Railroad News

Fatalities caused by railroad trespassing soared 22.3 percent and deaths at grade crossings climbed 7.4 percent in 2017 over the previous year, Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) announced yesterday.

Citing recently released Federal Railroad Administration statistics, OLI said that 575 people died and another 505 were injured in railroad trespassing incidents in 2017. Another 274 people died in collisions at grade crossings, while another 807 were injured last year.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Senior Associate Editor

As many as two-thirds of the 29 commuter railroads required to implement positive train control (PTC) might not meet the federally mandated Dec. 31 deadline or qualify for an extension, according to a new U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.

By Dan Perley 

Metrolink yesterday rolled out a new blog to share news and information with riders and stakeholders.

A digital extension of the railroad's on-train newsletter, the "Metrolink Matters" blog will feature weekly articles ranging from safety reminders to service updates.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will host a workshop in Nags Head next month on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) — also known as drones — for commercial and government operators

The April 19 workshop will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn more about how emerging UAS technology can benefit their operations, NCDOT officials said in a press release.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has unveiled plans for a real-time service feature on digital advertising screens throughout its rail system.

A passenger information bar will appear across the bottom of digital screens installed at rail stations and remain onscreen even as ads play. The bar will provide arrival times for upcoming trains, as well as real-time information on service delays and disruptions, CTA officials said in a press release.

Union Pacific Railroad will spend $103.6 million this year to maintain track and bridges in Illinois.

The Class I's 2018 capital expenditures program includes $40.8 million to maintain track and $23.5 million to maintain bridges in the state, according to a UP press release.

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) yesterday released its fiscal-year 2019 proposed budget, which includes continued investments in the MAX light-rail system.

The proposal details $710.1 million for the agency's overall operating expenses, along with $274.2 million for TriMet's capital improvement program.

The Port of Stockton announced yesterday that 2017 was a record breaker, with the port logging a 21 percent increase in cargo volume and a 10 percent increase in vessel calls over 2016.

"In 2017 we grew our cargo business to record levels and our tenant base is at an all-time high," said Richard Aschieris, director of the California port, in a press release.

Sound Transit has awarded a design-build management contract to the South County Transit Partners joint venture for the 7.8-mile light-rail extension to Federal Way, Washington.

The team is composed of Mott MacDonald and SNC-Lavalin. The agreement initially covers the preconstruction period up to the award of the actual design-build contract, SNC-Lavalin officials said in a press release.

U.S. railroads logged a 6.2 percent traffic increase in the week ending March 10, with growth reported in both carload and intermodal activity compared with the same week a year ago.

Total carloads for the week rose 1.6 percent to 256,075 carload compared with the same week in 2017, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume soared 10.8 percent to 278,207 containers and trailers, according to the Association of American Railroads' data.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Associate Editor

Transport for London has awarded a $149 million contract extension to Bombardier Transportation to service trains operating on the London Overground network. The agreement extends the length of an existing train services contract from December 2023 to May 2030. Bombardier will provide maintenance and support services for its Electrostar Class 378 fleet. Maintenance will occur at four locations in and around London, Bombardier officials said in a press release.

Alstom has completed its first all-electric locomotive at its plant in Madhepura, India. The unit is part of a $4.33 billion order for 800 electric double-section locomotives. Signed in 2015, the agreement is one of the biggest contracts in Alstom's history. Each 12,000-horsepower locomotive has a hauling capacity of 6,000 metric tons and speed of 75 mph. The units were developed with the support of six Alstom sites in France, according to a company press release.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) next week will kick off a project to renew 1970s-era track along its Route 36 trolley line.

Slated to run through June 9, the project will take place on Elmwood Avenue between 59th and 65th streets in Philadelphia. The street structure supporting the tracks has deteriorated due to weather, traffic and the age of the road surface, SEPTA officials said in a press release.

Metra next month will replace 17,000 ties over a 17-mile single-track span along the Milwaukee District North Line.

The Chicago commuter railroad also will replace five switches, perform brush clearing and continue to upgrade the signal system in preparation for a positive train control (PTC) system.

The North County Transit District (NCTD) late last week marked the 10th anniversary of its Sprinter light-rail system.

Since Sprinter opened a decade ago, it has provided more than 23 million trips, NCTD officials said in a press release.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has raised concern over the small amount of transit projects that received federal funds in the U.S. Department of Transportation's latest round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant awards.

The department recently announced the fiscal-year 2017 TIGER awards, with only 3.6 percent going to public transit projects, said APTA President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Skoutelas in a prepared statement issued yesterday.