Railroad News

Amtrak has selected AECOM, in partnership with Network Rail, to conduct an independent review of railroad coordination of passenger concourses at Penn Station in New York City, Amtrak announced late last week.

The study is part of Amtrak's work to improve the rider experience at Penn Station, which Amtrak owns. The review will examine the interaction, coordination and collaboration between the passenger railroads that use the station, considered the busiest passenger-rail hub in the United States.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) swore in its 14th chairman Robert L. Sumwalt III on August 10.

The Senate confirmed Sumwalt as President Trump's nomination for a two-year term on August 3. Sumwalt has been serving as the agency's acting chairman since March 31, 2017, and has been a NTSB member since August 2006.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) swore in its 14th chairman Robert L. Sumwalt III on August 10.

The Senate confirmed Sumwalt as President Trump's nomination for a two-year term on August 3. Sumwalt has been serving as the agency's acting chairman since March 31, 2017, and has been a NTSB member since August 2006.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) swore in its 14th chairman Robert L. Sumwalt III on August 10.

The Senate confirmed Sumwalt as President Trump's nomination for a two-year term on August 3. Sumwalt has been serving as the agency's acting chairman since March 31, 2017, and has been a NTSB member since August 2006.

Texas Central Partners announced today that Fluor Enterprises and Lane Construction Corp. will be the preferred designer and builder of the private company's proposed bullet train between Dallas and Houston.

Under the agreement, Fluor and Lane will refine and update the project's construction planning and sequencing, scheduling and cost estimates, procurement, and other design and engineering activity related to civil infrastructure, Texas Central officials said in a press release.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Managing Editor

Sarah Touey, 37

Job description: Touey oversees a construction management/general contracting agreement for state-of-good-repair projects. The work includes replacing special trackwork, switches and crossings for TriMet's MAX light-rail system. She serves as the project manager/resident engineer for the scoping, design, construction and closeout of each project.

Education: Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, Oregon Institute of Technology

U.S. Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) on Wednesday toured the Temple & Texas Central (TC) Railway, one of 12 short lines managed by Patriot Rail Co. LLC.

TC Operations Manager David Lutz led the tour, which also included a discussion of current rail issues, according to a press release issued by the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA).

ECN Capital Corp. has agreed to sell $1.487 million worth of rail-car assets to affiliates of ITE Management LP and Napier Park Global Capital. The ITE transaction closed Aug. 4, and ECN expects the Napier Park deal to close in third-quarter 2017. The assets sold represent 65 percent of ECN's rail portfolio. The sale will further position ECN to capitalize on strategic growth opportunities and free up $400 million of capital, said ECN Chief Executive Officer Jim Nikopoulos in a press release.

Wi-Tronix LLC yesterday announced that it will provide its advanced video analytics solution Violet™ to Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A. de C.V. (Ferromex). The technology provides streaming video and associated data to railroads through a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service solution. Violet is aimed at helping railroads improve their operational efficiency and safety. For Ferromex, the technology's camera system will help further ensure the safety of the railroad's crew and security of its assets and cargo, Wi-Tronix officials said in a press release.

The Port of Manatee has already set an annual record in container volume, with two months remaining in the current fiscal year, the Florida port announced earlier this week.

During the 10-month period between Oct. 1, 2016, and July 31, 2017, the port logged 32,901 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs), significantly more than the Florida Gulf port's full-year high mark of 30,432 TEUs set in fiscal-year 2010, port officials said in a press release.

RailTrends® 2017 has unveiled the agenda for its two-day conference, which will be held Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City.

Presented by Progressive Railroading, the conference presenters will include John "Jack" Hellmann, president and chief executive officer of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Hellmann will receive the 2017 Railroad Innovator Award from Progressive Railroading and RailTrends.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit against the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) for the agency's restrictions on advertising in train stations, subway cars and buses.

WMATA's guidelines ban ads that are "intended to influence public policy," according to an ACLU press release. WMATA also prohibits ads that are "intended to influence members of the public regarding an issue on which there are varying opinions."

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has awarded a $237 million contract for two MTA Metro-North Railroad track projects to a Cianbro-Middlesex joint venture.

The joint venture will serve as the construction manager/general contractor for the projects. The team was given a notice to proceed yesterday, with construction expected to begin in late September and continue for three years.

Amtrak selected AECOM, in partnership with Network Rail, to conduct an independent review of the interaction, coordination and collaboration between the railroads' various passenger concourses within Penn Station.

The partnership will also provide recommendations to improve the design, functionality, communications, and coordination at this critical station.

Amtrak selected AECOM, in partnership with Network Rail, to conduct an independent review of the interaction, coordination and collaboration between the railroads' various passenger concourses within Penn Station.

The partnership will also provide recommendations to improve the design, functionality, communications, and coordination at this critical station.

Amtrak selected AECOM, in partnership with Network Rail, to conduct an independent review of the interaction, coordination and collaboration between the railroads' various passenger concourses within Penn Station.

The partnership will also provide recommendations to improve the design, functionality, communications, and coordination at this critical station.

The Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) project installed the first piece of track at the Maintenance and Storage Facility marking another milestone toward bringing the project online by 2021.

The 19-km (11.8-mile) Eglinton Crosstown LRT will connect Mount Dennis Station in the west with Kennedy Station in the east and includes a 10-km (6.21-mile) underground portion between Keele Street and Laird Drive. The line will bring an additional 25 stations and stops to the Greater Toronto Area that will link to bus routes, three subway stations, three GO Transit lines and the Union Pearson Express.

The Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) project installed the first piece of track at the Maintenance and Storage Facility marking another milestone toward bringing the project online by 2021.

The 19-km (11.8-mile) Eglinton Crosstown LRT will connect Mount Dennis Station in the west with Kennedy Station in the east and includes a 10-km (6.21-mile) underground portion between Keele Street and Laird Drive. The line will bring an additional 25 stations and stops to the Greater Toronto Area that will link to bus routes, three subway stations, three GO Transit lines and the Union Pearson Express.