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Inside the December 2025 issue, you’ll also find features covering:

• Passenger Rail: Newly electrified, Caltrain is operating 104 trains per day with one million monthly riders. Contributing Editor Joanna Marsh covers the “Success Story.”

• Maintenance-of-Way Technology: Users rely on tough yet resistant surfaces to perform under heavy rail and road traffic at highway/rail grade crossings. In “Smooth Surfaces,” Senior Editor Carolina Worrell shares the latest supplier offerings.

• TTC Operated by ENSCO: ENSCO Inc. Head of Brand Strategy & Engagement Acacia Reber details the recent Transportation Technology Center Conference & Tour, which provided an in-depth look at research and testing.

And don’t miss commentary by:

• Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Frank N. Wilner. Is a UP-NS “fix” in? “Don’t bet on it,” he reports. Studied will be years of traffic flows, interchange commitments, impacts on joint facilities, track capacity, competitive access, and measurements of shippers’ transportation alternatives.

• Financial Editor David Nahass, who brings the holiday cheer in his Financial Edge column, “We Need a Little Rate Cut Now.” He writes: “Generally, the industrial economy is bearing the brunt of a kind of weakness that has led to a great amount of uncertainty about 2026 and its prospects. Strip the rail economy of the low volume cha-cha-cha being played 24/7 as the industry waits for Union Pacific to file its STB application for the acquisition of Norfolk Southern, and there’s not much to be dancing about.”

• American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association President Chuck Baker, who reports that partnerships will be critical to short line success in 2026 and paying close attention to metrics will help move the “volume needle.”

The post Railway Age December 2025 Digital Edition Now On Line appeared first on Railway Age.

The New York MTA on Dec. 2 unveiled a first-of-its-kind, limited-edition merchandise collaboration with the AMNH in celebration of the 40th anniversary of MTA Arts & Design. The capsule collection draws inspiration from artwork at the 81st Street-Museum of Natural History B and C subway station.

The station’s expansive mixed-media art installation, titled “For Want of a Nail,” compromises glass mosaic, glass tile, ceramic tile, granite, and bronze relief. It was developed by MTA Arts & Design in partnership with AMNH staff and community members and installed in 2000. The designs, the agency says, “reflect the broad scope of the Museum’s renowned collections and exhibitions, celebrating the intersection of science, art, and the everyday journeys of transit riders.”

The collection apparel and accessories for all ages—adult and children’s t-shirts, a fleece sweatshirt, water bottle, tote, backpack, hat, stickers, magnets and collectible pins. Merchandise is available exclusively at the AMNH Gift Shop and online store while supplies last.

This initiative, the agency says, “reflects the MTA’s ongoing commitment to enriching the transit experience through art, culture and community partnerships. It also invites New Yorkers and visitors alike to engage with public transit and natural history in a new and tangible way. The collaboration is part of a broader initiative to generate incremental revenue for the MTA through activities such as licensing and advertising.”

“Transit’s not just a way to get from point A to point B, it’s a cultural experience,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Few stations make the point better than 81 St–Museum of Natural History with its stunning mosaics, and we hope this will be the first of many location-based collections between the MTA and iconic New York institutions like this one.”

“Most of our visitors and staff arrive at the Museum by subway through one of the most iconic and beautiful stations in the system,” said American Museum of Natural History President Sean M. Decatur. “A journey of discovery begins the minute you step off the train and encounter spectacular art installations that reflect the wide range of the Museum’s scientific work and exhibitions, thanks to Arts for Transit and our longstanding partnership with the MTA. We’re delighted now to build on our partnership, enabling visitors to bring home a souvenir both of their time at the Museum and their travel through the 81 St–Museum of Natural History station.”

VIA Rail on Dec. 3 welcomed elected officials, partners, and members of its Accessibility Advisory Committee to its Ottawa Station to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and to unveil its 2026-2029 Accessibility Plan, recently submitted to the Government of Canada.

For VIA Rail, the agency says, “accessibility is not simply a goal, it is a core value that guides its decisions, the design of its services, and the way its teams welcome and support passengers and employees.” For several years, it has worked closely with experts, specialized organizations, and persons with disabilities to make its network, digital tools, and workplace increasingly inclusive.

“As Canada’s national intercity passenger rail carrier, we have a responsibility to make transportation accessible to as many people as possible,” said VIA Rail President and CEO Mario Péloquin. “With unprecedented federal support and the guidance of our accessibility partners, we are delivering a travel experience that removes barriers and expands mobility for all Canadians.”

The 2026–2029 Accessibility Plan (download below), VIA Rail says, reflects this ambition and is structured around strengthened priorities, including:

• “Integrating accessibility from the design stage of all major projects, including digital services, internal procedures, and workplace environments.
• “Improving the experience of persons with disabilities through user-centered processes, ongoing staff training, and sustained dialogue with the advisory committee.
• “Creating an inclusive and barrier-free workplace to ensure that all employees and candidates benefit from real equality of opportunity.”

The event also highlighted the crucial role of collaboration. Organizations such as Transport Canada, Ottawa Tourism, members of VIA Rail’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, and participants in the various accessibility consultations have, for years, helped shape the solutions being implemented, the agency noted.

The plan is also supported by federal investments, including those announced in Budget 2024 to renew VIA Rail’s pan-Canadian fleet, which will introduce modern and universally accessible trains across the country beginning in 2032.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey on Dec. 3 held a signing ceremony for a bill to protect transit workers from assault and battery, according to a WWLP news report.

According to the report, the new law “ensures public transportation workers are explicitly protected from assault and battery, including assault involving human secretions. The human secretion clause closes a loophole in the law where certain behaviors did not previously explicitly fall under the categories of assault and battery. According to the governor, transit workers often face violent behavior from customers while working.”

The protections, WWLP reports, which, applies to transit workers across the state—Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) employees in Cambridge to bus drivers in Chicopee—takes effect in early March, 90 days after the official signing.

The post Transit Briefs: NYMTA, VIA Rail, Mass. Government appeared first on Railway Age.

Democrat Robert E. Primus, fired Aug. 27 from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) by Republican POTUS 47, alleges in an amended legal challenge filed in federal district court Dec. 4 that the primary reason for his termination is racial discrimination—not politics nor concerns how he might vote on the soon-to-be filed merger application by railroads Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS). Primus seeks reinstatement.

When terminated in August, Primus was in the midst of a second Senate-confirmed five-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2027.

Primus’ first term began in January 2021 following nomination by POTUS 45. He was filling a seat left vacant by Democrat Deb Miller, whose term expired in 2018. Democratic President Joe Biden designated Primus as chairperson in 2024, following the retirement of Democratic Chairperson Martin J. Oberman. After taking office in January 2025, POTUS 47 designated sitting Republican board member Patrick J. Fuchs as chairperson, with Primus returning to member status—a typical event when Presidential Administrations change.

Of 117 White House nominated and Senate confirmed members of the 138-year-old STB and its Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) predecessor, Primus is only the fifth Black, and was the first Black chairperson. Prior to Primus’ Senate confirmation, it was 2001 when the STB previously had a Black member—William Clyburn Jr., who departed upon term expiration.

Primus first challenged his firing in September in federal district court as unlawful, alleging members of independent regulatory agencies may be removed only for cause (inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office), and that POTUS 47 failed to provide a valid reason. Primus’ “effective immediately” termination was made in a terse 28-word email from the White House Personnel Office. 

In his Dec. 4 amended complaint (download below), Primus says his firing “fits within a pattern of the Trump Administration disproportionately removing Black government officials, and particularly Presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed Board members of independent multimember agencies.” He says “75% of Black federal officials” on multi-member agencies have been removed from office. In contrast, Primus says “only approximately 27% of white federal officials” on multimember agencies have been removed.

The amended lawsuit asserts that the Constitution’s Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause “guarantees the federal government will provide all people with equal protection under the law. Included within the ambit of these rights is a protection [because of race] against discrimination in employment decisions.”

Additionally, the amended complaint rejects that Primus’ political affiliation as a Democrat could be “the sole reason” for his termination, as even had Primus remained a Board member, a third Republican vacancy exists to assure a 3-2 Republican majority. That allegation is questionable, as if Primus had remained, and the third Republican seat not filled, the Board would have two Republicans and two Democrats. The amended complaint further says that while Democrat Primus, a Black, was removed, Democrat Karen J. Hedlund, White, retained her seat.

Hedlund is serving her first term, which expires at the end of December and is eligible for a second five-year term, although no renomination has been made. Primus, as mentioned, was in his second term, with a Dec. 31, 2027, expiration. By statute, STB members may remain in holdover statute up to 12 months beyond term expiration or until a successor has been Senate confirmed.

Primus is represented by Democracy First Foundation (a national legal organization that “advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement”) and Justice Legal Strategies (a civil rights law firm). The lawsuit is against POTUS 47 and Fuchs, in his official position as STB chairperson.

Primus is not the only Black fired by POTUS 47 from an independent federal regulatory agency. Other Blacks fired have been Democrat Rebecca Slaughter from the Federal Trade Commission; Democrat Gwynee Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board; and Democrat Alvin Brown from the National Transportation Safety Board. Each has filed a lawsuit alleging unlawful termination. Brown amended his Dec. 4 to make the same racial discrimination allegation as Primus.

Because of first-impression Constitutional questions, finality for each of the original lawsuits must await Supreme Court review. The Justice Department, which supports the firings, argued that even if the POTUS 47 terminations are unlawful, courts have no authority to order reinstatement.

Democrat Deidre Hamilton, fired by POTUS 47 from the National Mediation Board, has so far not filed a lawsuit. She does not identify as Black.

Primus is not without a contentious history on an agency whose reputation depends on perceptions of decisional independence, free from influence of special interests or politics. Throughout his time at the STB, Primus displayed an alignment with rail labor on issues over which the STB has no jurisdiction—carrier employment levels and implementation of operating strategies such as Precision Scheduled Railroading. In a personal appearance at a rail labor union event, Primus said, “Thank you for letting me represent you”—a suggestion perceived by many as in conflict with impartial execution of STB responsibilities.

There have been unvalidated allegations that Primus was predetermined to vote against a UP-NS merger based on his opposition to a 2022 STB-approved merger of railroads Canadian Pacific with Kansas City Southern to form CPKC. Those allegations gained traction following a recent meeting between UP CEO Jim Vena and POTUS 47 at which Vena made a cash contribution on behalf of UP to a POTUS 47 planned White House ballroom, and the President responded how the proposed merger “sounds good to me.” There is no evidence that Primus’ firing—which occurred months before the Vena-POTUS 47 meeting—was urged by Vena or UP lobbyists.

The five-member STB is currently at a strength of three—Republicans Fuchs and Michelle A. Schutz, and Democrat Hedlund. Schultz, whose first term expires in late 2026, was renominated to a second five year term by POTUS 47 and awaits Senate confirmation. POTUS 47 nomination of a third Republican, Richard Kloster, is currently before the Senate Commerce Committee, which will meet in Executive Session Dec. 8 to vote on whether to recommend him for Senate floor confirmation. The STB’s second Democratic seat, held by Primus until his termination, remains open.

It was not until 1979 that the ICC and its STB successor (the ICC created in 1887) had its first Black member, Marcus Alexis (1979-1981), who was nominated by President Jimmy Carter. Other Blacks, in addition to Primus, were Reginald E. Gilliam Jr. (1980-1983), Jacob J. Simmons (1982-1983 and 1984-1986), and Clyburn (1998-2001).

The first female ICC/STB member was Virginia Mae Brown (1964-1979), nominated by President Lyndon Johnson. Since, there have been nine other female members: Betty Jo Christian (1976-1979), Heather J. Gradison (1982-1990), Karen B. Phillips (1988-1994), Gail C. McDonald (1990-1995), Linda J. Morgan (1994-2003), Ann D. Begeman (2011-2021), Debra L. Miller (2014-2018), Michelle A. Schultz (2021-____) and Karen J. Hedlund (2021-____). 

The ICC/STB has had only one Latino member, Democrat Rodolfo Montejano, a Mexican American attorney son of a migrant farm worker, who failed to gain Senate confirmation but received a recess appointment from President Richard Nixon in 1972. Four months later, Montejano voluntarily resigned to make way for another Nixon nominee, Democrat A. Daniel O’Neal.  

Railway Age Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Frank N. Wilner, a former White House appointed STB chief of staff, is author of “Railroads & Economic Regulation,” which includes a history of the ICC and STB, including significant decisions and biographies of the agency’s 117 members. It is available Simmons-Boardman Books, 800-228-9670.

The post Primus, Late of STB, Alleges Racial Bias appeared first on Railway Age.

The budget, which runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026, aligns expenses with the transit agency’s Strategic Plan, minimizes impacts to transit service delivery, and retains the people needed to “deliver its mission,” according to RTD, which provides light rail, commuter rail, bus, on-demand, paratransit, airport, and special event services in eight Colorado counties. The budget proposal was made available for public inspection in October.

Excluding the impact and timing of the $138 million East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, RTD said its revenue budget is expected to increase 6% to $1.141 million over the 2025 budget. The agency’s labor and purchased transportation expense comprise 60% of operating expense in next year’s budget.

RTD’s primary source of revenue—69% in the approved 2026 budget—comes from the collection of a 1% sales and use tax in the Denver metro area. “The sales and use tax is subject to external market factors, including inflation, recessions, and the availability of goods and services,” RTD noted. “The budget also accounts for uncertainties in the financial climate for government agencies and private businesses alike.”

The Business Research Division (BRD) of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business conducted independent third-party research to provide semi-annual sales and use tax forecast models to RTD in September 2025, according to the transit agency. The BRD projected a 1% increase in sales and use tax revenue in 2026, with a forecast of $877 million vs. its latest forecast for 2025; the $877 million in 2026 is 3% lower than the 2025 budget, as BRD’s projections for 2025 declined since RTD adopted the 2025 budget in November 2024, the transit agency said. For 2026, this revenue amount is forecasted to comprise 77% of RTD’s expected funding sources before the impact of East Colfax BRT, it said. BRD’s medium forecast financial models are used by RTD to develop its annual budget and five-year financial forecast.

RTD said it plans to “pare back funding for service contracts in 2026 that did not meet the anticipated budget costs for 2025,” resulting in a projected $17 million savings. The agency’s closed (legacy) pension plan contribution for salaried employees is budgeted at $7 million in 2026 vs. $15 million in 2025, because, RTD said, “the plan is considered adequately funded.” Another budget reduction is the delayed hiring for 81 vacant positions to yield $7 million in savings, and modifications to overtime are projected to deliver savings of $5 million, the agency reported.

While RTD plans no reduction in force for 2026 in the budget, it excludes an allotment for a cost-of-living adjustment or merit increases for non-represented employees. The agency noted that in October 2025 it implemented a cost-saving measure impacting non-represented RTD employees who received a merit increase as a one-time lump sum distribution in 2025 that resulted in $4 million in savings for 2026.

The RTD Board amended the 2026 budget to exclude $20 million in debt financing for cutaway vehicles used for paratransit and FlexRide services, according to the transit agency. The plan includes prepayment of $57 million in 2026 debt obligations “to strengthen the agency’s fiscal performance,” it noted. The approved 2026 budget includes no change to the FasTracks Internal Savings Account balance, which RTD said is currently $192 million. The capital replacement fund is proposed at $166 million, though RTD said it is “not expected to be sufficient to cover capital requirements through 2030.” The operating reserve of $227 million is set at three months of operating expenses according to fiscal policy, it noted.

RTD said it will monitor expenditures throughout 2026 to identify further savings opportunities, while avoiding actions that would postpone funding for preventative maintenance or equipment replacement. Additionally, it said the Board “will continue to incorporate a budgetary monitoring system that charges expenditures against approved appropriations.”

RTD’s FY 2026 budget complies with Colorado Local Government Budget Law.

“The 2026 budget includes an overview of cost-saving recommendations to more closely align expenditures to projected revenue,” RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson said. “RTD will take a disciplined approach to managing expenses in the year ahead, and the agency is proposing implementation of a variety of opportunities that reduce costs and ensures good fiscal stewardship.”

In related news, RTD earlier this month released its third-quarter financial results for FY25. While total revenue rose to $321 million, up $41 million or 15%, from the same period last year, it fell short of budget projections by $21 million or 6%, according to the transit agency.

• Denver RTD Launches Open Payments With Masabi
• Denver RTD Releases Draft 2025 Finishing FasTracks Report
• Metra Approves $1.2B Operating Budget for 2026
• PATH: $2.6B Capital Plan for 2026-2035
• Chicago Transit Board Approves 2026 CTA Budget
• TriMet Board Adopts $1.96B FY2026 Budget
• MARTA, BART Budgets Approved for FY26
• Caltrain: ‘Cuts to Come’ Without External Funding

The post For Denver RTD, FY26 Budget Tops $1.5B appeared first on Railway Age.

The signing with ENSCO took place on Nov.17, 2025, with Dr. Yong Jang Kwon signing on behalf of KRRI and Bindi Patel, ENSCO Vice President of Contracts and Procurement, signing on behalf of ENSCO.

The agreement, ENSCO says, “establishes a framework for cooperation between ENSCO and KRRI to identify and pursue mutually beneficial research and development initiatives, including heavy haul operations, high-speed rail technologies, advanced testing methodologies, and safety systems. It also provides for the potential exchange of technical expertise, joint training programs, and shared use of test facilities in both the United States and the Republic of Korea.”

The MOU follows recent technical discussions between ENSCO and KRRI and coincides with both organizations’ participation in the International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) and World Congress on Railway Research (WCRR) 2025 conferences. KRRI representatives visited the TTC ahead of these events to explore collaborative opportunities and review the facility’s modernization and multimodal testing capabilities.

“ENSCO and KRRI share a deep commitment to advancing the safety and performance of global rail systems,” said ENSCO President Jeff Stevens. “This partnership strengthens the Transportation Technology Center’s role as an international hub for innovation.”

“Through this collaboration, KRRI looks forward to working closely with ENSCO to advance joint research that contributes to the future of sustainable and intelligent railway systems,” said KRRI President Dr. Myung Sagong.

This international collaboration, the operator says, “builds on ENSCO’s commitment to position the TTC as a global center for transportation research, safety, and technology development, supporting the FRA’s ongoing mission to promote innovation across all modes of surface transportation.”

The agreement with MxV Rail, which was formalized on Nov. 18 during Rail Research Week 2025, “establishes an unprecedented commitment to knowledge sharing, site coordination, and mission-critical research between the organizations,” MxV Rail said.

The new partnership, the organization says, “significantly enhances the capabilities of both MxV Rail and KRRI by aligning their world-class testing facilities, institutional knowledge, and engineering expertise.” Future research endeavors will include shared use of test rolling stock, collaboration on digital data asset management and maintenance systems, exchanging personnel for knowledge transfer and employee growth, as well as joint development of thought leadership, training programs, seminars, and symposia.

“This partnership is significant as it further strengthens the longstanding cooperation that has continued since the signing of the MOU in 2018,” said Sagong. “Through closer collaboration between our two organizations, we expect to see enhanced joint responses to the digital transformation of the railway industry driven by the sharing of information, knowledge, and experience; strengthened practical cooperation in testing, certification, and the use of test tracks; and improved national competitiveness through proactive and mutually beneficial responses to changes in the global railway environment.”

“Our teams have historically worked on carbon-neutral and digital technologies together, and both organizations recognize that, along with our technical prowess, people are the heart of what we do,” said MxV Rail President and CEO Kari Gonzales. “With every advancement in the safety, efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of the railways, we improve communities around the globe. We are going to do great things together.”

The post KRRI Signs MOU With ENSCO, MxV Rail appeared first on Railway Age.

G&W recently reported that overall satisfaction with its customer service is up for the third consecutive period based on the company’s biennial survey of its customers.

In related news, G&W also recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of RSR. Spanning 101 miles, this short line railroad serves customers in western New York and offers shippers access to the North American freight rail network via interchange with CPKC, CSX and Norfolk Southern (NS).

The Alaska Railroad Corporation on Dec. 3 announced that it has completed an innovative $112 million port revenue bond issuance to provide long-term financing for the replacement of the 60-year-old cruise ship dock and terminal in Seward, Alaska—a critical gateway serving more than 205,000 passengers annually and a vital component of Alaska’s $2.2 billion cruise ship tourism economy. The new facility will accommodate larger vessels and support continued economic growth in a state where 65% of summer tourists arrive by cruise ship, according to the company.

The deal was named The Bond Buyer’s Deal of the Year in the Far West category. BofA Securities acted as the senior manager and Wells Fargo acted as the co-manager.

Orrick served as counsel to lender Goldman Sachs Bank USA, who provided the interim construction loan to Seward Company, the Alaska-based private developer, to finance a portion of the construction costs of the $137 million cruise terminal and pier.

The post Small-Road Briefs: G&W, Alaska Railroad Corporation appeared first on Railway Age.

Indiana River & Rail Terminals (IRRT) has leased a fourth building at Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville, expanding its capacity for handling barge shipments of steel and general cargo by 40%, according to the Ports of Indiana, a statewide port authority operating three ports—Jeffersonville, Burns Harbor, and Mount Vernon—on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan.

Burns Harbor Railroad, Mount Vernon Railroad, Evansville Western Railway, CSX, Louisville & Indiana Railroad, and Norfolk Southern are among the railroads serving the Ports.

The Ports of Indiana on Dec. 3 reported that it was nearing capacity for steel shipments by late 2024; that’s why IRRT, its joint venture with general cargo stevedore Superior River Terminals-Indiana, decided to lease another building. The 156,000-square-foot facility in Jeffersonville will supplement IRRT’s existing warehouse capacity of 195,000 square feet, bringing the total to just over 350,000 square feet.

This new capacity includes opportunities for Foreign-Trade Zone storage, heavy lift cargo, rail transload, and support for higher volumes of barge, rail, and truck operations, according to the Ports. Additionally, the expansion positions Jeffersonville to serve a broader range of industries and cargo types, it noted.

IRRT now manages seven buildings and serves 2,200 acres at the ports in Jeffersonville (located on the Ohio/Mississippi river system, just minutes from downtown Louisville, Ky.) and Mount Vernon (located near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers). (See maps above and below.) It also operates an outdoor storage facility designed to accommodate barge shuttles for Nucor and other steel companies.  

“IRRT’s growth reflects the strength of our partnership and the increasing demand for flexible, multimodal logistics solutions in southern Indiana,” Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock said. “We’re proud to support this expansion and ensure Jeffersonville remains a vital hub for barge, rail, and truck shipments.” 

“We’re not just adding square footage—we’re adding opportunity,” IRRT President Jonathan Lamb said. “This expansion is about meeting demand and staying ahead of the curve. We’ve seen consistent double-digit growth since 2022, and adding new warehouse space ensures we can continue to serve our customers with speed, flexibility, and reliability. Jeffersonville is ready for more—and we’re building the capacity to deliver.” 

“IRRT serves as a model of collaborative growth, combining the operational expertise of an experienced logistics company and the economic development mission of Ports of Indiana to deliver major returns for our region,” added George Ott, Port Director for Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville. “Together, these partners are committed to delivering efficient, customer-focused solutions that drive economic development and global trade.” 

Separately, Tanco Terminals is expanding its liquid barge facility at the Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville, where it provides marine, rail, and truck access for liquid asphalt and fertilizer products.

The post IRRT Boosts Capacity at Rail-Served Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville appeared first on Railway Age.

“We’re back and keeping it cool,” CN reported recently via social media. Together with DP World Canada and COSCO SHIPPING, the Class I railroad said it has reignited its CargoCool Intelligen Powerpack service out of Prince Rupert, “offering shippers a secure and reliable gateway.” With its “direct-to-port rail access, dependable plug capacity, and weekly service,” CN said perishable goods can “move seamlessly and stay fresh from Asia to key markets across Canada and the U.S. Midwest.”

According to CN, the Port of Prince Rupert, which it serves exclusively, is one of North America’s “fastest growing and most efficient gateways—offering a unique geographic advantage.” At 500 nautical miles closer to Asia than southern alternatives, it is said to enable faster transit times: 36 hours closer to Shanghai than Seattle, Wash., and more than 68 hours closer than Los Angeles/Long Beach, Calif.

CN this summer reported investing in a new Zanardi Rapids Bridge—the entrance to the Port of Prince Rupert and the City of Prince Rupert, near the District of Port Edward—to expand capacity and “unlock the port’s full potential.” The project extends several miles of track in both directions and connects the new three-track bridge to meet growing demand, the railroad said.

According to CN, its investment “complements the broader port infrastructure development plan,” which includes several projects:

• “CANXPORT: A bulk transload and breakbulk facility with an off-dock container yard.
• “REEF (Ridley Island Energy Export Facility): A bulk liquids and LPG terminal helping position Canada as a global energy partner.
• “Trigon Berth Expansion: Increasing capacity at the existing Trigon terminal.
• “Import Container Transload Facility: Addressing surging demand for transloading services.”

These new terminals, CN said, “will support and enhance the Fairview Container Terminal, ensuring that the port is aligned for growth, efficiency, and global competitiveness.”

• Building for Growth: CN’s Commitment to a Stronger, More Resilient Supply Chain
• CN: ‘Keeping it Fresh’
• CN Commits to Port of Prince Rupert’s Future With Zanardi Rapids Bridge Project
• LinX Logistics Facility Coming to Port of Prince Rupert
• CN Deploys Innovative Technology to Remotely Monitor Temperature-Controlled Cargo
• Port of Prince Rupert, DP World agree on next expansion of Fairview Container Terminal

NS on Dec. 3 reported awarding more than $6.1 million this year to 402 organizations in 22 states and 219 cities across its network, through its Thriving Communities and Safety First grant programs. The programs are said to reflect the railroad’s four pillars of community impact: safety, sustainability, workforce development, and thriving communities. In 2025, it committed more than $4.5 million for initiatives in sustainability, housing stability, and community well-being through the Thriving Communities program, and more than $1.6 million to improve emergency preparedness and public safety through the Safety First program. Since both programs launched in 2023, NS has provided $17 million-plus in funding.

Among the grant programs’ recent highlights:

• City of Refuge (Atlanta): A Thriving Communities grant is funding shelter, meals, and “life-building” support for Atlantans facing housing insecurity. “This builds on our ongoing partnership,” NS said. “Earlier this year we came together to open a new Welding Training Center.”
• Children’s of Alabama (Birmingham): A Thriving Communities grant is “expanding critical care capacity and simulation-based training, bringing lifesaving care closer to home for more children across Alabama,” NS said.
• Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank (Pittsburgh): A $40,000 Thriving Communities grant has already delivered 30,000-plus meals for families facing hunger in the region’s 11-county service area,” NS said. The railroad also provided recently a $30,000 holiday donation and is hosting a community event on Dec. 6 at the food bank where meal kits and winter essentials will be given away.
• Chicago Police Foundation (Chicago): A Safety First grant is supporting tools like drones and vehicles “to deter theft and strengthen community safety citywide,” NS reported.
• Front Steps (Cleveland): A Thriving Communities grant “is expanding wraparound care for people facing homelessness,” according to NS. A 2024 grant, it said, also helped grow the nonprofit’s Basic Job Training Program.

“We’re committed to supporting organizations that strengthen the communities we serve,” said Kristin Wong, Director, NS Foundation and Community Impact. “These grants help local partners advance safety, build opportunity, and create lasting resilience for our customers, our employees, and our neighbors across the network.”

• UP+NS: STB Application Now Mid-December; 4Q25 Earnings Tempered
• From Port to Porch: Team NS Powers Peak Season 2025

“For more than 160 years, Union Pacific has helped keep America’s military mission ready, moving the equipment, supplies and technology that support national defense across our 23-state network,” the railroad reported Dec. 3. “This robust relationship will only get stronger as the [proposed] merger with Norfolk Southern advances, creating a more agile, fluid supply chain.”

According to UP, every year, thousands its railcars carry Humvees, helicopters, Abrams tanks, fuel, and food, linking inland bases to ports in California, Louisiana, and the Pacific Northwest, as well as major Great Lakes facilities.

Fort Riley in Kansas is one example of UP’s partnership with the military. Working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the railroad said it helped to expand the base’s rail loading capacity with 33,000 feet of new track. “It’s a $15 million investment that transformed how quickly the base can deploy,” UP reported. “Before the project, Fort Riley could move about 100 railcars in 24 hours. Today, it can pre-build multiple trains and deploy an entire brigade up to 700 cars in less than two days.”

UP noted that it “remains the only U.S. carrier with access to all six gateways into and out of Mexico,” which it said gives the Department of Defense critical reach.

“The nation’s first coast-to-coast rail[road though UP’s proposed merger with NS would] create a more predictable flow for bases, manufacturers and ports across 43 states,” the railroad said. “By reducing handoffs between carriers and removing bottlenecks, cargo will move with greater agility, reliability and predictability.”

• Rob Russell: ‘Rail is a Precious Commodity’ – RAIL GROUP ON AIR
• UP’s Jalali: No Hiccups With NS IT Integration
• Ag-State Senators to STB: Be ‘Rigorous’ and ‘Comprehensive’
• Why a Unified Rail Network Makes Sense

The post Class I Briefs: CN, NS, UP appeared first on Railway Age.

Last updated in 2021, the State Rail Plan (download below), “which reflects the latest rail project priorities and helps position Oklahoma stakeholders for federal funding,” enables ODOT to:

• “Take inventory and review usage of all rail lines.
• “Analyze rail service goals and rail’s contribution.
• “Catalog and assess potential infrastructure projects.
• “Examine financing challenges for projects and services.
• “Review rail safety improvement projects.”

ODOT will present Rail Plan updates during a virtual public information meeting at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9. The materials presented during the meeting, as well as an online survey, will be available here following the meeting.

Survey responses are also due by 5 p.m., Jan. 31. Public feedback will help shape the 2026 Rail Plan. Another public meeting will be held after the draft Rail Plan is released.

The post ODOT Seeking Feedback on State Rail Plan appeared first on Railway Age.

After building 3.5 miles of track on the original right-of-way of one of Maine’s famed 2-foot gauge railroads, the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum is now planning to expand southward. In December, the museum announced its intention to build a quarter-mile of track extending south from its campus in Alna, Maine, in either 2027 or 2028. The new “Southern Gateway” will be part of a future two-mile extension that will bring the narrow gauge railroad closer to Wiscasset, a popular tourist destination along the coast. 

The original WW&F operated from 1895 until 1933. In the 1980s, Harry Percival started rebuilding a short section of track on his property at Shepscott Station, which is located 4.8 miles north of the original railroad’s southern terminus. In 1989, a nonprofit was established, and over the past 36 years, the museum has rebuilt 3.5 miles of main line, constructed a shop and roundhouse, four stations, a water tower, and restored two steam locomotives (with a third currently under construction from scratch). 

Museum leadership said they were able to accomplish so much over the last three decades through their slow-and-steady approach. When the current main line was completed to Alna (and the edge of a state highway) in 2022, the museum intentionally paused its expansion efforts to focus on revamping its track maintenance programs, ensuring it could keep what it had built in excellent condition. 

“We have learned to recognize the need for tempered, thoughtful growth which serves specific organizational needs. We established that our ultimate goal is sustainability, whereby we create an institution that becomes multi-generational, lasting well beyond our own time,” museum officials wrote. “As related to further expansion, understanding the end goal is paramount; the sum total of all the infrastructure we plan, including length of main track, maintenance and construction facilities, public facilities, etc., must generate the income necessary to comfortably maintain itself.”

Building south will require crossing a public road and entering a sensitive environmental area because it’s near a waterway. As a result, the museum will need to obtain permits and permissions from the Town of Alna, the Maine Department of Transportation, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Crossing the road will also make the museum subject to the regulations of the Federal Railroad Administration. Knowing that could be an eventuality, the museum has long maintained stringent operating and safety practices that comply with FRA regulations. 

The museum plans to start fundraising in 2026 and hopes to begin construction in 2027 or 2028. The ultimate goal is to add two more miles of track and build a new station at the end. The museum has already begun acquiring property to achieve this goal. 

For more information, visit wwfry.org/southern-gateway/ 

—Justin Franz 

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