Figure 1. Accident scene: CSX’s Walbridge Yard lead track in Walbridge, Ohio. (CSX Image Courtesy of NTSB)

NTSB Determines Probable Cause for September 2023 CSX Employee Fatality

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Oct. 29 released the final report for its investigation of the Sept. 17, 2023, accident involving a CSX mechanical department employee who was struck and killed by a

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FRA NPRMs Target Automated Track Inspection, Defect Remediation and Waivers

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Oct. 23 and 24 published two successive, related Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) the agency says will enhance railroad track safety by requiring railroads to include,

Up to $12.17 million of FRA funding will be invested at Napolean, Defiance & Western, Railway Age's 2023 Short Line of the Year, to replace deteriorating and broken rail and ties and expand capacity along the eastern half of the railroad. A 2020 CRISI award of $4.1 million covered the replacement of 29,000 ties and 13 miles of rail (pictured). (Patriot Rail Image)

FRA Awards $2.4B for Rail Improvement Projects

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Oct. 29 reported that 122 freight and passenger rail improvement projects—including 81 at short lines—across 41 states will share more than $2.4 billion in grant funding

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FRA NPRM Seeks to Clarify Petition Process

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Oct. 28 published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that “seeks to bring clarity, transparency, and consistency to the petition process to help ensure that petitions seeking regulatory relief align with the agency’s safety and public interest priorities.”

Cost and Benefit Risk Framework for Modern Railway Electrification Options

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) office of Research, Development & Test awarded a contract in 2023 to the University of Texas at Austin for an updated re-examination of freight railway electrification, with

Georgia Central Railway Votes to Join BLET (UPDATED, 10/30)

A majority of train and engine service employees at the Georgia Central Railway recently voted to join the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) in a representation election certified by the National Mediation Board.

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FRA NPRM Proposes Amending Certain PTC Regulations

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Oct. 25 published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend certain regulations on Positive Train Control (PTC) systems.

“Hey, Virginia and Rail Enthusiasts everywhere! We've officially broken ground on the Long Bridge Rail Project,” the U.S. Department of Transportation reported via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Oct. 15. (Image Courtesy of USDOT)

Long Bridge Construction Kicks Off

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Oct. 15 for the $2.3 billion Long Bridge Project, which is slated to boost passenger rail capacity over the Potomac River between Arlington, Va., and Washington, D.C.,

A grant of up to $14,062,328 will be used to upgrade more than 16 miles of track and 34 structures on the Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad in South Dakota. (Genesee & Wyoming Photograph)

FRA Awards $108MM in Special Transportation Circumstances Grants

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has selected nine rail capital projects in Alaska, South Dakota and Wyoming for Special Transportation Circumstances grants totaling more than $108 million. The Special Transportation Circumstances Grant

Commentary

Dr Pangloss vs. the Long-Train Committee

I recently printed out a prepublication copy (uncorrected proofs) of the report Long Freight Trains: Insuring Safe Operations, Mitigating Adverse Impacts submitted by the “Committee on the Impact of Trains Longer Than 7,500

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