(Courtesy of Willie D. Mills)

WIR Conference 2025: Connecting, Inspiring, Innovating

Railway Age and Railway Track & Structures on Oct. 15-16 hosted the third-annual in-person Women in Rail Conference with a packed lineup of influential women and their allies, who shared experiences, celebrated achievements, and discussed the future

PANY/NJ’s Rick Cotton (far left) and AASHTO’s Russell McMurry (far right) and Marc Williams. (Photographs courtesy of the respective organizations)

People News: RRB, PANY/NJ, AASHTO

The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) appoints Jebby Rasputnis as Director of Programs. Also, Rick Cotton is stepping down as Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANY/NJ); and a new President and Vice President are taking the helm at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

Transit Briefs: DART, OC Streetcar, Denver RTD

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) releases its first Point B Strategic Plan Annual Report. Also, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) tests a new electric OC Streetcar ahead of its 2026 launch; and the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) launches a near-term plan to enhance the customer experience and increase transit utilization.

(Courtesy of Alstom)

Alstom, CTDOT Unveil Commuter Railcar Mockup

A mockup of one of the 60 commuter railcars joining Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (CTDOT) fleet in late 2026 is now on display at Union Station in New Haven. Alstom landed the

New FTA Safety Advisory Urges Review, Analysis of Safety Performance Data Related to Trespassing and Suicide Events

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Nov. 24 issued Safety Advisory 25-1 (SA 25-1) recommending that State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) direct Rail Transit Agencies (RTAs) within their jurisdiction to use their Safety Management Systems (SMS) “to identify hazards related to rail trespassing and suicide events, perform safety risk assessments, identify safety risk mitigations as necessary to reduce safety risk associated with trespassing and suicide events, and utilize safety performance monitoring and measurement procedures to assess the effectiveness of mitigations.”

PennDOT: $219.9MM to Support SEPTA Safety Upgrades, Infrastructure Improvements

Governor Josh Shapiro on Nov. 24 directed Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll to allocate $219.9 million in additional capital funding to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to support urgent safety upgrades and infrastructure improvements.

“For 70 years, The Canadian has given Canadians a chance to slow down and experience the beauty of this country in a way that no other journey can offer,” VIA Rail President and CEO Mario Péloquin said on Nov. 21. (Courtesy of VIA Rail)

Transit Briefs: Denver RTD, TriMet, VIA Rail

Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Colorado releases its third-quarter financial results. Also, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) takes delivery of its last Type 6 MAX LRV on order; and VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) celebrates The Canadian’s 70th year of service and provides an update on its new Pan-Canadian fleet.

Union Pacific International Railroad Bridge view from Piedras Negras, Mexico. Wikimedia Commons/Manuel Velez

Class I Briefs: BNSF, CSX, UP

BNSF provides an intermodal network update. Also, CSX’s TRANSFLO Petersburg Terminal is coming to Virginia in 2026; and Union Pacific (UP) enhances safety and security at its Eagle Pass border crossing.

Nebraska, West Virginia, Georgia GOP AGs Support UP+NS

Shortly after nine Republican state attorneys general wrote to the Surface Transportation Board expressing serious concerns about the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, three counterparts, also Republicans—Mike Hilgers, Nebraska; J.B. McCuskey, West

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, MTA New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow, MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer, and other officials cut the ribbon on the new Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility in Sunset Park on Nov. 21. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

Watch: NYMTA Launches Railcar Acceptance, Testing Facility

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Nov. 21 opened “on time and under budget” what it is calling a “first-of-its-kind” Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility.

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