Railroad News

South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) Executive Director Jack Stephens last week announced that he'll retire when his contract ends Dec. 31.

During Stephens' tenure, the agency opened its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified Tri-Rail station. Last month, the agency achieved the highest on-time performance in its 29-year history.

Sheila Kuehl has been appointed chair of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).

As chair, she succeeds LA Mayor Eric Garcetti. An LA County supervisor, Kuehl previously served as Metro's first vice chair.

A Norfolk Southern Railway freight train derailed yesterday near Station Square in Pittsburgh, sending rail cars down a hill and onto light-rail tracks operated by the Port Authority of Allegheny County.

No one was injured in the incident, according to an NS statement. Light-rail riders experienced delays today heading to and from downtown Pittsburgh, as crews continued to clean up damage and debris from the derailment, authority officials said in a website post.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, last week received the Railroad Achievement Award from the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and GoRail.

Denham — who chairs the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials — was recognized for his "continued leadership on issues affecting both freight and passenger railroads," according to an AAR press release.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, last week received the Railroad Achievement Award from the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and GoRail.

Denham — who chairs the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials — was recognized for his "continued leadership on issues affecting both freight and passenger railroads," according to an AAR press release.

Chad Mowery, 38

Job description: Responsible for the Central Maine & Quebec's engineering, mechanical and transportation departments in the United States and Quebec. Also responsible for the railroad's newest operation, Katahdin Railcar Services, which has a 24,000-square-foot tank car cleaning and repair facility in Derby, Maine.

Education: Associate degree in business administration, University of Phoenix; bachelor's degree in business management (in progress), Kansas State University

Metro Transit leaders yesterday joined local officials to break ground on a $25 million renovation project at the Mall of America Transit Center, which is Minnesota's busiest transit hub.

The 25-year-old transit center was last upgraded in 2004, when Metro Transit's Blue Line light-rail route opened, agency officials said in a press release.

The American Association of Railroad Superintendents (AARS) last week presented its 2018 "Ones to Watch" awards to Pacific Harbor Line Inc.'s (PHL) Eric Flores and CN's Nathan Bailey.

The association bestows the awards to rail managers who have contributed to the success of their railroad and are expected to provide "valuable industry leadership," according to AARS.

In June, the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad Co. Inc. (DLRR) reported 1,068 carloads, marking an all-time monthly record for the northeastern Pennsylvania short line.

Through the first six months of 2018, the railroad handled 4,829 cars, marking a 13 percent increase over the same period last year, said Larry Malski, president of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority, which owns the DLRR.

Transport Canada this week announced CA$20 million in federal dollars will go toward 105 rail safety projects.

Nearly all the projects focus on infrastructure, technology and research, including safety improvements on rail properties and grade crossing closures.

Superior Silica Sands LLC has signed an agreement with Price River Terminal LLC (PRT) to use its existing multi-commodity terminal in Wellington, Utah, for frac sand handling.

Operated by Watco Supply Chain Services, the terminal handles crude oil and other bulk commodities across 6 miles of existing rail track. Additional track will be built as part of the new agreement, according to a press release issued by Emerge Energy Services LP, the parent of Superior Silica.

The Port of New York and New Jersey's cargo volumes set a new record in the first half of 2018, with volume up 6.8 percent over the same period a year ago, when the previous six-month record was set.

The port handled 3,450,469 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) between Jan. 1 and June 30, up from 3,229,675 TEUs handled during the same period in 2017, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) officials said in a press release.

Victor Meyers, 35

Job description: Leads and guides the company's long-term strategy. Responsible for ensuring the railroad provides safe, effective and efficient freight-rail transportation services to customers and communities.

Education: B.S. in economics, Rocky Mountain College; M.B.A., Texas Christian University

The Andersons Inc. has signed an agreement to purchase FreightCar America Inc.'s rail-car facility in Danville, Illinois. The Andersons' goal is to turn the former freight-car manufacturing plant into a full-service freight and tank rail-car repair shop, company officials said in a press release. At the updated facility, the Andersons Rail Group will provide rail-car repair, painting, blasting, cleaning, tank-car certification and scrapping. The new plant will be the rail group's 21st U.S. shop. Situated along the CSX network, the 308,000-square-foot facility can store up to 400 rail cars.

Carboline Co. has acquired Strathmore and American Coatings. A manufacturer of high-performance coatings primarily for the rail industry, Strathmore in 2014 acquired American Coatings, which provides interior and exterior coatings to industrial manufacturers, contractors, tank builders, floor coating applicators and equipment owners. Strathmore will remain a stand-alone brand within Carboline, according to a company press release. Financial details of Carboline's acquisition of Strathmore weren't disclosed.

Last month, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority's (SFRTA) Tri-Rail service achieved the highest on-time performance in its 29-year history.

During the month, a record 96.6 percent of all trains arrived at their final destination within five minutes of their scheduled time, SFRTA officials said in a press release.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is calling on the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to add more railroad bridge safety inspectors.

The senator's demand comes weeks after a portion of a rail bridge collapsed on a street in downtown Syracuse, New York. Although no one was injured, the July 5 incident sheds light on the fact that the agency has just six specialists tasked with overseeing rail bridge inspections and audits, he said.

The Buckingham Branch Railroad yesterday launched its new Norfolk division, providing freight-rail service between Coleman Place in Norfolk and Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The new division will expand transportation options in the most industrial area in Virginia, said Buckingham Branch President Steve Powell in a press release.