Railroad News

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) will finish installing positive train control (PTC) on the Newburyport/Rockport Line by Aug. 27, a month ahead of schedule.

As a result, weekend PTC installation on the Needham Line will begin several weeks earlier than planned, MBTA officials said in a press release.

U.S. railroads moved 554,822 carloads and intermodal units in the week that ended Aug. 5, a 4.3 percent increase compared with the same period a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

The railroads logged total carloads of 273,199 units, up 1.9 percent compared with the same week in 2016. U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 281,623 containers and trailers, up 6.8 percent compared to 2016.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has chosen Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) of Northeastern Illinois Chairman Kirk Dillard to receive the 2017 Local Distinguished Service Award.

The award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions at the local level to public transportation through policy, legislative initiative and leadership.

Former Norfolk Southern Corp. Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer Stephen Tobias died Monday, the company reported yesterday. He was 72.

A 40-year veteran of NS, Tobias retired from the company in 2009. During his tenure, he "achieved an unparalleled legacy for employee safety and operational efficiency," NS officials said in a prepared statement.

A recently recommended federal transportation grant isn't simply helping to perform work on a shortline in Texas, it's helping repair a key cross border link between the U.S. and Mexico.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation included the Texas Department of Transportation on a list of 10 Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grant recipients. The $7 million grant will help rebuild the Presidio-Ojinaga International Rail Bridge and 72 miles of track on the state-owned South Orient Rail Line that runs from the border to near Coleman, Texas.

A recently recommended federal transportation grant isn't simply helping to perform work on a shortline in Texas, it's helping repair a key cross border link between the U.S. and Mexico.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation included the Texas Department of Transportation on a list of 10 Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grant recipients. The $7 million grant will help rebuild the Presidio-Ojinaga International Rail Bridge and 72 miles of track on the state-owned South Orient Rail Line that runs from the border to near Coleman, Texas.

A recently recommended federal transportation grant isn't simply helping to perform work on a shortline in Texas, it's helping repair a key cross border link between the U.S. and Mexico.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation included the Texas Department of Transportation on a list of 10 Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grant recipients. The $7 million grant will help rebuild the Presidio-Ojinaga International Rail Bridge and 72 miles of track on the state-owned South Orient Rail Line that runs from the border to near Coleman, Texas.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has selected Cianbro-Middlesex Joint Venture for the CP243 Interlocking and Danbury Branch Dockyard projects in Norwalk.

The $237-million contract is the first that CTDOT has awarded under the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) alternative contracting method. CTDOT notes that the CM/GC process encourages innovation, leads to schedule certainty and reduces risk during the construction phase. Further, the contract value is a negotiated price that is verified against an independent cost estimate prepared by a professional estimating firm.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has selected Cianbro-Middlesex Joint Venture for the CP243 Interlocking and Danbury Branch Dockyard projects in Norwalk.

The $237-million contract is the first that CTDOT has awarded under the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) alternative contracting method. CTDOT notes that the CM/GC process encourages innovation, leads to schedule certainty and reduces risk during the construction phase. Further, the contract value is a negotiated price that is verified against an independent cost estimate prepared by a professional estimating firm.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has selected Cianbro-Middlesex Joint Venture for the CP243 Interlocking and Danbury Branch Dockyard projects in Norwalk.

The $237-million contract is the first that CTDOT has awarded under the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) alternative contracting method. CTDOT notes that the CM/GC process encourages innovation, leads to schedule certainty and reduces risk during the construction phase. Further, the contract value is a negotiated price that is verified against an independent cost estimate prepared by a professional estimating firm.

Shortline railroads continue to emphasize their role as a critical economic link and job provider in events with elected representatives.

Rep. John Carter, a Republican from the 31st District, on Wednesday met with company executives to tour the Temple & Central Texas Railway, one of 12 short line railroads managed by Patriot Rail Company LLC, a member of the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association.

Shortline railroads continue to emphasize their role as a critical economic link and job provider in events with elected representatives.

Rep. John Carter, a Republican from the 31st District, on Wednesday met with company executives to tour the Temple & Central Texas Railway, one of 12 short line railroads managed by Patriot Rail Company LLC, a member of the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association.

After reviewing a year's worth of safety culture assessments at short lines and regionals, the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) has identified areas in need of improvement through training and education, the institute announced yesterday.

The SLSI recently reviewed the results of a study of its safety culture assessments completed during the pilot program and first year of the institute's operations. The study pointed to three measurement categories that influence a positive safety culture, as well as areas in need of improvement, SLSI officials said in a press release.

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) will develop training and education efforts to address and enhance railroad safety culture following the completion of a systematic review of Safety Culture Assessments.

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) will develop training and education efforts to address and enhance railroad safety culture following the completion of a systematic review of Safety Culture Assessments.

Due to recent repeated delays and power flow failures throughout the entire Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway system, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has directed Con Edison to take significant and immediate actions to improve the subway's power reliability.

According to the PSC, during the past 12 months alone, power-related issues have caused more than 32,000 subway delays and service disruptions. PSC says the outages stem from four problem areas including: loss of power, frequent surges in power that force the system to go into failsafe mode (shutdown), frequent power dips which cause equipment to fail and an insufficient power back up system in the event of a power failure.

Due to recent repeated delays and power flow failures throughout the entire Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway system, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has directed Con Edison to take significant and immediate actions to improve the subway's power reliability.

According to the PSC, during the past 12 months alone, power-related issues have caused more than 32,000 subway delays and service disruptions. PSC says the outages stem from four problem areas including: loss of power, frequent surges in power that force the system to go into failsafe mode (shutdown), frequent power dips which cause equipment to fail and an insufficient power back up system in the event of a power failure.

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

Given all the strident NAFTA renegotiation talk earlier this year, there was concern in some rail circles about the consequences of trade-pact tinkering on U.S.-Mexico cross-border carload and intermodal business. The anxiety eased a bit after the Trump administration released its renegotiation priorities on July 17. Meanwhile, international container volume has been the key driver of North American intermodal traffic growth so far this year.

Amanda Stahlnecker, 36

Job description: Stahlnecker works on a variety of freight- and transit-rail projects. Her duties include feasibility studies, design, plan preparation, cost estimation, project management and construction support. She provides guidance for less experienced staff in her section and helps with HDR's freight railroad training program.

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering with a minor in communication studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Stephen C. Tobias, former Norfolk Southern vice chairman and chief operating officer and former member of the Canadian Pacific Board of Directors, died Aug. 7.

"Steve was COO for most of the years I was chairman, president and CEO. He was a tower of strength for me and the company. He was a great railroader and, I believe, the best operations man in the business," said David Good, former chairman, president and CEO of NS.