Railroad News

The Little Rock Port Authority's board has elected Melissa Hendricks to a second term as chair. Her term will run from July 2019 through June 2020.

Hendricks was first appointed to the board in September 2011. During her tenure, she has served as treasurer, vice chair and chair of the external affairs committee.

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System's (SDMTS) board earlier this month approved a transit-oriented development (TOD) near the Grantville light-rail station in San Diego, California. 

The housing development would include 156 affordable units built by Affirmed Housing, 254 market-rate, student-oriented units built by Greystar and 96 parking spaces for SDMTS commuters, according to an SDMTS press release. 

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will resume on July 7 the automatic door-opening feature on Red Line trains.

The feature, which has been tested throughout the system since February, is part of Metrorail's original design. But it was discontinued years ago due to a decline in reliability, WMATA officials said in a press release. 

The Twin Cities & Western Railroad Co. (TC&W) has promoted Tina Ryberg to assistant vice president of administration and operations.

Based at TC&W's headquarters in Glencoe, Minnesota, Ryberg oversees the railroad's transportation operations, maintenance of way, mechanical, safety, accounting, human resources and administration departments.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom last week announced the appointment of Harriet Richardson as the Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) first inspector general. 

In her new role, Richardson will plan, direct and manage the independent oversight of BART operations to ensure the effective use of resources and compliance with federal and state laws. Richardson may also conduct independent audits and investigations, and provide reports of findings to BART’s board, the California State Legislature and the public.

By Vesna Brajkovic, Associate Editor 

Amtrak is on track to introduce new high-speed trains for revenue service on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) from Washington, D.C., to Boston as early as 2021. 

Vossloh North America has expanded its Memphis, Tennessee, manufacturing plant. The project included installation of new machinery to increase manufacturing capabilities and improvements to office space, according to a Vossloh press release. The company also announced plans to hire new employees and management personnel over the next two years to support operational growth.

Nomad Digital was selected by the Capitol Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) to install, test, operate and maintain the WiFi network on Capitol Corridor trains, including those operated by CCJPA and Amtrak. Over the initial five-year contract, Nomad will create a technical roadmap for the wireless infrastructure that will evolve over the contract's term, according to a Nomad press release.

Caltrain last week reopened the refurbished 22nd Street Station in San Francisco. 

In February, the Dogpatch and Northwest Potrero Hill Green Benefits District (GBD) began the project to resurface the station’s plaza and walkway, create seating, improve fencing, enhance landscaping and install new lighting, Caltrain officials said in a press release.

The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) earlier this week named Rob Padgette its managing director of management and operations of the Capitol Corridor train route between San Jose and Auburn, California. 

On July 1, Padgette will succeed David Kutrosky, who is stepping down after nearly 10 years.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has named Christopher Connor as its next president and chief executive officer.

The former global CEO of Wallenius Wilhemsen Logistics (WWL), Connor will begin his new role on Sept. 23. He will succeed Kurt Nagle, who plans to retire this fall.

Legislation that would extend the 45G short-line maintenance tax credit was favorably voted out of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee yesterday, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association reported.

The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2019 (H.R. 3301) would provide certainty for a number of tax credits, including the short-line credit, through 2020.

U.S. Class Is employed 142,950 workers as of mid-May, down 0.88 percent from mid-April and down 2.76 percent compared with May 2018, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

All but one employment category — maintenance of way and structures — reflected decreases in the workforce on a month-over-month basis. Maintenance of way and structures rose 0.15 percent to 32,117 workers last month compared with April's level.

Sound Transit has received the first light-rail vehicle of the agency’s $642.5 million order for 152 vehicles from Siemens Industry Inc. 

The vehicle's arrival marks the start of regular delivery of one to three vehicles per month through 2024, Sound Transit officials said in a press release. 

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) Chief Executive Officer Phillip Washington yesterday delivered an annual State of the Agency report that highlights the agency's progress in areas such as adding first- and last-mile services.

In the report, Washington noted that the agency has successfully launched a pilot program to provide on-demand first- and last-mile service around three major transportation hubs at the Artesia, El Monte and North Hollywood stations in Los Angeles.

The trend of declining U.S. rail traffic in 2019 continued in Week 24. Railroads posted 527,989 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending June 15, a 5.4 percent decrease compared with the same week in 2018, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Total U.S. carloads for the week were 257,385 units, down 4.6 percent, while intermodal volume was 270,604 containers and trailers, down 6.2 percent.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has ordered the Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) to file a corrective action plan that outlines the safety measures the agency has taken since a light-rail train derailed in Aurora in January.

The PUC will begin a standard investigation into the R Line derailment that injured nine passengers. RTD’s internal investigation determined the derailment occurred because the train was speeding. The train's operator has been terminated, according to an RTD press release.

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) yesterday began the federal environmental review process for the Uinta Basin Railway project in Utah.

The Uinta Basin Railway is a new freight-rail line proposed by the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition (SCIC) to connect industries in the Uinta Basin to regional and national markets. Last month, the SCIC selected Drexel Hamilton Infrastructure Partners LP for a public-private partnership to finance, develop and construct the railroad.

Thales was awarded a contract by the East-West Connectors to provide its SelTrac communications-based train control system for the second phase of the O-Train Confederation Line extension project in Ottawa, Canada. Under the contract, Thales will integrate control units on each train and install guideway equipment, according to a company press release. Thales also provided its SelTrac system for the project's first phase, and will be responsible for integrating the two operations.

Wabtec Corp. ratified the first four-year contract agreement with members of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) Locals 506 and 618 who are employed at the Wabtec locomotive plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, that was acquired from GE Transportation in February. The contract covers terms of employment, pay, benefits, hours, leave and health and safety policies, according to a UE Local 506 press release.