Railroad News

Amtrak exceeded its diesel fuel conservation goal by more than 2.4 gallons and saved about 3 billion kWh of energy by using its latest-generation ACS-64 locomotives in fiscal years 2016 and 2017.

That's according to Amtrak's FY2016-17 sustainability report, which was released on Monday. The report focuses on the railroad's environmental, financial and social sustainability efforts, including modernizing the customer experience, reducing fuel and energy use, and growing revenue through increased ridership. The document reflects Amtrak's performance from Oct. 1, 2015 through Sept. 30, 2017.

G3 Canada Ltd. yesterday announced plans to build two new grain elevators, one in Alberta and the other in Saskatchewan.

The new grain elevators will be served by Canadian Pacific and CN.

GE Transportation has completed the first of 100 locomotive modernizations for Norfolk Southern Railway in 2018 and has received an order to modernize 80 Canadian Pacific locomotives this year, the manufacturer announced yesterday.

President Donald Trump has designated Ann Begeman as chair of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), the White House announced yesterday.

Begeman, a Republican, is serving her second five-year term on the board, following her nomination by President Barack Obama on Dec. 7, 2016, and her unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 9, 2016.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has released a draft environmental impact report for a project aimed at reducing the time it takes for its Red and Purple line subway trains to turn around at LA Union Station.

The project calls for widening the tunnel entrance to the subway between the Division 20 subway yards and Union Station, along with adding switches, track and other necessary infrastructure.

Positive train control (PTC) systems are operating on about 56 percent of freight railroads' route miles that are required to be governed by PTC systems, up from 45 percent in third-quarter 2017 and 16 percent on Dec. 31, 2016, the Federal Railroad Administration announced yesterday.

Passenger railroads have made less progress, with PTC systems in operation on 24 percent of required route miles as of Q4 2017 — the same as in Q3 2017, FRA officials said in a press release.

Metra next week will launch a $2.95 million project to renovate the LaSalle Street Station concourse in downtown Chicago.

Crews will replace the 20,000-square-foot concourse surface, as well as support pillars.

The Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) this year marks its 20th anniversary.

The Anacostia Rail Holdings-owned short line held a ceremony last month to mark the occasion. The event included a tour of PHL facilities aboard a special train, Anacostia officials said in a press release.

The Canadian government will provide the funding to replace VIA Rail Canada Inc.'s fleet in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor, Canada's Minister of Transport Marc Garneau announced yesterday.

The existing rolling stock in the corridor is reaching the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced to help maintain passenger safety for the next 30 years, Transport Canada officials said in a press release.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has certified transit-rail state safety oversight (SSO) programs in Massachusetts and Hawaii, the agency announced yesterday.

FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams made the announcement at the American Public Transportation Association's legislative conference in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump's proposed funding cuts for transit capital projects would jeopardize $38 billion worth of planned projects, according to an analysis commissioned by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

The study's findings were highlighted yesterday by transit-industry leaders during a press briefing held at APTA's legislative conference in Washington, D.C.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is asking all Class Is to send the board their service outlooks for 2018.

The request, which the board sent to all Class I executives last week, was made in response to concerns the board has received from two major rail shipper associations about deteriorating service.

Advanced Rail Systems

Advanced Rail Systems (ARS), which provides automated yard switches and devices, manufactures the YM-16 electro-hydraulic switch machine. The YM-16 needs “virtually no maintenance” — no greasing, lubricating or replacement of wear parts is required, according to the company. It also has enough power to throw #24 turnouts and turnouts with welded heel blocks.

The Fort Worth Transportation Authority earlier this month took delivery of the second trainset for its TEXRail commuter-rail system.

The Vancouver-area Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation and the province of British Columbia late last week agreed to provide CA$2.5 billion in regional funding for Translink's rail expansions.

To deliver projects in the second phase of Translink's 10-year infrastructure plan, the mayors and the province have proposed a 2 percent increase in transit fares over two years, beginning in 2020. They also proposed increasing parking fares and property taxes.

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and CSX recently executed a final contract amendment that will enable construction of a new Virginia Railway Express (VRE) station in Prince William County, Virginia.

The new station will be a key component of Potomac Shores' emerging town center. Situated on the banks of the Potomac River 30 miles south of Washington, D.C., the 1,920-acre community is being developed by SunCal, a real estate development company that focuses on large-scale, mixed-use master-planned communities. SunCal is sponsoring the new VRE station's construction.