News

Brightline Railroad and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) have requested a $25 million federal grant as part of a $45 million safety project. The funds would be used to provide safety enhancements all across the 195-mile Florida corridor covered by the Brightline tracks between Miami and West Palm Beach.

A passenger train operated by Amtrak derailed near Mendon, Missouri, on Monday afternoon. There are early reports of passenger injuries and potential casualties. Reports indicate the train derailed after colliding with a dump truck. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.

According to data from the Kansas Department of Transportation, less than half of 5,039 railroad crossings in Kansas feature active warning devices, such as flashing lights or automatic gates. Notably, active warning devices provide drivers with at least twenty seconds of warning before a train enters a railroad crossing.

After nearly being hit by a train at the same crossing, local farmer Mike Spencer had also warned local officials about the dangers at the crossing, which has a steep six-foot incline, making it difficult to see approaching trains. “I was afraid this was going to happen to somebody that was not really familiar with the crossing and how to approach it,” Spencer said. “It’s just a nightmare. I look at this and I just can’t believe it.”