Prototype News

Dwight A. Smith, founder of the Conway Scenic Railroad, died on August 8, 2025. He was 100 years old.

Smith was on a Boston & Maine “Snow Train” excursion in February 1968 when he arrived at the railroad’s small terminal in North Conway, N.H., in the heart of the Mount Washington Valley. He was immediately captivated by the station, roundhouse, and yard there. “When I got off the train and looked at that station, and the roundhouse, and the turntable, and the views… I thought ‘Oh my God, what a great place for a tourist railroad,” he would say years later.

Smith was born in 1925 and later served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he started working for the Boston & Maine. Following that 1968 visit to North Conway, he became involved in an effort to bring an excursion train to Mount Washington Valley. However, the B&M was initially uncooperative about hosting excursions on its soon-to-be-abandoned branch. Despite this, Smith and his business partners persisted and spent five years trying to buy the railroad from the B&M. Confident he would succeed, Smith purchased a steam locomotive: Canadian National O-18s 0-6-0 7470, which had been stored in a roundhouse in Ontario since the end of steam. After buying it in early 1968, Smith moved the locomotive to Maine Central’s Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine.

Persistence paid off for Smith and his partners. On August 4, 1974, the Conway Scenic ran its first revenue excursion between North Conway and Conway, N.H. Over the years, the railroad expanded to include the former MEC Mountain Division. Today, it’s the premier tourist railroad in northern New England.

Smith would go on to sell the railroad but would remain connected to it long afterwards. In 2019, the Conway Scenic named 7470 the “Dwight Smith.”

“Conway Scenic Railroad mourns the passing of its founder and visionary, Dwight A. Smith, who passed away last week at the age of 100 years old,” the railroad said in a statement. “Dwight will always be memorialized by steam locomotive 7470, an engine that he purchased in 1968 and restored to service in 1974 to begin excursions on the Conway Scenic Railroad.”

—Justin Franz 

The post Dwight A. Smith, Founder of Conway Scenic, Dead at 100 appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.

Union Pacific (UP) via a LinkedIn post congratulated Conagra Brands on the opening of its newest distribution center in Fort Worth, Texas.

“We are proud to provide safe and reliable service to your state-of-the-art facility,” the Class I wrote.

TexAmericas Center has taken a major step forward in expanding its logistics and infrastructure capabilities with the arrival of two new locomotives. The additions are a part of a $3.15 million dollar investment into “strengthening its fleet and bolstering rail services across the industrial park.”

As one of just a few UP Focus Sites across the country, TexAmericas Center is “uniquely positioned to support tenant connectivity and logistics operations. The new locomotives further strengthen the Center’s ability to provide in-house rail movement and support a wider range of tenant operations. With increased power and flexibility, the new equipment allows the organization to aid in the growth of its tenants, Spring Creek Holdings, transload service offerings, connect its tenants to broader markets, reduce delivery times, and improve Speed-To-Profit offerings.”

“This investment gives us the horsepower to meet our tenants’ needs today and scale for what’s next,” said Scott Norton, CEO and Executive Director of TexAmericas Center. “We’re eliminating barriers and enabling businesses to adjust and expand their logistics strategies right here on our footprint—all while supporting safer, more efficient operations.”

The project was funded in part through a $1.5 million Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DEAAG) from the Texas Military Preparedness Commission (TMPC). This support, the industrial park says, empowered TexAmericas Center to upgrade its locomotive fleet with remarkable efficiency. The need for upgraded locomotives emerged after TexAmericas Center acquired a railcar storage business in 2021, inheriting two aging locomotives and a growing demand for its rail system. “With rail use expanding, leadership identified a clear opportunity to invest in infrastructure that could better support existing tenants, attract new business, and strengthen logistics capabilities for the nearby Red River Army Depot and its contractors,” the Center said.

“The support we received from the TMPC through the DEAAG program was instrumental in accelerating this investment,” said Norton. “Their partnership not only helped us move quickly but also allows us to enhance regional logistics capabilities, including those supporting the Red River Army Depot. We’re deeply grateful for their continued commitment to economic development in defense communities like ours.”

These new locomotives directly support industries that rely on heavy commodities or long-distance shipping and position TexAmericas Center as a unique rail-served location in the mid-south region, the Center noted.

“We now have the rail power, the trained staff, and the long-term vision to grow a competitive logistics platform,” said Norton. “This aligns with our broader strategy to be responsive, aggressive, and future-ready.”

TexAmericas Center is also moving forward with broader rail expansions, including new track on the south end of East Campus, additional spurs, and the development of sit yards, all aimed at “increasing capacity and flexibility for tenants.”

“Our success comes from listening to the needs of our tenants and prospects,” said Norton. “When tenants or prospects bring us challenges or ideas, we respond with solutions. These locomotives are just one example of how we turn feedback into forward motion.”

With the arrival and service of these new locomotives, TexAmericas Center says it “continues to strengthen its reputation as a high-performance industrial park serving the four-state region of Texarkana.”

The post Industrial Development Briefs: Conagra Brands, TexAmericas Center appeared first on Railway Age.

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) announced another record-breaking year in truck diversion through its freight rail programs, allowing the Commonwealth of Virginia to continue “leading the way in rail efficiency.” In 2024, a total of 16,234,884 trucks were successfully diverted from Virginia’s highways, a significant increase from 15,054,707 trucks diverted in 2023.

This milestone, DRPT says, reflects a consistent upward trend in truck diversion that has continued every year since 2017, supported by the Youngkin Administration’s focus on modernizing infrastructure and maximizing taxpayer return on investment.

According to the agency, these results highlight the transformational impact of rail investments across the Commonwealth. On average, one railcar removes 3.4 truckloads from the road. In 2024 alone, 4,774,966 railcars contributed to this achievement, “demonstrating that freight rail is playing a crucial role in improving transportation efficiency and reducing highway wear.”

Virginia’s success is made possible through the combined efforts of several targeted DRPT programs, including the Rail Preservation Fund, the Rail Industrial Access Program, the FREIGHT Program, and its predecessor, the Rail Enhancement Fund. Each program, DRPT says, “plays a strategic role in strengthening and expanding the Commonwealth’s freight rail infrastructure, while helping businesses shift goods off crowded highways and onto rail.”

All recipients of DRPT rail grant funding are required to report annually on project performance for several years after completion. This performance tracking, the agency says, “enables DRPT to evaluate long-term project success and ensure that taxpayer dollars are being invested responsibly and effectively.” In 2024, 32 grantees submitted carload data for projects completed that year, contributing to the overall truck diversion count and providing insight into the sustained impact of these public investments.

“This progress demonstrates that rail is not only a smart investment, but it is a strategic solution to some of Virginia’s biggest transportation challenges,” said DRPT Director Tiffany Robinson. “Every truck we keep off the road means less congestion for drivers, lower maintenance costs for our infrastructure, and a more efficient supply chain for Virginia businesses. These results show that our freight rail programs are delivering meaningful benefits to communities and the Commonwealth as a whole. We’re proud of the momentum we’ve built, and we’re committed to taking it even further in 2025.”

“Freight rail is essential to Virginia’s economy, and this new data proves that our investments are making a measurable difference,” said Secretary of Transportation Shep Miller. “Under Governor Youngkin’s leadership, we are focused on infrastructure solutions that are efficient, fiscally responsible, and designed to support long-term growth. By leveraging public-private partnerships and targeting smart infrastructure projects, we’re supporting growth, while also helping to ensure that Virginia remains a competitive and connected place to live and do business.”

Virginia’s freight rail network spans more than 3,000 route-miles and includes nearly 6,000 miles of active track, reaching every region of the Commonwealth. The system is served by two Class I railroads, Norfolk Southern (NS) and CSX, as well as nine short line railroads that connect local industries to national and global markets.

The post Virginia DRPT Breaks Record in Truck Diversion Via Freight Rail Programs appeared first on Railway Age.

Total U.S. weekly rail traffic came in at 511,194 carloads and intermodal units, a gain of 3.0% from the same week in 2024, according to the AAR. Total carloads were 227,327, up 2.4%, while intermodal volume was 283,867 containers and trailers, up 3.4% from 2024.

Results were similar for the week ending Aug. 2, 2025: U.S. Class I railroads carried 513,529 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.9% from the same point last year, according to the AAR. That comprised 233,805 carloads, up 6.4% from 2024, and 279,724 containers and trailers, up 0.2% from 2024.

For the week ending Aug. 9, 2025, seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2024. They included metallic ores and metals, up 1,825 carloads, to 21,247; grain, up 1,052 carloads, to 19,454; and coal, up 810 carloads, to 61,843. Commodity groups that posted declines were petroleum and petroleum products, down 232 carloads, to 10,092; chemicals, down 123 carloads, to 32,838; and farm products excluding grain, and food, down 33 carloads, to 16,161.

For the first 32 weeks of 2025, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 7,055,736 carloads, a 2.8% gain over the year-ago period; and 8,618,069 intermodal units, a 4.6% increase from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 32 weeks of this year came in at 15,673,805 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.8% from 2024.

In comparison, for the first 31 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,828,409 carloads, up 2.8% from the same period in 2024; and 8,334,202 intermodal units, up 4.7% from 2024. Total combined traffic for this period was 15,162,611 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 3.8% from 2024.

North American rail volume for the week ending Aug. 9, 2025, on nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 324,349 carloads, down 0.04% from the same week last year, and 371,325 intermodal units, up 5.3% from last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 695,674 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.7%. North American rail volume for the first 32 weeks of 2025 was 21,639,091 carloads and intermodal units, rising 2.9% from the same point last year.

Canadian railroads reported 84,689 carloads for the week ending Aug. 9. 2025, down 5.6%, and 74,518 intermodal units, up 11.4% from the same week last year. For the first 32 weeks of this year, they reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 5,194,861 carloads, containers, and trailers, up 1.6%.

For the week ending Aug. 9, 2025, Mexican railroads reported 12,333 carloads, dipping 3.2% from the same point last year, and 12,940 intermodal units, rising 14.5%. Their cumulative volume for the first 32 weeks of 2025 came in at 770,425 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, a 4.8% drop-off from the prior-year period.

The post AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Up Through Week 32 appeared first on Railway Age.

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum’s restored “Terrible Trolley” made its public debut on August 12, two years after the PCC streetcar arrived at the museum campus in Washington, Pa. The streetcar, former Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT) PCC 1713, held a special place in Pittsburgh rail and sports history because it wore a unique livery to celebrate the Pittsburgh Steelers’ four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s, becoming a beloved symbol in the city. It was radio announcer Myron Cope who introduced the idea of the “rally towel” in 1975, which quickly became the team’s beloved “Terrible Towel” mascot.

The streetcar was built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1949 and originally operated on the Pittsburgh Railways’ (predecessor to PAT) Charleroi and Washington interurban lines. When the interurban routes were abandoned in the 1950s, Car 1713 was assigned to the truncated city streetcar lines. In 1980s, nine-year-old Kim Sever wrote to the mayor of Pittsburgh suggesting a trolley be painted in Steelers colors, celebrating their recent string of Super Bowl wins. That January, Car 1713 was painted in Steelers black and yellow with the words “Super Steelers” and “Super Bowl Champs.” The graphics were designed and applied by Chester Zygowski, who worked in PAT’s sign shop. The “Terrible Trolley” continued running into the 1980s and was briefly retired in 1988. In 1989, PAT rebuilt the car and operated it for another decade, wearing its standard white paint with green and yellow stripes.

Rear of Car 1713 carries “The Terrible Trolley” slogan. —Otto M. Vondrak photo

After its final retirement, the car was sold to the private Penn Ohio Electric Railway Association collection in Columbus, Ohio, and stored in a barn. While some initial work had taken place, the owner was unable to finish it before deciding to sell his property and move. PTM made inquiries and acquired the car in 2023. Torn down to the frame, Car 1713 was subject to an intense rebuilding and restoration that was completed in just two years, thanks to generous support from donors and volunteers. The museum secured licensing agreements with the National Football League, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Eamon Foundation to allow use of the football team’s logos and imagery.

This car will be part of the museum fleet offering shuttle service to the Washington County Fair August 9-16, 2025. The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is open for the summer, Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit patrolley.org. 

—Justin Franz 

The post Pittsburgh’s ‘Terrible Trolley’ Rides Again appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.

ProTecht, described as “the rail industry’s first mobile, autonomous tank car cleaning system,” is now available across the U.S. and Canada through Marmon Rail brands UTLX in the United States and Procor in Canada.

“Tank car cleaning is one of the rail industry’s most hazardous and time-intensive operations,” Marmon Rail said. “Whether for repairs or change of service, every tank car must be cleaned—a process that traditionally requires human entry into confined spaces containing hazardous residues. This manual approach is one of the most dangerous aspects of tank car maintenance. ProTecht represents a major technological breakthrough in tank car cleaning. This proprietary mobile cleaning system revolutionizes tank car maintenance with safer, more sustainable and highly efficient on-site cleaning.

The patent-pending ProTecht system, Marmon Rail noted, “is compatible with all tank car types, regardless of ownership or manufacturer. Designed specifically for industrial railyard environments, it eliminates the need for confined space entry and features three specialized cleaning modes tailored to the commodity being handled:

• “Water Filtration System – Efficient cleaning for light residues.
• “Steam Injection System – Precision cleaning for midgrade commodities.
• “Automated Cannon System – High-impact cleaning for hardened residues.”

ProTecht’s closed-loop system filters and reuses water and detergent, “significantly reducing waste, extending operational uptime and minimizing environmental impact,” Marmon Rail added. “By eliminating the need for costly freight moves and out-of-service delays, ProTecht helps fleet owners accelerate turnaround and improve asset utilization.”

“Seeing firsthand the risks of traditional cleaning methods inspired me to develop a safer alternative,” said Evan Ingram, Operations Manager at Marmon Rail. “Our mobile, autonomous system eliminates the need for operators to enter hazardous environments.” Ingram, inventor of ProTecht, spent four years developing, testing, and patenting the technology.

“If it ships in a tank car, ProTecht can clean it,” said Jay McGill, President Repair Services, On-Site & Mobile. “Marmon Rail has long been the industry leader in railcar repair and maintenance. ProTecht builds on that legacy with a cutting-edge system that is safe, sustainable, versatile, and purpose-built for on-site deployment. It is a major leap forward in modernizing tank car cleaning for today’s rail industry.”

The post New From Marmon Rail: ProTecht Mobile Autonomous Tank Car Cleaning appeared first on Railway Age.

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings upgraded the MTA’s Transportation Revenue Bonds rating from “A-” to “A” with a “stable” rating outlook, MTA reported Aug. 12.

According to the transit authority, S&P took this action based on the six-month success of the Congestion Relief Zone tolling program with net revenues 8% favorable to budget; the state’s new funding source to support the MTA’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan by increasing the maximum rate of the Payroll Mobility Tax (PMT) projected to generate an additional $1.4 billion in recurring annual revenues; and the MTA’s balanced budget through 2026 with baseline increases in farebox revenue, toll revenue, dedicated taxes, and state and local subsidies, allowing the MTA to maintain a sufficiently strong financial profile.

MTA said it is also managing expenses by achieving operating efficiencies and reducing outyear deficits, which contributed to the upgrade of its credit rating. Per S&P’s report, it noted, “these deficits are manageable due to the Authority’s financial planning and strategic adjustments, including the baseline increases from previously mentioned sources.” MTA said that over the past year it has reduced the outyear deficit by $198 million, and overall operating expenses remain below budgeted levels. The July Financial Plan, it added, “reaffirms the Authority’s previously forecasted $500 million in annual cost savings beginning in 2025.”

According to MTA, S&P also “cited an increase in paid ridership, due in part to growing ridership and progress in reducing fare evasion, and expects this positive trend to continue based on the expectation of more employees returning to office, contributing to an increase in revenue through transit or the Congestion Relief Zone tolling program.”

This S&P upgrade follows Moody’s Investors Service earlier upgrade of the Transportation Revenue Bonds credit to “A2” this summer and comes ahead of the planned issuance of the Transportation Revenue Bonds this fall, the Authority reported. The Transportation Revenue Bonds are also rated “AA” by both Fitch Ratings, Inc. and Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC, it added.

“S&P’s upgrade demonstrates continued growth in confidence in the MTA’s financial stability while recognizing the early success of the Congestion Relief tolling program, ongoing ridership recovery, and dedicated State support to maintain a strong financial position,” MTA Chief Financial Officer Jai Patel said. “To further support the MTA’s financial profile, we’ll continue to focus on operating budget savings while delivering reliable service.”

• NYMTA: ‘Safest July in Subway History’
• NYMTA Kicks Off IBX Engineering and Design Phase
• NYMTA Approves Purchase of 316 M-9A Passenger Railcars

MDOT on Aug. 12 reported awarding $500,000 in the second round of its Purple Line Small Business Grant Program. The grants, ranging from $5,000 to $40,000, will help businesses located along Purple Line sustain operations and preserve jobs during the 16-mile, 21-station light rail project’s construction. Out of the 350 applications, 46 eligible businesses “most directly impacted by construction” were selected to receive awards, it said (download list below).

The Purple Line, slated to open in 2027, will extend from Bethesda in Montgomery County to New Carrollton in Prince George’s County (see map below). It will directly connect to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Red, Green and Orange lines at Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park and New Carrollton. The Purple Line will also connect to MARC, Amtrak and local bus services. The project is 80% complete with more than 60% of rail installed across the alignment, according to MDOT. Half of all CAF-built Purple Line light rail vehicles (14 of the full fleet of 28 vehicles) are onsite at the Operations and Maintenance Facility in Glenridge.

The Purple Line Small Business Grant Program, launched in February 2025, will invest $4 million over four years, according to MDOT. The program will hold three grant rounds each year. In May 2025, the Department awarded $1 million.   

“Grant awards to eligible businesses are prioritized based on the location of the business and its proximity to the areas most significantly impacted by construction in the prior and upcoming six months,” MDOT reported. “Grant amounts vary by business size and location and funds may be used for any business-related expenses. To be eligible, awardees must be small businesses that primarily do business with customers onsite at a location within one-quarter of a mile of the Purple Line and have been open and operational since Jan. 1, 2022.”

MDOT is encouraging businesses that did not receive an award during the second round of funding or businesses that did not apply to submit an application in the next funding cycle, which opens Oct. 6, with applications due by Nov. 14, 2025. Program details, full eligibility requirements and a link to the grant application (available in multiple languages) can be found at https://purplelinemd.com/small-business-grants/.  

“Small businesses are the heart of Maryland’s economy and its diverse communities, providing jobs, essential services and economic opportunities,” MDOT Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle said. “It is critical that small businesses impacted during construction of the Purple Line are supported.” 

Further Reading: Maryland Again Delays Purple Line Opening

First-half 2025 ridership on NC By Train, the state-supported Amtrak intercity passenger rail service, was up 4% from the same period in 2024, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reported Aug. 12. It carried more than 355,000 riders compared with approximately 342,000 riders last year.

According to NCDOT, all stations along the Piedmont corridor between Raleigh and Charlotte saw an increase in riders getting on or off at specific stops: Salisbury was up 13%; Burlington, 12%; Kannapolis, 11%; Charlotte, 10%; Greensboro, 8%; High Point, 7%; Durham, 7%; Raleigh, 6%; and Cary, 5%.

NC By Train ridership has grown over the past three years, carrying 522,000 riders in 2022, 641,000 riders in 2023, and more than 720,000 passengers in 2024, NCDOT reported. It noted that it continues to see a positive response to the addition of a fifth-round trip between Raleigh and Charlotte in July 2023.

“We’re proud to provide an effective transportation option for North Carolinians that is convenient, affordable and reliable,” NCDOT Rail Division Director Jason Orthner said. “This type of growth supports continued improvement and expansion of NC By Train as we plan for the future.”

Separately, on May 30, NC By Train celebrated 35 years of the Carolinian between Charlotte, N.C., and New York and 30 years of the Piedmont between Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C. NCDOT also unveiled a commemorative locomotive, No. 1893, that was specially painted for the Piedmont’s anniversary.

Late-night service is coming to the T. Effective August 24, we're extending service by ~1 hour on subway and 8 frequent bus routes on Fridays & Saturdays with 5 frequent bus routes running extended service every day. All modes will be free after 9pm for five Fridays & Saturdays. pic.twitter.com/2kCUkLL4eM

Effective Aug. 24, as part of fall 2025 service changes, MBTA reported that all subway lines and eight frequent bus routes will offer extended service on Fridays and Saturdays, with five of the its most frequent bus routes with the highest number of later riders offering extended service every day of the week. Trip end times for these lines and routes, it said, will be about one hour later compared with current service end times. Extended service will also be added on some ferry lines on Fridays and Saturdays through the end of September with additional trips added. 

To encourage riders to take advantage of the extended service, MBTA said all subway lines, bus routes, ferries, Commuter Rail lines, and the RIDE trips will be free on Fridays and Saturdays beginning at 9 p.m. through the end of service on Sept. 5-6, Sept. 12-13, Sept. 19-20, Sept. 26-27, and Oct. 3-4.

Extending service later into the night is a frequent request and longstanding interest of the riding public, according to MBTA. “Later public transit options enhance quality of life, improve the economic vibrancy of the region, and better position the Greater Boston area to be competitive among other world-class cities that offer late-night public transportation,” it noted. “With the goal of increasing mobility during the nighttime hours for workers and travelers, this targeted approach to extending service prioritizes current evening ridership, improves connectivity across the network, and is a strategic investment that is within the MBTA’s current operating budget.”

Following are the service changes for weekends:

• Subway: Service for the Red, Orange, Blue, and Green lines will be extended by about one hour on Friday and Saturday nights. Frequency during the one-hour of extended service will be about every 30 minutes on the Ashmont and Braintree branches of the Red Line and each of the Green Line branches, and about every 15 minutes between Alewife and JFK/UMass on the Red Line, on the entire Orange Line, and on the entire Blue Line. 
• Bus: Service on Bus Routes 1, 22, 39, 66, 110, SL1, SL3, and SL5 will extend by about one hour on Friday and Saturday nights. Frequency during the one-hour of extended service will be approximately every 30 minutes.
• Ferries: Service for some ferry lines will extend by one to two hours with additional trips on Fridays and Saturdays beginning Friday, Aug. 29, through Saturday, Sept. 27. On Fridays on the Hingham/Hull Ferry, an additional roundtrip will be added to the schedule departing about one hour later than current schedules. This trip departs Hingham to Long Wharf at 10:15 p.m.; the trip departs Long Wharf to Hull and Hingham at 11 p.m. The current last departure from Hingham is at 9:15 p.m. with the last departure from Long Wharf at 9:55 p.m. On Fridays and Saturday on the East Boston Ferry, additional trips will be added to the schedule with service extended to 10 p.m. The last trip from East Boston to Long Wharf will depart at 9:30 p.m.; the last trip from Long Wharf to East Boston will depart at 9:45 p.m. The current last departure from East Boston on Fridays is at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays is at 8:30 p.m. with the last departure from Long Wharf on Fridays at 7:45 p.m. and on Saturdays is at 8:45 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays on the Charlestown Ferry, additional trips will be added to the schedule with service extended to 10 p.m. The last trip from Charleston to Long Wharf will depart at 9:30 p.m.; the last trip from Long Wharf to Charlestown will depart at 9:45 p.m. The current last departure from Charlestown on Fridays is at 8:15 p.m. and on Saturdays is at 6:15 p.m., with the last departure from Long Wharf on Fridays at 8:00 p.m. and on Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. For the Lynn, Winthrop, and Quincy ferries, the last trip for these routes will remain as they are on Fridays and Saturdays. 

According to MBTA, service on Bus Routes 23, 28, 57, 111, and 116 will be extended by about one hour every day of the week. Frequency during the one hour of extended service will be approximately every 30 minutes. The current cost of the extended service on subway lines and bus routes for additional operations personnel hours is approximately $2 million, MBTA noted. Schedules for all lines and routes vary; regular fares will be charged for all extended services.

“Safe and reliable transportation is essential and the MBTA wants to do our part with ensuring that the public has access to mass transportation when they need it,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng, who in 2025 was named an Influential Leader by Railway Age readers. “We are not satisfied with simply restoring our system to what we once provided but pushing ourselves to continuously improve. Extended service is something that we have been working towards and I’m proud that the investments being made in the MBTA allows us to now provide later service on subway, bus, and ferries, giving the public the opportunity to choose transit. We could not have done this without the hard work of the MBTA workforce and the commitment to transportation by the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Legislature.”

Separately, John Killeen on Sept. 1 will become the new CEO of Keolis Commuter Services, MBTA’s Commuter Rail operations and maintenance partner.

• MBTA Honors 35 years of Americans with Disabilities Act
• MBTA Completes Winchester Center Commuter Rail Station Accessibility Project
• Massachusetts Sets FY26 Budget
• Report: U.S. CBP Delaying CRRC MBTA Carshell Deliveries

The post Transit Briefs: NYMTA, MDOT, NC By Train, MBTA appeared first on Railway Age.

This year, Railway Age and RT&S are pleased to venture to Pittsburgh on Oct. 1-2 for the much-anticipated 2025 Light Rail Conference, featuring a packed lineup of LRT professionals who are significantly influencing today’s rail transit industry. Among the list of reasons to attend is a special tour of the Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) light rail system.

Light Rail Conference host agency PRT’s network, commonly known as “The T” or “The Trolley,” runs from the North Shore and Downtown Pittsburgh areas, through Pittsburgh’s southern neighborhoods and many South Hills suburbs. With 80 light rail vehicles in its fleet, PRT aims to be the “region’s transportation mode of choice by delivering an innovative network that is clean, sustainable, and equitable; a network that enables individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive.”

Sponsored by Benesch, the tour—a well-attended venue at this conference every year—takes place the afternoon of Oct. 2 and is available on a first-come, first served basis. Attendees will see PRT’s Rail Transportation and Rail Car Maintenance Center, the heart of its 26.2-mile system. Built in the 1980s, the maintenance facility was totally rehabbed in 2022. The project’s scope of work included replacing 4,000 lineal feet of rail, 2,100 lineal feet of elevated rail supports and three work pits; installing 70,000 square feet of epoxy flooring; repair patching of 6,000 square feet of concrete spall, crossover platform replacement; pit lighting upgrading; and complete replacement of the E-Stop safety system.

This edition of our annual in-person Light Rail Conference will be filled with dynamic panels and the chance to network with a wide-reaching group of like-minded professionals. This event will offer a comprehensive review of the specialized technical, operational, environmental, and socio-economic issues associated with light rail transit (LRT) in an urban environment. All this will take place at the Fairmont Pittsburgh.

Presented Oct. 1-2 at the Fairmont Pittsburgh, the 2025 Railway Age and RT&S Light Rail Conference is a must-attend premier conference on LRT for transportation professionals in planning, operations, civil engineering, signaling, and vehicle engineering. Students at the undergraduate and graduate levels are also welcome.

Transit leaders on the program include Andy Lukaszewicz and  Justin Selepack of Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), Bryan K. Moore and Casey Blaze of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), Henry Posner and Ida Posner of Railroad Development Corporation (RDC), Harry Skoblenick of Alstom, Barbara M. Schroeder of Benesch,  Rachel J. Burckardt of WSP USA, and many more.

Key sessions will focus on:

• Strategic insights into major new-builds and expansion projects.
• Engineering sessions illustrating how to best support long-term efficiency and safety.
• Capital program oversight, risk mitigation, and performance tracking.
• Resilience planning, sharing adaptive strategies for extreme weather events.
• Improvements to customer-facing technologies such as fare collection, communications and security.
• The viability and scalability of alternative propulsion technologies.
• Confronting funding challenges.

Supporting Organizations

Industry support for the Railway Age / RT&S 2025 Light Rail Conference is already strong, including sponsorship from 4AI Systems, Piper Networks, Benesch, and RDC.

• View the confirmed speakers and agenda, and take advantage of the early bird rate for Railway Age / RT&S 2025 Light Rail.
• To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jonathan Chalon at jchalon@sbpub.com or (212) 620-7224.

The post Tour PRT at the 2025 Light Rail Conference appeared first on Railway Age.

European freight railcar lessor Ermewa has deployed Load Status in Motion (LSiM) technology from Amsted Digital Solutions SAS across cars already equipped with Amsted Digital telematics.

Ermewa has a fleet of 50,000 railcars covering the aggregates and worksites, automotive, chemistry, grain, energy, intermodal, palletized goods, and steel markets.

The new LSiM technology delivers real-time load status and mileage tracking, without the use of external sensors, Ermewa and Amsted Digital Solutions SAS reported late last month.

According to the companies, LSiM “transforms each railcar into a smart, self-aware asset by analyzing high-frequency motion and vibration data. Its AI [Artificial Intelligence] engine learns in real time, adapting to railcar types, truck designs, and route profiles to deliver sensor-level performance—at a fraction of the cost.”

“At the core of LSiM is unsupervised deep learning (AI learning),” Ermewa and Amsted Digital Solutions SAS explained, “which detects anomalies without needing predefined fault signatures. With edge computing built into every device, insights are processed locally, ensuring low latency, high data integrity, and continuous operation even in low-connectivity environments.”

LSiM supports both predictive maintenance and sustainability goals, they pointed out, as the technology can help users extend asset life, reduce shop time, and eliminate unnecessary part replacements.

“The insight unlocked by LSiM far exceeded our expectations,” commented Peter Reinshagen, Managing Director at Ermewa. “Thanks to Amsted Digital’s AI-native design, we’ve remotely activated powerful new capabilities—without hardware changes, installation costs, or added emissions. The result: significant reduction of the impact of the maintenance on our customers’ supply chain.”

“Activating LSiM fleet-wide—even on units installed years ago—proves the long-term value of embedding edge AI into telematics,” noted John Felty, Managing Director of Amsted Digital Solutions SAS. “And with over-the-air upgrades, we can now add advanced diagnostics—like brake fault alerts, bearing wear, and wheel condition monitoring—without ever touching the wagon.”

“We are proud to push AI forward without relying on additional wireless sensors,” added Evan Weiner, Vice President, IoT Technologies for Amsted Digital. “Sensors increase cost, raise long-term reliability concerns, and contribute to environmental waste through battery disposal. Our architecture enables upgrades without downtime—no depot visits, no field crew interruptions, just seamless performance.”

• Ermewa Group Selects Amsted Digital Solutions for Telematics
• Telematics: Slow, But Steady
• Amsted Recognized as ‘RailPulse Certified Vendor’

The post For European Railcar Lessor, New Load Health, Tracking Tech appeared first on Railway Age.

The City of Rockaway Beach, Ore., has requested that a section of former Southern Pacific tracks, now used by the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, be removed and replaced with a trail. The request from the tracks’ owner, the Port of Tillamook Bay, surprised the tourist railroad, which has long supported building a trail alongside the tracks. 

The planned Salmonberry Trail will stretch 84 miles along the former SP Tillamook Branch, starting from Tillamook along the Pacific Coast before heading into the Coast Range via the Salmonberry River. Construction on a short section of trail began in July near Wheeler, alongside the railroad tracks. However, the City of Rockaway, which has committed to building the trail through its community, said that constructing the trail next to the tracks is too expensive — even though it is being built in other areas. 

“We want to be clear: OCSR is not opposed to the Salmonberry Trail,” the railroad’s board of directors wrote. “In fact, we are strong proponents of a rail-with-trail model and have offered numerous engineering ideas to support safe co-location within the right-of-way, including cantilevered trail segments on the side of existing railroad bridges, as well as using the railroad’s specialized on-track machinery to help with trail construction. We have been working closely with the non-profit Salmonberry Trail Foundation on a demonstration segment of the rail-with-trail in Wheelers, where the railroad is providing help with spreading gravel and vegetation control. We remain open to collaboration, cost-sharing, and innovation over the leased section of the railroad — but we will not be excluded.”

The decision to remove the track is made by the Port of Tillamook Bay. While most of OCSR’s excursions operate between Tillamook and Rockaway Beach, some trips go north of there to Wheeler. Last year, about 10,000 of the railroad’s 55,000 passengers traveled on that section. 

—Justin Franz 

The post Oregon Coast Scenic Track Threatened by Trail appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.

Rail TempEst, a new software application from KB Signaling Inc. (KBS), provides data that goes “beyond forecasts and assumptions toward real-time, high-resolution rail temperature and measurements of track forces caused by thermal expansion and contraction.”

“With rail buckles and breaks among the leading causes of significant derailments in North America, and temperature-related safety advisories on the rise, the Rail TempEst application gives railroads an improved source of information to monitor critical risk factors,” KB Signaling said. “This latest pioneering development enhances risk management of derailments while reducing unnecessary slow orders and inspections. Rail TempEst, part of our ElectroLogIXS® platform, is now commercially available for our Wayside System Data Management Module (WSDMM) edge computing platform, offering an innovative machine learning-powered approach to monitoring rail temperature and longitudinal tensile or compressive forces using existing signal infrastructure. It requires no rail-mounted sensors or additional field equipment.”

“Railroads have long relied on weather forecasts and ambient temperature to estimate rail temperature and issue slow orders when conditions indicate possible buckling or rail break risk,” KB Signaling noted. “But forecasts often lack precision, cover overly broad areas and don’t reflect real-time changes on the ground. Rail TempEst changes that by analyzing track circuit data from KB Signaling’s widely deployed Electro Code (EC5 or EC6) track circuits. The software estimates actual rail temperature for each localized track section, and calculates longitudinal forces based on target neutral temperature values.”

Real-time and historical data are available through a web dashboard, with data and alerts sent via MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport, a messaging system commonly used in industrial automation) along with SMS or email. The web-based interface provides track-by-track detail and customizable dashboards. Operators can trigger inspections, slow orders, and maintenance “based on real conditions, helping reduce operational disruptions and focus resources more effectively.”

KB Signaling developed Rail TempEst in three years, validating it through multiple beta trials. Now patent-pending, the software “uses machine learning algorithms to refine its estimates over time, offering a rare example of continuously improving diagnostic intelligence in a traditionally static environment. The algorithms run on WSDMM, in use at more than 3,500 North American sites, and operate independently of any safety-critical signaling systems. Rail TempEst is the first high-impact application launched on the WSDMM platform, marking a new phase in KB Signaling’s analytics and diagnostics roadmap.”

“There is a precise, clean separation between Rail TempEst and vital signaling functions,” said KB Signaling Chief Technologist Jeff Fries. “It’s designed to inform decisions, not make them. It doesn’t control signals, and it can’t interfere with core operations. That’s fundamental to how we’ve engineered it. This gives operators better information to make better decisions. Today, they’re guessing based on regional forecasts. Now they can act on what’s happening on a specific stretch of track.”

“This is exactly the kind of meaningful innovation we aim for: technology that delivers real operational impact,” said Senior Product Manage Wayside Intelligence Giampaolo Orrigo. “Rail TempEst empowers railroads to manage risk more intelligently and cost-effectively, right now, using the equipment they already have.”

“There’s nothing else like this on the market,” added Ddirector of Products Aric Weingartne. “Other systems require external sensors. Rail TempEst delivers highly localized, real-time data without the added complexity, cost or maintenance burden of additional hardware.”

Rail TempEst  joins recent product launches like the IXC-R20 solid-state crossing controller and certified third-party applications developed through the WSDMM Certified Developer Program. It’s available under perpetual and recurring license models, with support and maintenance agreements that include Tier 1-3 support and quarterly updates. Each software instance supports up to four monitored track circuits and is compatible with VTI-2S or VTI-2E modules running Electro Code or EC6 protocols. “Most current signaling locations use EC5 track circuits, making Rail TempEst retrofittable at tens of thousands of sites across North America and worldwide,” KB Signaling said.

“In 2023, the Federal Railroad Administration issued Safety Advisory 2023-07 recommending consideration for using real-time infrastructure monitoring technology to reduce weather-related derailments,” KB Signaling explained. “During a recent 31-month period, 123 such incidents, with 66 derailments, were reported as caused in whole or in part by weather events. The Rail TempEst application, now being launched at a U.S. Class I railroad, helps meet this call by turning existing signal systems into real-time monitoring tools.”

The post New from KB Signaling: Rail TempEst™ appeared first on Railway Age.

This podcast, taken from Railway Age’s 2025 Rail Insights Conference, features Kate Suprenuk, President of Leasing and Manufacturing, Union Tank Car Company & Procor | Marmon, in conversation with David Nahass, President, Railroad Financial Corp. and Financial Editor, Railway Age. Conference sponsored by BNSF Railway, The Greenbrier Companies, Amsted Rail, Loram, Trinity Rail and Union Pacific.

The post Freight Rail Equipment Market Insights with Kate Suprenuk and David Nahass – RAIL GROUP ON AIR appeared first on Railway Age.

Bay Area transit’s latest “Big Sync” is improving transfers and saving riders up to 20 minutes per trip, according to Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART).

Bay Area transit agencies have been syncing schedules in a whole new way to make riding transit even faster. Transit agencies from across the region are updating their schedules at the same time in mid-August to significantly improve transfer reliability and timing. With these changes, transit riders who use more than one system will see a variety of improvements across the Bay Area this month, saving some riders as much as 20 minutes on their trips. 

This is the third iteration of a coordinated Big Sync in the Bay Area. Agencies meet several months in advance of each schedule change to share planned changes and to look for opportunities to improve transfers.

After a thorough analysis of potential high-impact improvements benefiting the greatest number of riders, four specific locations where riders transfer from one system to another were prioritized for changes to maximize efficiency:

• Dublin/Pleasanton BART
• Daly City BART
• Palo Alto Caltrain
• Concord BART

These transfer hubs involved the coordination of BART, Muni, SamTrans, Caltrain, VTA, Dumbarton Express, Stanford Marguerite, Tri Delta Transit, County Connection, StanRTA, and LAVTA’s Wheels. 

“The Big Sync was born from the idea that while we are separate agencies by name, we all work as one to serve the region,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers, who leads a Monday morning call with all operators with a focus on coordination and transformational improvements.  “Bay Area transit agencies are maximizing our limited resources by working collaboratively to speed up travel times across the region and make it easier to ride the bus, train, or ferry.”  

More information is available here.

MDOT on Aug. 8 announced a major step forward in advancing TOD at the Bowie State MARC station in Prince George’s County by issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to deliver a community-centered transit project that “expands affordable housing, unlocks long-term economic development, improves connectivity, and enhances access to transit.”

Located immediately west of the Bowie State MARC station train tracks, the 4.6-acre state-owned site represents an opportunity to create a vibrant, mixed-use community centered on public transit, as well as the growing Bowie State University campus, the agency noted. Redevelopment of both state-owned and private land at Bowie State MARC station has the potential to support up to 670 construction jobs, yield more than 400 housing units, and generate $108 million in state and local tax revenue.

The selected development team will deliver an initial project focused on affordable housing on state-owned land and lead a comprehensive master planning process for the broader state-owned station area. The master planning process—supported by $1.5 million from the Transportation Trust Fund—will include evaluating and delivering long-term development opportunities; identifying funding and implementation strategies; and advancing key transit infrastructure improvements. Key infrastructure elements will include an extended MARC platform, a new pedestrian bridge connecting the site to the Bowie State University campus and improved bike and pedestrian circulation throughout the area.

The Bowie State MARC Station is located on the MARC Penn Line, one of the busiest commuter rail lines in the region and is adjacent to the Bowie State University campus—Maryland’s oldest Historically Black College and University. The site’s location and institutional partnerships “position it as a key opportunity to advance equitable transit-oriented development in Prince George’s County and the region,” according to MDOT.

The Bowie State MARC Station Joint Development project marks the next step in the 2024 MARC Penn Line TOD Strategy and is a priority initiative under MDOT’s Transit-Oriented Development Program, adding up to 42,000 annual MARC trips at full build-out.

“Transforming the Bowie State University MARC station into a bustling hub where people can live, work and learn starts with the search for the right development partner,” said MDOT Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle. “The development partner will work hand-in-hand with the Department and our partners to support realization of the transit-oriented development vision shared by the community, Prince George’s County, and Bowie State University.”

Proposals in response to the RFP (download below) are due Oct. 14.

SFRTA, in partnership with Broward County Transit (BCT), Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW), and Palm Tran, launched SoFloGO—a mobile app that streamlines transit planning and fare payment across South Florida’s major transportation systems. Powered by Moovit’s mobility solutions and Genfare’s fare payment technology, the app will simplify travel for residents and visitors alike, according to the agency.

SoFloGO brings together four major transit systems—Tri-Rail, BCT, Palm Tran, and DTPW’s Metrorail, Metrobus, and Metromover services—into one intuitive platform. The app offers multimodal trip planning, real-time arrival updates, live directions, mobile ticketing, and service alerts, creating a unified travel experience across county lines.

Features of the SoFloGO app include:

• Multimodal Trip Planning: Suggests optimized routes across buses and trains.
• Real-Time Information: Provides live tracking of buses and trains to minimize wait times.
• Mobile Ticketing: Enables seamless fare payment from each transit agency directly within the app.
• Live Directions and Alerts: Offers step-by-step guidance, including service alerts to avoid disruptions.
• Accessibility Features: Ensures inclusivity with screen readers, step-free route options, and ergonomic menus.

The development of SoFloGO was made possible through funding from the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, whose support, SFRTA says, “reflects the region’s vision of fare interoperability and enhanced connectivity.”

Crews on Aug. 11 officially broke ground on the most complex phase yet of HART’s Skyline Rail project, according to a Hoodline report.

According to the report, the ceremony at the future Civic Center Station site in Kakaako “launched construction of what could be the final stretch to bring rail service into the heart of urban Honolulu—a goal that has faced years of delays, budget overruns, and skeptical residents watching costs balloon to nearly $10 billion.”

According to KHON2, Phase 3 of the $1.4 billion project will add six new stations and about three miles of elevated guideway from Middle Street to Civic Center. The “ambitious phase,” according to the report, will connect neighborhoods from Kalihi through Downtown, with HART officials confirming six stations at Kalihi, Honolulu Community College-Kapālama, Iwilei, Chinatown, Downtown, and Civic Center.

Construction Dive reported that Los Angeles-based Tutor Perini ultimately won the $1.66 billion contract from HART, which had “shelved the project four years ago amid budget shortfalls and initial bids that came in too high during the COVID-19 pandemic but ultimately secured the massive contract after resubmitting their proposal.”

HART officials, Hoodline reports, “are betting that lessons learned from earlier segments will prevent the costly delays that plagued previous phases.” As detailed by Construction Dive, HART decided in 2021 to shift a portion of the alignment to the “mauka,” or mountain, side of the corridor, referred to as the “Makua Shift” “to significantly reduce utility relocations while shortening the construction timeline.”

This strategic pivot, Hoodline reports, “comes after expensive utility relocation issues on Segment 2, where a Shimmick/Traylor/Granite joint venture sued HART for $99 million and eventually reached a $60 million settlement with the agency. Construction work is already under way in some areas, with HART noting that guideway construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2025, starting with shaft construction in Iwilei.”

According to the report, “the timeline calls for substantial completion in 2030, with transfer to the Department of Transportation Services by 2031. Meanwhile, Phase 2 continues to progress toward its anticipated opening, as HART confirmed trial operations began on July 26, for the segment connecting Pearl Harbor, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Lagoon Drive, and Middle Street, with an anticipated opening date of Oct. 15, 2025.”

The groundbreaking, Hoodline reports, “comes at a time when the existing Skyline system faces scrutiny over ridership numbers.” According to data from Wikipedia, in 2024 the line had an annual ridership of 1,151,000, or about 3,300 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2025, significantly below initial projections.

The project, Hoodline reportds, received a significant boost earlier this year when HART received $125 million in federal funding from the FTA—the first federal funding received since 2017, “providing crucial support for the downtown phase after years of financial uncertainty.” As noted by Wikipedia, its construction constitutes the largest public works project in Hawaii’s history.

However, two planned stations remain in limbo, according to the Hoodline report. Kūkuluaeʻo (Kakaako) and Kālia (Ala Moana Center) stations were included in the original plan for Skyline but had to be eliminated from the initial phases of construction “due to a severe funding shortfall.” Despite the indefinite deferral, HART says it “remains committed to completing these stations in the future.”

The post Transit Briefs: Bay Area Transit Agencies, MDOT, Tri-Rail/SFRTA, HART appeared first on Railway Age.

John Killeen is the new CEO of KCS, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Commuter Rail operations and maintenance partner, following roughly eight years of service as KCS Vice President of Asset Management. Killeen was selected in consultation with Keolis Group, Keolis North America (KNA) and MBTA and will formally take over the role on Sept. 1, after a brief transition period with support from current KCS CEO Abdellah Chajai. Chajai in June was appointed to the Global Keolis Executive Committee and promoted to a new role as Executive Director of Marketing, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Engagement for Keolis Group worldwide.

KCS has operated and maintained MBTA’s commuter rail system, the sixth largest commuter rail operation in North America, for more than ten years. It is a subsidiary of KNA, both headquartered in Boston, and employs approximately 2,500 people throughout the region. KCS and KNA are part of Keolis Group.

Killeen has more than 20 years’ experience managing the maintenance of rolling stock and rail infrastructure, and led the procurement and introduction of new rolling stock at two major railways, Go-Via Thameslink Railway and Southern Railway in the United Kingdom. He is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with a Master of Science in railway systems engineering.

“I am happy to see John assume this leadership role with the Keolis Commuter Services team,” KNA CEO Brad Thomas said. “His nearly 30-year career in the rail industry combined with a strong commitment to our employees and the MBTA have been a driving force in delivering safe and reliable service for our passengers. John’s dedication and expertise will be essential as Keolis continues to improve service for the greater Boston community.”

“This is an exciting time for MBTA Commuter Rail and Keolis Commuter Services remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering safe and reliable service for our passengers,” John Killeen said. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners at the MBTA and with our entire workforce to serve the people and communities across the Commuter Rail network who depend on our service every day.”

• MBTA Seeks Proposals to Finance BEMUs
• MBTA, Keolis Launch Renewable Diesel Pilot

Santanu (Sean) Debnath is taking on the role of Chief Revenue Officer at Spokane, Wash.-based Hotstart, a supplier of engine heating solutions for industrial engines and equipment. With nearly 30 years of industrial manufacturing experience, he began his career as a hands-on scientist before transitioning to the commercial side of business. Debnath has held President, CRO, CCO, VP, and Director level positions in sales and marketing at Selecor, Intellihot, Viega, Kaydon Corporation, Rexnord, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

“Sean’s depth of experience, leadership and values make him a great fit for Hotstart,” said Terry Judge, CEO of the company, which has sold more than one million electric resistance heaters to standby generator OEMs including Caterpillar, Cummins, Kohler, Generac, and MTU. “We’re excited to have him join our team as we serve our customers in mission-critical markets like data centers.”

• Winter Weather Warm-Up
• Rebuilt Power for Quebec’s SOPOR

Mark DeVol on Aug. 27 will become Chief Revenue Officer Americas at Fremont, Calif.-based Actelis, which is said to provide cyber-hardened, rapid deployment networking solutions for IoT and broadband applications to the government, ITS, military, utility, rail, telecom, and campus sectors.

Currently serving as Vice President of Federal Sales for Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, DeVol has helped organizations deploy advanced networking technologies including 4G LTE, 5G, IoT, and cyber-secure solutions. His 30-plus-year career spans leadership roles at Ericsson/Ericsson Federal, Nokia, Verizon Wireless, Oceus Networks, MCI WorldCom, and Marconi Communications. DeVol’s military background includes nearly ten years of service in the U.S. Navy supporting Information Systems.

“Mark’s appointment as CRO Americas represents a pivotal step in our commercialization acceleration strategy,” said Tuvia Barlev, Chairman and CEO of Actelis. “His deep relationships across federal, military, and local government markets, combined with his proven ability to build teams and scale revenue growth, directly aligns with our strategic priorities. Mark’s expertise in deploying secure, mission-critical networking solutions will be instrumental as we capitalize on the significant opportunities in our target markets, particularly as military and federal agencies prioritize rapid, cyber-safe infrastructure modernization. His leadership will be essential as we execute our 2025 growth strategy and beyond. Combined with our recent technological advances including MetaShield AI-powered cybersecurity and our expanding global partner network, Mark’s appointment positions Actelis to capture significant market share in the Americas.”

“I’m excited to join Actelis at this critical growth phase,” Mark DeVol noted. “Having worked extensively with federal, military, and telecommunications customers throughout my career and having led my team at Ericsson to achieve double-digit growth year-over-year and more than 350% growth in overall billings, I recognize both the urgent need and the extensive opportunity for solutions like those Actelis offers. The company’s unique ability to deliver immediate fiber-grade connectivity over existing infrastructure, combined with DoD-certified security, addresses the core challenges these customers face in modernizing their networks quickly and cost-effectively. I look forward to working with the team to accelerate our market capture across the Americas.”

• Actelis Receives Software Order From Major North American Rail Operator

Lisle, Ill.-based REMPREX, Inc. has selected Gary Long as President and CEO. He brings more than 30 years of experience in rail to the company, which is described as “a comprehensive solutions provider for transportation terminals across North America.”

Long served previously as CEO, Rail Investments, FTAI Infrastructure, and is an Executive Advisor and Board Member at Cathcart Rail. His career also includes senior leadership roles at Genesee & Wyoming, OmniTRAX, and Norfolk Southern.

• Intercomp, REMPREX Leverage WIM Technology

National law firm Wilson Elser has hired Thomas (Ted) Dunlap, formerly with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) and the National Transportation Safety Board NTSB), as the Of Counsel based in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. He will help lead emergency response support for one of the firm’s transportation clients and provide high-level crisis management and emergency response consultation for clients in several key practices, including Transportation, Aviation & Aerospace, Admiralty & Marine, and Product Liability, Prevention & Government Compliance, according to Wilson Elser.

At the NTSB, Dunlap was Senior Advisor to Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg, and later served under current Chair Jennifer Homendy. He advised Board members on agency business, including the review, analysis, and approval of investigative products such as reports, safety alerts, and recommendations, as well as agency policy and reports to Congress in matters involving aviation, maritime, pipeline, railroads, and trucking. After his appointment at the NTSB, Dunlap worked at the FMSCA, where he served as Team Lead of the Passenger Carrier Division.

Dunlap has also served as General Counsel and Director of Client Relations and Development at an engineering firm that consulted on transportation-related matters. Earlier in his career, he was a litigator in private practice, concentrating on civil litigation, transportation, and insurance coverage matters.

Dunlap received a J.D. degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law and a B.A. degree from East Carolina University.

“This is good news for our clients across several of Wilson Elser’s practice areas,” said David Goldhaber, Co-chair of the firm’s national Transportation Practice. “As an authority on transportation regulation, and safety, with significant experience in all aspects of NTSB investigations, Ted will be a great resource on litigation, regulatory, and counseling matters for the firm, and key to helping clients achieve better outcomes in dealings related to federal investigations.”

“Joining Wilson Elser is a tremendous opportunity,” Thomas Dunlap said. “Having worked for the government on transportation-related investigations, this is a refreshing chance to advise and engage clients once more on these kinds of issues.”

The post People News: Keolis, Hotstart, Actelis, REMPREX, Wilson Elser appeared first on Railway Age.