Railroad Cost of Capital Set at 10.68% for 2024
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has determined that the cost of capital for the railroad industry, which is calculated each year, was 10.68% for 2024.
Breaking News
People News: CN, Denver RTD
Janet Drysdale assumes the role of CN’s Interim Chief Commercial Officer. Also, Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) appoints Timothy (Tim) Tyran as Director of Safety and Environmental Compliance and Chief Safety Officer.
STB to Hold Meetings on ‘Improving Competition and Reducing Regulatory Barriers’
Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Patrick Fuchs on July 21 announced that the agency is holding a series of meetings “designed to discuss ideas and opportunities to update the STB’s regulatory framework to improve competition and reduce regulatory barriers.”
Class I Briefs: BNSF, UP
BNSF provides customers with an operational performance update. Also, Union Pacific (UP) delivers the first unit train to the new Graneleras Bartlett Monterrey Facility in Mexico.
Transit Briefs: BART, VRE, MARTA, TransLink, SEPTA, NYMTA, MassDOT, LA Metro, Reading & Northern
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) ridership continues to grow. Also, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) adopts its System Plan 2050; the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Atlanta United release the second edition of the “MARTA Collection” retail line; TransLink frontline workers wear language pins to better support newcomers and tourists; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) ridership in June increases 6% from last year; the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) installs protective platform barriers at more than 50 subway stations; POTUS 47 terminates $327 million for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Allston Multimodal Project; the opening of LA Metro’s LAX Transit Center drives a dramatic increase in ridership on the K Line; and Reading & Northern Railroad’s (RBMN) Passenger Department celebrates its 40th anniversary.
NJT Sets FY26 Ops Budget, Authorizes Capex Funding
The New Jersey Transit (NJT) Board of Directors on July 17 adopted the agency’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 operating budget of approximately $3.16 billion, plus the local program budget of nearly $80.5 million; it also authorized capital funding of approximately $1.7 billion for FY26.
Watch: Wabtec’s Evolution Series Tier 4 Marks a Milestone
July marks the 10th anniversary of Wabtec Corporation’s Evolution Series Tier 4—one of the most modern diesel locomotives serving North America and the first freight locomotive to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Tier 4 emission standards.
ITS Logistics Issues July US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index
Operations at most U.S. ports are running at normal levels, with exceptions for smaller ports facing strain from rising project freight imports, according to ITS Logistics’ recently released July forecast for its
MARTA’s Collie Greenwood Announces Early Retirement
Collie Greenwood has announced his early retirement from Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), where he spent the past six years, most recently as General Manager/CEO. MARTA Chief Customer Experience Officer Rhonda Allen is now serving in that role in an acting capacity.
Jacobs to Design Light Rail Extension in West Seattle
Jacobs on July 17 reported being selected to provide design services for Sound Transit’s West Seattle Link Extension project in Washington State, which will add 4.1 miles of light rail from Seattle’s