rail infrastructure

Collaboration must be key for railroads to thrive, experts say

WASHINGTON — The near-term future of freight rail might be one marked by collaboration, whether that’s through private or public partnerships among other supply chain stakeholders or between the railroads themselves as they compete against the trucking industry, according to panelists at the Transportation Research Board annual meeting this week.

One idea that continues to be discussed is that infrastructure investors are interested in developing giant rail industrial parks in North America,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/collaboration-must-be-key-for-railroads-to-thrive-experts-say

Rail Roundup: Pa. provides $26M for rail; RailState, Alterra news

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Pennsylvania awards $26M for rail infrastructure

Pennsylvania has awarded $26 million to 24 freight...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-roundup-pa-provides-26m-for-rail-railstate-alterra-news

Why Railroad Workers United wants US rail infrastructure publicly owned

Railroad Workers United (RWU), an independent group of union members who represent different crafts in the industry, in early October adopted a resolution supporting public ownership of railroad infrastructure in the U.S.

The resolution, adopted at the group’s annual convention, is RWU’s response to what it calls a lack of desire by the freight railroads to expand the rail network and invest in it beyond regular maintenance. RWU believes that the railroads have focused too much on reducing their...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/why-railroad-workers-united-wants-us-rail-infrastructure-publicly-owned

Rail infrastructure projects get over $368M in federal grants

A train with hopper cars crosses a bridge.

The Federal Railroad Administration on Thursday announced the projects across the U.S. that will receive federal grants totaling over $368 million to support rail infrastructure improvements.

The 46 projects in 32 states and the District of Columbia bolster passenger and freight rail infrastructure. They are all recipients of grants through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program.

The projects improve and expand passenger rail, including high-speed rail, and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-infrastructure-projects-get-over-368m-in-federal-grants

Call for NSW to shift freight from trucks to rail

Pictured: a row of truck prime movers; photo credit Dale Staton from Unsplash

A group of industry associations and port rail freight operators have called upon the NSW Government to introduce a container rail incentive scheme for exporters and importers to help meet the government’s 2021 rail mode share target.

The bodies include the Freight on Rail Group of Australia, the Australian Logistics Council, the Freight & Trade Alliance and the Australasian Railway Association.

Rail mode share is stagnan

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/call-for-nsw-to-shift-freight-from-trucks-to-rail/

Federal Railroad Administration issues revised rule on track safety

A photograph of a train with tank cars passing by a Union Pacific train.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a final rule that revises its standards for rail integrity and track safety, according to a Wednesday notice in the Federal Register.

The rule became effective on Wednesday. FRA said the revisions would reduce unnecessary costs and incentivize innovation while also improving rail safety. 

The regulation governs the minimum safety requirements for railroad tracks. The revisions allow for technologies such as continuous rail testing for...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/federal-railroad-administration-issues-revised-rule-on-track-safety

DOT rolls out National Freight Strategic Plan

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on Thursday unveiled for the first time a national freight transportation strategy that aims to guide national freight policy and investment and provide a framework for better multimodal coordination.

The National Freight Strategic Plan, required under the 2015 Fast Act (which expires at the end of September), received 82 comments from state agencies, associations and private companies following a “request for information” issued late last year.

“This...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dot-rolls-out-national-freight-strategic-plan

Rail groups gear up for infrastructure bill fight

A photograph of a tank car by a rail crossing.

Rail groups are considering their next steps as a major, multi-billion dollar infrastructure bill becomes part of a wider trillion-dollar package that also addresses education, housing and renewable energy infrastructure. 

Last week, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act, keeping in the bill’s contents some items that the freight rail industry considers...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-groups-gear-up-for-infrastructure-bill-fight

Rail groups split on Democrats’ infrastructure bill

A photograph on a train with a city landscape behind it.

A number of the railroad-related items listed in the 846-page, $500 billion infrastructure bill introduced by House Democrats this week could face some hot debate as it goes through Congress, judging by the reactions of rail trade groups and rail labor.

The bill, entitled Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America), is a five-year, $494 billion surface reauthorization bill unveiled on June 3 by the U.S. House and Transportation &...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/rail-groups-split-on-democrats-infrastructure-bill

$302 million in federal grants awarded to rail infrastructure projects

A photograph of tank cars crossing a bridge.

Twelve projects in nine states have been awarded more than $302 million in grants to upgrade track and railroad crossings, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced on May 27.

The grants under the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair program are for capital projects to repair, replace or rehabilitate publicly or Amtrak-owned or -controlled railroad assets, according to FRA. The grants also seek to reduce the repair backlog and improve the performance of intercity...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/302-million-in-federal-grants-awarded-to-rail-infrastructure-projects