Safety

NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett (on behalf of the Northeast Corridor Commission) testifies before the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. on April 17. (Screenshot Courtesy of the T&I House Committee)

Subcommittee Digs Into Commuter Rail Industry

The House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee held a hearing on April 17, “Getting to Work: Examining Challenges and Solutions in the Commuter Rail Industry,” hearing testimony from Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation

Patrick Warren, Rail Safety Director, NTSB (left); and Mike Budinski, Deputy Director of Research and Engineering, NTSB (right).
  • News

People News: NTSB, STV

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) names Patrick Warren as Rail Safety Director and Mike Budinski as Deputy Director of Research and Engineering. Also, STV elevates Kristen Van Gilst to Chief of Staff; Judy Jones joins the firm as Senior Vice President of Strategic Sales; and Eugene (Gene) Kim joins the firm’s Transportation West group as Senior Vice President and California Area Manager.

According to Metrolink, between July and December 2023, passenger and freight trains operating on its service lines were involved in 53 vehicle and pedestrian strikes, a 39% increase from same period in 2022, with nearly half of all strikes in 2023 ruled as suicides. (Metrolink Photograph)

Metrolink to Pilot Track Intrusion Detection

Southern California’s Metrolink will use a $1.3 million federal grant for the development and demonstration of a track intrusion detection system that it said not only will improve the safety of its riders and crew, but also directly benefit pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and everyone else who interacts with the regional/ commuter rail system.

The Union Pacific 2023 J.C. Kenefick Safety Award winner Bayson Oxuzidis with, from left, Chief Executive Officer Jim Vena; Bayson’s wife, Jennifer; and Eric Gehringer, Executive Vice President-Operations. (UP Photograph)
Commentary

Watch: Bayson Oxuzidis Trailblazes Path at UP

Under the harsh gaze of the Sonoran sun, one leader’s approach to safety is as relentless as the desert heat itself. That quiet force is Bayson Oxuzidis, a dedicated Union Pacific (UP)