January 16, 2026: In a decision predicted by Railway Age (“Why Not a Merger Timeout?,” Watching Washington, November 2025 issue), the Surface Transportation Board in a unanimous decision rejected, “without prejudice,” the
A new quarterly report shows that crime on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) continues to drop. Also, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) receives the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Gold Standard Award; and Alto launches public consultations for its high-speed rail network.
ITS Logistics issues its U.S. Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index for January. Also, CN sends a “Supply Chain Salute” to the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columba, which it serves exclusively and handled 26.3 million tons of cargo in 2025, up 14% from 2024.
Locomotive DESX 1305 is now part of Abitibi Connex’s multimodal logistics operations in Iroquois Falls, Ontario. Also, Patriot Rail welcomes the first railcars into the Rocky Mountain Rail Park.
U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Hoeven (R-ND) recently introduced the bipartisan Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act (PRCPA) to enhance public safety by “ensuring passenger rail crew members are provided the legal protections that have been afforded to flight crew members and attendants for decades.”
Sixteen collective bargaining agreements have been ratified and two tentative agreements have been reached at Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) in the United States. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) surpasses its locomotive “Fly Rate” goal in 2025.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has awarded approximately $97 million to ten rail-related projects that it said prioritize public transit in communities most affected by pollution. They will be funded by
Changes will be coming to train schedules on New Jersey Transit (NJT) during the second half of February and the first half of March, as the agency and Amtrak prepare for the
Alstom will supply 70 six-car trains under $1.66 billion contract.
Brightline Trains appoints Nicolas Petrovic as CEO of Brightline Holdings LLC and Mauricio Anderson as Chief Financial Officer of Brightline Holdings and its subsidiaries (other than Brightline West). Also, Paul Ray joins Utah Transit Authority (UTA) as Government Relations Director; Adrienne L. Johnson transitions to Deputy Chief People Officer at North County Transit–San Diego Railroad (NCTD) in California; and Jamie Snook rises to Executive Director of Capital Project Delivery at Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet).