Railroad News

Amtrak late last week opened a new $44.3 million intermodal station in Rochester, New York.

The station is designed to speed up travel with expanded track service, streamline operations with a modern concourse and baggage handling system.

A $67 million grade separation project in Bensenville, Illinois, has been completed as part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced last week.

The project involved an intersection improvement at Irving Park Road (Illinois Highway 19) and York Road, an effort that followed a railroad overpass companion project built on Irving Park Road, department officials said in a press release.

President Donald Trump has nominated former U.S. Rep. Leon "Lynn" Westmoreland of Georgia to serve a five-year term on Amtrak's board. 

A Republican, Westmoreland served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years. He completed that service in January.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) yesterday kicked off its EXPO trade show in Atlanta.

APTA officials say 12,000 public transit leaders from more than 75 countries are attending the show, which they've described as the world's largest showcase for the public transportation industry.

The intersection improvement project at Irving Park Road (Illinois 19) and York Road, which follows a railroad overpass companion project built on Irving Park Road, is now complete, according to The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

IDOT says the combined $67 million in projects, part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, will reduce congestion, improve safety and create economic opportunity throughout the region.

The intersection improvement project at Irving Park Road (Illinois 19) and York Road, which follows a railroad overpass companion project built on Irving Park Road, is now complete, according to The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

IDOT says the combined $67 million in projects, part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, will reduce congestion, improve safety and create economic opportunity throughout the region.

The intersection improvement project at Irving Park Road (Illinois 19) and York Road, which follows a railroad overpass companion project built on Irving Park Road, is now complete, according to The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

IDOT says the combined $67 million in projects, part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, will reduce congestion, improve safety and create economic opportunity throughout the region.

Union Pacific Railroad late last week announced appointments to its finance department, as well as the retirement of Vice President and Treasurer Mary Jones and Vice President-Tax Pat O'Malley.

The Class I has named Jon Panzer vice president and treasurer; Jennifer Hamann vice president-planning and analysis; and Bryan Clark, vice president-tax, according to a UP press release.

Union Pacific Railroad late last week announced appointments to its finance department, as well as the retirement of Vice President and Treasurer Mary Jones and Vice President-Tax Pat O'Malley.

The Class I has named Jon Panzer vice president and treasurer; Jennifer Hamann vice president-planning and analysis; and Bryan Clark, vice president-tax, according to a UP press release.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority's (CHRSA) staff has recommended that DB Engineering and Consulting USA serve as an early train operator for the agency's Central Valley-to-Silicon Valley segment.

The firm's parent is Deutsche Bahn AG, Germany's state-owned rail company. As early train operator, DB Engineering and Consulting would help design and operate the segment in its beginning phases.

Canadian Pacific announced yesterday a new partnership with Genesee & Wyoming Inc.  and Bluegrass Farms of Ohio that enables the Class I to serve customers in the Ohio Valley region. 

Under the agreement, CP has obtained an exclusive agreement with Bluegrass Farms to use the consortium's 90-acre intermodal facility in Jeffersonville, Ohio. Bluegrass Farms will continue to own the facility and operate it on behalf of CP. The Class I and G&W have agreed to provide rail service to the facility through G&W's Indiana & Ohio Railway (IORY) line.

Canadian Pacific announced yesterday a new partnership with Genesee & Wyoming Inc.  and Bluegrass Farms of Ohio that enables the Class I to serve customers in the Ohio Valley region. 

Under the agreement, CP has obtained an exclusive agreement with Bluegrass Farms to use the consortium's 90-acre intermodal facility in Jeffersonville, Ohio. Bluegrass Farms will continue to own the facility and operate it on behalf of CP. The Class I and G&W have agreed to provide rail service to the facility through G&W's Indiana & Ohio Railway (IORY) line.

Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) announced a new partnership with Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) and Bluegrass Farms of Ohio that will open up the Ohio Valley to CP intermodal customers and further extend its reach into key North American heartland markets.

The Calgary-based carrier said it has an exclusive agreement with Bluegrass Farms to use its 90-acre intermodal facility in Jeffersonville, Ohio, on the I-71 corridor, to serve the Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton markets. The farm consortium will continue to own the facility, and will operate it on behalf of CP. At the same time, CP has also come to an agreement with GWI, which services the site through its Indiana & Ohio (IORY) line.

Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) announced a new partnership with Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) and Bluegrass Farms of Ohio that will open up the Ohio Valley to CP intermodal customers and further extend its reach into key North American heartland markets.

The Calgary-based carrier said it has an exclusive agreement with Bluegrass Farms to use its 90-acre intermodal facility in Jeffersonville, Ohio, on the I-71 corridor, to serve the Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton markets. The farm consortium will continue to own the facility, and will operate it on behalf of CP. At the same time, CP has also come to an agreement with GWI, which services the site through its Indiana & Ohio (IORY) line.

Siemens has made a "significant strategic equity investment" in Wi-Tronix, a supplier of remote monitoring, video analytics, and predictive diagnostic systems for rail rolling stock and infrastructure and other industrial markets.

Siemens has made a "significant strategic equity investment" in Wi-Tronix, a supplier of remote monitoring, video analytics, and predictive diagnostic systems for rail rolling stock and infrastructure and other industrial markets.

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) has logged 1 million "taps" on its Hop Fastpass™ electronic fare system, the agency announced last week.

The system enables riders to pay for rides by tapping fare cards against Hop readers. TriMet launched Hop Fastpass in mid-July.

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) over the weekend performed track maintenance and rail replacement between its North Avenue and Camden Yards light-rail stations.

To accommodate the work, the agency shut down light-rail service in both directions between the stations.

The U.S. Senate last week confirmed Howard "Skip" Elliott to serve as the next administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

A 40-year veteran of the U.S. freight-rail industry, Elliott most recently served as group vice president of public safety, health, environment and security for CSX.

MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) later this month will replace its 103-year-old Post Avenue bridge in Westbury, New York.

On Oct. 21-22, crews will use cranes and an industrial-grade movable hydraulic lift to remove the existing bridge and replace it with a new one. The $9.7 million project is slated to wrap up before the first morning rush hour train arrives Oct. 23, according to a press release issued by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.