Railway security continues to be an integral part of the improvement plans in different infrastructures of the United States government. The train is positioned as an efficient and extremely economical means of transportation compared to other modalities, such as deliveries made by airplanes.
Extreme climate changes and the recurrent use of the various train tracks, which cause considerable wear in a very short time, make the allocation of funds for maintenance purposes practically vital to ensure efficiency and, more importantly, the physical integrity of the drivers themselves.
$400 million for railway security in the US
The strong will of the EU government in terms of railway security is once again reflected in the allocation of funds worth $400 million. These funds will be distributed among 70 projects aimed at maintaining the quality of these tracks for both freight and commercial trains. The program, known as the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI), will apply its funds in 35 states, including Washington, D.C., Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, among others.
According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), the ongoing works have as their main objective to raise the level of performance of the tracks and allocate part of these funds to maintenance works on bridges and other vital points with a view to achieving significant advances, especially when moving highly dangerous materials.
Among the main beneficiaries are those communities that are not very easily accessible and that in the past may not have received enough attention from the State.
A project of great importance to US
The investment that the United States government is carrying out in favor of railway security is noticeable from both a logistical and financial point of view. According to Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of the USDOT, the efforts have even a historical nuance:
“We are making historic investments in the railroad, which means fewer accidents and delays, faster travel times, and lower shipping costs. These projects will make the American railroad safer, more reliable, and more resilient, providing tangible benefits to dozens of communities and strengthening supply chains across the country.”
Some of the entities that will receive a large part of these funds are Amtrak, which together with the Southern Rail Commission, will begin improvement works on the well-known Gulf Coast Corridor, more specifically New Orleans, which will see its passenger transport service restored in areas that had not enjoyed such facilities since the passage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, highlighting the lack of disposition of the corresponding authorities for more than a decade.
This railway security project promises to be a before and after in the quality of transportation in those precarious or highly vulnerable regions of the United States, ensuring positive times.
Sources:
EEUU anuncia inversión de 1.400 mdd para mejorar seguridad ferroviaria y ampliar servicio. AP News
