Metra Lays Out 2026 Maintenance-of-Way Program
Metra unveiled its 2026 maintenance‑of‑way (MOW) plan, allocating $156.6 million across signal, track, station, bridge and grade‑crossing projects. Compared with 2025, spending on signals rises to $59.1 million while track work drops to $37.7 million, reflecting a shift toward system reliability. The program targets upgrades at 20 stations, replacement of 22 crossings, and installation of roughly 51,000 new ties, plus a multiyear effort on the Metra Electric Line and the reconstruction of 11 historic bridges. Funding blends existing capital reserves with municipal and freight‑rail partner contributions.
Progress Rail Provides Locomotives to Short Line, Enters Tie Deal with Triton Group
Progress Rail delivered four EMD SD70ACe‑Tier 4 locomotives to Michigan‑based Lake State Railway Co., replacing five 40‑year‑old units and supporting the short line’s sustainability agenda. The new fleet incorporates the Uptime IQ analytics platform for data‑driven maintenance, helping extend asset life and...
Senate Bill Would Require Human and Automated Track Inspections
Senators Tammy Baldwin and Josh Hawley introduced the Secure Tracks Act, requiring railroads to combine automated track inspection (ATI) with twice‑weekly human visual inspections on all main‑line tracks rated Class 3 or higher. The bill also bars the Federal Railroad Administration...
Senators Reintroduce Railway Safety Act
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has re‑introduced the Railway Safety Act of 2026, targeting the safety gaps exposed by the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio freight‑train derailment. The bill requires railroads to install defect‑detecting technology, expands hazardous‑material train restrictions, and...
