Railroad News

Siemens Mobility will unveil the world's first autonomous tram at InnoTrans 2018, slated to run Sept. 18-21 in Berlin, Germany. The company will demonstrate the unit on a 3.7-mile section of the tram network in Potsdam, Germany. Local transit agency ViP Verkehrsbetrieb Potsdam GmbH has provided a Siemens Combino tram for the project. The experimental vehicle is equipped with multiple lidar, radar and camera sensors to serve as its "digital eyes." Using artificial intelligence, the tram responds to trackside signals and reacts to hazards such as crossing pedestrians and other vehicles.

Alstom has signed a framework contract with Syndicat des Transports de l'Agglomeration Lyonnaise (SYTRAL) in Lyon, France, for 11 streetcars. The first order in is valued at more than $46.37 million, according to an Alstom press release. The agency may place other orders depending on future needs. The units will be used to boost capacity on line T4 of the Lyon agglomeration's tramway network. The streetcars' design will be identical to the 92 vehicles now operating on the Lyon network. The first unit is slated for delivery before 2019's end.

The Confederation Line light-rail route in Ottawa, Ontario, won't open to passengers in November as originally planned, city officials announced this week.

The 7.8-mile line's opening date likely will be pushed into 2019, according to a Sept. 10 city council update.

Anacostia Rail Holdings Co. this week announced the promotion of Stephane Perri to general superintendent of the Pacific Harbor Line (PHL).

Since joining PHL in 2000, Perri has served as a locomotive engineer, trainmaster, transportation director, operations director and superintendent, Anacostia officials said in a press release.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has released the 2018 State Rail Plan, which calls for increasing passenger-rail travel, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, boosting the economy and improving safety.

The document presents a plan for an integrated transportation system that will allow passengers to easily transfer from local transit services to regional, intercity and future high-speed rail, according to a Caltrans press release.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's (MARTA) board late last week approved a contract to extend bus, rail and paratransit services to Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Under contract terms, MARTA would immediately assume control of six local bus routes and fixed express routes now operated by Gwinnett County Transit.

The Kansas City Streetcar Authority (KCSA) late last week applied for federal funding for its Main Street Extension to the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

The agency is seeking $151 million in New Starts Capital Investment Grants (CIG) funding from the Federal Transit Administration. KCSA, the KC Area Transportation Authority and the city of Kansas City submitted the formal application for the funding.

Freight railroads are taking direct action to protect employees, customers and infrastructure that are in the potential path of Hurricane Florence, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) announced yesterday.

As the nation prepares for what could be the first Category 4 hurricane of the season to hit the eastern seaboard, railroads have been working with the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Railroad Administration to monitor the storm's path and potential effects, AAR officials said in an announcement.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for $46.3 million in grants to help railroads pay for the cost of implementing positive train control (PTC).

The NOFO represents the balance of the $250 million PTC Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program that remained after selections were announced in August, FRA officials said in a press release.

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Metro Transit-St. Louis has installed temporary fencing at three light-rail stations as part of a pilot project to tighten security.

In addition to the fencing, Metro Transit-St. Louis security officers will check fares and monitor riders as they arrive at the modified platform access points, agency officials said in a press release.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) this month plans to perform seismic retrofit construction work inside its Fruitvale Station in Oakland, California.

Workers will retrofit columns and fixtures in and around the station to help the infrastructure better withstand earthquake damage.

MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) President Philip Eng yesterday announced a $17.9 million project to upgrade its Lynbrook, New York, station along the Babylon and Long Beach branches.

The project calls for rehabilitating the 1930s-era Lynbrook Viaduct, improving the drainage system, replacing platform canopies and installing two new glass platform waiting rooms.

Canadian Pacific and members of its short line and regional connections recently met for two days to participate in the CP Reconnect 2018 Short Line and Regional Railroad Conference held in Calgary, Alberta.

At the conference, CP, short line and regional representatives discussed shared opportunities for advancing the North American supply chain, CP officials said in a press release.

Montana Rail Link (MRL) President Tom Walsh announced yesterday that he will retire on Jan. 1, 2019.

Before being named president in 2003, Walsh held a variety of positions at the regional, including executive vice president and chief financial officer. He started working for the railroad two weeks before it began operations, according to an MRL press release.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has awarded a $213.7 million construction contract to a Halmar International and Schiavone Construction Co. joint venture for the planned Potomac Yard Metrorail Station in Alexandria, Virginia.

The station will be built on WMATA's Yellow and Blue lines between the existing Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations.

The League of Railway Women (LRW) has named Ontario Northland President and Chief Executive Officer Corina Moore the Outstanding Woman of the Year.

Moore was honored yesterday at the general session of the RSI/CMA 2018 Rail Expo and Technical Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Kansas City Southern has named Brian Hancock executive vice president and chief innovation officer, and Michael Naatz, EVP and chief marketing officer effective Oct. 1.

Hancock and Naatz will continue to report to President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Ottensmeyer, according to a KCS press release.

The lineup for RailTrends 2018 — Nov. 29-30 at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City — could be our most powerful ever.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel tapped former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to head a new Transportation and Mobility Task Force charged with evaluating the city's transportation landscape as it undergoes "rapid technological change."

The task force also will make recommendations on ways to support public transit and incorporate new technologies and companies into Chicago's transportation systems.