Railroad News

Valley Metro yesterday announced it hired a team of "customer experience coordinators," a group of staff members stationed at busy rail platforms to support security and assist riders served by its light-rail in Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona.

The team's creation is part of Valley Metro’s Respect the Ride (RTR) program, which increased security staff, developed paid fare zones, established a code of conduct and introduced a safety and security app as part of a strategy to make the 28-mile light-rail system safer, Valley Metro officials said in a press release.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) earlier this week approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission that directs six railroads to install and upgrade 12 rail crossings in the state by next year.

Norfolk Southern Railway will install lights and gates at the Township Road 212 grade crossing in Arcadia by July 30, 2020. CSX will install lights and gates, as well as remove spur track, at the Main Street crossing in the New Bloomington by April 30, 2020, PUCO officials said in a press release.

Canadian Pacific announced yesterday it moved 26.8 million metric tonnes (MMT) of Canadian grain and grain products during the 2018-2019 crop year, a 2.8 percent increase over the previous year and an all-time record for the Class I.

The amount of grain and grain products shipped during the year, which ran Aug. 1 through July 31, was 3.9 percent more than the railroad's three-year average. Over the past five years, CP has consistently shipped more grain each year, CP officials said in a press release.

Canadian Pacific announced yesterday it moved 26.8 million metric tonnes (MMT) of Canadian grain and grain products during the 2018-2019 crop year, a 2.8 percent increase over the previous year and an all-time record for the Class I.

The amount of grain and grain products shipped during the year, which ran Aug. 1 through July 31, was 3.9 percent more than the railroad's three-year average. Over the past five years, CP has consistently shipped more grain each year, CP officials said in a press release.

Second-quarter 2019 intermodal volumes fell 3.8 percent to 4,559,065 units compared with the same quarter last year, the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) reported yesterday.

Year over year, international intermodal volume (2,381,916 containers) showed no change during the quarter, while domestic containers (1,875,011 units) and trailers (302,138 units) dropped 6.3 percent and 15.4 percent, respectively, according to IANA's Market Trends & Statistics report.

Crystal Gitchell, 32
Director of regulatory affairs
American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA)

Nominator’s quote: “Crystal has played an integral role in the association’s handling of issues related to competition by the trucking industry, namely opposing increases in truck size and weight limits. She also has used her knowledge of the supply chain economy and relationships across multiple transportation modes to benefit our short-line members.” — Jo Strang, ASLRRA

Metra this week began construction of abutments for a new railroad bridge over Foster Avenue along its Union Pacific North Line in Chicago. 

The work is part of $17.2 million project to replace 11 century-old rail bridges from Grace Street to Balmoral Avenue, Metra officials said in a press release.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) earlier this week announced it will rebuild and expand its Potrero Yard streetcar and trolley bus maintenance facility. 

The Potrero Yard is the first site scheduled for improvement under SFMTA’s Building Progress Program, which calls for upgrading all of the agency’s aging facilities, SFMTA officials said in a press release. 

Canadian Pacific announced yesterday that has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

CP is the latest Class I to join BiTA, which is developing new standards for using blockchain technology to enable a faster, more cost-efficient and transparent freight supply chain.

Canadian Pacific announced yesterday that has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

CP is the latest Class I to join BiTA, which is developing new standards for using blockchain technology to enable a faster, more cost-efficient and transparent freight supply chain.

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit's (DART) board yesterday selected Gene Gamez as the agency’s chief general counsel.

Gamez will oversee DART's legal department and provide legal advice and assistance to the board, the president and executive director, the internal auditor and the director of board support, DART officials said in a press release.

U.S. rail traffic dipped 4.4 percent to 534,498 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending July 27 compared with the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

U.S. railroads logged 261,706 carloads, down 3.5 percent, and 272,792 intermodal containers and trailers, down 5.3 percent.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) yesterday announced it will begin construction in fall of track foundations for the Red-Purple rail bypass, which will replace a century-old bypass north of Belmont Station.

The bypass will allow trains to operate faster on the Red, Purple and Brown lines. CTA also will be able to increase the number of trains operating during peak periods and ease overcrowding on rail cars, CTA officials said in a press release. 

CN yesterday announced the publication of its 2019-2020 grain plan and the creation of its Agricultural Advisory Council.

The grain plan reviews CN's performance in the previous crop year, during which CN moved over 27.5 million metric tonnes of grain — a record for the Class I.

CN yesterday announced the publication of its 2019-2020 grain plan and the creation of its Agricultural Advisory Council.

The grain plan reviews CN's performance in the previous crop year, during which CN moved over 27.5 million metric tonnes of grain — a record for the Class I.

Positive train control (PTC) systems were in operation on nearly 90 percent of the route miles subject to the federal mandate as of June, but the rail industry still has "significant work" to do before fully implementing the safety technology by 2020's end, Federal Railroad Administrator Ronald Batory told a Senate committee yesterday.

As of June 30, PTC was operating on 87 percent of the 58,000 route miles subject to the federal PTC mandate, based on preliminary reports the railroads file with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). That represented a 4 percent increase from the first quarter, Batory told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which held the hearing to receive a PTC status report.

Sara Garza Gonzalez, 37
Director of chemical and petroleum marketing for U.S., Mexico
Kansas City Southern

Nominator’s quote: “As one of KCS’ and the rail industry’s leading strategists for Mexican energy reform, Sara is on the cutting edge of developing policies and strategies for this new rail opportunity. As an exemplary executive and a trendsetter for Mexican leadership in the KCS organization, Sara leads a team of professionals located in the United States and Mexico, as KCS moves aggressively into Mexico’s energy sector. And as a female Mexican executive leading a cross-border team, Sara is an inspiration to young female leaders in the United States and Mexico.”
— David Eaton, KCS

Siemens Mobility will supply 26 S700 light-rail vehicles (LRVs) to the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) to replace its Type-I vehicle fleet. The low-floor LRVs will include an IoT framework enabling efficiencies in operations and maintenance, Siemens officials said in a press release. The contract includes options for up to 60 additional vehicles, which would accommodate future TriMet service expansions. The first delivery is expected in 2021. Additionally, Siemens will supply 25 S700 LRVs to the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS). The LRVs will replace SDMTS’ high-floor SD100 vehicles, which were manufactured by Siemens in the ‘90s. After delivery in 2021, SDMTS’ fleet will be fully transitioned to accessible, low-floor vehicles.

Wabtec Corp. reported second-quarter 2019 net income of $102.8 million, compared with $83.3 million in Q2 2018. Earnings per diluted share fell 33 cents in the quarter compared with 87 cents per diluted share in 2018. Wabtec’s freight segment sales increased by $1.08 billion as a result of $1.1 billion in acquisitions which offset an $34 million organic sales decrease. Transit sales increased by $43 million as a result of $81 million in organic sales growth and $3 million in acquisitions. Unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates also offset both freight and transit sales. Meanwhile, Wabtec delivered five diesel-electric PowerHaul series locomotives to Korfez Ulastirma in Turkey.

The Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) and Purple Line Transit Partners yesterday held a "topping-out" ceremony, which marked the completion of the future light-rail line's operations and maintenance facility.

The 170,000-square-foot facility, located off Veterans Highway in Maryland's Glenridge community, will support rail-car maintenance, repair and refabrication of running gear and electronic train control systems, MDOT MTA officials said in a press release.