Transit Briefs: SEPTA, Santa Clara VTA, TriMet, Metra, NJ Transit, BART

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) completes Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-mandated inspections of its Silverliner IV fleet. Also, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) awards more than $750,000 in transit-oriented communities grants; TriMet receives nearly 5,000 responses to its Service Priorities Survey; Metra wins $19.3 million from Union Pacific (UP) for fare collection lapse; NJ Transit issues a Request for Proposals (RFP) to prepare the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the 10-mile Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) extension; and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) sees the highest average weekday ridership since the pandemic.

Commentary

From Class I to Short Line and Back

Since 2020, Class I railroads have acquired more than 3,000 miles of trackage from short line and regional carrier—some of which they previously owned.

Commentary

BNSF vs. UP, Take Three

I will attempt to clarify a rather “interesting” indirect exchange involving Union Pacific’s Jim Vena, who hopes to one day head the first East-West U.S. transcontinental Class I railroad, and BNSF’s Katie

Commentary

Justification for UP-NS Merger: Real or Not?

In April 2019, Matt Rose stepped down as BNSF Executive Chairman. At the end of his tenure, Rose had been Executive Chairman for six years, and BNSF President and CEO for the

UP, NS Shareholders Greenlight Merger

The votes are in: Shareholders of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, in Special Meetings held Nov. 14, approved the merger of the two railroads to form a U.S. transcontinental, with in-favor margins

Metra Approves $1.2B Operating Budget for 2026

The Metra Board of Directors on Nov. 13 approved a $1.2 billion operating budget for 2026 that relies on new state funding and requires no fare increases or service cuts. The Board also approved a $515.3 million capital plan that, the agency says, “continues major investments in bridges, stations, and new and rehabilitated rolling stock.”

Norfolk Southern has reached a five-year collective bargaining agreement with BRS, covering nearly 970 union members. (NS Photograph)

Class I Briefs: NS, CSX, UP

Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) members at Norfolk Southern (NS) ratify a new five-year collective bargaining agreement. Also, CSX awards Platinum Select Site status to a Dothan, Ala., industrial development property, and preps for the 83rd run of its Santa Train; and Union Pacific (UP) wraps up first-responder training at Fort Bliss, Tex.

The annual BNSF Stewardship Award recognizes shippers who transport a minimum of 500 loaded tank cars of hazardous materials during the previous year and record zero non-accidental releases. (BNSF Photograph)

Class I Briefs: BNSF, CN/CPKC, UP

BNSF honors shippers for “exemplary standards” in product safety and provides an operational performance update. Also, CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) sponsor categories of WXN’s (Women’s Executive Network) Top 100 Awards in Canada; and Union Pacific (UP) employees raise $690,000 for the United Way.

(Courtesy of POLB)

POLB: Cargo Volumes ‘Steady’ Through October (UPDATED 11/13)

“Shifting trade policies have brought uncertainty to consumers and the supply chain, but cargo continues to move smoothly,” California’s Port of Long Beach (POLB) reported Nov. 7.

UP Honors 2025 Sustainability Partners

Union Pacific’s annual Sustainability Partner Awards recognizes customers and suppliers “for innovative sustainability initiatives.” The 2025 Awards honored 16 companies—eight customers and eight suppliers—for “their commitment to advancing environmental stewardship and sustainable

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