Expansion set for Prince Rupert Terminal
A major West Coast terminal is set to again boost capacity by nearly 800,000 TEUs.
Breaking News
Quiet zone coming to SoCal hub
One of Southern California’s busiest railroad towns will be a whole lot quieter a year from now.
MBTA studying rail tunnel project
If Boston didn’t get enough of expensive, disruptive construction during the Big Dig, there could be more on the way.
Connecticut bets big with Hartford Line
HARTFORD, Conn. – If it takes money to make money, then Connecticut has pushed all its chips into the rail transit pot.
WTS International honors VHB
Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) International has named planning, design and engineering firm VHB, Watertown, Mass., 2018 Employer of the Year.
GE brings EdgeLINC™ to the cutting edge
GE Transportation, in the midst of its acquisition by Wabtec Corp., is introducing new capabilities and features to its EdgeLINC™ Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) platform, “extending its scalability, device support and deployment options.”
Microsoft honors Bentley Systems
Bentley Systems has received one of 39 2018 Microsoft CityNext Partner of the Year awards “for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of user solutions based on Microsoft technology.” There were more than 2,600 entrants from 115 countries.
LRW offers Connie Sumara Memorial Scholarship
The League of Railway Women (LRW) is accepting applications for the 2018 Connie Sumara Memorial Scholarship. A $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to a woman involved in the rail industry who is pursuing post-secondary studies.
Short Line Safety Institute launches free hazmat instructor training
The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) announced the launch of Hazardous Materials Instructor Training (HMIT), a program for short line and regional railroads.
ASLRRA, three firms to help members with grant opportunities
When it comes to infrastructure, grants can be the lifeblood of small railroads’ expansion and upgrades. A new program aims to help them obtain those funds.
Opinion
You get one chance to get it right
On June 8, the Associated Press reported that Virginia authorities had indicted a garbage truck driver on charges of involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence, after he allegedly drove into the path of an Amtrak charter train carrying Republican members of Congress, near Charlottesville.
Reimagining Amtrak stations
Amtrak is embarked upon an aggressive plan to “de-staff” the majority of its stations, to “cut costs.” The project downgrades the service support for its largest and most commercially successful group of trains, the long-distance interregional services. Amtrak justifies this by the trend toward selling tickets on the web rather than from agents at stations.
Three pillars of a sustainable career
While technology is driving the new era of railroading, the need for a rock-solid foundation is paramount. The foundation of the railroad industry is training. Just like the Roman Pantheon, an ancient building with a solid foundation and large round pillars that support the stone roof, the pillars of empowerment, compensation and technology must hold up the “roof” of railroading goals that support the desired outcomes like car-count, safety and velocity.
Let me off this plane—no, train
I am a frequent flier. Since very few commercial airliners crash, I naturally assume that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the airlines themselves are doing everything possible to ensure that flight crews are medically fit to fly commercial airplanes.
Taking technology to the next level
A few weeks ago, the Federal Rail Administration asked for input from the rail industry and the public about the role automation and artificial intelligence (AI) can play in rail. It is a sign that FRA recognizes the rail industry will need to leverage technology to safely and efficiently transport more freight and passengers by rail in the coming decades across the U.S.