General Information
Trump budget slashes funding for Amtrak long-distance service
(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/12/2019) President Donald Trump’s fiscal-year 2020 budget request submitted yesterday calls for “restructuring” Amtrak and slashing the railroad’s budget to emphasize shorter distance routes. Administration officials cited low ridership and large operating losses on longer distance routes for the need to restructure the national intercity passenger rail system. “The administration believes that restructuring the Amtrak system…
Read MoreIt’s taking a team effort for Union Pacific to roll out its version of PSR
(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/11/2019) By Jeff Stagl, Managing Editor In 2017’s latter half, Union Pacific Railroad rolled out a transportation plan designed to balance the network, boost productivity and improve asset utilization. The “Blend and Balance” plan called for operating general purpose trains by blending manifest and bulk trains, and balancing the network by running equal numbers of…
Read MoreDerailments raise concerns about the surge in oil trains
(Source: Toronto Star, March 11, 2019) TORONTO — Now that so much oil is being shipped by rail from Alberta to points south and west, the sight of a crumpled freight train on the banks of the Kicking Horse River high in the Rocky Mountains has taken on a new twist. Full story: Toronto Star Tuesday,…
Read MoreReminder: Deadline is March 31 James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund applications
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, March 7 — As a reminder, applications for the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund are due on March 31, 2019. The application process is completely online and all applications must be completed through the online portal found on the Fund’s website: www.jrhmsf.org. There are two types of scholarship applications available: Academic Scholarships and…
Read MoreChina-based company hires first assembly workers at new Chicago rail car plant
(Source: Progressive Railroading, March 6, 2019) CRRC Sifang America has hired the initial group of employees to assemble Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) newest 7000 Series rail cars at the $100 million rail-car manufacturing plant, the China-based company announced last week. Full story: Progressive Railroading Thursday, March 7, 2019
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