Railroad News

OmniTRAX Inc., two Ohio counties and the City of Tiffin Port Authority have slated a $900,000 maintenance project for the Northern & Ohio Western Railway (NOW) this fall.

The project brings the total investment in rail and crossings on the short line to $1.6 million over the past two years.

Siemens has completed and shipped its fifth trainset for the future Brightline passenger-rail service in Southeastern Florida.

U.S. railroads moved 548,204 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Sept. 23, a 1.6 percent increase compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported yesterday.

Total carloads for the week declined 2 percent to 263,200 units, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume surged 5.1 percent to 285,004 containers and trailers.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) rail station managers are not properly maintaining emergency cabinets at stations, leaving the system poorly equipped to handle emergencies, according to the agency's recent internal review.

WMATA's Quality Assurance, Internal Compliance and Oversight (QICO) team found that managers failed to fill out cabinet content checklists at a number of stations. In addition, some stations' checklists were only partially filled out.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has proposed regulatory change that would streamline the environmental review process for multimodal projects, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced yesterday at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) annual meeting in Phoenix.

The proposal, sent to the Federal Register this week, would "harmonize" the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) environmental review process with the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration, according to a USDOT press release. The proposal is being made so that multimodal projects are required to follow only one process rather than multiple agency processes, USDOT officials said in a press release.

Harsco Corp.'s Protran Technology unit has received orders from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the Sacramento Regional Transit District to install track worker alert systems. The technology alerts track workers on the ground before trains enter their work zones. The orders are scheduled for delivery through the end of the year, according to a Harsco press release. Financial terms were not disclosed.

UltraTech International Inc. has released the Ultra-Track Berm, a portable spill containment solution. The device, which captures up to 144 gallons of spilled material, can be moved quickly by one person to a leak or spill. If a larger spill occurs or greater capacity is needed, drain hoses can be connected to the camlock fittings so the spilled material is directed to a waste collection area or larger container. The Ultra-Track Berm features closed-cell polyethylene foam that provides secure sidewall structure, Ultra-Tech officials said in a press release.

MTA Metro-North Railroad has wrapped up an 18-week track improvement project on the Harlem and Hudson lines, the railroad announced Monday.

Crews replaced more than 1,900 ties, resurfaced track, replaced nearly 1,200 feet of rail, added stone ballast and improved drainage on the Harlem Line. The work took place between the Mount Vernon West and Crestwood stations.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in late December will close its Wollaston Station on the Red Line to complete accessibility improvements.

The stop is the only Red Line station that doesn't comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Planned upgrades include new elevators, additional lighting, improved stairways and new bathrooms.

Caltrain's long-term business plan is shaping up after a recent workshop with more than 50 local stakeholders, the railroad announced Monday.

Work on the plan began last year after Caltrain awarded contracts for construction related to its electrification project.

The Texas Northwestern Railway (TXNW) has signed Crop Production Services (CPS) as the first tenant for the railroad's new Panhandle Logistics Park near Sunray, Texas.

The railroad is a subsidiary of TNW Corp. and CPS is a subsidiary of agricultural company Agrium Inc.

Norfolk Southern Corp. has appointed William Galanko executive vice president law and administration and John Scheib, senior vice president law and corporate relations, the company announced yesterday.

Scheib will oversee law, government relations and corporate communications, and report to Galanko. Galanko will have responsibility for human resources and labor relations, in addition to the areas reporting to Scheib, according to an NS press release.

German industrial group Siemens and French competitor Alstom announced yesterday they've agreed to merge their rail operations.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Siemens would receive newly issued shares in the combined company representing 50 percent of Alstom's share capital on a fully diluted basis, according to a jointly issue press release.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) police department will hold a terror attack simulation at the agency's Midtown rail station on Saturday.

The event will include explosions, smoke and actors to help create a realistic setting for first responders, MARTA officials said in a press release.

The Jacksonville Port Authority's (JAXPORT) board yesterday chose Eric Green as chief executive officer.

A longtime JAXPORT executive, Green was appointed interim CEO in March. He joined the port in 2005 and previously served as senior director of government and external affairs.

Amtrak has begun a $22 million project to restore and repair the Great Hall at Chicago's Union Station, the railroad announced yesterday.

The project will include repainting the hall in its original colors, which will be made brighter by a restored and protected skylight with improved lighting.

The Metropolitan Council last week rejected all four civil construction bids for the Southwest light-rail transit project due to concerns over price and responsiveness.

The bids were opened in August and represent the bulk of construction work involved in building tracks, bridges, tunnels, stations and other facilities for the project.

America's Central Port District of Granite City, Illinois, has received a $700,000 federal grant to help cover the cost of rail and roadway improvements to the port's intermodal industrial park.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded the grant earlier this month. The project is needed to spur business growth at the park, EDA officials said in press release.

Surface Transportation Board (STB) Vice Chairman Daniel Elliott III announced yesterday he will leave the board on Saturday.

Elliott, who was appointed chairman by former President Barack Obama and joined the board in August 2009, informed President Donald Trump of his plans in a letter yesterday, according to an STB press release.