Railroad News

On Oct. 13, Amtrak and New Jersey officials hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Portal North Bridge project, a $1.5 billion effort to replace the century-old, double-track swing-span bridge that carries thousands of rail commuters daily from New Jersey into Manhattan. For Amtrak, the ceremony was a milestone. It marked the start of construction on one of its major projects designed to improve the national passenger railroad’s deteriorating infrastructure along the highly trafficked Northeast Corridor (NEC). Replacing the Portal North Bridge is one component of Amtrak’s Gateway program, a comprehensive plan to build, repair and expand the NEC passenger-rail network between New York and New Jersey.

New York and New Jersey have reached a deal to fund 100 percent the local share of the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project originally laid out in a 2015 framework agreement, which calls on the federal government to fund 50 percent of the project.

The $12.7-billion rail project has been called the nation's most urgent, critical major infrastructure project and is along an essential portion of the Northeast Corridor connecting New York and New Jersey. The commitment to fund the local share represents $5.55 billion of the total cost and consists of $1.9 billion by New Jersey Transit, $1.75 billion by the state of New York and $1.9 billion committed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) in its 10-year capital program approved in February 2017.

New York and New Jersey have reached a deal to fund 100 percent the local share of the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project originally laid out in a 2015 framework agreement, which calls on the federal government to fund 50 percent of the project.

The $12.7-billion rail project has been called the nation's most urgent, critical major infrastructure project and is along an essential portion of the Northeast Corridor connecting New York and New Jersey. The commitment to fund the local share represents $5.55 billion of the total cost and consists of $1.9 billion by New Jersey Transit, $1.75 billion by the state of New York and $1.9 billion committed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) in its 10-year capital program approved in February 2017.

New York and New Jersey have reached a deal to fund 100 percent the local share of the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project originally laid out in a 2015 framework agreement, which calls on the federal government to fund 50 percent of the project.

The $12.7-billion rail project has been called the nation's most urgent, critical major infrastructure project and is along an essential portion of the Northeast Corridor connecting New York and New Jersey. The commitment to fund the local share represents $5.55 billion of the total cost and consists of $1.9 billion by New Jersey Transit, $1.75 billion by the state of New York and $1.9 billion committed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) in its 10-year capital program approved in February 2017.

Expanded Amtrak Cascades service will start Dec. 18, following years of planning, construction and $800 million in passenger-train improvements, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced yesterday.

Additional trains will run daily and riders will be able to use the new Amtrak Cascades Tacoma Dome Station for the first time, according to WSDOT's blog.

In October, the Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) reached an all-time high of 129.2, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The previous record index of 129.0 was set in August.

The Freight TSI inched up 0.6 from September’s level and climbed 5.3 percent from October 2016’s mark. The index measures month-to-month changes in shipments moved by rail, truck, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.

Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation have opened a new station in Carlinville, Illinois, along the Chicago-St. Louis passenger-rail corridor.

The $3.76 million project was funded by a federal grant administered by IDOT to introduce higher-speed passenger-rail service on the Union Pacific Railroad line between Chicago and St. Louis. Amtrak trains started serving the station last month.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) board has approved a $1.8 billion design-build contract for 3rd Track Constructors (3TC) to complete work on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) expansion project.

3TC is a joint-venture which includes Dragados USA Inc., John P. Picone Inc., CCA Civil Inc., Halmar International LLC, Stantec and Cameron Engineering.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) board has approved a $1.8 billion design-build contract for 3rd Track Constructors (3TC) to complete work on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) expansion project.

3TC is a joint-venture which includes Dragados USA Inc., John P. Picone Inc., CCA Civil Inc., Halmar International LLC, Stantec and Cameron Engineering.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) board has approved a $1.8 billion design-build contract for 3rd Track Constructors (3TC) to complete work on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) expansion project.

3TC is a joint-venture which includes Dragados USA Inc., John P. Picone Inc., CCA Civil Inc., Halmar International LLC, Stantec and Cameron Engineering.

For the week ending Dec. 9, U.S. railroads registered 560,756 carloads and intermodal units, up 4 percent compared with volume in the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Their carloads increased 3.4 percent to 267,963 units and intermodal volume rose 4.6 percent to 292,793 containers and trailers.

Rail Partners Management Group LLC affiliate AllTrans Terminal Cos. LLC recently completed the acquisition of AllTrans Port Services LLC, Texas Transloaders LLC and their subsidiaries.

The acquired companies will be consolidated under AllTrans Terminal Cos. and managed by Mark Brown, Texas Transloaders’ owner who will serve as president of the consolidated entity.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) New York City Transit is set to carry out repairs and upgrades on the 53rd Street E/M Line during a week of low ridership at the end of the month.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) New York City Transit is set to carry out repairs and upgrades on the 53rd Street E/M Line during a week of low ridership at the end of the month.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) New York City Transit is set to carry out repairs and upgrades on the 53rd Street E/M Line during a week of low ridership at the end of the month.

New Jersey Transit's board yesterday approved the purchase of 17 dual-powered locomotives from Bombardier Transit Corp. that will enable the agency to retire some of its oldest units.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) board yesterday approved a $1.8 billion design-build contract with 3rd Track Constructors (3TC) for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) expansion project.

A joint venture, 3TC includes Dragados USA Inc., John P. Picone Inc., CCA Civil Inc., Halmar International LLC, Stantec and Cameron Engineering.

Twelve North Carolina freight projects have received nearly $6 million in funding through the Short Line Infrastructure Assistance Program (SIAP), the North Carolina Department of Transportation has announced.

Twelve North Carolina freight projects have received nearly $6 million in funding through the Short Line Infrastructure Assistance Program (SIAP), the North Carolina Department of Transportation has announced.