Breaking News

CN: ‘Disciplined Execution, Relentless Focus’

“Our team delivered a strong fourth quarter and closed 2025 with disciplined execution and a relentless focus on capturing opportunities for our customers,” CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson said during a

CSX on Jan. 28 reported the successful cutover of an extended hump lead at Avon Yard in Indianapolis, Ind. (Screen Grab from CSX video)

Class I Briefs: CSX, CPKC

CSX wraps up a hump lead extension project at Avon Yard in Indianapolis, Ind. Also, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) appoints industry veteran Gordon Trafton as Board Vice Chair, and is recognized as a top Alberta employer for 2026.

Transit Briefs: Valley Metro, Santa Clara VTA, NYMTA

The Phoenix City Council approves a new expansion of Valley Metro’s light rail system to west Phoenix. Also, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) readies to move record crowds to Super Bowl LX; and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announces that subway customer satisfaction is at an all-time high and sets a record with $15.8 billion in capital investments in 2025.

(FRA image)

FRA Issues Final Reflectorization Rule

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a final rule concerning reflectorization of rail freight rolling stock. The rule, 49 CFR Part 224, which went into effect on Jan. 27, “codifies waivers and removed an outdated implementation schedule.”

Figure 1: Aerial view of the accident site. (BNSF Image, Courtesy of NTSB)

NTSB Determines Probable Cause for BNSF M/w Employee Fatality

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released the final report for its investigation of the Nov. 4,  2024, accident involving a BNSF maintenance-of-way (m/w) employee who was fatally struck by a BNSF freight train while driving a welding truck across a highway/rail grade crossing near New Rockford, N.Dak.

(Courtesy of CPKC)

CPKC: ‘Exceptional Execution in Challenging Market’

In reporting fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Jan. 28, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) President and CEO Keith Creel said, “Despite macroeconomic and trade policy headwinds in 2025, our Precision Scheduled Railroading model again enabled us to control costs and deliver a record core adjusted operating ratio while capitalizing on our unique growth opportunities.”

“We are honored that VRE has once again placed its trust in Keolis,” Keolis President and CEO Brad Thomas said. “This [contract] renewal underscores the operational excellence our teams deliver each day, and we remain committed to the highest standards of safety, reliability, and customer service as we support the DMV [District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia] region’s mobility needs.” (VRE Photograph)

Transit Briefs: VRE, Metrolinx

Virginia Railway Express (VRE) renews its contract with Keolis North America (Keolis). Also, construction is under way on Metrolinx’s Bowmanville Extension project that will bring the Lakeshore East GO line into the Durham Region of Southern Ontario, Canada.

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People News: NICTD, HNTB, GoRail

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) hires David Dech as its next President. Also, Kimberly Lesay joins HNTB as Transportation Planning Practice Consultant; and GoRail remembers Michael Gaynor, who assumed the role of President in 2025.