Rail & Road
Rail News – PennDOT seeks applicants for freight-rail program grants. For Railroad Career Professionals
8/5/2025
Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has opened the application period for grants allocated under the state’s Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP). Applications are due Aug. 29.
The RTAP is a capital budget grant program funded with bonds and the RFAP is a grant program funded through a multimodal fund created in 2013. Both programs provide financial assistance for investments in freight-rail infrastructure designed to preserve essential rail service or stimulate economic growth through new or expanded rail service.
Last year, PennDOT awarded $55 million in grants through the programs for 30 freight-rail projects that created or sustained 344 jobs in Pennsylvania, state officials said in a press release.
“Pennsylvania’s rail freight network keeps goods moving and supports the economy, making it a critical piece of our transportation infrastructure,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll.
There are 65 freight railroads operating in Pennsylvania — the most in any state, according to PennDOT. They operate about 5,600 miles of track in total.
More information about freight railroads in the state and PennDOT’s two grant programs is available here.
Rail Forum has announced it has relocated its headquarters to Derby’s ‘Station Quarter’ in advance of ambitious regeneration plans.
The national trade association, which represents almost 400 rail-related businesses, has moved to Paul Duval House, next door to Derby Midland Station and in the heart of Derby City Council’s ambitious plans to regenerate the area.
Rail Forum said the new location offers easy access to industry colleagues and stakeholders visiting Derby by rail, while also being within walking distance of members based on Pride Park or within the city.
The new Rail Forum base is also well placed to support industry teams and local stakeholders in line with work happening in advance of Great British Railways (GBR) to better integrate the rail industry.
In October last year, industry and regional leaders came together with the Secretary of State for Transport to launch Rail Campus Derby, which will accelerate cross-industry collaboration in Derby, in advance of the legislation that will establish GBR and deliver the new HQ.
Elaine Clark OBE, chief executive of Rail Forum, said: “I’m enormously grateful to the former team at GBRTT, Network Rail East Midlands Route colleagues and Shadow GBR for recognising the role that the supply chain can play in delivering an integrated railway.
“Our objectives may occasionally not align, but our passion for the railway and the difference it can make to the communities we serve is shared.
“We look forward to playing our part in unlocking new opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and revenue growth, so that together we can deliver a truly Great British Railways.”
Laura Shoaf CBE, chair of Shadow GBR, said: “I’m thrilled to see this positive step towards a more integrated rail industry as we move closer to the formal stand up of GBR.
“The work Rail Forum does in bringing together stakeholders is vital to our ambition of delivering a simpler and better railway for our passengers and freight users.”
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Rail & Road
The Railway Industry Association has welcomed the Backing Your Business Our Plan for Small & Medium Sized Businesses policy paper published by the Department for Business & Trade.
UK: The Railway Industry Association has welcomed the Backing Your Business Our Plan for Small & Medium Sized Businesses policy paper published by the Department for Business & Trade.
This sets out the long-term direction for the government’s support for smaller firms, aiming to focus on growth and productivity and improving the operating environment to start and run a business.
‘We welcome the decision to improve SME’s understanding of export opportunities available and growing access to export finance, particularly as skills and expertise within the UK rail supply chain are currently under pressure’, said Cath Leech, Chair of RIA’s SME Group, on July 31.
’Additionally, the decision to make it easier for smaller firms to win government contracts will not only benefit SMEs, but will also allow the supply chain to have greater access to the high-value specialisms they provide.
‘A reduction in late payments will be vital to supporting SMEs by giving them secure cashflows, but this must be implemented correctly to ensure that small businesses are protected if they raise concerns over late payments.’
Small and medium-sized enterprises make up more than 60% of RIA’s 450 members across the rail supply chain.
Jeremy Westlake, incoming Network Rail CEO, will share his insights on rail reform and growth at the Railway Industry Association’s annual conference this November.
Credit: Network Rail
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has announced that Jeremy Westlake, incoming CEO of Network Rail, will speak at the RIA Annual Conference on 6 November at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, London Tower Bridge. He succeeds Sir Andrew Haines OBE, who retires in October. The event will welcome over 300 industry professionals across two days, 5-6 November.
This year’s theme is ‘Resetting the Railways for Growth: Harnessing the Power of the Supply Sector’. The conference will open with Transport Secretary Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP delivering the first keynote on 5 November, followed by the Shadow Transport Secretary. Darren Caplan, RIA Chief Executive, said: “It’s great to have Jeremy Westlake, the new CEO of Network Rail from October, taking part in the RIA Annual Conference. Jeremy has a fantastic pedigree as Chief Financial Officer at Network Rail, and this will be one of the first chances the railway industry will have to hear from him as its leader, about his thoughts on Network Rail, rail reform and Great British Railways, and on engaging with the UK supply sector.”
Day one includes sessions from industry leaders including Marie Daley, COO of Transport for Wales, and Andy Mellors, MD of Avanti West Coast. Panel discussions will address the future of rail and the role of nations and regions. The day closes with a keynote from Mark Wild OBE, CEO of HS2, during the evening dinner.
On 6 November, highlights include a live podcast with Green Signals and keynotes from Laura Shoaf CBE, Chair of Shadow Great British Railways, and Tim Shoveller, CEO of Freightliner. The final sessions feature Steve White, MD of South Eastern Railway, Shamit Gaiger OBE, MD of West Coast Partnership, and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, DL. Jeremy Westlake will join a fireside chat before Noel Travers, RIA Chair, delivers the closing remarks.
Related people
Andy Mellors, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE DL, Darren Caplan, Dr Sean Sweeney, Gareth Evans, Jeremy Westlake, Joanne Maguire, John Glass, Laura Shoaf CBE, Liz Baldwin, Marie Daley, Mark Wild OBE, Mike Goggin, Noel Travers, Rebecca Cunningham, Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, Shamit Gaiger OBE, Sir Andrew Haines OBE, Steve White, Tim Shoveller, Tricia Williams
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