#Rail

US contractor Tutor Perini ordered to replace 5km of “substandard” rail on San Francisco subway

San Francisco city council has ordered a US contractor to rip up more than 5km of track on a light rail project and lay it again. The council claimed the track rails were made from “standard strength” steel, rather than the “high strength” material required in the contract’s specifications. The letter was sent by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) to Los Angeles-based Tutor Perini and subcontractor Con-Quest. The rail had to be “high-strength, control c

Tools for a Smoother Ride: Managing Rail Assets and Leveraging Competition

Public transit maintenance is not often headline news. Yet with high profile closures and disruptions to rail systems in major metropolitan areas like New York, Baltimore, and Washington, the condition of this infrastructure is very much in the public eye. These systems all need major track maintenance overhauls, but the real overhaul needs to be in how agencies conduct their asset management and maintenance programs. Together, major rail systems in U.S. cities move millions

AAR, NS want clear, supportive regulatory approach to automation

The Association of American Railroads and Norfolk Southern filed comments with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on May 7 asking for a level regulatory playing field regarding automation. Specifically, AAR's comment asks the U.S. Department of Transportation "to take the same supportive regulatory approach with railroads that it has with automation of trucks and cars." "Railroads share the Department's

Amtrak jumps on board Texas' bullet train with ticketing and shuttle partnership

A conceptual digital rendering showing the North Texas passenger station for the Texas bullet train, proposed to be in the Cedars neighborhood of Dallas, just south of downtown, near the Interstate 30 and Interstate 35 interchange. (Photo illustration by Texas Central Partners) Amtrak and Texas Central announced a partnership Friday to link the proposed bullet train from Dallas to Houston to the national passenger rail network. Passengers will be able to book their bullet tra

Sturges named deputy FRA administrator

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao yesterday announced that Mathew Sturges has been appointed deputy administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration(FRA). Sturges previously served as majority staff director of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I), where he directed legislative oversight and authorization efforts related to all modes of transportation. He also worked as deputy director of government affairs f

House rail subcommittee hears from industry stakeholders

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials yesterday held a hearing to gather stakeholders' perspectives on what's needed to improve the nation's rail infrastructure. Several representatives of railroad and transportation labor organizations testified before the subcommittee members. The hearing was held as the subcommittee and committee prepare for the Trump administration's infrastructure package prop

Elon Musk said he'll try to break the Hyperloop speed record 'soon'

The current Hyperloop speed record is 240 mph On Sunday, Elon Musk said on Twitter that he plans to test a Tesla and SpaceX-branded Hyperloop pod at half the speed of sound "soon." The test's objective is to accelerate the pod to around 383 mph and bring it to a stop within around 3/4 of a mile. If the test succeeds, Musk would break the record set by Virgin Hyperloop One in December. Between building electric cars and sending rockets into space, Elon Musk has plenty to keep

High speed rail vote: Don’t let the train leave without Fort Worth

The region’s transportation planning group is on the verge of taking a vote which will determine whether Fort Worth becomes a central player in the development of high speed rail. Our message to Regional Transportation Council members voting Thursday: jump aboard. This train shouldn’t leave the station without Fort Worth as a primary stop. The vote by the RTC — which approves much of the transportation spending for this 16-county North Texas region — is to spend a half millio

Shanghai Keolis Runs First Fully Automated Metro Line in Shanghai

On 31 March 2018, a new fully automated metro line was added to the Shanghai metro network. Shanghai Keolis, a joint venture between the Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Co. Ltd. (51 percent) and Keolis Group (49 percent), started operating the Pujiang metro line, the first fully automated metro line in Shanghai. The line comprises 6.7 kilometers of double track and six elevated stations. The seven-year operations and maintenance contract was awarded to Shanghai Keolis two years

Letter to the editor: Using farm land for high-speed rail

April 3,2018- A special thank you to the Telegram for printing the March 6 comprehensive article regarding the proposed high speed train for the Interstate 45 corridor. A few years ago Gov. Perry was promoting the Trans Texas Corridor for Interstate 35. Remember what affects one part of Texas affects all of Texas. There were several items not addressed in the article. It is common knowledge that Amtrak has been subsidized by public funds for a number of years, so how can the