Railroad News

The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) reached an all-time high in May at 126.8, besting the previous record of 126.0 set in February 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

The index — which is based on the amount of freight carried by for-hire transportation entities — rose 2.2 percent from April's mark, posting a gain after two straight monthly declines. The Freight TSI also registered its largest month-over-month gain since it rose 2.9 percent from November to December 2011, BTS officials said in a press release.

In late June, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation (SFDF) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the first project in its new industrial park: a refrigerated warehouse and distribution center that will be served by BNSF Railway Co.

The 205,000-square-foot facility will be operated by Win Chill LLC and situated on a 54-acre parcel in Foundation Park, which is located near Interstates 90 and 29 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Win Chill expects the distribution center to be operational by spring 2018.

Metro Transit on Aug. 15 plans to open bids for the first construction contract for the Southwest light-rail line in Minnesota.

The work includes building 29 miles of track, 15 stations, eight park-and-ride facilities and two cut-and-cover light-rail tunnels, and modifications to seven existing bridges. The agency anticipates that the contract will be awarded in November.

New Jersey Transit's board yesterday adopted a $1.367 billion capital program for fiscal-year 2018.

The plan will continue the agency's financial commitment to implementing positive train control, NJ Transit officials said in a press release. In addition, the budget provides funds for railroad bridge rehabilitation, track replacement, signal upgrades, and repairs to overhead lines and electric substations.

Crews have kicked off the demolition of a 1970s-era Amtrak station in Schenectady, New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced earlier this week.

The demolition will make way for a new $23 million station that will connect travelers to New York City, Niagara Falls and elsewhere.

Denver-based freight-rail company Alpenglow Rail LLC yesterday announced it completed the acquisition of VIP Rail LLC, a short line in Sarnia, Ontario.

The transaction is the first for Alpenglow Rail, which is backed by private equity firm Stonecourt Capital, and recently was formed to seek acquisitions of and partnerships with short lines and related transportation businesses.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) yesterday released a record of decision for the NEC FUTURE project, which is aimed at improving reliability and capacity for passenger-rail service along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) through 2040 and beyond.

The document marks the completion of the Tier 1 environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act, and establishes a long-term strategy for the NEC.

For the week ending July 8, U.S. railroads registered 453,080 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.4 percent compared with total volume from the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data. Both comparative weeks included the July 4 holiday.

U.S. carloads in the period totaled 229,501 units, up 1.1 percent, while intermodal volume totaled 223,579 containers and trailers, up 3.7 percent.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday released a preliminary report on the June 27 incident in which an Amtrak train struck and killed two CSX workers in the Ivy City neighborhood in Washington, D.C.

The two employees — a conductor and conductor trainee — were returning to their locomotive on their southbound train after inspecting a reported defective rail car. They had their backs toward the approaching Amtrak train when they were struck, NTSB officials said in the report.

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The Orlando & Northwestern Railway (O&NW) later this summer will begin running tourist trains along Florida Central Railroad tracks.

O&NW's services will be marketed under the "Royal Palm Railway Experience" brand. Initial offerings will include daytime entertainment between Tavares and Mt. Dora, Florida.

Wood pellet producer Enviva Partners LP today announced its contracts with the Panama City Port Authority, Bay Line Railroad LLC and SSA Gulf Inc. have been extended through 2023.

The commitment to the railroad, port and Northern Florida region supports operations at the company's Cottondale, Florida, facility, which can produce 720,000 metric tons of pellets per year, Enviva officials said in a press release.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation's Rail Division recently partnered with Progressive Rail Inc. (PGR) to spur freight business along the state-owned Piedmont and Northern rail line.

The 14-mile line between Gastonia and Mt. Holly is part of the 137 miles of track the division has worked to preserve. After a recent competitive bid process, the division selected PGR to operate the line.