HNTB Corporation (HNTB) has hired Michael Steffen as its new senior systems project manager, specializing in positive train control.
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Railroad News
Nov
02
Nov
02
The Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR) has announced it will invest about $14.3 million in construction on its New Orleans Subdivision before the calendar year ends.
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Nov
02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Freight Rail Industry Honors Employees for Environmental Awareness
Norfolk Southern's Russ McDaniel Awarded 2016 Professional Environmental Excellence Award
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nov. 2, 2016 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today awarded the 2016 Professional Environmental Excellence Award, which is the highest honor for environmental professionals in the railroad industry, to Russ McDaniel of Norfolk Southern.
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Nov
01
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 234 has about 5,000 workers on strike today following the expiration of the union’s contract with Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), a regional public transportation authority serving the greater Philadelphia area, at 12:01 a.m.
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Nov
01
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS) has ordered 45 new S70 light-rail vehicles (LRVs) from Siemens for use along its rail system.
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Oct
31
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released this year’s safety Watchlist and announced efforts to include government and industry leaders in conversations and efforts to enhance the safety of Canada’s transportation network.
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Oct
31
10/31/2016
Rail News: Norfolk Southern Railway
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Oct
31
Rail News Home Norfolk Southern Railway 10/31/2016 Rail News: Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern's Safety Train serves as a mobile technical training center.Photo – Norfolk Southern Corp.
Norfolk Southern's Safety Train serves as a mobile technical training center.Photo – Norfolk Southern Corp.
Norfolk Southern Corp.'s "Safety Train" rolled into Chattanooga, Tenn., last week to host 195 emergency responders for advanced training in how to handle hazardous materials.
The train serves as a mobile technical training center for the continuing education of first responders and government agency representatives. Staged last week on a track near the Chattanooga Fire Department, the train attracted emergency responders from 14 agencies in the Chattanooga and northwest Georgia areas, according to an NS press release.
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Oct
31
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) officials say they plan to present a stringent budget recommendation to the board’s Finance Committee at its Nov. 3 meeting.
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Oct
31
10/31/2016
Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
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Oct
31
Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 10/31/2016 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN has been named to the the Climate A List by CDP in recognition of the Class I's actions and strategies in response to climate change.CN was awarded a position on the list by the international not-for-profit organization that conducts independent assessments of corporations' climate change efforts. CDP takes into account actions to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change in the past reporting year, then produces data to reflect those efforts.CN is one of 193 companies that appear on this year's CDP A List."We are pleased to be recognized by the CDP for the eighth straight year and proud of CN's continued leadership on climate change action," said CN President and Chief Executive Officer Luc Jobin in a press release. "Operating efficiently has been the hallmark of CN's success and in the last decade we've reduced our rail locomotive carbon emission intensity by 19 percent and remain approximately 15 percent more fuel efficient than the industry average."CN provides its customers a carbon calculator that allows them to determine their emissions savings by switching freight from truck to rail, Jobin said, adding that trains are about four times more fuel efficient than trucks.The Climate A List was released in CDP's report, "Out of the Starting Blocks: Tracking Progress on Corporate Action." Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.
More News from 10/31/2016
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Oct
31
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Build America Bureau is urging applicants to submit proposals for as much as $850 million in Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grants.
“Across the country, there are sidelined projects that are essential to America’s cities and our transportation network, and leveraging a FASTLANE grant from the Build America Bureau can move many of these projects forward,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. “FASTLANE grants give us an opportunity to identify and invest strategically in those projects that are critical to keeping our nation’s economic engine running.”
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Oct
28
10/28/2016
Rail News: CSX Transportation
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Oct
28
Union Pacific will be performing track work along three of Metra's commuter lines throughout November.
On the UP West Line to Elburn, workers will be replacing insulated joints throughout the line. Metra notes that wear and tear can cause signal failures that disrupt rail traffic and delay trains. Welders will also be out across the line making repairs to the track and work on the Salt Creek Bridge in Villa Park that began in October will continue.
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Oct
28
The Board of Directors of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) selected Krishniah N. Murthy as the authority's interim executive director and CEO.
Murthy will begin on Dec. 5 and his employment agreement is for one year. Murthy succeeds Dan Grabauskas, who resigned effective Aug. 18. HART ex-officio voting board member Michael D. Formby is acting executive director between Grabauskas' resignation and Murthy's start.
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Oct
28
Knox Kershaw, Inc., hosted U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL-3) for a tour and discussion of rail and manufacturing issues at its long-held Montgomery, Ala., facility.
Local businesses, such as Central Steel Service, Inc., Loftis/Robbins, Inc., and railroad representatives from Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services and Norfolk Southern also participated in the event, which was coordinated by the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association.
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Oct
27
Rail News Home Internet-Digital October 2016 Rail News: Internet-Digital
At InnoTrans 2016, held Sept. 20-23 in Berlin, 12 U.S.-based railway supply companies showcased their goods and services at the USA Pavilion.Photo – REMSA By Michael PopkeInnoTrans 2016 — the world’s largest biennial international showcase for transport technology — set a new record by attracting nearly 3,000 exhibitors from 60 countries to Germany’s Berlin Exhibition Grounds in late September. What’s more, 144,470 visitors from more than 140 countries walked the 1.2 million square feet of floor space at the biennial event, and an outdoor display featured 127 vehicles. “You hear about how big it is, but until you actually go, it’s hard to have perspective,” said Tim Francis, vice president of marketing for Herzog Railroad Services Inc., who experienced InnoTrans for the first time. “I still don’t think I saw the whole thing, because it’s just so big.” It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at InnoTrans, which is why the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA), Railway Supply Institute and Railway Systems Suppliers Inc. (RSSI) sponsored the USA Pavilion. The three industry associations also sponsored it in 2014 and 2012. “The exclusive USA Pavilion allows U.S.-based railway supply companies and organizations a unique opportunity to highlight their goods and services at InnoTrans," said REMSA Executive Director David Tennent. This year, 12 organizations took advantage of that opportunity: AIC Rail, Emerson Process Management-TopWorx, Herzog, IEM Corp., Loram Maintenance of Way Inc., Railway Interchange, Rocla Concrete Tie Inc., ROV Railway Industry, ThermOmegaTech Inc., TransCore, Transportation Technology Center Inc. and Williams-Hayward Protective Coatings Inc.For example, Herzog showcased its array of maintenance-of-way equipment, including the Automated Conveyer Train (A.C.T.). The A.C.T.'s entire consist (15 cars minimum) can unload in a curve of up to 13 degrees with a super elevation of up to five inches. Each car within the consist can carry 97 tons of material up to five inches in diameter and as small as a particle of sand.“The international market holds great promise for North American railroad suppliers, and the USA Pavilion showcases companies interested in marketing their products globally,” said RSSI Executive Director Mike Drudy.There was plenty of showcasing outside the USA Pavilion, as well. GE Transportation, in collaboration with Intel Corp., introduced a “superbrain” platform solution for locomotives that transforms them into mobile data headquarters and interacts with GE’s existing GoLINC platform.The outdoor display at InnoTrans 2016 featured 127 vehicles. Photo – REMSA
At InnoTrans 2016, held Sept. 20-23 in Berlin, 12 U.S.-based railway supply companies showcased their goods and services at the USA Pavilion.Photo – REMSA By Michael PopkeInnoTrans 2016 — the world’s largest biennial international showcase for transport technology — set a new record by attracting nearly 3,000 exhibitors from 60 countries to Germany’s Berlin Exhibition Grounds in late September. What’s more, 144,470 visitors from more than 140 countries walked the 1.2 million square feet of floor space at the biennial event, and an outdoor display featured 127 vehicles. “You hear about how big it is, but until you actually go, it’s hard to have perspective,” said Tim Francis, vice president of marketing for Herzog Railroad Services Inc., who experienced InnoTrans for the first time. “I still don’t think I saw the whole thing, because it’s just so big.” It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at InnoTrans, which is why the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA), Railway Supply Institute and Railway Systems Suppliers Inc. (RSSI) sponsored the USA Pavilion. The three industry associations also sponsored it in 2014 and 2012. “The exclusive USA Pavilion allows U.S.-based railway supply companies and organizations a unique opportunity to highlight their goods and services at InnoTrans," said REMSA Executive Director David Tennent. This year, 12 organizations took advantage of that opportunity: AIC Rail, Emerson Process Management-TopWorx, Herzog, IEM Corp., Loram Maintenance of Way Inc., Railway Interchange, Rocla Concrete Tie Inc., ROV Railway Industry, ThermOmegaTech Inc., TransCore, Transportation Technology Center Inc. and Williams-Hayward Protective Coatings Inc.For example, Herzog showcased its array of maintenance-of-way equipment, including the Automated Conveyer Train (A.C.T.). The A.C.T.'s entire consist (15 cars minimum) can unload in a curve of up to 13 degrees with a super elevation of up to five inches. Each car within the consist can carry 97 tons of material up to five inches in diameter and as small as a particle of sand.“The international market holds great promise for North American railroad suppliers, and the USA Pavilion showcases companies interested in marketing their products globally,” said RSSI Executive Director Mike Drudy.There was plenty of showcasing outside the USA Pavilion, as well. GE Transportation, in collaboration with Intel Corp., introduced a “superbrain” platform solution for locomotives that transforms them into mobile data headquarters and interacts with GE’s existing GoLINC platform.The outdoor display at InnoTrans 2016 featured 127 vehicles. Photo – REMSA
The company also announced a partnership with Amsted Rail that combines technologies for rail-car monitoring; debuted the first-ever European digital pilot with DB Cargo, Europe’s largest rail operator; and showcased a series of locomotive modernization products designed for aging fleets.
“Today, even with incredibly intelligent and reliable locomotives, railroads still experience hundreds of thousands of unexpected operational delays each year, costing the industry billions of dollars," said Peter Thomas, chief commercial officer for GE Transportation — Digital Solutions. "[At InnoTrans,] we had customers visit from all over the world, and they were incredibly interested in learning more about digital solutions. Our goal is to enable a train, through the use of sensors, to continuously gather data about itself and its environment, making the train ‘aware’ so a railroad can make better decisions.”
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Oct
27
Shareholders of Providence and Worcester Railroad Company (P&W) voted to approve the proposed acquisition of PWRR by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI).
In mid-August 2016, GWI revealed plans to acquire P&W for $126 million. Subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, P&W will merge with Pullman Acquisition Sub Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of GWI, with P&W surviving the merger and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of GWI.
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Oct
27
HDR, Inc., was selected in July 2016 to provide final design services for Sound Transit's Tacoma Link Expansion and expanded maintenance facility.
HDR says the final design will be custom tailored to the unique needs of Sound Transit and the city of Tacoma, where heavy traffic means bicycles, as well as cars.
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Oct
27
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Leslie S. Richards hosted a groundbreaking event Oct. 26 for improvements to the Mount Joy station on Amtrak's Keystone Corridor, the latest in a series of investments to improve service on the 104-mile line.
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