Breaking News

AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Dips Slightly Through Week 33

Total U.S. weekly rail traffic for the week ending Aug. 16, 2025 (Week 33) came in at 512,970 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.7% from the same week in 2024, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Aug. 20.

  • M/W

Amtrak Advances Three NEC Rail Yard Modernization Projects

Amtrak on Aug. 19 announced that it has awarded design-build contracts and begun pre-construction activities for three rail yard modernization projects on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) that the company says “will help improve service reliability and enable more efficient, world-class train maintenance.”

“Let your voice be heard: Vote on the exterior design for Metro’s new 8000-series rail fleet,” WMATA reported Aug. 18. One of the three design options is pictured above. The winning concept will be announced at the end of this month. (WMATA Image)

Transit Briefs: WMATA, TriMet, Denver RTD

Cast your vote for one of three exterior graphic designs for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) new 8000-series Hitachi Rail cars. Also, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) installs more than 700 digital displays networkwide for real-time train and bus alerts; and Denver (Colo.) Regional Transit District (RTD) boosts by 500% rail-system fare checks as part of its security plan.

  • News

People News: Metrolink, Balfour Beatty

Metrolink names Tom Schamber as the agency’s next Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Also, Balfour Beatty appoints William Motherway as Vice President of Risk for its U.S. Infrastructure Operations.

“CSX and our partners are safely installing #railroad track panels along our Blue Ridge subdivision, where approximately 60 miles of our railroad were devastated by #HurricaneHelene,” the Class I reported via social media on Aug. 13. “Together, our #ONECSX team is building back better—for our customers, communities, & employees.” (CSX Photograph)

Class I Briefs: CSX, BNSF, NS

At CSX, Blue Ridge Subdivision recovery work advances, Board Member Gen. Thomas Bostick earns the Gold de Fleury Medal, and Signal Manager Clint Russell takes swift action to stop a train facing a potential safety hazard. Also, BNSF provides customers with an operational performance update; and Norfolk Southern (NS) and the City of Refuge open a welding training center in Atlanta, Ga.