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Sep
10

Union Pacific to acquire 1,000 refrigerated boxcars

Union Pacific Railroad plans to procure 1,000 high-tech refrigerated boxcars — and up to 1,600 if needed — which would mark one of the largest equipment acquisitions in UP history.

Brad Thrasher, UP's vice president-agricultural products, revealed the Class I's plans during a transportation workshop at the Idaho Grower Shippers Association's convention late last month, according to a Sept. 6 report in The Produce News.

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Sep
10

Union Pacific to acquire 1,000 refrigerated boxcars

Union Pacific Railroad plans to procure 1,000 high-tech refrigerated boxcars — and up to 1,600 if needed — which would mark one of the largest equipment acquisitions in UP history.

Brad Thrasher, UP's vice president-agricultural products, revealed the Class I's plans during a transportation workshop at the Idaho Grower Shippers Association's convention late last month, according to a Sept. 6 report in The Produce News.

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Sep
10

FTA allocates funds for Sound Transit, OC Streetcar projects

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is allocating nearly $200 million in Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program funds to transit-rail projects in California and Washington.

The agency is providing $100 million of appropriated fiscal-year 2018 funds to Sound Transit's Link extension to Lynnwood, Washington. The funding is in addition to another $100 million appropriated by Congress in FY2017.

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Sep
10

From the editor: Rising Stars and rail's next narrative

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Editor

For six years now, we’ve asked our readers to help us identify individuals under the age of 40 who are making a difference in this industry. As ever, readers responded to this year’s call and nominated more than 150 people. From that group, we selected 20.

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Sep
07

Rail supplier news from Duos, E-J Electric, Jacobs, Miner and WSP USA (Sept. 7)

Duos Technologies Group Inc. has reached a software license and application models agreement with an undisclosed Class I transportation and logistics company. The pact covers the development and licensing of 17 artificial intelligence-based detection algorithm models aimed at monitoring potential defects on rolling stock at rail inspection portals. The agreement will enable rail operators to deploy algorithms to "force-multiply and streamline" their inspection processes, said Duos Chief Operating Officer Noel Heiks in a press release.

E-J Electric Installation Co. has obtained a subcontract for systems, electrical and transmission line work from the design-build team for MTA Long Island Rail Road's (LIRR) third-track expansion project, which broke ground this week. The expansion calls for adding 9.8 miles of third track along the railroad's Main Line between Floral Park and Hicksville, New York. The project also includes expansion of eight existing LIRR bridges over local streets, improvements to six stations and the elimination of seven street-level grade crossings. E-J will provide upgraded signal, traction power and communication systems, company officials said in a press release.

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Sep
07

Jacksonville port taps Falconetti as chair

Rail News Home Railroading People 9/7/2018 Rail News: Railroading People
Jaxport's immediate past chair Ed Fleming (right) passes the gavel to John Falconetti.Photo – Jacksonville Port Authority

The Jacksonville Port Authority's (Jaxport) earlier this week elected John Falconetti as chairman.

Falconetti is chairman and chief executive officer of Drummond Press, a Jacksonville print services provider. He previously served as Jaxport's chairman from 2014 to 2015.

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Sep
07

Cuomo outlines progress on Penn Station plans

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo yesterday unveiled plans for a new Penn Station entrance to provide direct access to the MTA Long Island Rail Road's main concourse and MTA New York City Transit subways.

Situated at 33rd Street and 7th Avenue, the entrance would be designed to accommodate tens of thousands of LIRR passengers each day. Crews will build new stairwells and three new escalators to improve the movement of passengers.

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Sep
07

Alameda Corridor-East freight-rail trench to be dedicated

Rail News Home Maintenance Of Way 9/7/2018 Rail News: Maintenance Of Way
California state, federal and local municipal officials next week will dedicate the 1.4-mile San Gabriel freight-rail trench as part of the Alameda Corridor-East (ACE) project in eastern Los Angeles County.The project involved construction of four new bridges spanning the 30-foot-deep freight railroad trench at Ramona Street, Mission Road, Del Mar Avenue and San Gabriel Boulevard; and new railroad bridges over two storm channels in San Gabriel, California.The $293.7 million project is designed to allow emergency responders to get to calls more quickly on both sides of the tracks; eliminate crossing delays; improve safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians; eliminate locomotive horns and crossing bells; and reduce pollution from idling cars and trucks waiting for trains to pass.The project also will help improve rail reliability for Union Pacific Railroad and Amtrak, according to a press release issued by project officials.Over four years of construction, the project required the excavation of more than 500,000 cubic yards of soil removed via 33,000 dump truck trips and the pouring of 6,500 truckloads of concrete to build the structures.A dedication ceremony will be held Sept. 10.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 9/7/2018


Sep
07

NTSB: Improper warning led to fatal South Dakota train accident

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 9/7/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
The accident scene.Photo – NTSB accident report

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined the probable cause of a 2017 fatal accident involving a BNSF Railway Co. train in South Dakota was caused by the improper use of a train approach warning.

The accident occurred Jan. 17, 2017, in Edgemont, South Dakota, when a BNSF train struck and killed two roadway workers, including the watchman/lookout. A three-member roadway crew had been cleaning snow and ice from the track switch on the main track to prepare for the movement of a train that was to have its brake system tested.

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Sep
07

UP elects DeLaney to board

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 9/7/2018 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
William DeLaneyPhoto – Sysco Corp. video on YouTube

Union Pacific Corp. announced yesterday that William DeLaney has been elected to the company's board.

DeLaney, 62, served as Sysco Corp. chief executive officer from March 2009 until he retired at the end of 2017.

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Sep
07

UP elects DeLaney to board

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 9/7/2018 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
William DeLaneyPhoto – Sysco Corp. video on YouTube

Union Pacific Corp. announced yesterday that William DeLaney has been elected to the company's board.

DeLaney, 62, served as Sysco Corp. chief executive officer from March 2009 until he retired at the end of 2017.

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Sep
07

FTA unveils plan to transfer WMATA oversight to safety commission

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) yesterday outlined the process to transfer federal safety oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) rail system to the newly established Metrorail Safety Commission (MSC).

In October 2015, FTA assumed temporary and direct safety oversight of the system at the order of then-U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

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Sep
07

North Carolina DOT awards $7 million in short-line infrastructure grants

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has announced $7 million in matching grant funds that will be awarded to 14 short lines to help pay for infrastructure improvements.

The grants are part of the state's Short Line Improvement Program, which supports short-line rail infrastructure health and performance, according to an NCDOT press release.

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Sep
07

My Amtrak Story: From Milwaukee to San Francisco

The dining car on Amtrak's California Zephyr, which Gina and Bill Doyle took this summer to get to San Francisco.Photo – Gina Doyle

By Gina Doyle

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Sep
06

Rail supplier news from Hub Group, Greystone, Ondas, ALLU and CTC (Sept. 6)

Hub Group Inc. has sold its Mode Transportation LLC subsidiary to an affiliate of York Capital Management for $238.5 million. The sale does not include the Temstar business. Although Hub Group has reported success with the Mode subsidiary, there was a "lack of strategic alignment with Hub's centralized business model," said Hub Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Yeager in a press release. Mode is a non-asset-based third-party logistics company delivering truckload, less-than-truckload, intermodal, rail, ocean, air and managed transportation services.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has chosen Greystone Management Solutions to provide real estate management services for a five-year term. Services will include account management, construction management, accounting and collections, insurance compliance and dispute resolution. The MTA's portfolio consists of 4,000 occupancies that include retail agreements, utility right-of-way agreements, parking agreements and easements stretching from Montauk to Poughkeepsie, New York, according to a Greystone press release.

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Sep
06

TriMet mulls closing four light-rail stations

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 9/6/2018 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The agency picked the four stations based on low ridership and proximity to other MAX stops.Photo – TriMet

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) is contemplating closing four downtown Portland MAX light-rail stations to help improve the flow of trains through the area.

The agency picked the four stations based on low ridership and proximity to other MAX stops. Each station is less than a quarter mile from another light-rail station, according to a TriMet press release.

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Sep
06

Union Pacific outlines Rail Safety Week plans

Rail News Home Safety 9/6/2018 Rail News: Safety
The image is a still from a Union Pacific YouTube video on driver safety around rail crossings.Photo – Union Pacific's YouTube account

Union Pacific Railroad announced yesterday its plans for marking National Rail Safety Week, Sept. 23-29.

UP is working with Safe Kids Worldwide as well as local organizations across the Class I's 23 states to improve the safety of drivers and pedestrians. In the United States, a person or vehicle is hit by a train about every three hours, UP officials said in a press release.

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Sep
06

SEPTA wraps up Yardley Station improvements

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 9/6/2018 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The $5 million project made the station compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.Photo – iseptaphilly.com

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) yesterday marked the end of an improvement project of the commuter-rail station in Yardley, Pennsylvania.

The $5 million project made the station compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, SEPTA officials said in a press release.

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Sep
06

Kansas City Southern unveils 2017 sustainability report

Rail News Home Kansas City Southern 9/6/2018 Rail News: Kansas City Southern
The sustainability report highlights how the company implements "responsible business practices."Photo – kcsouthern.com

Kansas City Southern has published its 2017 sustainability report, which highlights how the company implements "responsible business practices."

The report follows the Global Reporting Initiative's latest standards for disclosing governance, economic, social and environmental topics. The standards provide for the disclosure of measurable data and specific information related to sustainability.

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Sep
06

Kansas City Southern unveils 2017 sustainability report

Rail News Home Kansas City Southern 9/6/2018 Rail News: Kansas City Southern
The sustainability report highlights how the company implements "responsible business practices."Photo – kcsouthern.com

Kansas City Southern has published its 2017 sustainability report, which highlights how the company implements "responsible business practices."

The report follows the Global Reporting Initiative's latest standards for disclosing governance, economic, social and environmental topics. The standards provide for the disclosure of measurable data and specific information related to sustainability.

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