Statement by Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman on Progress of CSX Transportation in Addressing Safety Issues

Thursday, January 03, 2008 (Washington, DC)

"As a result of our system-wide focused inspection of CSX Transportation conducted a year ago, the railroad has paid $349,265 in civil penalties for violating numerous Federal rail safety regulations.

With FRA encouragement, CSX has...

FRA Announces $3 Million RRIF Loan to Columbia Basin Railroad Company

Friday, January 04, 2008 (Washington, DC)

The Federal Railroad Administration announced that the Columbia Basin Railroad Company, Inc. (CBRC) is receiving a $3 million loan under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program. The CBRC will use the loan funds to...

01/25/2008 New, Safer Brake Technology for Freight Trains Gains Traction as Second Railroad Launches ECP Train

Friday, January 25, 2008 (Washington, DC)

Utilizing advanced brake technology advocated by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the BNSF Railway has launched its first revenue service train fully equipped with state-of-the-art electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes,...

Passenger Train Safety to Be Improved with New Requirements for Emergency Communication, Evacuation, and Rescue Features

Thursday, January 31, 2008 (Washington, DC)

Commuter and intercity passenger rail equipment will be safer under a new federal rule that ensures improved emergency window exit availability, specifies additional emergency rescue features, and requires two-way communication systems,...

DOT Digest: FRA Announces $4.6 Million RRIF Loan to Nashville and Eastern Railroad, and Federal Rail Safety Program Surpasses One Million Miles of Track Inspected

Friday, February 01, 2008 (Washington, DC) News Digest

FRA Announces $4.6 Million RRIF Loan to Nashville and Eastern Railroad Corporation.  The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced that the Nashville and Eastern Railroad Corporation (NERC) is receiving a $4...

Statement of Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater Concerning Amtrak Ridership Increase

Monday, November 16, 1998 (Washington, DC) Last December, President Clinton signed the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997 that provided Amtrak with the three things it needed to succeed: freedom to operate like a business, financial resources necessary to rebuild a railroad and...

U.S. DOT Takes Action to Reduce Train Accidents Caused by Human Error, Greater Accountability Placed on Railroad Management and Employees for Safety

Wednesday, February 13, 2008 (Washington, DC)

U.S. DOT Takes Action to Reduce Train Accidents Caused by Human Error, Greater Accountability Placed on Railroad Management and Employees for Safety

Reducing common mistakes that result in nearly half of all human factor-caused train...

DOT Digest: FRA Issues Grade Crossing Resource Guides, and FRA releases DEIS for Portal Bridge over Hackensack River

Friday, February 15, 2008 (Washington, DC)

U.S. Department of Transportation Releases Road Maintenance Planning Software Update.  The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has released a new version of its software that helps road maintenance managers prepare for winter...

New Grant Program Provides First-Ever Federal-State Funding Partnership to Improve and Expand Intercity Passenger Rail Service

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 (Washington, DC)

For the first time ever, states will be directly eligible for federal funding to support intercity passenger rail service under a new grant program, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced today.

“We want to...

2/29/08 DOT Digest: FRA Announces Guide for Managing Gap Safety at Passenger Rail Platforms

Friday, February 29, 2008 (Washington, DC)

FRA Announces Guide for Managing Gap Safety at Passenger Rail Platforms.  The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a guidance document to help minimize accidents due to gaps between the edge of a passenger station platform and...