Amtrak

FRA requiring railroads to submit worker fatigue management plans

A worker sitting down with his hands behind his head. In front of him is a hard hat.

The Federal Railroad Administration is now requiring the Class I railroads, Amtrak and commuter railroads to include fatigue risk management plans as part of their larger system safety and risk reduction programs.

The rule was published Monday in the Federal Register. The Federal Railroad Administration will review the plans annually, per the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, and it will also conduct periodic audits. 

FRA said this rule is one of several ongoing initiatives to address the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fra-requiring-railroads-to-submit-worker-fatigue-management-plans

CSX, NS share confidential data with Amtrak, enter mediation

The Surface Transportation Board is allowing select Amtrak staff to review “highly confidential” market and operations information from CSX and Norfolk Southern so it can respond to questions raised during a proceeding on its request to restore Gulf Coast passenger rail service. 

The STB is also ordering board-sponsored mediation for all parties. 

Amtrak wants to run two round trips per day on CSX- and NS-owned tracks and infrastructure between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, and it wants STB to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-ns-share-confidential-data-with-amtrak-enter-mediation

FRA wants rails to commit to climate change targets

A photograph of a train weaving through a forest in the early mroning fog.

The Federal Railroad Administration is urging the railroads and rail equipment manufacturers to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, according to its new Climate Challenge initiative.

The initiative, announced Friday in honor of Earth Day, will build upon the fuel efficiencies already inherent in freight rail relative to trucks while encouraging stakeholders to adopt measures promoting sustainability and resiliency, FRA said.

The initiative is part of a wider effort by the federal...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fra-wants-rails-to-commit-to-climate-change-targets

Federal hearing on Amtrak’s planned Gulf Coast service powers on

The evidentiary hearing that the Surface Transportation Board is conducting this week on Amtrak’s request to restore Gulf Coast service between Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans appears poised to stretch beyond its original two-day schedule as the board and witnesses wrangle over what is and isn’t within the board’s jurisdiction.

Amtrak is seeking to reestablish service between the two Gulf Coast cities after service was stopped in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Amtrak wants to run...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/federal-hearing-on-amtraks-planned-gulf-coast-service-powers-on

Rail Roundup: Amtrak Gulf Coast update, CSX, Trac Intermodal, BNSF

STB denies railroads’ request for mediation in Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service proceeding

The Surface Transportation Board has denied a request by CSX (NASDAQ: CSX), Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) and the Alabama Port Authority to allow a mediator to come between the railroads and Amtrak over Amtrak’s request to operate Gulf Coast service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama.

The railroads and the port had asked for board-sponsored mediation last on March 25, but STB denied that request for now. Any...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-roundup-amtrak-gulf-coast-update-csx-trac-intermodal-bnsf

FreightWaves Classics/Leaders: Claytor led Southern Railroad, US Navy and Amtrak

Graham Claytor, with Union Station in the background. (Photo: history.amtrak.com)

Early life and career

On this date 110 years ago (March 14, 1912) W. Graham Claytor, Jr. was born in Roanoke, Virginia. He grew up in Virginia and Philadelphia. He graduated from the University of Virginia as a mathematics and physics major. Claytor then attended Harvard Law School, graduating summa cum laude in 1936 after serving as president of the Harvard Law Review.

Graham Claytor in his naval uniform during World War II. (Photo: navsource.org)Graham Claytor in his naval uniform during World War II. (Photo: navsource.org)

He clerked for Learned Hand, who was a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classicsleaders-claytor-led-southern-railroad-us-navy-and-amtrak

Stakeholders spar over scope of Surface Transportation Board’s authority

As Congress considers funding the Surface Transportation Board over the next several years, freight rail stakeholders are divided on whether the agency should maintain its current ability to address freight rail service and rate issues or if it is time to expand that authority.

That dispute was on display at a recent hearing on STB’s reauthorization in front of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) largely seeks to maintain the status...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/stakeholders-spar-over-scope-of-surface-transportation-boards-authority

New freight, passenger rail services offer more connections to Chicago

A composite image consisting of two photographs of train locomotives.

Efforts to ramp up passenger and freight rail in the Midwest got a boost this week from two separate announcements citing additional opportunities to access Chicago.

Canadian Pacific said Wednesday it is working with Kansas City Southern to launch an international intermodal train service between Lazaro Cardenas in Mexico and Chicago. The first train for this service offloaded containers at CP’s Bensenville Yard in suburban Chicago on Tuesday morning, after having originated from Lazaro...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/new-freight-passenger-rail-services-offer-more-connections-to-chicago

Norfolk Southern, Amtrak seek to restore Northeast service after derailment

Norfolk Southern, Amtrak and federal authorities are working together to fully restore passenger rail service on the Northeast corridor after 20 loaded coal cars derailed 20 miles north of Baltimore early Saturday morning.

NS (NYSE: NSC) said it is working to restore service as quickly as possible, NS spokesman Connor Spielmaker told FreightWaves. The train was hauling 130 railcars altogether when the cars derailed at 2:00 a.m. ET, he said.

“Thankfully, no one was hurt, and the material does not...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/norfolk-southern-amtrak-seek-to-restore-northeast-service-after-derailment

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