Railroad News

Plans for privately-financed 400km- (248.548 mile-) commuter rail network centered on Ottawa and Gatineau took a step forward on July 1, when the Moose Consortium of eight local companies exchanged letters of intent with a consortium of LeMine Investment Group and Consortia N.A. (LeMine-ConsortiaNA) to assess the business and technical potential of the project.

The Moose plan is based on what the project backers describe as a "property-powered rail open market development model," which aims to optimise the return on property investment by providing passenger rail services on a commercial open-market basis to a limited number of so-called "linked localities." This would be achieved without any government subsidy, public debt or taxes.

Plans for privately-financed 250-mile commuter rail network centered on Ottawa and Gatineau took a step forward on July 1, when the Moose Consortium of eight local companies exchanged letters of intent with a consortium of LeMine Investment Group and Consortia N.A. (LeMine-ConsortiaNA) to assess the business and technical potential of the project.

Plans for privately-financed 250-mile commuter rail network centered on Ottawa and Gatineau took a step forward on July 1, when the Moose Consortium of eight local companies exchanged letters of intent with a consortium of LeMine Investment Group and Consortia N.A. (LeMine-ConsortiaNA) to assess the business and technical potential of the project.

Talgo Inc. has begun refurbishing rail cars in Milwaukee under the Spanish train manufacturer's contract with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA).

Talgo and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced last year that the manufacturer would return to Milwaukee's Century City business park, where it once built high-speed trains for Wisconsin and Oregon.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and its contractor Kleinfelder are currently performing geotechnical work along State Route 152 in the Pacheco Pass.

CHSRA says getting a head start on geotechnical investigations is crucial even with the environmental clearance process for the San Jose to Merced section still underway.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and its contractor Kleinfelder are currently performing geotechnical work along State Route 152 in the Pacheco Pass.

CHSRA says getting a head start on geotechnical investigations is crucial even with the environmental clearance process for the San Jose to Merced section still underway.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and its contractor Kleinfelder are currently performing geotechnical work along State Route 152 in the Pacheco Pass.

CHSRA says getting a head start on geotechnical investigations is crucial even with the environmental clearance process for the San Jose to Merced section still underway.

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

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has dismissed a track department supervisor for overtime abuse, the agency announced late last week.

WMATA determined the employee violated the agency's policies and received "significant overtime earnings," even during times when he wasn't working, agency officials said in a press release.

Valley Metro has named Mary Modelski internal auditor and Paula Novacek controller.

Modelski has more than 18 years of experience auditing business processes, operational efficiency and effectiveness, agency officials said in a press release.

The Coalition for America's Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC) released its second white paper that explores why the nation's freight infrastructure should be improved.

Titled "The Vital Role of U.S. Transportation Infrastructure in Moving Agriculture Forward," the report reviews the impact that deteriorating infrastructure has on U.S. agricultural competitiveness in the global market, CAGTC officials said in a press release.

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) on July 31 will partially close seven N line rail stations in Brooklyn to complete the final phase of a $395.7 million renovation project.

The stations' Coney Island-bound platforms will remain closed until late 2018.

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) posted a 2.8 percent increase in its North American carload traffic in the second quarter and a 3.3 percent increase in June compared with the same periods a year ago.

Last month, G&W's North American operations hauled 135,654 carloads compared with 131,338 in June 2016. The activity included carloads from the Providence and Worcester Railroad Co. (P&W) acquisition, which closed Nov. 1, 2016, and the Heart of Georgia Railroad Inc. (HOG) acquisition, which closed May 31, according to a G&W press release.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) early next month will kick off a series of weekend shutdowns on its Lowell commuter-rail line to install positive train control (PTC).

The agency will close the line on weekends from Aug. 5 through Oct. 1, MBTA officials said in a press release late last week. Shuttle buses will replace trains during the closures.

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

Legislation aimed at making the 45G tax credit permanent has reached majority support in the U.S. House and Senate, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) announced today.

The Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act has achieved 226 co-sponsors in the House (H.R. 721) and 51 co-sponsors in the Senate (S. 407), according to an ASLRRA press release.

Coney Island-bound platforms at seven Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) N stations in Brooklyn will close on July 31 for the final phase of a major $395.7-million renovation project.

The purpose of the renovation is to modernize these century-old stations and upgrade track infrastructure along the corridor. Two additional stations will be included in the renovation and will remain open during construction. The entire nine-station project is expected to be completed in late 2018.

Coney Island-bound platforms at seven Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) N stations in Brooklyn will close on July 31 for the final phase of a major $395.7-million renovation project.

The purpose of the renovation is to modernize these century-old stations and upgrade track infrastructure along the corridor. Two additional stations will be included in the renovation and will remain open during construction. The entire nine-station project is expected to be completed in late 2018.

Coney Island-bound platforms at seven Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) N stations in Brooklyn will close on July 31 for the final phase of a major $395.7-million renovation project.

The purpose of the renovation is to modernize these century-old stations and upgrade track infrastructure along the corridor. Two additional stations will be included in the renovation and will remain open during construction. The entire nine-station project is expected to be completed in late 2018.