Archive for March 9, 2020
Coronavirus update: U.S. transit agencies enhance sanitization practices
(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/09/2020) Transit agencies across the United States have been taking precautions in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority today will implement an enhanced cleaning schedule, which calls for sanitizing rail cars every 72 hours and buses daily. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has…
Read MoreBNSF breaks ground for second Sandpoint Bridge
(Source: Railway Age, March 5, 2020) NEW YORK — The first signs of physical progress have been made in BNSF Railway’s long-awaited plan to build a second bridge, nearly a mile in length, running parallel to its existing bridge across Lake Pend Oreille near Sandpoint, Idaho. Preliminary grading began in September 2019 on both sides…
Read MoreUtah lawmakers, lobbyists spar over rail crossing delays, railroad fuel tax exemption
(Source: Standard-Examiner, March 8, 2020) SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Union Pacific lobbyists are clashing with two top legislators over a bill that would remove railroads’ state fuel tax exemption and use the resulting millions to build overpasses at chronically blocked rail crossings. Full story: Standard-Examiner Monday, March 9, 2020
Read MoreBill would allow Amtrak to sue freight railroads for delaying trains
(Source: Television station WPSD, March 6, 2020) CARBONDALE, Ill. — How long are you willing to wait for a train? A report from the Office of Inspector General found Amtrak trains were late 27% of the time. The on-time performance for the Illini/Saluki router, which serves Carbondale, received a failing grade because of freight rail…
Read MoreRail unions urge FRA to act regarding spread of coronavirus
CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 6 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) jointly petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on March 6 to take action in responding to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 (coronavirus) in the United States. “With at least 231 patients treated in 22 states, and at…
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