Railroad News

3/7/2017    

Rail News: CSX Transportation

Rail News Home CSX Transportation 3/7/2017 Rail News: CSX Transportation
E. Hunter HarrisonPhoto –

A record number of rail industry participants came to Washington, D.C., on March 2, 2017 to take part in the 18th annual Railroad Day on Capitol Hill.

The group of 456 railroaders, suppliers and customers attended 367 congressional appointments to discuss three talking points that included supporting a tax code built for growth, opposing bigger and heavier trucks and preserving balanced regulation.

In addition to gaining a new CEO, CSX reached an agreement with Mantle Ridge LP, an investment firm formed by Paul Hilal that saw the appointment of five new directors to CSX's Board of Directors, mutually agreed upon by CSX and Mantel Ridge. CSX's board now grows to 13 with three incumbent directors intending to complete their service for the board and the appointments of Harrison, Hilal, Dennis Reilley, Linda Riefler and Johnn Zillmer. CSX's current Presiding Director Edward J. Kelly, III, will become chairman of the board and Hilal will become vice chairman.

Harrison, said, "I am proud to join the dedicated and talented railroaders at CSX. Together, we will implement Precision Scheduled Railroading – a model proven to improve safety, create better service for customers, produce a proud and winning culture for employees and generate exceptional, lasting value for shareholders."

3/6/2017    

Rail News: Passenger Rail

Representatives from Garden City, Chatham County and the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) discussed a proposal that would reduce the use of grade crossings around GPA's Garden City Terminal during a public meeting Feb. 28.

Current plans call for the installation of an overpass at State Route 25. The road improvement will take vehicular traffic over planned new rail lines and Pipemakers Canal. It is proposed in conjunction with an on-terminal project that will double GPA's rail capacity to 1 million containers per year. The new port infrastructure will remove the need to stop trains off terminal to switch rail cars, an activity which has impacted traffic on commuter routes.

3/6/2017    

Rail News: Passenger Rail

Legislation was introduced to both houses of Congress last week that would repeal a final U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) rule aimed at reforming areas where multiple Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) exist.

 

3/6/2017    

Rail News: C&S

3/6/2017    

Rail News: Passenger Rail

3/6/2017    

Rail News: Passenger Rail

3/6/2017    

Rail News: BNSF Railway

3/6/2017    

Rail News: BNSF Railway

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 3/6/2017 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. will clean up coal and petroleum coke in waterways, fund a study of rail-car covers and pay $1 million for environmental projects in Washington state, according to consent decree filed in U.S. District Court.The decree resolves a Clean Water Act lawsuit in Seattle brought against BNSF by environmental groups including the Sierra Club, Puget Soundkeeper, Columbia Riverkeeper, Spokane Riverkeeper, RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Friends of the Columbia Gorge.Under the decree, BNSF will pay for the cleanup of Pacific Northwest waterways that were polluted by coal or petroleum coke that spilled from open-topped rail cars. In addition, BNSF will pay $1 million for environmental projects in the Bellingham, Puget Sound, Columbia River and Spokane River areas. The Class I also will clean up areas of the Columbia River and its tributaries that have been littered with coal and petroleum coke from BNSF trains.Moreover, the decree requires the railroad to fund a study about covers for rail cars carrying coal and petroleum coke.BNSF officials said the agreement reflects the Class I's long-term efforts to address coal dust "and allows us to continue that practice without the distraction of a prolonged legal battle," according to a prepared statement issued by company spokeswoman Courtney Wallace.The environmental groups initially sued BNSF for $4.6 trillion, and the $1 million settlement "reflects the truth that the sweeping allegations from the plaintiffs were simply unfounded," said Wallace.Additionally, BNSF denies any violations of the Clean Water Act, and the U.S. District Court judge did not find any specific violations.Regarding the study of physical covers for coal and petroleum coke trains, Wallace said the first step will be to identify available prototypes for testing."BNSF will develop a study protocol to assess the safety and commercial and operational feasibility of available prototypes, as well as their effectiveness in reducing coal or petroleum coke dust," Wallace said. "The settlement does not require a particular outcome or conclusion with respect to car covers. The study results will be driven by data and technical analysis."During a weeklong trial in November 2016, scientists testified that a million or more coal particles per second come off each rail car. The particles release mercury, arsenic and other pollutants into waterways along BNSF rail lines, they testified, according to a press release issued by the environmental groups. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 3/6/2017

3/3/2017    

Rail News: Supplier Spotlight

3/3/2017    

Rail News: Passenger Rail

3/3/2017    

Rail News: Safety

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is beginning the next major construction phase of its signature 95th Terminal Improvement Project, which will expand and greatly improve the 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line station.

The next phase will include work on the tracks, existing station platform and the new North and South Terminal buildings. To complete this work, the CTA will need to make some minor changes to Red Line service during the construction period. Separately, construction work will again require the extended closure of the left northbound lane on the Dan Ryan near 95th Street beginning as soon as March 18, 2017, dependent on weather.

Hill International (prime) and CH2M (principal sub-consultant) have been selected by Valley Metro as program and construction management consultants on future high-capacity transit projects in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

The high-capacity transit projects include the region's first streetcar, a new light rail station on the existing Valley Metro Rail system and a five-mile light-rail extension. The new station and extension are part of Phoenix's voter-approved 35-year multi-modal transportation plan, T2050, which will triple the number of light-rail miles in Phoenix.

3/3/2017    

Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN