Railroad News

Longshore workers at Total Terminals International (TTI) in Long Beach, California, set a North American record last week for the highest volume of container movements during a single call, while working the MSC Sveva container ship.

Workers transferred 17,080 containers, the equivalent of 30,744 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs). International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) crane operators worked seven ship-to-shore cranes, handling more than 250 containers per hour to reach the record, Port of Long Beach officials said in a press release.

TransLink yesterday launched a campaign to promote rider use of face coverings while using the system during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the “Wearing is Caring” campaign, TransLink employees will distribute 15,000 TransLink-branded masks to riders. 

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) earlier this week completed decking for the planned Wilshire/Rodeo subway station on the Purple Line extension seven months ahead of schedule.

The project completion was expedited due to a two-and-a-half-month street closure made possible by reduced traffic as a result of the countywide COVID-19 stay-at-home order.

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) announced yesterday its board has elected officers for the coming year, selecting Will McKnight to serve a second year as chairman.

Also elected was GPA Secretary-Treasurer Joel Wooten Jr. as vice chairman and member Kent Fountain as secretary-treasurer.

The South Louisiana Rail Facility (SLRF) will develop an $11.6 million rice mill at the Lacassine Industrial Park in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, Gov. Bel Edwards announced last week.

SLRF will invest $10 million to equip the new 15,000-square-foot facility, with construction slated to begin in September and wrap up by January 2021. The state is providing $1.6 million to the SLRF for the project through the state's Economic Development Award Program, Edwards administration officials said in a press release.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Fiscal and Management Control Board yesterday extended its commuter-rail operating contract with Keolis Commuter Services LLC through June 30, 2026. 

The contract includes incentives for on-time performance, measures to address fare evasion and investments in rail infrastructure.

Caltrain in San Francisco and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS) today increased weekday rail service to accommodate more riders as shelter-in-place restrictions ease in California.

Caltrain will operate 70 six-car trains per weekday, up from 42 since March. The commuter railroad will also increase service frequency to three trains per hour during the peak commute times.

Last week, six private transit operating firms formed the North American Transit Alliance (NATA) to promote transportation solutions and advocate for transit workers.

Under the alliance, First Transit, Keolis, MV Transportation, National Express, RATP Dev USA and Transdev will work with public transit agencies to help shape a future where public transportation is safe, clean and reliable, NATA officials said in a press release.

The Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority (ACTA), the intergovernmental agency that oversees the dedicated railway that operates in the corridor from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to downtown L.A., has named Kevin Scott chief financial officer.

Scott has had a 30-year career as a public finance investment banker, financial adviser and public policy consultant. He was selected for the position after a nationwide executive search by Stanton Chase in Los Angeles in partnership with the Center for Nonprofit Management, ACTA officials said in a press release.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and California officials late last week celebrated the opening of a 10-mile BART rail extension into Santa Clara County.

The officials gave congratulatory remarks at the Berryessa Transit Center in San Jose and performed two ribbon-cuttings before the inaugural northbound and southbound trip between the station and Milpitas Station.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's (MARTA) board last week approved a $557.9 million operating budget and $599 million capital budget for fiscal-year 2021. 

MARTA’s state-of-good-repair capital budget includes over $200 million for rail improvement projects, including $62 million for station rehabilitation projects. The program also includes funds for track renovation work, elevator and escalator rehabilitation, tunnel ventilation work, train control system upgrades and new rail car installments.

By Sheriff Don Smith (Ret.)

The Sandersville Railroad Co. announced the death of Benjamin Tarbutton Jr., the Georgia short line's former president. He was 90.

Tarbutton worked for Sandersville Railroad for 65 years until the time of his death. During his tenure, he served not only as president, but also as vice president and director. Additionally, his railroad career included service as a director of the American Short Line Railroad Association and founder and president of the Georgia Railroad Association, according to an online obituary.

The supervisory board of Groupe Keolis S.A.S. has dismissed Patrick Jeantet as chairman of the executive board because of “significant strategic differences,” Keolis officials said in a press release. Jeantet took office Feb. 1. Kathleen Wantz-O’Rourke, group executive director of finance and legal, will serve as the executive board's interim chairperson. The supervisory board's role is to oversee the executive board, which is composed of a single member, namely Jeantet, and adjudicate certain strategic decisions.

Teleste Corp. will deliver onboard passenger information and closed-circuit television systems for 20 of Stadler Rail's FLIRT trains for Norwegian State Railways by 2021. The deployment will include video security cameras and video recorders, intercommunication and public address systems, and information displays. 

CN announced yesterday that three vessels carrying Canadian propane destined for international markets departed from the AltaGas Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal in British Columbia, beating a previous record by 50 percent.

The Ridley Island terminal exclusively uses CN's network to transport propane from Alberta and British Columbia for export to global markets. Since it launched in 2019, the terminal has moved more than 1 million metric tons of propane, CN officials said in a press release.