Railroad News

Several U.S. House members representing Texas districts have written to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in support of Texas Central's Dallas-to-Houston high-speed rail project.

U.S. Reps. Colin Allred (D-Texas) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) led the bipartisan group in support of the proposed project. In the 115th Congress, which ended last year, several members had indicated their support for Texas Central's plan, the April 2 letter stated.

Sound Transit last week announced that construction on its 14-mile East Link light-rail extension project is more than half completed. 

East Link, projected to launch as in 2023, will connect riders in downtown Seattle to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond, Washington. 

The Port of Beaumont, Texas, has opened its Orange County Terminal Overpass, which was designed to improve access into a liquid bulk transload facility operated by Jefferson Energy Cos.

The overpass, which opened late last month, will allow for a more efficient flow of passenger vehicles and freight trucks without impeding safe movement of railroad traffic, port officials said in a press release.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) have scheduled two public meetings April 25 to present information on the D2 Subway, a proposed second light-rail alignment through the Dallas Central Business District. 

DART is developing preliminary engineering and a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed project to extend light-rail from Victory Park to Deep Ellum in Dallas.

Pandrol appointed Eran Gartner to a newly created chief executive officer position as part of a reorganization of the company’s senior leadership. Gartner also will join the executive committee of Delachaux Group, Pandrol's parent company. Gartner has more than 20 years of  international rail engineering leadership experience, according to a Pandrol press release. He most recently was CEO of Megalim Solar Power Ltd. Gartner previously served stints as group senior vice president of strategy for Alstom and president of the systems division for Bombardier Transportation.

Thales completed its acquisition of Gemalto for $5.6 billion. Gemalto will form Thale’s digital identity and security division, according to a Thales press release. The acquisition will expand Thales' operations to 800,000 employees in Latin America, Asia, India and North America.

MTA Metro-North Railroad has granted five new leases to bring dining and shopping options to passengers at Mt. Kisco, Purdy’s, Hastings-on-Hudson, Peeksill and Tarrytown stations in New York.

The tenants will provide $193,000 annually, as well as build cleaning and upkeep valued at $90,000, bringing the total value of the leases to $283,000 annually, according to an MTA press release.

New Jersey Transit and the borough of Matawan are seeking developers and builders interested in bidding on a 7-acre mixed-used, transit-oriented development (TOD) project adjacent to the Aberdeen-Matawan rail station.

The project's goal is to combine moderate- to high-density residential units with retail, office and community spaces to create a walkable community with easy access to regional amenities and destinations via rail service, according to a NJ Transit press release.

South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) announced yesterday it posted the strongest March in its history and more than 11 percent fiscal year-over-year growth.

SCPA moved 214,123 20-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) in March, making it the second highest month in SCPA history, port authority officials said in a press release.

Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) entire rail system is now equipped with high-definition (HD) cameras, CTA President Dorval Carter and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced yesterday. 

The installation of 1,000 HD surveillance cameras throughout the Red and Blue line subway stations marked competition of a project to install the cameras throughout the entire rail system, according to a CTA press release.

Investment management firm 3i Group announced this week it has invested in Regional Rail LLC, an owner and operator of short lines in the Mid-Atlantic states.

Regional Rail will represent 3i's third infrastructure investment in North American since 2017, and will serve as the firm's rail infrastructure platform for future investment in the sector, 3i officials said in a press release.

The branding transition from Brightline to Virgin Trains USA took a major step forward yesterday with the unveiling of Virgin MiamiCentral, the new rail station in downtown Miami.

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson joined Virgin Trains USA President Patrick Goddard, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority Chair Esteban Bovo Jr. and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez at a ceremony to mark the occasion. Virgin MiamiCentral will serve as a "hub for transportation, business, dining and entertainment" in downtown Miami, Virgin Trains USA officials said in a press release.

Amtrak has reached a master development agreement with Penn Station Partners to redevelop and expand Baltimore Penn Station, the railroad announced yesterday.

Under the agreement, Amtrak will invest up to $90 million on station improvements to accommodate an increase in passengers and to improve their experience at the station, according to an Amtrak press release.

U. S. Rail Holdings late last month filed two new motions with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to stop an out-of-service Nickel Plate Railroad corridor in Indiana from being converted into a recreational trail. U. S. Rail wants to reactivate rail service on the line. 

In December 2018, the STB authorized three Notices of Interim Trail Use to the cities of Fishers and Noblesville, and Hamilton County, Indiana, to pursue rail banking on three connected portions of a 37-mile rail line, according to the filed motion. 

The Saint-Laurent Council in Montreal earlier this week asked the Montreal Agglomeration Council and Quebec Deposit and Investment Fund to modify its original Reseau metropolitan express (REM) light-rail concept in order to build an extension between the Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport-based station and the VIA Rail Canada Inc. and Exo intermodal stations.

The REM project would consist of a high-frequency autonomous, electric light-rail transit system between the airport, downtown Montreal as well as interconnections within the Montreal metro system. It will include 26 stations. 

New York state lawmakers early this week approved a fiscal-year 2020 state budget plan that calls for Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) reforms, and includes a "congestion pricing" program that would provide a new source of revenue to the transit agency.

Under congestion pricing, motorists will be charged a toll entering the city's most congested streets. The goal of the charge is to help reduce traffic congestion, while generating revenue for MTA.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) yesterday issued its 2020-2024 Rail Crossing Safety Improvement Plan, which calls for more than $250 million in funding to help local communities and railroads pay for safety improvements at hundreds of locations.

The plan proposes funding from the state's Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) to help cover the cost of 17 highway-rail bridge projects, four pedestrian rail bridge projects, 253 grade crossing warning device projects and low-cost improvements at 500 crossing locations, ICC officials said in a press release.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) officials yesterday marked the completion of a $172 million rail maintenance facility in the Southwestern Yard that will serve the future Crenshaw/LAX light-rail line near Los Angles International Airport.

Light-rail vehicles will be maintained and inspected at the 115,000-square-foot facility. Other work to be performed there includes body repairs, painting, storage, cleaning and washing.