Railroad News

A pilot program to advance the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) will partner the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and local jurisdictions in developing rules that will allow broader testing.

USDOT says results from the initiative, known as the UAS Integration Pilot Program, will be used to accelerate the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace and to realize the benefits of unmanned technology in the economy.

A pilot program to advance the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) will partner the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and local jurisdictions in developing rules that will allow broader testing.

USDOT says results from the initiative, known as the UAS Integration Pilot Program, will be used to accelerate the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace and to realize the benefits of unmanned technology in the economy.

The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation has finalized an environmental analysis of a proposal to replace or relocate irrigation pipelines in the Central Valley to accommodate guideways for the Merced to Fresno section of California's high-speed rail project.

The bureau's Environmental Assessment concluded that moving the irrigation laterals and other associated actions for the rail project will not have significant impacts to resources or people. The actual work of moving laterals would be completed during the non-irrigation season so water users would not be affected.

The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation has finalized an environmental analysis of a proposal to replace or relocate irrigation pipelines in the Central Valley to accommodate guideways for the Merced to Fresno section of California's high-speed rail project.

The bureau's Environmental Assessment concluded that moving the irrigation laterals and other associated actions for the rail project will not have significant impacts to resources or people. The actual work of moving laterals would be completed during the non-irrigation season so water users would not be affected.

The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation has finalized an environmental analysis of a proposal to replace or relocate irrigation pipelines in the Central Valley to accommodate guideways for the Merced to Fresno section of California's high-speed rail project.

The bureau's Environmental Assessment concluded that moving the irrigation laterals and other associated actions for the rail project will not have significant impacts to resources or people. The actual work of moving laterals would be completed during the non-irrigation season so water users would not be affected.

North Railroad Railroad Co. & Affiliates has promoted Jebediah Stotter to president and chief executive officer, succeeding chairman Gary Shields, who has retired.

North Shore, based in North Umberland, Pa., is the Railway Age 2017 Short Line of the Year. The company is the parent of five other Pennsylvania-based shortlines.

North Railroad Railroad Co. & Affiliates has promoted Jebediah Stotter to president and chief executive officer, succeeding chairman Gary Shields, who has retired.

North Shore, based in North Umberland, Pa., is the Railway Age 2017 Short Line of the Year. The company is the parent of five other Pennsylvania-based shortlines.

North Railroad Railroad Co. & Affiliates has promoted Jebediah Stotter to president and chief executive officer, succeeding chairman Gary Shields, who has retired.

North Shore, based in North Umberland, Pa., is the Railway Age 2017 Short Line of the Year. The company is the parent of five other Pennsylvania-based shortlines.

The League of Railway Industry Women (LRIW) has named Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) Executive Director Business Services Kari L. Gonzales to its board of directors.

Ms. Gonzales has neen with TTCI for 15 years, starting as a student intern and joining the company full-time in 2002 after completing her bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. In 2012, she was selected as an inaugural candidate for TTCI's Railroad Exchange program, and she spent a year on location at BNSF's Dallas/Fort Worth facility as part of the Condition Based Maintenance team. The experience "greatly enhanced her understanding of the railroad business and operations and extended her expertise in wayside inspection systems," TTCI said.

The League of Railway Industry Women (LRIW) has named Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) Executive Director Business Services Kari L. Gonzales to its board of directors.

Ms. Gonzales has neen with TTCI for 15 years, starting as a student intern and joining the company full-time in 2002 after completing her bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. In 2012, she was selected as an inaugural candidate for TTCI's Railroad Exchange program, and she spent a year on location at BNSF's Dallas/Fort Worth facility as part of the Condition Based Maintenance team. The experience "greatly enhanced her understanding of the railroad business and operations and extended her expertise in wayside inspection systems," TTCI said.

The League of Railway Industry Women (LRIW) has named Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) Executive Director Business Services Kari L. Gonzales to its board of directors.

Ms. Gonzales has neen with TTCI for 15 years, starting as a student intern and joining the company full-time in 2002 after completing her bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. In 2012, she was selected as an inaugural candidate for TTCI's Railroad Exchange program, and she spent a year on location at BNSF's Dallas/Fort Worth facility as part of the Condition Based Maintenance team. The experience "greatly enhanced her understanding of the railroad business and operations and extended her expertise in wayside inspection systems," TTCI said.

GE Transportation yesterday introduced its EdgeLINC™ software for device management and streaming analytics. The software streamlines the collection of "edge-level" sensor data and enables faster aggregation and integration into other cloud and enterprise systems, company officials said in a press release. Compatible with GE's GoLINC platform and third-party devices, the software enables users to control configuration, telemetry and alerts. An undisclosed North American Class I has deployed EdgeLINC on more than 1,000 locomotives.

Pentair plc is launching an electrical company known as nVent Electric plc. Pentair will split into two independent, publicly traded companies. One will handle Pentair's electrical business, while the other will oversee the water business. The separation is slated to be completed by second-quarter 2018, Pentair officials said in a press release. Meanwhile, Beth Wozniak was named chief executive officer of nVent, while Stacy McMahan was appointed chief financial officer.

Ontario will set up an advisory board to provide strategic support for the province's high-speed rail plans, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced earlier this week.

The board will engage with the private sector, stakeholders and indigenous communities about the project, according to a press release issued by Wynne's office. Ontario is considering providing high-speed rail service between Toronto and Windsor.

The Societe de transport de Montreal (STM) has put into service two of its Azur subway trains on the Green Line.

Three top CSX executives will be leaving the railroad on Nov. 15—Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cindy M. Sanborn; Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Fredrik J. Eliasson; and Executive Vice President Law and Public Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Ellen M. Fitzsimmons. Sanborn and Eliasson are resigning "to pursue other interests." Fitzsimmons is retiring. All "will remain engaged in supporting the transition until early 2018," CSX said.

Railroad industry veteran James M. Foote is joining CSX as COO. He will have responsibility for both operations and sales and marketing—replacing both Eliasson and Sanborn—and will be based at the railroad's headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla. Foote has more than 40 years of experience starting with the Chicago & North Western and then with CN as Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing. Most recently, he was President and CEO of Bright Rail Energy. Foote, who worked under CSX President and CEO E. Hunter Harrison at CN, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Superior and holds a law degree from the John Marshal Law School.

Three top CSX executives will be leaving the railroad on Nov. 15—Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cindy M. Sanborn; Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Fredrik J. Eliasson; and Executive Vice President Law and Public Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Ellen M. Fitzsimmons. Sanborn and Eliasson are resigning "to pursue other interests." Fitzsimmons is retiring. All "will remain engaged in supporting the transition until early 2018," CSX said.

Railroad industry veteran James M. Foote is joining CSX as COO. He will have responsibility for both operations and sales and marketing—replacing both Eliasson and Sanborn—and will be based at the railroad's headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla. Foote has more than 40 years of experience starting with the Chicago & North Western and then with CN as Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing. Most recently, he was President and CEO of Bright Rail Energy. Foote, who worked under CSX President and CEO E. Hunter Harrison at CN, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Superior and holds a law degree from the John Marshal Law School.

Three top CSX executives will be leaving the railroad on Nov. 15—Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cindy M. Sanborn; Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Fredrik J. Eliasson; and Executive Vice President Law and Public Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Ellen M. Fitzsimmons. Sanborn and Eliasson are resigning "to pursue other interests." Fitzsimmons is retiring. All "will remain engaged in supporting the transition until early 2018," CSX said.

Railroad industry veteran James M. Foote is joining CSX as COO. He will have responsibility for both operations and sales and marketing—replacing both Eliasson and Sanborn—and will be based at the railroad's headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla. Foote has more than 40 years of experience starting with the Chicago & North Western and then with CN as Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing. Most recently, he was President and CEO of Bright Rail Energy. Foote, who worked under CSX President and CEO E. Hunter Harrison at CN, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Superior and holds a law degree from the John Marshal Law School.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has chosen Matt Williamson, manager of environmental and industry safety for CSX Corp., to receive the 2017 Professional Environmental Excellence Award.

The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding performance in environmental awareness and responsibility during the year. Considered the highest honor for environmental professionals in the rail industry, the award was presented to Williamson at the annual Railroad Environmental Conference at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) yesterday marked the completion of seven grade separation projects along a BNSF Railway Co. line running through Fullerton, Anaheim and Placentia, California.

The $663 million effort involved building vehicular bridges and underpasses to separate motorists and pedestrians from the rail line, which is used by at least 70 trains daily.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) yesterday marked the completion of seven grade separation projects along a BNSF Railway Co. line running through Fullerton, Anaheim and Placentia, California.

The $663 million effort involved building vehicular bridges and underpasses to separate motorists and pedestrians from the rail line, which is used by at least 70 trains daily.