news

Virginia DRPT ‘Creating Connections’

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is launching “Creating Connections: For the Long Haul,” a marketing campaign “aimed at showcasing the vital role of freight rail in Virginia’s transportation

Trinity Metro was joined by representatives of the Federal Transit Administration, Tarrant County Commissioners Court, Fort Worth City Council and other leaders and stakeholders across North Texas to open the Trinity Lakes Station for Trinity Railway Express. Trinity Metro President and CEO Richard Andreski (second from left) was in attendance. (Trinity Metro Photograph)

Transit Briefs: LACMTA, MBTA, Metro Transit, SEPTA, Trinity Metro

The Final Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) is now available for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) planned 14.5-mile light rail line between Los Angeles and the city of Artesia, Calif. Also, the Massachusetts House budget is slated to include “record” funding for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA); Metro Transit of Minneapolis-St. Paul is upgrading its contactless fare system; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) officially opens the rebuilt and renamed Drexel Station at 30th Street and unveils new fare gate pilot program; and Trinity Metro hosts a grand-opening event for the new Trinity Railway Express station in Fort Worth, Tex.

CN Receiving Next-Gen Ore Jennies (Updated)

CN is taking delivery on 600 new 1,150-cubic-foot iron ore hopper cars, colloquially called “jennies,” from FreightCar America. The new equipment, described as “a significant upgrade to CN’s fleet,” incorporates materials from

(New Hampshire Preservation Alliance Photograph)
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For the Flying Yankee, a New Owner

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) has selected the winning bidder for the Flying Yankee, the diesel-electric streamliner built in late 1934 by the Budd Company for the Boston & Maine, following a Request For Proposal (RFP) process.

During 2023, rail ridership grew by eight percentage points relative to 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels, ending the year at 70%, while bus ridership grew by 12 percentage points to 81% of 2019 levels, according to the latest APTA report. (Chart Courtesy of APTA)

APTA Releases Ridership Trends Report

After falling to 20% of pre-pandemic levels in April 2020, public transit has recovered to 79% of pre-pandemic levels as of March 2024, according to the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) latest ridership trends report.

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NTSB at Full Strength

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is “at full strength” following Senate confirmation and swearing in of Alvin Brown and J. Todd Inman, filling two vacancies and bringing the board to its

PHL Hosts Supply Chain Event

Anacostia Rail Holdings (ARH) wholly owned subsidiary Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) on March 27 hosted officials of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB), Southern California ports, and labor organizations to discuss “how

Left to right: HDR Transit Engineering Director Pat Porzillo and Tealinc LLC Director, Business Development and Marketing Ryan Williams.
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People News: HDR, Tealinc

Pat Porzillo is elevated to Transit Engineering Director at professional services firm HDR. Also, Ryan Williams is the new Director, Business Development and Marketing at Tealinc LLC, a freight railcar owner/lessor and rail transportation solutions provider.

The “new and improved” Brake-Boss® App allows freight car inspectors to remotely conduct air-brake tests on trains of any length in the yard. (Brake-Boss Photograph)
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Supply Side: Brake-Boss®, Trapeze/Preteckt

Brake-Boss® unveils a new app enabling freight car inspectors to remotely conduct air-brake tests in the yard. Also, Trapeze Group EAM and Preteckt collaborate on a predictive maintenance system for transit agencies.

Commentary

Post-Winter Acceleration Needed

Winter is always a challenge for the railroads, but the one we’ve just had was at least milder than normal. Apart from being the warmest on record, it included just one Arctic

Astell Joins WSP

Nigel Astell, well known in the global rail transit community and to Railway Age/Parsons Next-Generation Train Control Conference attendees through his role in organizing this annual event (slated for October 17-18 in

Commentary

Brightline, End to End

On Sept. 22, 2023, Brightline ran its first train from the railroad’s new station at Orlando International Airport (coded MCO) to its Miami Central Station. That run was accompanied by a capacity

“Big news, @PATHTrain riders! The PATH Forward program launches with a $430M investment over 2 yrs to upgrade the system ensuring more reliable service, upgraded stations, and rehabilitated train cars,” PANY/NJ reported April 5 via social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. (Photograph Courtesy of PANY/NJ via X)

PANY/NJ Launches $430MM ‘PATH Forward’ Program

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANY/NJ) on April 5 reported kicking off a two-year, $430 million program to upgrade stations, tracks, bridges and railcars at PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp.), the fifth-busiest rapid transit system in the United States.