Randy Harris, who spent 40 years with CN in the areas of safety, regulatory and incident investigations, has partnered with Wi-Tronix® LLC to help the company “expand customer asset utilization innovations.” Harris’ services are provided by Ellamar Consulting LLC.
New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) will participate in a multi-week test of new technologies—from air purification to antimicrobial light—to help protect employees and riders during the pandemic. It is part of the COVID-19 Response Challenge that launched in July.
Larry Willis, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), died Nov. 29 due to injuries sustained from a Nov. 22 biking accident. He was 53.
Transport Canada has updated the Duty and Rest Period Rules for Railway Operating Employees, placing new limits on duty-period length; increasing the minimum rest period between shifts; and establishing limits on total hours worked per week, month and year.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is distributing $1.37 million in grants among six transit agencies for projects that demonstrate and evaluate innovative technologies to maintain a state of good repair.
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has signed a five-year contract with Advanced Rail Management Corp. (ARM) for the San Diego Trolley Inc. (SDTI) rail maintenance program, including rail grinding on all open and embedded track sections and special trackwork.
Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is temporarily sidelining its fleet of 6000-series rapid transit cars after an early Nov. 24 train-separation incident on the Red Line. An investigation is under way; there were no reported injuries.
Hans von Lange, an iconic figure in the global railway maintenance-of-way supply industry, died Nov. 16, 2020. He was 97. Son Michael Lange, one of nine children and head of Exton, Pa.-based Globe-Connect LLC, provided the following memorial for his father, who he says “lived a life full of adventure, challenges, dangers, failures and successes”:
Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to authorize the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) blocked grade crossing reporter website as a three-year pilot project.
Amtrak is in talks with the state of Vermont, the town of Brattleboro and host-railroad New England Central Railroad (a Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary) to build a new station in Brattleboro.
