texas and Louisiana’s Gulf Coast—its Executive Vice President-Marketing and Sales Kenny Rocker
Commentary
24th of a Series: A Look Behind the Issues
The future of the controversial Congestion Pricing toll for vehicles entering the downtown and Midtown areas of Manhattan is in court once again. After nearly a dozen cases filed in federal courts
Transit Briefs: NJT, NJT/Amtrak, LACMTA, CTDOT, STV, NCTD, BART
The New Jersey Governor’s proposed budget includes a state corporate transit fee to help financially strapped New Jersey Transit (NJT). Also, the final arch is installed for the Portal North Bridge project, which will speed NJT commuter rail and Amtrak intercity passenger rail service; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) ridership was up 8% in 2024; Connecticut commuter railroads continued their post-pandemic ridership rebound last year; STV, as part of a progressive design-build (PDB) team, extends Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s automated people mover (APM) system; North County Transit District (NCTD) proclaims Feb. 25 as Crystal Trent Day in honor of San Diego’s first African American female engineer; and San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) introduces a team that has five minutes to clean each rapid transit train.