Aerial view of derailment site. (Foster County Emergency Management Photograph, Courtesy of NTSB)

NTSB Issues Preliminary Report on CPKC’s July 5 Hazmat Derailment

The National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) ongoing investigation of the July 5, 2024, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) train derailment and subsequent hazardous material (hazmat) release and fire near Bordulac, N. Dak.,

Amtrak Launches Program to Improve Washington Union Station Operations

Amtrak on July 29 announced that it is launching a program to “revitalize and improve” operations of Washington Union Station, one of the nation’s most historic and busiest multimodal hubs.

Senate Committee on Appropriations Advances FY25 THUD Bill

The Senate Committee on Appropriations on July 25 marked up S.4796, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 (THUD Appropriations Act). The bipartisan legislation was reported in a

(Screenshot of FRA report cover)

FRA Posts Summary Report on HHFT Routes, Legacy Tank Cars Evaluation

In response to directives from U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has produced and recently released online a summary report of its High-Hazard Flammable Train Route

(Rendering Courtesy of CHSRA)

CHSRA, CalSTA Renew Environmental Review Agreement With FRA

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) on July 23 reported renewing an agreement with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to continue assuming the federal agency’s environmental review responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

(Short Line Training Center Image, Courtesy of ASLRRA)

Short Line Training Center Debuts VR Modules

The Short Line Training Center’s online Learning Management System (LMS) now includes three virtual reality (VR) training modules, according to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), which in partnership

FRA Issues Final Accident Report on NS Derailment

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on July 19 published its accident investigation report (download below) on the Norfolk Southern (NS) train derailment that occurred in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, 2023, which was conducted “under its statutory authority with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) safety personnel, who were on the ground within hours of the derailment, working to identify the cause of the accident and examining compliance with rail safety regulations.”

NTSB photo

FRA Publishes Second Supplement to 2023 Hot Bearing Wayside Detector Safety Advisory

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on July 17 published a Second Supplement to Safety Advisory 2023-01, originally published on March 3, concerning the use of hot bearing wayside detectors (HBDs). According to

FRA: More Than $1.1B Available in RCE Grant Program Funding (UPDATED, 7/18)

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on July 9 issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that makes available more than $1.1 billion in Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program Funding.

BNSF photo

BNSF Seeks to Add New Location to Existing SCABT Waiver

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on July 16 announced that BNSF has requested to add the Missoula, Mont., location to its existing waiver regarding single air brake tests (SCABT), which permits the Class I railroad to change the repair track designation so that the track on which in-train wheel replacements are performed “is not designated a shop or repair track.”

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