Tank Car Safety Project Turns 50
The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) are marking a milestone: 50 years of the Railroad Tank Car Safety Research & Test Project (Safety Project).
RSI
ARCI: 2Q21 Railcar Orders, Deliveries, Backlog Grow
Second-quarter 2021 freight car reporting statistics from the Railway Supply Institute’s (RSI) American Railway Car Institute Committee (ARCI) show sequential boosts in orders, deliveries and backlog since fourth-quarter 2020.
Senate Approves Infrastructure Bill, Which Moves to the House—Where it Could Sit (UPDATED AUGUST 11)
The U.S. Senate on Aug. 9 passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill by a 69-30 count. The legislation now moves on to the House, where it could sit for months.
RSI Major Restructuring Under Way
Railway Supply Institute Board Chair Jack Isselmann on Aug. 3 notified members that the organization is completing a major restructuring that involves a “professional association management company.”
Senate Commerce Committee Debuts $78B Bill for Surface Transportation
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has released a bipartisan five-year surface transportation bill authorizing $78 billion for rail, freight, safety and research programs; it is a companion to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works’ (EPW) recently advanced, and also bipartisan, $303.5 billion Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021.
Freight RAILCAR Act Returns: ‘Right Bill, Right Time,’ RSI
U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) and Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) have reintroduced the Freight RAILCAR Act, bipartisan legislation supported by the Railway Supply Institute (RSI) that would “encourage the adoption of new, more efficient, environmentally friendly freight railcars.”
Trump Signs $2.3T Omnibus Spending Bill (UPDATED)
Congress passed the $2.3 trillion “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021” (H.R. 133), an omnibus spending bill that includes a $900 billion COVID-19 emergency relief package as well as government appropriations for fiscal year 2021, tax extenders and other provisions. While many in the rail industry expressed appreciation—stressing that additional transit aid, for instance, will be needed—outgoing President Donald Trump did not. He refused to approve the bill—calling for higher direct relief checks to Americans and other changes—but he finally signed it into law late Dec. 27, averting a government shutdown Dec. 29.
RSI: Three New Board Members; Brewin Appointed to RSAC
The Railway Supply Institute has elected Tricia Charles, Jeff Lytle and Harrison Wadsworth to its board of directors for three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2021. As well, RSI Vice President Government and Public Affairs Nicole Brewin was appointed to the Federal Railroad Administration Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC).
People News: LRW Names Scholarship Honorees, IANA Announces Academic Competition Winner, Quandel Hires New VP
The League of Railway Women (LRW) has awarded its 2020 Connie Sumara Memorial Scholarship ($2,000) and the inaugural LRW Future of Railroading Scholarship ($1,000) to TrinityRail Operations Manager Megan Forbes and Jessica Labrecque, respectively. An undergraduate team fielded by Georgia Southern University won the Intermodal Association of North America’s (IANA) tenth Logistics and Supply Chain Academic Competition. Additionally, Chicago-based Quandel Consultants has named David M. Simon Vice President-Director of Wisconsin Operations.
RSI Issues New Tank Car Component Standards
The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) today released the RSI-100 Product Quality Certification Standard for tank car components.