NTSB photo

FRA Releases Supplemental Advisory Related to Hot Bearing Wayside Detectors

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on June 9 announced that it has made an additional recommendation to Safety Advisory 2023-01, originally published on March 3, addressing the use and maintenance of hot

FRA Awards $570MM for Grade Crossing Elimination Projects (UPDATED June 12)

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on June 5 reported that 63 projects will share more than $570 million in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding to address safety at 400-plus at-grade crossings

FRA Administrator Amit Bose

FRA to Review Class I Railroad Safety

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) over the next year will assess the safety of all Class I railroads.

FRA: CPKC Petitions for Modification of Waiver of Compliance Regarding Freight Car, Brake System Safety Standards

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) on Dec. 12, 2022, petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a modification of an existing waiver of compliance providing the Class I “limited, conditional relief” from

Amtrak has applied for multiple federal grants to improve its Long Distance network. (Amtrak Photograph)

Amtrak Applies for FRA Grants to Upgrade Long-Distance Network, NEC Infrastructure

Amtrak on June 5 reported submitting grant applications to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for 16 proposed Long-Distance projects to improve service and for 14 proposed Northeast Corridor (NEC) projects to update infrastructure, improve stations and expand service. Total value: more than $8 billion.

than $20 million through the 1-395/95 Commuter Choice program. (VDOT photo)

Transit Briefs: Northern Lights Express, VRE, Houston Metro, TTC

Legislature dedicates $195 million for Northern Lights Express (NLX). Also, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will receive more than $20 million for two projects; the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston, Tex., Metro) partners with on-demand childcare platform TOOTRis; and the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Transportation Tomorrow Survey (TTS) resumes data collection activities.

Under FRA’s proposed rule for dispatcher certification, railroads would be required to have “formal processes for training prospective dispatchers, as well as verifying that each dispatcher has the requisite knowledge, skills, safety record, and abilities to safely perform all of the safety-related dispatcher duties mandated by federal laws and regulations, prior to certification.” (Union Pacific Photograph)

FRA Eyes Dispatcher, Signal Employee Certification

Freight railroads, Amtrak and commuter railroads would be required to develop certification programs for network dispatchers and signal employees under new Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) proposals.

FRA Issues NPRM to Amend Passenger Equipment Safety Standards (UPDATED May 25)

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), proposing to amend its Passenger Equipment Safety Standards as recommended by the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC), according to an April 3 Federal Register report.

FRA Administrator Amit Bose

FRA Issues NOFO for Rail R&D Center of Excellence (UPDATED May 24)

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on May 1 announced that $5 million is available to establish and maintain a Rail Research and Development Center of Excellence, which will “seek to improve the safety, performance, and sustainability of freight, intercity passenger, and commuter rail.”

(Short Line Safety Institute Photograph)
Commentary

Safety Is Quite Good—But Not Good Enough

ASLRRA PERSPECTIVE, RAILWAY AGE MAY 2023 ISSUE: The question on the table is: “What is the biggest challenge facing the North American freight rail industry, and how can it be addressed?” The

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