Railroad News

5/12/2017    

Rail News: Intermodal

5/12/2017    

Rail News: Amtrak

The city of Calgary Administration released its recommendation for construction of Stage 1 of the Green Line Light Rail Project on May 11.

The first stage, estimated to cost CA$4.65 billion (US$3.39 billion), will be the longest LRT line the city has constructed in a single go. The recommendation includes building the 20-km (12.4-mile), 14-station core of the line from 16 Avenue N to 126 Avenue S.E. The line is slated to open in 2026 with planned extensions to be added once funding is secured.

CEMEX USAis expanding its Southern California network with plans for a rail-served distribution terminal in Los Angeles and a new aggregate loading system at its quarry in Victorville, Calif.

CEMEX USA says the state-of-the-art terminal will bring high-quality aggregates to metro Los Angeles and surrounding communities. The terminal is designed to accommodate the increase in construction projects across the region.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) activated equipment on three rail lines May 1 and began operation under Amtrak's Positive Train Control (PTC) system.

SEPTA says that with the activation of PTC on the Paoli/Thorndale, Trenton and Wilmington/Newark Regional Rail Lines, its final PTC program work will focus on the boundary locations where SEPTA service abuts Amtrak.

Wisconsin awarded a $2.6-million loan to Country Visions Cooperative, which is building a new dry fertilizer plant in Plymouth with rail access.

 

Canadian National Railway (CN) Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer JJ Ruest has been inducted into the International Maritime Hall of Fame.

The International Maritime Hall of Fame was founded in 1993 by the Maritime Association Port of New York and New Jersey to recognize maritime visionaries, who, through excellence in their company, organization or services, best exemplify the qualities of futuristic thinking that will guide the maritime industry in the 21st century.

Union Pacific (UP) will invest approximately $41 million in its Oklahoma rail infrastructure as a part of the Class 1's $3.1-billion capital plan.

UP says the Oklahoma investment plan funds a range of initiatives including $40 million to maintain railroad track and $626,000 to maintain the state's bridges. Key projects include an $8 million investment in the rail line between Parsons, Kan., and Big Cabin, Okla., to replace 62,431 crossties and install 28,642 tons of ballast and a $7 million investment in the rail line between the Oklahoma state line and Gore to replace 53,308 crossties and install 24,247 tons of ballast.

Rail News Home Passenger Rail May 2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail

Alstom’s iLint multiple unit is the world’s first train to run on a hydrogen powered cell, the company says.Photo – Alstom/Michael Wittwer By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Associate EditorSuppliers often face uncertainty in the passenger-rail locomotive market as public support ebbs and flows for transit projects. Elected officials, too, offer varying levels of support for passenger-rail plans.Even so, several manufacturers believe the global demand for passenger locomotives and multiple units will remain steady, and perhaps even grow."We're hopeful that the market will be buoyant in the future," said Siemens Rolling Stock President Michael Cahill. "There's a long pipeline of needs across the United States from various commuter railroads and transit systems, but how they get funding, of course, is the key question."Funding concerns notwithstanding, other train builders characterize the overall passenger locomotive market as stable. And while they continue taking orders for their tried-and-true offerings, they're also piloting new technologies.Over the past couple years, Siemens has been busy filling orders for its Charger locomotives. The company in March 2014 obtained a $225 million contract to build 32 of those units for departments of transportation in Illinois, California, Michigan, Washington and Missouri.That order, which was coordinated by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) on behalf of the other states, included options for 225 additional locomotives. California, Illinois and Maryland in November 2015 opted to purchase 34 more Chargers.Taking chargeFourteen of those units were set aside for the Pacific Surfliner Amtrak route in California; the remaining locomotives were divided between IDOT and the Maryland Transit Administration. The locomotives, which can operate at speeds up to 125 mph, meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Tier 4 emissions standards. The units also feature a 4,400 horsepower Cummins QSK95 diesel engine.As part of a separate order, Siemens also is building locomotives for Brightline, All Aboard Florida's privately funded passenger-rail line between Miami and West Palm Beach, Fla. Those units have many of the same underlying features as the Chargers in the IDOT order, said Cahill."But there are some variations in the end product based on customer demands," he added.For example, Brightline locomotives feature what Cahill described as Siemens' "high-speed train look" — that is, a closed front-end with a sleek nose to provide better aerodynamics.In addition, there are some differences in the locomotives’ signaling systems. The units also have been designed to work with various positive train control (PTC) systems, Cahill said.Six of the new Chargers last month began revenue testing on Amtrak's Capitol Corridor route in California. IDOT also tested the locomotives on the Chicago-Milwaukee, Chicago-Carbondale and Chicago-Quincy routes in April.Siemens’ Charger locomotives can operate up to 125 mph.Siemens

5/11/2017    

Rail News: Supplier Spotlight

5/11/2017    

Rail News: Mechanical

5/11/2017    

Rail News: Rail Industry Trends

5/11/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

5/11/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 5/11/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
UP presented the city of Sacramento with a commemorative golden spike similar to a gold spike presented at the transcontinental railroad's completion nearly 150 years ago. (Left to right) Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Neil Scott, UP assistant vice president-operations, Western Region.Photo – Union Pacific Railroad

5/11/2017    

Rail News: Mechanical

5/11/2017    

Rail News: People

5/11/2017    

Rail News: Rail Industry Trends

5/11/2017    

Rail News: Norfolk Southern Railway

5/11/2017    

Rail News: Norfolk Southern Railway