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Aug
07

Safety report: Canadian Pacific trains crashed after missed signal

Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has found that an August 2016 collision between two Canadian Pacific trains occurred when one of the trains ran a stop signal.

The investigation highlights the need for onboard voice and video recorders, TSB officials said in a press release.

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Aug
07

MARTA cracks down on rail fare dodgers

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/7/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The agency made a series of arrests during a six-week effort to curb fare evasion.Photo – MARTA

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has arrested 536 fare evaders during a recent six-week crackdown, the agency announced late last week.

Over the past six weeks, plainclothes officers have actively monitored fare gates across MARTA's 38 rail stations for riders hopping on board without paying. The effort led to hundreds of arrests and suspensions from the agency's system, MARTA officials said in a press release.

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Aug
07

EEOC alleges CSX discriminates against women in hiring

CSX violated federal law by implementing a physical abilities battery that discriminates against women, according to a lawsuit field by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) last week.

The EEOC alleges that since at least 2008, CSX has conducted isokinetic strength testing as a requirement for workers to be selected for various jobs. Known as the IPCS Biodex, the strength test causes a discriminatory impact on women seeking jobs as conductors, material handlers/clerks, and a number of other job categories, the EEOC said in a press release.

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Aug
07

EEOC alleges CSX discriminates against women in hiring

CSX violated federal law by implementing a physical abilities battery that discriminates against women, according to a lawsuit field by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) last week.

The EEOC alleges that since at least 2008, CSX has conducted isokinetic strength testing as a requirement for workers to be selected for various jobs. Known as the IPCS Biodex, the strength test causes a discriminatory impact on women seeking jobs as conductors, material handlers/clerks, and a number of other job categories, the EEOC said in a press release.

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Aug
07

Caltrain OKs station improvement contract, fare hike

Caltrain's board has awarded a $32 million contract to Proven Management Inc. for the South San Francisco Station improvement project.

The project involves track and signal work, along with the installation of a new 700-foot center boarding platform. The work also will provide a connection to a new pedestrian underpass from the platform to Grand Avenue/Poletti Drive.

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Aug
07

FASTLANE small project grants: More than $56M to go to rail

Rail specific and rail related projects across six states have been selected to receive grants as part of the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) program.

 

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Aug
07

FASTLANE small project grants: More than $56M to go to rail

Rail specific and rail related projects across six states have been selected to receive grants as part of the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) program.

 

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Aug
07

MBTA keeps infrastructure improvements on track

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is using its increase in capital spending on system-wide upgrades and repairs. Following a 40-percent increase from last year, MBTA says it's kicking its infrastructure improvements into high gear.

"We're fully committed to our goal of increased investments in our system's existing infrastructure by putting funds toward maintenance and repairs, resulting in better service for our customers," said interim MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak.

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Aug
07

MBTA keeps infrastructure improvements on track

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is using its increase in capital spending on system-wide upgrades and repairs. Following a 40-percent increase from last year, MBTA says it's kicking its infrastructure improvements into high gear.

"We're fully committed to our goal of increased investments in our system's existing infrastructure by putting funds toward maintenance and repairs, resulting in better service for our customers," said interim MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak.

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Aug
07

Caltrain approves $32.1 million contract award to Proven Management

Caltrain awarded a $32.1-million contract to Proven Management Inc. for the South San Francisco Station Improvement Project.

Caltrain's Board of Directors approved the contract at its August meeting. The project's construction is slated to begin in November and is expected to be completed by summer 2019.

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Aug
07

Caltrain approves $32.1 million contract award to Proven Management

Caltrain awarded a $32.1-million contract to Proven Management Inc. for the South San Francisco Station Improvement Project.

Caltrain's Board of Directors approved the contract at its August meeting. The project's construction is slated to begin in November and is expected to be completed by summer 2019.

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Aug
07

USDOT proposes $79 million in FASTLANE grant awards

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao late last week informed Congress that the U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed nearly $79 million in grants for freight-related rail, port and roadway infrastructure projects under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.

The notification to Congress, sent Aug. 2, initiates a 60-day period in which Congress could vote to disapprove the proposed projects if it finds a project objectionable, according to a report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

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Aug
07

Rising Stars: Myat Ohn, HNTB

Myat Ohn, 34

Job description: Ohn serves as the deputy segment lead for the the San Jose-Merced section of California’s high-speed rail project. In her role, she manages the project’s scope, schedule, budget and sub-consultants. Ohn also designs the track plan and profile as track and guideway lead for the section. In addition, she coordinates with other rail agencies, cities, counties and stakeholders.

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, University of California-Berkeley

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Aug
04

Omaha Track hosts congressional visit

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) joined representatives of Omaha Track Inc. and local railroads to tour the company's facilities in Omaha this week.

Omaha Track President and Owner Terry Peterson led the tour, which included visits to the new corporate office and the Omaha Track Equipment facility, where maintenance-of-way equipment is custom built, fabricated and maintained.

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Aug
04

CP unveils 2016 corporate sustainability report

Rail News Home Canadian Pacific 8/4/2017 Rail News: Canadian Pacific
The railroad has cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent since 2015, according to the report.Photo – Canadian Pacific

Canadian Pacific yesterday released its 2016 corporate sustainability report.

The document outlines the railroad's commitment to "long-term value creation and sustainable operations," CP officials said in a press release.

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Aug
04

Solaris inks seven-year transloading agreement

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 8/4/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Under the pact, an operator will provide minimum quarterly proppant volumes through a new UP-served facility in Oklahoma.Photo – Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure's website

Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure Inc. on Wednesday announced a new seven-year transloading agreement with an exploration and production operator in the Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and Kingfisher Counties (STACK) oil play in Oklahoma.

Under the agreement, the operator will provide minimum quarterly proppant volumes through a new facility that Solaris is developing in Kingfisher, Oklahoma.

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Aug
04

Solaris inks seven-year transloading agreement

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 8/4/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Under the pact, an operator will provide minimum quarterly proppant volumes through a new UP-served facility in Oklahoma.Photo – Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure's website

Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure Inc. on Wednesday announced a new seven-year transloading agreement with an exploration and production operator in the Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and Kingfisher Counties (STACK) oil play in Oklahoma.

Under the agreement, the operator will provide minimum quarterly proppant volumes through a new facility that Solaris is developing in Kingfisher, Oklahoma.

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Aug
04

CP unveils 2016 corporate sustainability report

Rail News Home Canadian Pacific 8/4/2017 Rail News: Canadian Pacific
The railroad has cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent since 2015, according to the report.Photo – Canadian Pacific

Canadian Pacific yesterday released its 2016 corporate sustainability report.

The document outlines the railroad's commitment to "long-term value creation and sustainable operations," CP officials said in a press release.

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Aug
04

California launches new website to track high-speed rail project

Rail News Home High-Speed Rail 8/4/2017 Rail News: High-Speed Rail
The site includes an interactive construction map.Photo – California High-Speed Rail Authority

The California High-Speed Rail Authority has launched BuildHSR.com, a new website that provides updates about the 119 miles of construction underway in the state's Central Valley.

The site will be updated regularly with road and construction alerts, photos, videos construction milestones and events, CHSRA officials said in a press release.

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Aug
04

FRA to invite bids to replace Amtrak on certain routes

Rail News Home Amtrak 8/4/2017 Rail News: Amtrak
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has published a final rule for a new pilot program that would seek competitive bids from "eligible petitioners" to replace Amtrak as the operator of up to three long-distance routes.The rules fall under a provision of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act that requires the FRA to implement the pilot program.Published in the Federal Register last month, the final rule takes effect Sept. 5 and establishes a petition, notification and bid process by which the FRA will evaluate and select bids to provide passenger-rail service over particular long-distance routes.The rule also establishes deadlines for filing petitions and bids and the execution of contracts with winning bidders.Under the FAST Act, an entity may be an "eligible petitioner" for the pilot program only if it owns the relevant rail infrastructure on the route or has a "written agreement" with the rail infrastructure owner. Additionally, a winning bidder who doesn't own the infrastructure must obtain from the owner a written agreement that governs access issues.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 8/4/2017