Independent Analysis Highlights Economic Impacts of NYMTA’s Proposed Capital Plan

According to a new analysis conducted by EY, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) proposed 2025-2029 Capital Plan will generate $106 billion in economic activity and more than 70,000 jobs statewide.

(BNSF Photograph)

For BNSF, a $3.8B Capital Investment Plan

BNSF on Jan. 23 announced its $3.8 billion capital plan for 2025, which devotes $2.84 billion to maintenance and $535 million to expansion.

SMART-TD Dining Car Stewards Ratify Tentative Agreement

Dining Car Stewards represented by the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART-TD) have voted unanimously to ratify a tentative agreement with Amtrak spanning seven years from July 1, 2022, through Dec. 1, 2028.

MBTA Approves $54MM Plan to Introduce BEMUs on Fairmount Commuter Rail Line (UPDATED, 1/24)

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Board of Directors on July 25 approved a $54 million plan to bring BEMU (battery-electric multiple-unit) train service to the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line, which, the agency says, “will ultimately result on more frequent service and lower emissions in surrounding communities.”

Union Pacific: ‘Strong Finish to the Year’ (UPDATED)

Union Pacific’s 4Q24 and Full-Year (FY) 2024 financial results (download below) reflected revenue carload growth, and improvements in freight car velocity, employee productivity, operating income and operating ratio. The Class I posted

“Last month, we participated in a tabletop training exercise with Transportation Security Administration (TSA), VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak and Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS), among other partners, to bring together transportation and security partners,” Transport Canada reported in a Jan. 22 LinkedIn post. “The discussions included how governments, industry, and first responders can strengthen coordination, communication and response to security incidents within the rail transportation sector.” (TSA Photograph, Courtesy of Transport Canada)

U.S., Canadian Passenger Rail Stakeholders Partner on Preparedness

An attack on reservations systems, social media threats to passengers and operations, suspicious bags left at a train station, and an active shooter at a station and onboard a train headed to the U.S.—all these scenarios were worked through during a recent training exercise that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Transport Canada conducted with Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada.

Transit Briefs: KC Streetcar, Trinity Metro, Tyler Area MPO

Testing of the KC Streetcar Extensions begins. Also, Trinity Metro approves $3.1 million for rail expansion services and equipment; and the Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is approved a $150,000 contract to conduct a light rail study.

GATX President and CEO Robert Lyons on Jan. 23 reported: “In 2024, we once again executed on our strategy of investing in economically attractive opportunities in our core businesses. We believe these disciplined investments will continue to drive earnings growth at GATX in 2025 and beyond.”(GATX Photograph)

GATX’s Lyons: 2024 ‘Exceeded’ Expectations, 2025 Rail North America Profit to be ‘Up Slightly’

At Chicago-based GATX, existing railcar demand “remained steady, as expected” for its North American business unit, with the railcar lessor extending leases at continued “attractive rates, while maintaining high fleet utilization and strong renewal success,” President and CEO Robert C. Lyons said in a fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 financial report.

RAC: Canadian Railways ‘Competitive and Resilient’

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) has released Rail Trends 2024, the 32nd edition of its rolling ten-year review of the industry’s financial and statistical performance. The information is a compendium of Canadian

Wabtec, TRANSAP Finalize Locomotive Order

Wabtec Corporation (Wabtec) on Jan. 23 announced that TRANSAP, a Chile-based rail logistics company, has ordered four of its advanced C30ACi locomotives as part of TRANSAP’s fleet renewal initiative to support the company’s growth.

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