Florida East Coast Railway

ASLRRA President Chuck Baker

ASLRRA Honors Safety Professional, Safety Person of the Year; Names 2024 Environmental Award Winner

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has named Mission Mountain Railroad (MMR) Railcar Repairman Sam Pederson as its Safety Person of the Year and Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) Training Program Manager Albert Manning as its Safety Professional of the Year. Also, Sierra Northern Railway is named ASLRRA’s 2024 Environmental Award winner. All three awards were presented on March 25 at ASLRRA’s Annual Conference, held this year in Kansas City, Mo.

Map of Norfolk Southern and Florida East Coast Railway’s domestic and international intermodal service offerings. (Courtesy of NS)

Class I Briefs: NS/FEC, CN, UP

Norfolk Southern (NS) and Class II Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) expand their international and domestic interline services. Also, CN’s “EcoChampions” share a creative way to extend equipment life and the railroad’s Intermodal International Sales and Marketing team earns a partnership award; and Union Pacific (UP) wins a supplier award.

MARTA photo

Transit Briefs: MARTA, Minn. Met Council, Brightline/FEC, HRT, SEPTA, Sound Transit, TRE

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) contracts INIT to implement a new fare collection system in time for the FIFA World Cup. Also, Minnesota’s Metropolitan Council transit ridership grows 16%; Brightline and Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) horns will continue in Indian River as County Commission nixes quiet zones; Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) receives Direct Technical Assistance (DTA) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) receives $317 million for new Market-Frankford Line cars; Sound Transit’s new app is now available for download; and Trinity Rail Express (TRE) is now making stops at a new station in Fort Worth, Texas.

HDR photo

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, Tri-Rail, RTD

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) selects an HDR-led team to provide program management to its Station Capital Program. Also, final federal approval could bring Tri-Rail to downtown Miami in December; and the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) installs new light rail seat covers.

Norfolk Southern locomotives, led by 6920, the “Veterans Engine,” hauling Northrop Grumman SLS rocket components for Artemis II: Mission to the Moon through Atlanta, Ga.

Three Railroads and a Moon Shot

Apollo 17 in December 1972 was NASA’s final Project Apollo manned lunar mission. In November 2024, the agency returns to manned lunar spaceflight with Artemis II, a mission similar to Apollo 8

Map of the Norfolk Southern and FEC intermodal service offerings, including their newly announced lanes.

Class I Briefs: NS/FEC, BNSF

Norfolk Southern (NS) and Class II Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) are expanding their domestic intermodal interline services for customers doing business in Florida. Also, a grant from the BNSF Railway Foundation allows the Osceola, Ark., Fire Department to purchase a new drone.

NYMTA photo

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, Amtrak, Tri-Rail, NFTA, PRT

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) combats “subway stupidity.” Also, Amtrak resumes service on the Adirondack Line; Tri-Rail takes added safety measures as it heads to downtown Miami; the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) launches a new MetGo app; and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) deploys mobile ticketing and validators across light rail powered by Masabi.

Florida’s Port Everglades Lands ONE Business

Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. (ONE) has selected Port Everglades, served by Florida East Coast Railway, for its new FLX (Florida Latin Express) service connecting South Florida to Honduras, Colombia and the