Railroad News

Positive train control (PTC) systems were in operation on nearly 90 percent of the route miles subject to the federal mandate as of June, but the rail industry still has "significant work" to do before fully implementing the safety technology by 2020's end, Federal Railroad Administrator Ronald Batory told a Senate committee yesterday.

As of June 30, PTC was operating on 87 percent of the 58,000 route miles subject to the federal PTC mandate, based on preliminary reports the railroads file with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). That represented a 4 percent increase from the first quarter, Batory told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which held the hearing to receive a PTC status report.

Sara Garza Gonzalez, 37
Director of chemical and petroleum marketing for U.S., Mexico
Kansas City Southern

Nominator’s quote: “As one of KCS’ and the rail industry’s leading strategists for Mexican energy reform, Sara is on the cutting edge of developing policies and strategies for this new rail opportunity. As an exemplary executive and a trendsetter for Mexican leadership in the KCS organization, Sara leads a team of professionals located in the United States and Mexico, as KCS moves aggressively into Mexico’s energy sector. And as a female Mexican executive leading a cross-border team, Sara is an inspiration to young female leaders in the United States and Mexico.”
— David Eaton, KCS

Siemens Mobility will supply 26 S700 light-rail vehicles (LRVs) to the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) to replace its Type-I vehicle fleet. The low-floor LRVs will include an IoT framework enabling efficiencies in operations and maintenance, Siemens officials said in a press release. The contract includes options for up to 60 additional vehicles, which would accommodate future TriMet service expansions. The first delivery is expected in 2021. Additionally, Siemens will supply 25 S700 LRVs to the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS). The LRVs will replace SDMTS’ high-floor SD100 vehicles, which were manufactured by Siemens in the ‘90s. After delivery in 2021, SDMTS’ fleet will be fully transitioned to accessible, low-floor vehicles.

Wabtec Corp. reported second-quarter 2019 net income of $102.8 million, compared with $83.3 million in Q2 2018. Earnings per diluted share fell 33 cents in the quarter compared with 87 cents per diluted share in 2018. Wabtec’s freight segment sales increased by $1.08 billion as a result of $1.1 billion in acquisitions which offset an $34 million organic sales decrease. Transit sales increased by $43 million as a result of $81 million in organic sales growth and $3 million in acquisitions. Unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates also offset both freight and transit sales. Meanwhile, Wabtec delivered five diesel-electric PowerHaul series locomotives to Korfez Ulastirma in Turkey.

The Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) and Purple Line Transit Partners yesterday held a "topping-out" ceremony, which marked the completion of the future light-rail line's operations and maintenance facility.

The 170,000-square-foot facility, located off Veterans Highway in Maryland's Glenridge community, will support rail-car maintenance, repair and refabrication of running gear and electronic train control systems, MDOT MTA officials said in a press release.

Georgia's Port of Savannah moved a record 4.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the fiscal year that ended June 30, a 7.3 percent increase compared with the same period a year ago.

And for the first time, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) handled more than half a million container lifts by rail, growing that number by 16.6 percent in the just-completed fiscal year versus a year ago. The 506,707 intermodal boxes constituted more than 20 percent of total containers, another record, GPA officials said in a press release.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Partnership for New York City jointly announced yesterday the completion of the Transit Tech Lab, a startup accelerator program designed to enable companies to test and introduce new projects designed to improve transit services. 

Two of the six companies graduating from the program will begin one-year pilots with the MTA to implement products that address key subway challenges, MTA officials said in a press release.

Sound Transit's board last week chose the Stacy and Witbeck/Kuney joint venture to complete final design and construction of the Downtown Redmond Link Extension project, which will extend light-rail 3.4 miles from the Redmond Technology Station to downtown Redmond, Washington.

The $729.3 million contract includes construction of guideway, two stations, a parking garage, the overhead catenary system, traction power substations, train control and communications, special track work, utilities, and street and trail improvements, Sound Transit officials said in a press release.

Amtrak announced yesterday it is contributing $750,000 toward a project aimed at reducing train delays in the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor.

Amtrak's matching contribution is being made in support of the Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT) application for a federal grant to fund the project. If successful, the grant would help fund the Oregon City siding rehabilitation project to restore an out-of-service siding between Portland and Salem, Oregon, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

Schneider has begun offering intermodal services at BNSF Railway Co.'s ramp in Barstow, California, the trucking and logistics company announced yesterday.

Service to and from the Barstow ramp — located northeast of San Bernardino, California —  will go directly to Chicago five days per week.

Shannon Emberly, 32
Production manager
CN

Nominator’s quote: “Shannon epitomizes CN’s core values of working together to deliver safety and responsibility, operational and service excellence, enable supply chain and create value for shareholders and customers. She is a safety champion for the organization and a model employee from whom others learn.” — Emilia Marceta, Metrolinx

Metra yesterday announced it has partnered with Chicago State University (CSU) to rehabilitate the 95th Street Station on the Electric Line in Chicago. 

The project calls for construction of a new platform, entrance and commuter parking facility to make the station a “welcoming gateway to the university as well as the Metra system,” Metra officials said in a press release. 

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will hold a hearing tomorrow on Capitol Hill to consider the next steps for positive train control (PTC) implementation.

The hearing will focus on PTC implementation and anticipated compliance with the mandatory federal deadline of Dec. 31, 2020.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) found that a high-speed ground transportation system providing one-hour trips between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, would improve mobility and boost economic growth in the region, according to a business case study released earlier this month. 

The study, which expands on a preliminary examination of the proposed project, examined an ultra-high-speed system that is projected to exceed 200 mph via high-speed rail, magnetic levitation or hyperloop technology. However, the exact route and type of ultra-high-speed transportation has not been determined and would require more analysis, WSDOT officials said in a press release.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has selected TransLink to receive the 2019 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award. 

The award recognizes a transit agency's ridership growth, operational efficiency, maintenance initiatives, customer service, financial management, marketing and sustainability.

Karl Alexy has been named associate administrator for railroad safety and chief safety officer for the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Office of Railroad Safety.

Alexy succeeds Robert Lauby, who retired from the FRA in April. In his new role, Alexy will manage the FRA's regulatory oversight of rail safety. He will also oversee the development and enforcement of regulations and safety programs for the freight and passenger-rail industry, FRA officials said in an online statement.

Sound Transit's board earlier this week identified four preferred and other alternatives to study as part of a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) of the Tacoma Dome Link Extension project, which will extend light-rail nearly 10 miles between Federal Way and Tacoma, Washington.

The preferred alternatives were chosen after 18 months of public engagement with community organizations, agency partners, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and local officials, Sound Transit officials said in a press release. 

The Greenbrier Cos. has completed its acquisition of the rail-car and components manufacturing businesses of American Railcar Industries (ARI) from ITE Management LP, the companies announced today.

The asset acquisition is valued at about $430 million and consisted of cash and convertible debt, according to an ITE press release.