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Aug
30

NJ leaders call for federal funding of Portal North Bridge replacement

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and other government leaders representing the state are calling on the Trump administration to help fund a replacement for the 108-year-old moveable Portal North Bridge.

Murphy, along with New Jersey's federal delegation, held a press event this week to talk about the need for replacing the bridge, its importance to the regional and national economy and to implore the Trump administration and U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to get on board to help fund the project.

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Aug
30

MassDOT to receive federal funds to upgrade interlocking, announces new Amtrak service

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/30/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Improvements to MassDOT's South Station Terminal Tower No. 1 interlocking will cost $82 million.Photo – Amtrak

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a $41 million grant award to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to fund a project to upgrade the South Station Terminal’s Tower No. 1 interlocking in Boston. 

Improvements will include replacing the existing signal system and upgrading switches, track and power systems. The project will cost $82 million, MassDOT officials wrote on the department blog.

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Aug
30

Transport Canada: Rail operations to relocate to Lac-Megantic industrial park

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 8/30/2019 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
In July 2013, a crude-oil train derailment led to an explosion and fire that killed 47 people and destroyed Lac-Megantic's downtown.Photo – Transportation Safety Board of Canada

The Canada and Quebec governments earlier this week announced financial support for moving the Nantes and Frontenac railway operations to the Lac-Megantic industrial park in Quebec.

The Canadian government is responding to demands from citizens and the mayors of Lac-Megantic, Nantes and Frontenac to improve the safety of railway operations, while continuing to work with provincial, municipal and industry stakeholders, federal officials said in a Transport Canada press release.

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Aug
30

USDOT funds Gulf Coast passenger-rail restoration

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/30/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The Gulf Coast region has been without Amtrak service since 2005, when Hurricane Katrina damaged the rail infrastructure there.Photo – Amtrak

The U.S. Department of Transportation yesterday announced a $4.36 million grant to the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) to help restore passenger rail service along parts of the Gulf Coast.

The award, which will be granted through the federal Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) program, will help fund operating expenses for the first year of service along the new rail line between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, SRC officials said in a press release.

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Aug
30

CN to acquire Massena rail line from CSX

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 8/30/2019 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN announced yesterday it has signed an agreement to acquire from CSX the 220-mile Massena rail line between Valleyfield, Quebec, and Woodard, New York.The line serves many cities in the province of Quebec, including Beauharnois and Huntingdon, and in the state of New York, including Massena, Norwood, Potsdam and Gouverneur."With this acquisition from CSX, we are opening up new opportunities for our existing customers and local businesses who will be able to access new markets through CN’s unique three coasts network,” said CN President and Chief Executive Officer JJ Ruest in a press release.CSX's decision to sell the line is part of the railroad's "broader initiative to generate value from non-core assets," CSX officials said in a prepared statement."An estimated 60 employees will be impacted by the transaction, and we are working with them to provide support throughout the transition," they added. "We are confident in the ability of CN to provide safe and effective service for our valued customers on the Massena Line."The deal's terms were not disclosed. The acquisition is subject to regulatory review.The pending acquisition is the second agreement announced between the two Class Is in the past month. On Aug. 8, the railroads said they agreed to launch a new intermodal service between CN's greater Montreal and Southern Ontario network, and the CSX-served ports of Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey and the New York City area. That agreement, which will take effect Oct. 7, is aimed at moving freight from trucks to rail. The new intermodal service will help reduce congestion in New York in a sustainable manner, CN officials said.

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Aug
30

CN to acquire Massena rail line from CSX

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 8/30/2019 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN announced yesterday it has signed an agreement to acquire from CSX the 220-mile Massena rail line between Valleyfield, Quebec, and Woodard, New York.The line serves many cities in the province of Quebec, including Beauharnois and Huntingdon, and in the state of New York, including Massena, Norwood, Potsdam and Gouverneur."With this acquisition from CSX, we are opening up new opportunities for our existing customers and local businesses who will be able to access new markets through CN’s unique three coasts network,” said CN President and Chief Executive Officer JJ Ruest in a press release.CSX's decision to sell the line is part of the railroad's "broader initiative to generate value from non-core assets," CSX officials said in a prepared statement."An estimated 60 employees will be impacted by the transaction, and we are working with them to provide support throughout the transition," they added. "We are confident in the ability of CN to provide safe and effective service for our valued customers on the Massena Line."The deal's terms were not disclosed. The acquisition is subject to regulatory review.The pending acquisition is the second agreement announced between the two Class Is in the past month. On Aug. 8, the railroads said they agreed to launch a new intermodal service between CN's greater Montreal and Southern Ontario network, and the CSX-served ports of Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey and the New York City area. That agreement, which will take effect Oct. 7, is aimed at moving freight from trucks to rail. The new intermodal service will help reduce congestion in New York in a sustainable manner, CN officials said.

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Aug
29

LA Angels join Amtrak, Operation Lifesaver to promote rail safety

Rail News Home Safety 8/29/2019 Rail News: Safety
Angels starting pitcher Andrew Heaney recently recorded a radio message in partnership with Pacific Surfliner to encourage fans to follow safety rules around railroad tracks and crossings.Photo – Pacific Surfliner

On Sept. 1, Amtrak, the Pacific Surfliner route and California Operation Lifesaver (CAOL) will hold a public education safety event in collaboration with the Los Angeles Angels baseball team in Anaheim.

The Pacific Surfliner will host a booth featuring rail safety experts from CAOL at Angel Stadium prior to the Angels' home game. Attendees will learn tips for staying safe around railroad tracks, including those used by the Pacific Surfliner between San Diego, Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, railroad and CAOL officials said in a press release.

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Aug
29

BART partners with track workforce training program, hires more police officers

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/29/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Bay Area Rapid Transit and the Cypress Mandela Training Center offer a program to train workers on the basics of track and structure.Photo – BART

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) earlier this week announced it has renewed a partnership with Cypress Mandela Training Center Inc. in Oakland, California, to offer a railroad-specific workforce development program.

The 16-week program teaches basic skills needed to do track and structure work. The program features classroom and hands-on work, BART officials said in a press release.

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Aug
29

Caltrain proposes grade separation options

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/29/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Caltrain's launch of electrified service in 2022 is expected to increase train frequency and pose increased safety concerns at grade crossings.Photo – Caltrain Facebook

Caltrain has begun early planning for potential grade separations along its route in preparation for the launch of electrified service in 2022, which is expected to increase train frequency and pose increased safety concerns at grade crossings.

Caltrain yesterday held a meeting to gather public feedback on a potential grade separation at Scott Street in San Bruno, California.

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Aug
29

Canada considers rail line extension to Quebec marine terminal

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 8/29/2019 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
Transport Minister Marc GarneauPhoto – Transport Canada

Canada's Transport Minister Marc Garneau announced the government will invest CA$7.4 million to determine the feasibility of extending an existing rail line at Dolbeau-Mistassini to the rail and marine terminal at Baie-Comeau, Quebec.

An extension would give Canadian companies access to a deep seaport for exporting agricultural and forestry products, fertilizers, refined oil, chemical products and other goods overseas, Transport Canada officials said in a press release.

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Aug
29

AAR: U.S. rail traffic fell 5.9 percent in Week 34

The decline in U.S. railroads' carload and intermodal traffic continued during the week ending Aug. 24, with Association of American Railroads (AAR) data showing a 5.9 percent decrease to 532,483 units compared with the same week a year ago.

The railroads logged 261,031 carloads, down 5.3 percent, and 271,452 containers and trailers, down 6.5 percent compared to 2018.

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Aug
29

DART names Costello CFO, extends Amazon shuttle agreement

Rail News Home Railroading People 8/29/2019 Rail News: Railroading People
Dallas Area Rapid Transit Chief Financial Officer Joe Costello.Photo – DART

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) today announced the promotion of Joe Costello to chief financial officer.

Costello had been DART’s senior vice president of finance since 2014, and previously served as executive director and CFO of the Regional Transportation Authority of Northeastern Illinois.

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Aug
29

VTA receives FTA funding allocation for Silicon Valley extension

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/29/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The BART Silicon Valley Phase II project is the first project to receive a funding allocation under FTA’s Expedited Project Delivery pilot program, FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams (second from left) announced.Photo – VTA

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams yesterday announced the allocation of $125 million to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Phase II project in California. 

The $5.81 billion, 6.5-mile extension of BART’s heavy-rail system from San Jose to Santa Clara is the first project to receive a funding allocation under FTA’s Expedited Project Delivery pilot program, VTA officials said in a press release. 

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Aug
29

Norfolk Southern EVP, CFO Earhart to retire, George named successor

Norfolk Southern Corp. announced yesterday that Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Cynthia Earhart will retire on Nov. 1. She will be succeeded by Mark George.

Earhart joined NS in 1985 in the accounting department, where she held positions of increasing responsibility, including assistant VP, before transitioning to information technology.

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Aug
29

Norfolk Southern EVP, CFO Earhart to retire, George named successor

Norfolk Southern Corp. announced yesterday that Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Cynthia Earhart will retire on Nov. 1. She will be succeeded by Mark George.

Earhart joined NS in 1985 in the accounting department, where she held positions of increasing responsibility, including assistant VP, before transitioning to information technology.

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Aug
28

Rail supplier news from RailWorks, TekTracking, Geopier, Mitsui Rail, Ricardo and Michael Baker (Aug. 28)

Rail News Home Railroading Supplier Spotlight 8/28/2019 Rail News: Railroading Supplier Spotlight
RailWorks Corp. signed a five-year contract with the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority to inspect and maintain more than 65 miles of freight-rail track in Southern California. The track segment includes 125 turnouts, 10 bridges, signals at 48 locations, seven grade crossings and 50 other communications assets, RailWorks officials said in a press release. Other infrastructure assets covered under the maintenance agreement include stormwater pump stations, trench access stairs, security cameras, vegetation and graffiti control.TekTracking has installed a wayside infrastructure asset condition monitoring site at a six-switch interlocking and a separate grade crossing location for an East Coast transit agency. The agency will now have access to real-time asset condition data collected in the field and then transmitted to MPEC Technology Ltd.’s Centrix analytics platform. The solution allows the agency to receive alerts when device performance degrades, as well as remotely diagnosis performance issues.Geopier Foundation Co. has launched a new intermediate foundation solution to stabilize weak track subgrades without the need to remove track, ties or ballast. The GeoSpike system is made of a set of polymer shells designed to be installed between ties. When rail cars pass over the system, energy is transferred through the GeoSpike down to a stronger bearing layer, creating greater support capacity and settlement control, Geopier officials said in a press release. Mitsui Rail Capital LLC (MRC) appointed Kevin Cook vice president of sales, marketing and business development. Prior to joining MRC, Cook spent 17 years as general manager at Midland Manufacturing, a producer of rail tank-car valves and equipment. Prior to his work at Midland, Cook held positions at ITT Engineered Systems, Grinnell Corp. and Tyco Flow Control, MRC officials said in a press release.Ricardo is supporting Riding Sunbeams Ltd.’s power generation research project aimed at building and connecting the world’s first full-scale community-owned solar farm to the rail network in the United Kingdom by 2020's end, Ricardo officials said in a press release. The Ricardo team is managing monitoring equipment and working with Birmingham University to commission and review the energy model simulating this system.Michael Baker International has named Douglas Peterson office executive. He will provide operational management, staff management and production and project oversight in the Boston office. Peterson has more than 26 years of experience as a structural engineer with a focus on transportation and rail projects. 

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Aug
28

Montreal transit agency recognized as project management award finalist

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/28/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Societe de transport de Montreal's project to acquire a fleet of MPM-10 Azur subway trains is a PMI-International Project of the Year award finalist.Photo – STM

The Societe de transport de Montreal (STM) announced yesterday that its project to acquire a fleet of MPM-10 Azur subway trains is in the running to win the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) International Project of the Year award.

STM is one of the three finalists for the award, which recognizes excellence in project management, STM officials said in a press release. 

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Aug
28

Metra to host vendor fair to showcase contractor diversity

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/28/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Metra's On Track to Success vendor fair will include an awards ceremony to recognize businesses that have provided “exceptional service” to Metra.Photo – Metra Facebook

Metra on Sept. 4 will host its On Track to Success vendor fair to offer workshops on upcoming engineering projects and networking opportunities for Chicago vendors. 

Attendees will be able to meet and speak with prime contractors, subcontractors, community organizations and other transportation agencies, as well as register as a Metra vendor, Metra officials said in a press release.

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Aug
28

UP recognized as 'military friendly' employer

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 8/28/2019 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad was recognized once again as a "Military Friendly Employer" by Victory Media, the publisher of G.I. Jobs.This year's designation was the fifth consecutive time the magazine recognized UP among employers that "create sustainable and meaningful benefit for the military community after they transition into civilian life," UP officials said in a press release.More than 17 percent of UP employees have military experience, with some still active in the National Guard or Reserves. In the last five years, 24 percent of new hires were veterans.UP's veteran employee resource group dubbed UP VETS helps to attract, develop and retain veterans at the railroad.

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Aug
28

UP recognized as 'military friendly' employer

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 8/28/2019 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad was recognized once again as a "Military Friendly Employer" by Victory Media, the publisher of G.I. Jobs.This year's designation was the fifth consecutive time the magazine recognized UP among employers that "create sustainable and meaningful benefit for the military community after they transition into civilian life," UP officials said in a press release.More than 17 percent of UP employees have military experience, with some still active in the National Guard or Reserves. In the last five years, 24 percent of new hires were veterans.UP's veteran employee resource group dubbed UP VETS helps to attract, develop and retain veterans at the railroad.

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