Railroad News

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 7/13/2020 Rail News: Passenger Rail
NJ Transit's mobile devices allow crews to scan paper and electronic tickets.Photo – NJ Transit

New Jersey Transit last week began deploying handheld mobile fare validators to its commuter-rail crews on the Raritan Valley Line (RVL).

Crews can use the devices to scan paper and electronic tickets, eliminating contact while validating fares. The devices also display information about potential service disruptions to crews members.

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 7/13/2020 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Working with Elevate will enable Caltrain to enter into partnerships that could supplement revenue.Photo – Caltrain Facebook

Caltrain’s board last week awarded Elevate Sports Ventures LLC a consulting contract to manage the agency’s naming rights opportunities. 

The contract calls for Elevate to identify and evaluate potential naming rights assets, create marketing and sales plans and guide Caltrain through the sales and negotiation process. 

Rail News Home Safety 7/13/2020 Rail News: Safety
Last week, the agency that operates the light-rail transit system announced the discovery of a steel crack on one train's wheel, which prompted a fleet-wide inspection.Photo – City of Ottawa

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) announced in a brief last week that it has launched an investigation after cracks were found on four wheels on three separate Ottawa Light-Rail Transit (OLRT) vehicles during maintenance activities and inspections.

The TSB described its action as a Class 3 investigation, which means it will analyze a "small number" of safety issues.

Rail News Home Short Lines & Regionals 7/13/2020 Rail News: Short Lines & Regionals
With start of surveying activities, A2A Rail achieves another development milestone, company officials say.Photo – A2A Rail

Alaska-Alberta Railway Corp. (A2A Rail) has commissioned HDR Inc. to begin preparing a detailed land survey along the Alberta segment of the railway's proposed route.

HDR will work with local contractors and subcontractors, including Quantum Spatial, a geospatial analytics company, and Lawson, a certified Indigenous owned and controlled surveying firm, A2A Rail officials said in a press release.

Rail News Home Security 7/13/2020 Rail News: Security
The challenge calls for companies to submit proposals that address critical pandemic-related health and safety objectives for New York City's transit network.Photo – MTA NYCT Facebook

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Transit Innovation Partnership last week launched a "COVID-19 Response Challenge" calling for the private tech industry to submit innovative solutions that could make public transit safer during the pandemic. 

The challenge calls for companies to submit proposals by July 30 that address critical pandemic-related health and safety objectives for New York City's regional mass transit network. 

Rail News Home Security 7/13/2020 Rail News: Security
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-IBT (BMWED) President Freddie Simpson is asking all Class I and Conrail chief executive officers to immediately institute testing and tracing of the coronavirus among all their employees. The measures should include daily temperature testing and the application of other stringent safeguards, union officials said in a press release. Simpson wrote to the executives earlier this month after four BMWED members died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Hundreds of other employees have been affected by the virus, union officials said. "The pandemic is not slowing nationally," they said in the press release. "We understand that train service must continue. We remain willing, as always, to work to that goal. But, we will not be sacrificial pawns to railroads who resist implementing screening and tracing procedures that would greatly help control COVID-19 spread." Simpson's letters to the Class I executives mirror those sent to Amtrak and Metra in late June. Letters were sent to BNSF Railway Co.'s Carl Ice, CN's JJ Ruest, Canadian Pacific's Keith Creel, CSX's James Foote, Kansas City Southern's Patrick Ottensmeyer, Norfolk Southern Railway's James Squires, Union Pacific Railroad's Lance Fritz and Conrail's Timothy Tierney.  

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 7/13/2020 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Kiewit-Parsons joint venture crews began construction last week with the rebuilding of a crossing in San Dimas.Photo – Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority last week began major construction on the 9.1-mile Foothill Gold light-rail line between Glendora and Pomona, California.

The project, expected to be completed in 2025, will add four stations to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s L Line in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona.

Rail News Home Intermodal 7/13/2020 Rail News: Intermodal
Located southwest of Anaheim Street and the 710 Freeway, the proposed facility would shift more cargo to on-dock rail.Photo – polb.com

The U.S. Maritime Administration has released a draft environmental impact study (EIS) for the Port of Long Beach's proposed Pier B on-dock rail support facility in California.

The public has until Aug. 24 to submit comments on the draft EIS, which is available on the Federal Register and the port's website. An online public meeting and teleconference will be held July 28. 

Rail News Home Intermodal 7/13/2020 Rail News: Intermodal
The U.S. Maritime Administration has released a draft environmental impact study (EIS) for the Port of Long Beach's proposed Pier B on-dock rail support facility in California. The public has until Aug. 24 to submit comments on the draft EIS, which is available on the Federal Register and the port's website. An online public meeting and teleconference will be held July 28.  Located southwest of Anaheim Street and the 710 Freeway, the proposed facility would shift more cargo to on-dock rail, which will place containers directly on trains at the marine terminal. The project is designed address current traffic and cargo distribution bottlenecks into, out of and within the port.  In addition, the project aims to maximize on-dock intermodal operations to reach the long-term goal of 30 percent to 35 percent of cargo containers to be handled by on-dock rail; provide a facility for longer container trains; and provide a cost-effective rail yard. No cargo trucks would visit the facility. Phase I rail work on the proposed project is slated to begin in early 2022 and completed in 2024. The project would double the existing Pier B rail yard's capacity.  

Rail News Home Railroading Supplier Spotlight 7/10/2020 Rail News: Railroading Supplier Spotlight
Bill FurmanPhoto – Greenbrier

The Greenbrier Cos. Inc.’s board announced that Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Furman will continue in his current position for up to two more years, retiring in 2022. The board took this action to ensure the continuity of an experienced leadership team in the current COVID-19 crisis and accompanying environment of economic uncertainty, Greenbrier officials said in a press release. Meanwhile, Greenbrier also reported financial results for its third fiscal quarter ending May 31. Greenbrier reported Q3 revenue at $762.6 million, a $138.8 million increase compared with Q2. The increase is attributed to higher deliveries reflecting increased syndication activity. Net earnings attributable to Greenbrier for the quarter were $27.8 million, or 83 cents per diluted share.

Alstom has proposed several commitments to address the European Commission’s concerns about the company’s planned acquisition of Bombardier Transportation in the first half of 2021. The proposed commitments include a transfer of Bombardier Transportation’s contribution to the V300 ZEFIRO high-speed train; the divestment of the Alstom Coradia Polyvalent and the Reichshoffen production site in France; and the divestment of the Bombardier TALENT 3 platform and dedicated production facilities located within the Hennigsdorf site in Germany. Alstom will also provide access to certain interfaces and products for some of Bombardier Transportation’s signaling on-board units and train control management systems. The commitments are subject to European Commission approval.

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 7/10/2020 Rail News: Passenger Rail
MTA aims to eliminate eight at-grade rail crossings by 2022.Photo – MTA Facebook

MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) crews this weekend will install a new bridge over New Hyde Park Road on the border of New Hyde Park and Garden City in Long Island, New York, to eliminate a grade crossing. 

Over the past several months, crews have been building the new bridge adjacent to the tracks, in preparation for this weekend’s installation. 

Rail News Home Short Lines & Regionals 7/10/2020 Rail News: Short Lines & Regionals
RBMN has also challenged SEDA-COG Rail Authority's structure, organization and expansions.Photo – RBMN

Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad (RBMN) officials announced yesterday they will challenge a recent three-judge panel's ruling that affirmed a trial judge's decision to reject the company's lawsuit against the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority.

At issue is the process the rail authority used in 2014 when it sought proposals for a company to operate five short lines in eight central Pennsylvania counties. RBMN, which came in last in the authority's preliminary rankings, contended the process was designed to eliminate it from consideration, Pennlive.com reported.

Rail News Home Short Lines & Regionals 7/10/2020 Rail News: Short Lines & Regionals
The agreement allows for the negotiation of a favorable rate for the transportation of ore under an MOU with Glencore Canada Corp.Photo – Ontario Northland

Monarch Gold Corp. signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ontario Northland Railway that calls for rail transportation of ore from Monarch's Wasamac gold project to the Kidd concentrator in Timmins, Ontario. 

The MOU's first phase consists of an economic study of infrastructure for the transportation of ore by train from Wasamac to Kidd. The study is expected to be completed no later than Dec. 31.

Rail News Home Short Lines & Regionals 7/10/2020 Rail News: Short Lines & Regionals
OmniTRAX Inc. is expanding its Rail-Ready Sites program to the Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad (STE) in Northern California. The company is working with the San Joaquin Partnership to promote developable, rail-ready property adjacent to the STE. The initial three sites total 83 acres and include a 65-acre parcel, OmniTRAX officials said in a press release. The locations would suit rail-served agriculture, manufacturing, asphalt, cement, chemicals, food processing, lumber, steel and distribution facilities, they said. "San Joaquin County and the greater Stockton region are going through an industrial and agricultural renaissance that our Rail-Ready Sites program will help to support," said Ean Johnson, OmniTRAX vice president of industrial development.  STE is an affiliate of OmniTRAX, which launched its Rail-Ready Sites program last year at the Winchester & Western Railroad in West Virginia and New Jersey.  

Rail News Home Maintenance Of Way 7/10/2020 Rail News: Maintenance Of Way
CN will spend CA$105 million this year on rail infrastructure across Saskatchewan, the company announced earlier this week. The announcement is part of the Class I's CA$2.9 billion capital expenditure plan for 2020, which includes key track expansion projects that will boost capacity to enable CN to better serve growing customers. In Saskatchewan, the expenditures will focus on the replacement of more than 65 miles of rail, the installation of more than 145,000 new ties, the rebuilding of 12 crossing surfaces, and maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure. CN has invested more than CA$850 million in capital projects across the province over the past five years, company officials said in a press release. "These investments in Saskatchewan are a key part of our strategy to support growth," said James Thompson, CN's vice president of the western region. "Safety is a core value at CN and by investing in the maintenance and expansion of our track and capacity, we are providing customers with a safe and reliable solution at a time when fluid supply chains are more critical than ever." Over the past two weeks, CN has been unveiling its capital expenditure plan by province.

Rail News Home Labor 7/10/2020 Rail News: Labor
The layoffs will take effect on July 24.Photo – VIA Rail Canada Inc.

VIA Rail Canada Inc. on July 8 announced it will temporarily lay off 1,000 unionized employees due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

VIA Rail does not anticipate ridership to be back to pre-COVID-19 levels in the foreseeable future, and therefore has had to adjust to the increasing financial impacts the crisis has had on the company, VIA Rail officials said in a press release.

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 7/10/2020 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
The House Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) earlier this week approved its fiscal-year 2021 appropriations bill that provides an additional $26 billion in emergency funding for U.S. Department of Transportation programs to help Amtrak and public transit agencies recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced this week. The bill contains "historic" funding levels, including significant increases proposed in transit formula programs in the so-called INVEST in America Act, which is part of House Democrats' surface transportation infrastructure legislation.  Under the appropriations legislation, $18.9 billion would go to Federal Transit Administration and $3 billion for Federal Railroad Administration programs, APTA officials said in a Legislative Update email. The additional funding includes $5 billion for Capital Investment Grants; $5 billion for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements; $5 billion for Northeast Corridor grants to Amtrak; $3 billion for national network grants to Amtrak; $100 million for the Magnetic Levitation Technology Deployment Program; and $3 billion for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grants. In addition, the bill would not allow application of the so-called Rostenkowski Test, an administrative provision that would require a $6 billion cut to public transportation formula grants in FY2021. The bill also includes a requirement that to receive the extra funding, Amtrak may not cut staff or long-distance or state routes. In a prepared statement, the Rail Passengers Association (RPA) praised the emergency funding and endorsed the additional route protection requirement for Amtrak to access the extra dollars. The requirement would "would buy certainty for workers and passengers alike," said RPA President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Mathews. Some members of Congress have expressed concern about Amtrak's reported plan to enact cutbacks to staff and certain routes, including long-distance, while seeking additional funding to help it recover economically from the pandemic.    

Rail News Home Maintenance Of Way 7/9/2020 Rail News: Maintenance Of Way
The upper deck of the 108-year-old bridge will be closed Aug. 2-29.Photo – TriMet

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) next month will temporarily close the Steel Bridge over the Willamette River in Portland to perform major repairs to the MAX light-rail system. 

The upper deck of the 108-year-old bridge will be closed Aug. 2-29 while improved lift joints and locks, new switches and signal equipment are installed.

Rail News Home Railroading People 7/9/2020 Rail News: Railroading People
Left to right, Hal Valeche and Esteban BovoPhoto – SFRTA

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority's (SFRTA) board last week elected Hal Valeche to serve as chair and Esteban Bovo as vice chair.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Valeche was appointed to SFRTA's board by the Palm Beach County Commission in June 2018. He also serves on the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency.

Rail News Home Sustainability 7/9/2020 Rail News: Sustainability
SunPower will install photovoltaic solar panels at the Anacostia, Cheverly, Naylor Road and Southern Avenue WMATA stations.Photo – WMATA Facebook

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) yesterday signed an agreement with SunPower Corp. and Goldman Sachs Renewable Power LLC (GSRP) to install solar paneled carports or canopies over parking areas at four rail stations.

Combined, the four sites will have 12.8 megawatts of electrical capacity, making the installation the largest community solar project in the area and one of the largest in the nation, WMATA officials said in a press release.