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Aug
09

On a high-tech trek: Norfolk Southern notes progress in its quest to become a 'technology-enabled railroad of the future'

Sebrina Poythress (left) and Sireesha Vadlamani are members of NS’ PTC test team in Atlanta.Photo – Norfolk Southern Railway

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

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Aug
09

On a high-tech trek: Norfolk Southern notes progress in its quest to become a 'technology-enabled railroad of the future'

Sebrina Poythress (left) and Sireesha Vadlamani are members of NS’ PTC test team in Atlanta.Photo – Norfolk Southern Railway

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

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Aug
08

Rail supplier news from CTC, Loram, VLS, Vossloh, Siemens and CAI Logisitics (Aug. 8)

Rio Grande Pacific Corp. (RGPC) has appointed Nathan Neblett chief executive officer of CTC Inc., the company's communication and signaling systems provider. He'll lead long-term planning to support growth and market positioning expertise across business lines, RGPC officials said in a press release.

Loram Maintenance of Way Inc. has appointed Luke Olson vice president of sales and marketing. He will be responsible for contract services, sales and marketing, as well as new and existing product development. He joined the company in 2003 as international marketing coordinator and most recently served as director of rail grinding. He played an "instrumental" role in developing the 400 Series Rail Grinder and expanding Loram's global presence, company officials said in a press release.

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Aug
08

Metrolink names Yu chief operating officer

Rail News Home Railroading People 8/8/2018 Rail News: Railroading People
Kimberly Yu joined Metrolink in September 2015 as deputy COO for planning and project delivery.Photo – Metrolink

Metrolink in Southern California has promoted Kimberly Yu to chief operating officer.

Since she joined the commuter railroad in September 2015, she has served as deputy COO for planning and project delivery.

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Aug
08

Alaska, Wyoming rail projects awarded $1.26 million in federal grants

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 8/8/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
"The funding will go a long way to addressing freight and passenger rail-related capital project needs in rural communities," said FRA Administrator Ronald Batory.Photo – Federal Railroad Administration

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) this week announced $1.26 million for Special Transportation Circumstances (STC) grants to help fund rail capital projects in Alaska and Wyoming.

The funding was made available by 2017 appropriations legislation for the terminal wireless communications positive train control project in Alaska and the Greater Junction Railroad rehabilitation project in Wyoming, according to an FRA press release.

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Aug
08

Deadline nears for LRW's 'Outstanding Woman of the Year' nominations

Rail News Home Railroading People 8/8/2018 Rail News: Railroading People
The deadline to nominate someone for the League of Railway Women's (LRW) 2018 Outstanding Woman of the Year Award is just a week away.Nomination forms are due Aug. 15.Co-sponsored by Progressive Railroading, the award is presented annually to a woman who has made significant contributions to the rail industry through leadership, dedication and vision. Women working in the North American rail industry are eligible for the recognition.Past award winners include Transportation Technology Center Inc.'s Lisa Stabler; MTA Metro-North Railroad's Anamaria Bonilla (2016); GO Transit's Mary Proc (2015); Alaska Railroad Corp.'s Wendy Lindskoog (2014); and Norfolk Southern Corp.'s Deb Butler (2013).The 2018 recipient will be honored during the general session at the RSI/CMA 2018 Rail Expo & Technical Conference, which will be held Sept. 9-11 in Nashville, Tennessee.Nomination criteria and the nomination form can be downloaded from the LRW website until Aug. 15.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 8/8/2018


Aug
08

RAC to honor rail safety efforts in Canada

Rail News Home Safety 8/8/2018 Rail News: Safety
CP won a 2018 RAC Safety Award for its Locomotive Engineer Training Simulation Program (pictured).Photo – Railway Association of Canada

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) today announced its 2018 Safety Awards.

The awards recognize RAC member companies' initiatives that help to ensure Canada's rail network remains "among the safest in the world," according to an RAC press release.

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Aug
08

NJ Transit to suspend some service to install PTC

Rail News Home Positive Train Control 8/8/2018 Rail News: Positive Train Control
The agency will halt off-peak, one-seat Raritan Valley Line service through early 2019.Photo – Bombardier.com

New Jersey Transit next month will suspend all service on the Atlantic City Rail Line to install positive train control (PTC) equipment on the rail fleet.

The agency also will halt off-peak, one-seat Raritan Valley Line service starting Sept. 10. While no trains will be lost on this line, the change means that passengers will need to transfer to and from New York trains in Newark Penn Station, according to a report on NJ.com.

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Aug
08

International Rail acquires short line from Iowa Pacific Holdings

International Rail Partners (IRP) announced yesterday it has acquired Grenada Railroad from Iowa Pacific Holdings.

IRP will operate the railroad through a lease-purchase agreement with the North Central Mississippi Regional Railroad Authority, according to an IRP press release.

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Aug
08

NTSB: Failure to fix grade crossing led to fatal train, bus crash

The failure of CSX and the city of Biloxi, Mississippi, to mitigate known safety hazards at a grade crossing is the probable cause of a 2017 fatal crash at the crossing, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced yesterday.

Four people died March 7, 2017, when a chartered ECHO Transportation motorcoach grounded on the "high profile" grade crossing in Biloxi was struck by a CSX freight train. The four killed were among the 49 passengers on the motorcoach, NTSB officials said in a press release.

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Aug
08

Rising Stars: Przemyslaw Rakoczy, Transportation Technology Center Inc.

Przemyslaw Rakoczy, 34

Job description: Serves as research project manager and lead researcher in crashworthiness, blast-worthiness and structural integrity of rail vehicles at TTCI. Also creates project schedules and budgets, and oversees test planning, execution and analysis.

Education: Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, University of Technology and Sciences in Bydgoszcz, Poland; Master of Science in civil engineering-structures from the same university; and Ph.D. in civil engineering-structures, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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Aug
07

MBTA begins operator training on new Orange Line cars

The new cars are slated to enter service by year's end.Photo – MBTA's Twitter account

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has begun training operators on its new Orange Line rail cars, as the agency preps to launch train service on the line by year's end.

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Aug
07

APTA honors three agencies for sustainability

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has recognized three more transit agencies for sustainability.

APTA bestows platinum, gold, silver and bronze levels of recognition based on organizations' specific measurable achievements.

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Aug
07

BLET ratifies pact with Cedar River Railroad

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has ratified a new agreement with the Cedar River Railroad, a CN subsidiary.

The contract, which BLET members ratified July 30, governs the railroad's six locomotive engineers. It expires Dec. 31, 2019, according to a BLET press release.

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Aug
07

BART's Crunican to introduce security plan after fatal stabbing in Oakland

Rail News Home Security 8/7/2018 Rail News: Security
Her plan includes boosting the visible presence of police and employees in BART's system.Photo – BART

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) General Manager Grace Crunican on Thursday will present to the agency's board a safety and security action plan.

Crunican's proposal follows a fatal stabbing that occurred late last month at BART's MacArthur Station in Oakland, California. Another stabbing occurred at the same station late last week, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

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Aug
07

Congressional panel slates hearing on California high-speed rail project

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 8/7/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) chairs the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.Photo – Congress.gov

The House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials on Thursday will hold a field hearing in Sacramento, California, to review the status of the state's high-speed rail project.

The subcommittee, chaired by U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), will also examine the most recent modifications to the project's business plan, which were released in June.

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Aug
07

PATH GM Marino to retire

Rail News Home Railroading People 8/7/2018 Rail News: Railroading People
Mike Marino joined PATH in 2011 after a career with Amtrak and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.Photo – Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) General Manager and Director of Rail Transit Michael Marino will retire in January 2019, the agency announced late last week.

Appointed to PATH's top post in July 2015, Marino oversaw the railroad's positive train control implementation and directed ongoing efforts to rebuild the system after it was damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

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Aug
07

CSX overhauls operating management, announces new appointments

CSX Corp. today announced a new operating management structure that will decentralize operational and support functions.

The changes — a continuation of the Class I's transition to scheduled railroading — are designed to "enhance safety, improve service, accelerate decision-making and drive operating efficiency," CSX officials announced in a press release.

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Aug
07

CSX overhauls operating management, announces new appointments

CSX Corp. today announced a new operating management structure that will decentralize operational and support functions.

The changes — a continuation of the Class I's transition to scheduled railroading — are designed to "enhance safety, improve service, accelerate decision-making and drive operating efficiency," CSX officials announced in a press release.

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Aug
07

BNSF posts revenue, income growth in Q2

BNSF Railway Co. reported second-quarter net income rose 37 percent to $1.3 billion and total revenue climbed 12 percent to nearly $5.9 billion compared with the same quarter a year ago.

The Class I attributed the revenue growth to a 5 percent increase in unit volume, according to a performance summary posted on BNSF's website.

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