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The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) on Feb. 9 issued its draft 2024 Business Plan for public review and comment. It covers major program progress in Northern California, the Central Valley and Southern California, as well as updates on federal funding, ridership and construction status. It also maintains cost and schedules from the 2023 Project Update Report (PUR), released in…

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in December 2023 proposed to amend the Freight Car Safety Standards (FCSS) to advance a freight rail safety provision of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Manufacturers of newly built freight cars placed into U.S. service will face restrictions. The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) weighed in this month, as did the Rail Security Alliance, which represents…

RAILWAY AGE, FEBRUARY 2024 ISSUE: Nearly 140 years after the first patent was issued, draft gears and cushioning devices remain as fundamental to railroading as steel wheels rolling on steel rails. Few other freight railcar components need to withstand as much in-train force as draft gears and cushioning devices. Safety and ride quality rely on these components performing seamlessly with…

Railcar manufacturing inquiries and orders appear to have moderated, but the 2024 build outlook remains stable, modestly above replacement demand. Lease rates are holding up well at elevated levels. While locomotive parkings could increase in the coming months, the modification cycle remains intact. Relative to a couple of months ago, the expert panelists’ tone was neutral to slightly more cautious.