Barstow, Calif., a major hub on the BNSF Southern Transcon in San Bernardino County where the Needles, Mojave and Cajon subdivisions come together, and the location of Barstow Yard, will be the site of Barstow International Gateway, a $1.5 billion investment described as a “state-of-the-art master-planned integrated rail facility, and the first being developed by a Class I railroad.”
CSX is contributing $200,000 to support relief and recovery efforts under way in the Florida and South Carolina communities affected by Hurricane Ian, the Class I railroad reported on Sept. 30.
Metro Vancouver’s TransLink installs three digital murals “reflecting the past, present and future of the region, through the lens of colonialism and reconciliation.” Also, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) celebrates 75 years of service; Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) of Charlotte, N.C., advances the LYNX Red Line project; Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) launches a campaign to address sexual harassment on transit; Southern California’s Metrolink and local law enforcement promote highway/rail grade crossing safety; Metrolinx awards a contract for work to connect the Yonge North Subway Extension to existing TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) Line 1 service; and a limited-edition “1904 Sandwich” has been created in recognition of the New York City subway’s 118th anniversary.
According to the most recent figures from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the U.S. crude oil rail tank car fleet exceeded 85% compliance with DOT-117 safety standards, in 2021, up from 80% in 2020.
When the COVID-19 virus struck in March 2020, ridership on passenger trains and rail transit in the United States and Canada fell precipitously. Railway Age, RT&S and International Railway Journal joined to cover that and other events in on the rail scene: passenger, transit, and freight, here in North America and around the world. Then, as events unfolded, we continued to follow ridership and service recovery on Amtrak, VIA Rail, and rail transit. Now, at the 2½-year mark, it is time to report again.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Metrorail rapid transit system has safety gaps related to communications system training, supervisory oversight, safety promotion, maintenance, documentation, hazard identification, and procedural compliance, according to a 2022 Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) audit report released Sept. 29. As a result, WMSC has issued nine findings requiring WMATA to develop corrective action plans, plus two recommendations that the transit agency must address.
![Harsco Rail COO Claus Heuschmid (left) says the company's "continued relarionship with the Saudi Arabia and Middle Eastern markets is a significant milestone for [Harsco]." (Historic photo to the right courtesy of SAR)](https://www.railwayage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/download-3-315x168.jpeg)
Harsco Rail signs contract with Saudi Railway Company. Also, Transdev pledges to hire refugees through partnership with Tent; Alstom celebrates 70 years in Mexico; and Siemens launches new digital service portfolio for fire safety.
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has released a draft rail plan for public comment.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) officials were recently notified that delivery of new Red and Orange Line railcars from CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Corp.) will be postponed further because the firm “expects it will need several more months to finish manufacturing” due to “nagging pandemic-related supply and labor issues.”
As part of the MBTA’s Capital Programs, the Capital Transformation team will hold a virtual pre-construction public meeting on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. to discuss work to be completed at Codman Yard.
Union Pacific (UP) has selected HDR to provide final track design and engineering services for the UP-led portion of the 80th Street Junction Replacements (EW2) project, a major component of CREATE’s 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project.
Railway Age has extended the deadline for its sixth annual Women in Rail awards program. Nominate a visionary woman in the rail industry (or yourself) by 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 4, 2022. Don’t delay!
Nissan North America selects Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA) Port of Brunswick, Ga., as a new point of entry to serve U.S. markets. Also, Canada’s Port Saint John in New Brunswick reaches a 100,000-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) milestone.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has selected three rail capital projects in Alaska and South Dakota for Special Transportation Circumstances grants totaling more than $4 million.
For almost-three-year-old Kevin Franklin, riding BART for the first time was something of a wonder. The trains were big, shiny, and fast. The stations, grandiose and cathedral-like. And the people watching, unparalleled.
Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Add Fare machines undergo major upgrades to improve customer experience. Also, Amtrak trains could be coming into the Miami Intermodal Center; the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) breaks ground on new accessibility project at Tasker-Morris Station; the Honolulu Authority for Rail Transportation (HART) and Hitachi Rail run small-scale exercise drills in partnership with the city’s first responders; the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) adopts a new Transit-Oriented Communities Policy to promote commercial development near transit stations; and NJ Transit rolls out two initiatives as part of its ongoing Safety Education Program.
Paul B. Duncan will lead Norfolk Southern’s (NS) newly combined
Transportation and Network Operations organization, the Class I railroad reported on Sept. 29.
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) recognizes safety winners at its Eastern and Southern Region Meeting. Also, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announces that public transportation ridership has risen to more than 70% of pre-pandemic levels.
Georgia-Pacific is slated to invest more than $425 million in a new Dixie® paper products plant in Jackson, Tenn., to be served by CSX.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will distribute $32.4 million to states, territories and tribes for six hazardous materials safety grant programs in FY 2022.
