Railroad News

U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA) introduced The METRO Accountability and Reform Act on Dec. 4 aimed at reforming the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) through incentivized funding and an interim control board.

Rep. Comstock's office says the legislation is the result of more than a year of working with transportation experts such as former District of Columbia Mayor Anthony Williams, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, former Virginia Transportation Secretary Jim Dyke, current U.S. Department of Transportation officials and WMATA officials including General Manager Paul Wiedefeld.

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority's (HART) board yesterday named Jeffrey Seward interim chief executive officer.

He'll succeed Katharine Eagan Kelleman, who has been appointed CEO of the Port Authority of Allegheny County. Kelleman's last day at HART will be Jan. 5.

MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) has begun installing new switches near the Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn.

The work is aimed at making operations more efficient by allowing trains to access the Atlantic Yards directly from the terminal, LIRR officials said in a press release.

New Jersey Transit announced yesterday that it has finished winterizing hundreds of rail cars and locomotives.

The work included checking the units' on-board heating systems, ventilation, thermostats, weather stripping and electronic components. The agency also changed locomotive filters and switched fuel from a summer blend to a winter one.

New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) aims to help its customers navigate service limitations due to winter weather with a new tool this season.

This winter, the public transportation system's customers will have access to its new Severe Weather Schedules feature to clearly identify their travel options and make it to their destinations in a timely manner.

New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) aims to help its customers navigate service limitations due to winter weather with a new tool this season.

This winter, the public transportation system's customers will have access to its new Severe Weather Schedules feature to clearly identify their travel options and make it to their destinations in a timely manner.

Preferred Proppants LLC subsidiary Preferred Sands has sold a frac sand plant in Bloomer, Wisconsin, to Frontier Sand.

The acquisition includes access to frac-sand reserves through lease agreements and royalty rights, as well as corresponding facilities and equipment. The value of the cash transaction was not revealed.

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) repealed a May 2015 rulemaking that would have required the installation of electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes on certain tank cars, according to U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). The USDOT had until Dec. 4 to publish a determination that the ECP rule either was justified or should be repealed.

The Federal Railroad Administration rulemaking had set a timetable for requiring ECP brakes on newer tank cars trains used to haul certain hazardous or flammable materials, such as ethanol and crude oil. ECP brakes issue electronic signals to simultaneously apply and release brakes throughout the length of a train instead of each car applying brakes individually —  a system the government considers more effective in emergency situations.

The Andersons Inc. Rail Group President Rasesh Shah will retire in July 2018. Shah, who began his career with the company in 1978, was "instrumental" in creating the Rail Group in 1989, according to a press release issued by The Andersons. The company has selected Joseph McNeely to serve as the new president of the Rail Group, effective Jan. 8. Shah will provide transition assistance until he retires. McNeely has more than three decades of experience in the financial, manufacturing and distribution industries, specializing in the rail-car business. Most recently, he served as president and chief executive officer of FreightCar America Inc. McNeely also held vice president roles at Mitsui Rail Capital and GATX Corp.

Wabtec Corp. has acquired turbocharger manufacturer Melett Ltd., which has operations in Europe, North America and China. Melett, which has annual sales of around $40 million, provides turbochargers and repair parts to more than 100 countries in the world, Wabtec officials said in a press release. The acquisition is aimed at complementing Wabtec's overall turbocharger strategy and its overall product portfolio. Financial details of the transaction weren't disclosed.

CDPQ Infra has pushed the deadline to continue accepting project bids for the Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM) engineering and construction contract.

A subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, CDPQ Infra plans to launch a period of thorough conversations with the qualified parties regarding the construction contract.

CDPQ Infra has pushed the deadline to continue accepting project bids for the Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM) engineering and construction contract.

A subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, CDPQ Infra plans to launch a period of thorough conversations with the qualified parties regarding the construction contract.

CDPQ Infra has pushed the deadline to continue accepting project bids for the Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM) engineering and construction contract.

A subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, CDPQ Infra plans to launch a period of thorough conversations with the qualified parties regarding the construction contract.

The Valley Metro RPTA and Valley Metro Rail Boards have unanimously approved an extension of CEO Scott Smith's employment agreement for two more years.

Smith had previously served as the agency's interim CEO from February 2016 through November 2016 before transitioning to a two-year term as CEO.

The Valley Metro RPTA and Valley Metro Rail Boards have unanimously approved an extension of CEO Scott Smith's employment agreement for two more years.

Smith had previously served as the agency's interim CEO from February 2016 through November 2016 before transitioning to a two-year term as CEO.

The Valley Metro RPTA and Valley Metro Rail Boards have unanimously approved an extension of CEO Scott Smith's employment agreement for two more years.

Smith had previously served as the agency's interim CEO from February 2016 through November 2016 before transitioning to a two-year term as CEO.

Airbrakes, hours of service, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and level boarding rules were included in comments the Association of American Railroads (AAR) filed Friday with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) concerning federal regulations AAR is offering up for reevaluation.

AAR's comments are in response to a directive from the Trump administration to reform regulatory processes and individual regulations to better serve the public. The association says the rules included in its comments are "ideal areas for repeal, replacement, suspension or modification."

Airbrakes, hours of service, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and level boarding rules were included in comments the Association of American Railroads (AAR) filed Friday with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) concerning federal regulations AAR is offering up for reevaluation.

AAR's comments are in response to a directive from the Trump administration to reform regulatory processes and individual regulations to better serve the public. The association says the rules included in its comments are "ideal areas for repeal, replacement, suspension or modification."

Airbrakes, hours of service, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and level boarding rules were included in comments the Association of American Railroads (AAR) filed Friday with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) concerning federal regulations AAR is offering up for reevaluation.

AAR's comments are in response to a directive from the Trump administration to reform regulatory processes and individual regulations to better serve the public. The association says the rules included in its comments are "ideal areas for repeal, replacement, suspension or modification."

Regional Plan Association (RPA) has released a long-range plan for the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metropolitan region that it says ensures growth and equitable prosperity opportunities.

The RPA describes itself as a nearly 100-year-old research, planning and advocacy organization focused on improving the tri-state area's prosperity, infrastructure, sustainability and quality of life. It developed its Fourth Regional Plan to help elected officials, policymakers and advocates plan for the region's future and help shape the area's growth.