Railroad News

The Ports of Indiana handled 11.8 million tons in 2017, a 5 percent increase from 2016 and the second-highest annual shipment total in the organization's 57-year history, port officials announced today.

Last year was the fourth consecutive year that the ports handled more than 10 million tons of cargo. Major cargo increases in 2017 included minerals, up 28 percent; limestone, up 26 percent; steel, fertilizer and ethanol, each up 14 percent; and coal, up 9 percent.

BNSF unveiled details of its planned $385 million capital plan across Montana, Missouri and Kansas. The focus of all three state programs will be on maintenance projects.

BNSF says the largest component of its $135 million Montana plan will be for replacing and upgrading rail, crossties and ballast. The maintenance program in Montana this year includes approximately 820 miles of track surfacing and/or undercutting work, as well as the replacement of nearly 60 miles of rail and about 200,000 crossties. BNSF also says multiple projects are scheduled on the Kootenai River Subdivision, which runs between Sandpoint, Idaho and Whitefish, Mont. BNSF will signalize various sidings on the subdivision between Sandpoint and Whitefish to enable Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) and make improvements to the Flathead Tunnel, the 7-mile long railroad tunnel in northwest Montana.

BNSF unveiled details of its planned $385 million capital plan across Montana, Missouri and Kansas. The focus of all three state programs will be on maintenance projects.

BNSF says the largest component of its $135 million Montana plan will be for replacing and upgrading rail, crossties and ballast. The maintenance program in Montana this year includes approximately 820 miles of track surfacing and/or undercutting work, as well as the replacement of nearly 60 miles of rail and about 200,000 crossties. BNSF also says multiple projects are scheduled on the Kootenai River Subdivision, which runs between Sandpoint, Idaho and Whitefish, Mont. BNSF will signalize various sidings on the subdivision between Sandpoint and Whitefish to enable Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) and make improvements to the Flathead Tunnel, the 7-mile long railroad tunnel in northwest Montana.

Ontario has named David Collenette as the leader of its High Speed Rail (HSR) Planning Advisory Board, officials said.

Ontario has named David Collenette as the leader of its High Speed Rail (HSR) Planning Advisory Board, officials said.

The Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) has begun testing positive train control (PTC) and a wireless crossing system (WCS) on its G Line commuter-rail route.

The work involves synchronizing and optimizing the PTC system and the conventional control systems at 16 grade crossings along the line, RTD officials said in a press release issued earlier this month.

The Senate by voice vote early Tuesday evening, Feb. 13, confirmed Ronald Batory as Federal Railroad Administrator, the nation's rail safety watchdog agency.

The Senate by voice vote early Tuesday evening, Feb. 13, confirmed Ronald Batory as Federal Railroad Administrator, the nation's rail safety watchdog agency.

The Ontario government has appointed David Collenette chair of its high-speed rail planning advisory board.

A former federal minister of transport, Collenette previously served as the province's special adviser for high-speed rail. As chair of the planning advisory board, he'll continue to provide strategic support and advise government on the project to establish high-speed rail between Toronto and Windsor.

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) this spring will begin the process to replace 26 of its oldest light-rail vehicles.

The U.S. Senate last night approved President Trump's nomination of Ronald Batory as the administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

The Senate also confirmed Raymond Martinez as administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Adam Sullivan as assistant secretary for governmental affairs, according to a statement from the FRA.

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West Memphis Transload LLC has acquired the assets and transloading business of Arkansas Logistics LLC in West Memphis, Arkansas. Arkansas Logistics' facility will be operated in conjunction with a new bulk transfer facility under construction on adjacent property. The joint operation will be capable of handling steel coils, railroad ties, lumber, agricultural products and various container commodities, West Memphis officials said in a press release. The facility connects to the Friday-Graham Railway, which is switched daily by Union Pacific Railroad.

Pandrol's VIPA DRS rail fastener system has been selected by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand for the northern extension of its Green Line elevated rail route. The 11.8-mile extension of the Bangkok Skytrain will run from Mo Chit to Saphan. Pandrol's system is designed to reduce the transmission of low-frequency noise and vibration due to its low stiffness, company officials said in a press release. The system features an e-Clip baseplate, which is mounted on a studded rubber pad to provide resilience. Pandrol's VIPA DRS system previously was selected for Bangkok's Purple Line and Green Line south extension.

Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC) has painted a new logo on two diesel locomotives to honor U.S. military members and highlight the railroad's efforts to recruit military veterans for employment.

Designed by Tyler Hardin, the logo depicts the silhouettes of three soldiers from different eras — World War I, World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam wars — against a backdrop of the American flag. The design is framed by the LIRC keystone and includes five stars for the branches of service.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) yesterday called on the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to reverse its decision to drop a proposed rule that could have required railroads to test train engineers for obstructive sleep apnea.

In a letter to USDOT Secretary Elaine Chao, Schumer said the proposed rule was a "modest, common-sense approach to combating fatigue on our roads and rails."

Wabtec Corp. has signed a $62 million contract to design, install, test and commission a positive train control (PTC) system for the Central Florida Rail Corridor, which operates the SunRail commuter-rail service in Orlando, Florida.

Under the agreement, Wabtec will provide its Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS®) equipment for 24 locomotives and cab cars, a back-office server, wayside communications and signals, a dispatch system, training and system integration.