Rail employment slips in January
U.S. Class I railroad employment declined 0.71% to 153,304 in January compared with December 2010. but it was 4.37% above January 2010, reflecting a steady but slowing recovery from the depths of
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Oakland ponders streetcar planning grant
U.S. streetcar revivals are well-established in the West, with the mode firmly entrenched in Seattle and Tacoma, Wash., Portland, Ore., and San Francisco—the latter city never surrendering the mode in the first
Safety concerns arise amidst China HSR scandal
China’s dismissal February 12 of Liu Zhijun, chief of the Chinese Railway Ministry, has raised concerns over the safety and quality of the nation’s fast-growing high speed rail network. Liu was fired
R.J. Corman notes three appointments
The R.J. Corman Railroad Group Friday announced that Kelley Anderson has joined the group as vice president of Strategic Sales and Marketing, reporting directly to President Tammie Taylor. Anderson will lead the
House rejects slashing Amtrak FY11 funding
The House of Representatatives Thursday approved cuts of various sizes for various government programs, but rejected a proposal to cut $446.9 million in Amtrak funding for the current fiscal year 2011. Seeking
U.S. carload, intermodal traffic gain ground
U.S. freight carload traffic for the week ending February 12 rose 6.2% from the comparable week in 2010, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday. U.S. intermodal volume also gained, rising a
Houston gets refund from CAF
Houston’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority said Wednesday it has received $14 million from Spanish firm Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A. (CAF), as part of its settlement with the company involving a contract
STB to slash shipper-complaint filing fee
In a proposed rulemaking, approved by the Surface Transportation Board Wednesday, the STB is moving to reduce filing fees for shipper complaints to $350 from a current maximum of $20,000. STB would
Florida’s governor rejects high speed rail funds
In a development that stunned the global railway community, Florida’s Tea Party-leaning Gov. Rick Scott (pictured) announced Wednesday morning that he is turning down $2.3 billion in promised federal grants to help
Pourney named Gross & Janes CEO
Michael L. Pourney has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Louis, Mo.-based Gross & Janes Co., the largest independent supplier and shipper of untreated railroad ties in North America.
Amtrak seeks 40 Acela coach cars in FY12
In a move Monday aimed partially at countering talk of cost-cutting, Amtrak said it hopes to purchase 40 Acela Express coach cars in fiscal year 2012 for its high speed service on
NARP: Transport fund plan could hurt Amtrak
The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) says Amtrak, along with high speed rail projects, could lose out financially if President Obama’s proposal for a rail account in a new transportation trust
China rail minister removed from post
A corruption investigation has led to the removal of Chinese Railway Minister Liu Zhijun (pictured) from his post, and a New York Times dispatch from Beijing says the probe “raises questions about
UP to upgrade more Arizona right-of-way
Union Pacific says it is upgrading 30 miles of right-of-way, between Wellton and Yuma, Ariz., at a cost of $7 million. UP says crews are replacing rails and nearly 50,000 railroad ties
Tampa mayoral candidates back LRT
Hillsborough County, Fla., voters last November defeated a proposed light rail transit system for the Tampa Bay area, but Tampa mayoral candidates this year continue to support LRT for the city itself.
House GOP deepens proposed spending cuts
Two days after House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R.-Ky.) announced his intent to cut $74 billion in proposed federal spending over the next seven months, he said he had increased that
Amtrak ridership up for 15th straight month
Amidst moves by House GOP leaders to slash Amtrak funding for the remainder of this fiscal year and for FY12, Amtrak released ridership figures showing continuing growth and marking 15 straight month
Texas rail yard adds RailComm system
Fairport, N.Y.-based RailComm said Friday it is providing a wireless remote-control yard system at a major western railroad’s yard in Texas. The RailComm Domain Operations Controller (DOC®) System provides remote control to
House GOP eyes HSR, Amtrak spending cuts
Amtrak and high speed rail are high on a partial list of 70 spending cuts that will be included in an upcoming Continuing Resolution (CR) bill that House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers
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Kevin O’Connor, who has spent more than 30 years in passenger rail operations, has been appointed Vice President and General Manager of New Jersey Transit Rail Operations. He has served in that