Amtrak Train Going 80mph in 30mph Zone...

An Amtrak train that derailed Monday during its inaugural ride on a new line in Washington state was traveling at 80 mph in a 30 mph zone, the

National Transportation Safety Board said, citing data recorder information.

Bella Dinh-Zarr, an NTSB board member, said at a news conference late Monday that information from the data recorder in the rear locomotive provided information about the train’s speed. At least three people were killed in the derailment, and more than 70 others were...

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At Least 6 Dead in Amtrak Derailment in Washington State, Officials Say

By KIRK JOHNSON, RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA and NIRAJ CHOKSHI
December 18, 2017

DUPONT, Wash. — A passenger train on a newly opened high-speed Amtrak route jumped the tracks on an overpass south of Tacoma on Monday, slamming rail cars into a busy highway, killing at least six people and injuring more than 75 others, officials said.

The derailment of Amtrak Train No. 501, making the inaugural run of a new service from... 

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Union Pacific Bridge over San Jacinto River After Hurricane Harvey

I'm no expert but M.O.W. might want to place a speed restriction on this bridge... 

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Morales to step down

California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) Chief Executive Officer Jeff Morales will step down from his position in early summer.

In an April 21 letter to California Gov. Jerry Brown and CHSRA staff, Morales said the time is right "to hand over the reins of the authority to new leadership."

Morales' last official day will be...
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Alstom's New Hydrogen-Powered Transit Light Rail Vehicle

Alstom has successfully completed a test run of the Coradia iLint Hydrogen-Powered Light Rail Vehicle at 80km/h (49.7 mph).

These vehicles are expected to go into commercial operations in 2018.

Amtrak Surfliner Strikes Large Eucalyptus Tree

January 31st, 2016 3:00 PM -- I got alerted that Amtrak #774 had an incident just south of the Sorrento Valley Coaster station, at the site of the old CP Pines. When I got on the scene about 20 min after the incident occurred, I found a huge Eucalyptus tree scattered all over both tracks. The conductor was also found walking around and assessing the scene.

Around 10 min later, a good citizen pulled up, who just happened to have a chainsaw. This man arrived before the MOW crew did, so he helped by chainsawing the small branches of the tree. Around the same time this was happening, some passengers began to disembark the train. Some were calling for their friends to pick them up, but mostly others were calling Uber and other ridesharing services to get them to their final destinations.

20 minutes later, a North County Transit District MOW crew showed up with their heavy duty chainsaws. The scene was then slowly being cleared with the help of 3 chainsaws now. 

Great work and efforts to the Amtrak conductor for keeping all of the passengers informed and safe of the situation that was going on, and to the good citizen who volunteered to help clear the scene before the MOW crews came on scene. 

This video was featured on KFMB (CBS 8) and KNSD (NBC 7) television stations, in San Diego, California on January 31st and February 1st, 2016.

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All Video/Media Copyrighted © 2016 MichaelLovesTrains Productions.

Grupo Mexico to acquire Florida East Coast Railway Holdings Corp.

A unit of Grupo Mexico will acquire Florida East Coast Railway Holdings Corp. under an agreement announced today.

Photo – PR Newswire

GMexico Transportes S.A. de C.V. (GMXT), the transportation business unit of Grupo Mexico, will acquire Florida East Coast Railway Holdings Corp. (FEC) in an all-cash transaction under an agreement announced today.

Subject to closing conditions and government approvals, the FEC acquisition will establish GMXT as an "important railroad owner" in the United States, according to a press release issued by both companies.

GMXT operates more than 6,200 miles of track covering...

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Expert Traveler: Pigeon Hops on the Light Rail

Denver RTD unveils new real-time transit app

The Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) has launched Next Ride, a web-based application that provides real-time transit information.

Next Ride displays "accurate and timely" predictions of vehicle locations for light rail and bus, which makes trip planning easier, RTD officials said in a press release.

The application is available on the agency's website and doesn't require downloads from third parties. It's also optimized for mobile devices, RTD officials said.

For the past year, RTD has...

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Denver/Aurora R-Line Opening February 24

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R LINE: OPENING FEBRUARY 24, 2017

RTD’s newest light rail line, the R Line, brings light rail service through the heart of Aurora. The 10.5 miles of new light rail connects the existing track at Nine Mile Station up I-225 to the Peoria Station on the University of Colorado A Line. The new R Line provides easy connections to the University of Colorado A Line and the H Line, making it easier than ever to get to the airport, the Denver Tech Center or downtown Denver.

FREE

TRY IT FOR FREE ON OPENING DAY

11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

GRAND OPENING EVENT

Union Pacific Railroad was named the most admired among trucking, transportation and logistics companies by Fortune for the seventh consecutive year, the Class I announced yesterday.

The designation also marked the 14th time...



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22 Train Cars Derail, Plunge into River in California

22 train cars derail, plunge into river in California February 11, 2017 - 17:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A freight train derailed Friday, February 10 afternoon near Elk Grove in Sacramento County, California, U.S., sending 22 train cars into the Cosumnes River near Highway 99, according to the Cosumnes Fire Department. KCRA reports that the Union Pacific train was headed from Tracy to Roseville when it derailed about 12:45 p.m. near Dillard Road. Three people were on board the train, but no one was injured. “Absolutely apologize for the disruption; but again, thankfully there were no injuries, no hazardous material involved and so, we’ll get this cleaned up as quick as possible,” the Union Pacific Railroad spokesman Justin Jacobs said. The train was carrying food products. A hazmat crew was originally called to the scene as a precaution, but that crew had left. Near the train derailment is a levee break, but it is unclear if that caused the derailment. The cause of the derailment is under investigation. Union Pacific has been doing inspections in this area because of the recent inclement weather. "They inspect the rail to ensure that everything is as it's supposed to be. Safe for the trains to travel down." Jacobs said. "What happened in this incident will come out in the investigation." The investigation has been halted for the night because of rising water and a lack of sunlight. Cleanup and repairs will resume in the morning. Union Pacific said 20-30 trains use this line per day, including Amtrak. Trains will be rerouted until the lines are reopened. Article appears without alteration courtesy of http://www.panarmenian.net

Suicide Prevention on the Rails

Railroads institute more measures to help prevent suicides on their systems

Union Pacific Railroad provides suicide prevention hotline cards to employees that can be given to anyone perceived as distraught.

Photo – UP

By Jeff Stagl, Managing Editor

The two most common ways people commit suicide in the United States are by gunshot and by a prescription drug overdose. But another recurring method is by train. If a distraught person doesn’t have access to a gun or pills, he or she might seek the nearest railroad track — which is easier to find — and intentionally wait to be struck by a train.

Suicides involving trains are...

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Denver RTD officer fatally shot outside Union Station

A Regional Transportation District of Denver(RTD) contract police officer was shot and killed on Tuesday at the Wynkoop Plaza in the city's lower downtown area.

Scott Von Lanken, who worked for RTD contractor Allied Universal, was killed while... 

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Railroad Career Opportunities

Rail Jobs, Railroad Employment & Classifieds

Rail Job/Classified Post:

Attention Senior Rail Project Professionals!

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) in Richmond, Virginia is recruiting for a Director of Northern Virginia Rail Projects. To apply, please visit http://jobs.virginia.gov. The Department of Rail and Public Transportation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Employment Contact: jobs.virginia.gov/

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Drone Inspection Service Helps Extend Life of a Short-line Railroad Bridge

Perspective: Drone Inspection Service Helps Extend Life of a Short-line Railroad Bridge

The sounds one hears any day around the Ottawa Lift Bridge in Illinois have not changed for more than a century: the Illinois River rushing underneath, passing barges blaring their horns, the rhythmic "clunk clunk" of freight trains slowly crossing the iron railroad bridge. But recently that timeless medley was interrupted by a new sound: the methodical hum of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, flying in precise...

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NTSB opens investigation docket for fatal Amtrak crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) opened the docket for its investigation into the April 2016 Amtrak accident that killed two maintenance workers repairing track near Chester, Penn.

The incident occurred April 3, 2016, when an Amtrak train struck a roadway maintenance backhoe, and the debris struck and damaged the passenger cars. The backhoe operator and supervisor died, and 41 people were transported to local hospitals. 

Although the NTSB has not yet...

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MOW Workers Heating Rail in Chicago

WINTER IN CHICAGO! Setting the tracks on fire to combat the extreme cold - so trains can keep moving!

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Galicia, Spain High-Speed Derail & Crash

July 24, 2013. High Speed RENFE train derails in Galicia, Spain due to over-speed condition resulting in the deaths of 78 people.