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Jul
11

From the editor: Amtrak's next leader

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

As we reported in our Daily News late last month, former airline industry exec Richard Anderson will be Amtrak’s next president and CEO. As of press time, Anderson — who most recently was executive chairman of Delta Air Lines after serving as its CEO from 2007 to 2016 — was to begin his new duties on July 12. Amtrak President and CEO Wick Moorman will be co-CEO with Anderson until Dec. 31. After that, Moorman will serve Amtrak in an advisory capacity.

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Jul
10

AECOM to acquire Shimmick Construction for $175 million

Rail News Home Railroading Supplier Spotlight 7/10/2017 Rail News: Railroading Supplier Spotlight
AECOM has reached an agreement to acquire Shimmick Construction for $175 million.The acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is slated to close in AECOM's fourth fiscal quarter. The deal will provide AECOM with "leading civil construction capabilities" across the Western United States, AECOM officials said in a press release. In addition, the acquisition will better position the firm to capture a greater share of the market spend, company officials added."Shimmick's civil infrastructure expertise provides an immediate complement to our leading North American design practice," said Michael Burke, AECOM's chairman and chief executive officer. "As momentum across our Americas infrastructure markets builds, enhancing our construction capabilities is a critical next step to ensure we best capitalize on the tremendous opportunities in front of us."Shimmick has about 1,000 employees and a project backlog worth $1.35 billion. The firm's portfolio of projects includes the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's airport guideway and stations.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

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Jul
10

Sand Spring's transload facility lands 'premier' label from BNSF

BNSF Railway Co. has designated a transload facility operated by Sands Spring Railway Co. in Oklahoma a "premier status" location.

The designation means the short line provides superior performance, markets a comprehensive service offering and maintains a minimum capacity level at the Tulsa facility. BNSF bestows a limited number of premier status designations during the course of a year, said officials at OmniTRAX Inc. — which owns Sands Spring Railway— in a press release.

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Jul
10

Caltrain's average weekday ridership dips slightly

Caltrain logged 62,190 average weekday passengers during its yearly on-board ridership count in February and early April. The figure marked a 0.4 percent decrease over last year's on-board ridership count.

The news follows six years of consecutive ridership growth, Caltrain officials said in a press release.

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Jul
10

No new labor accord yet between union bargaining group, carriers' conference

Representatives from a coalition of six rail labor unions and the National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC) met for three days in late June but were unable to reach a new national agreement.

Known as the Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG), the union coalition includes the American Train Dispatchers Association; Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers; National Conference of Firemen and Oilers/SEIU; and SMART Transportation Division. The unions represent more than 85,000 railroad employees covered by various national agreements, while the NCCC represents the labor interests of the Class Is.

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Jul
10

Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern marks soon-to-start mainline upgrades

Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad (RCP&E) leaders recently joined state and local officials in Huron, South Dakota, to ceremoniously mark an upcoming mainline upgrade project.

The $12.4 million project calls for building a 7,000-foot siding in Philip halfway between Fort Pierre and Rapid City, and upgrading 10 miles of mainline track east of Huron.

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Jul
10

APTA kicks off search for new leader

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has begun its search for a new president and chief executive officer.

The association has tapped executive recruiting firm Krauthamer and Associates Inc. to perform the search, according to APTA's Passenger Transport newsletter.

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Jul
10

Alberta commits funds for Calgary light-rail project

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 7/10/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Rendering of a Green Line light-rail train in Calgary.Photo – calgary.ca

The province of Alberta will provide CA$1.53 billion to support the first stage of Calgary's Green Line light-rail project.

The funds will come from Alberta's "Climate Leadership Plan," which includes a carbon levy. The province's contribution will cover about a third of the $4.65 billion project; Calgary's municipal government and the Canadian federal government will fund the remainder.

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Jul
10

USDOT's inspector general to review federal oversight of PTC funding

Rail News Home Positive Train Control 7/10/2017 Rail News: Positive Train Control
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General (OIG) to review the oversight of federal positive train control (PTC) funding and recipients' use of the proceeds.The OIG has initiated a multi-part audit to address committee members' concerns about the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) and Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) PTC funding oversight. The audit's initial phase will focus on identifying railroads that received USDOT funding or financing to support their PTC projects, and describing those projects, OIG officials said in a statement issued July 5.The second phase will assess the FRA's and FTA's oversight of PTC funding allocations, and determine whether recipients have "completely and efficiently" used grant awards, they said.To date, the FRA and FTA have provided more than $915 million in grants to help support railroads' PTC implementation. However, according to FRA data through first-quarter 2017, only 27 percent of freight-rail route miles and 23 percent of passenger-rail route miles had fully operational PTC systems in place, OIG officials said.Freight and commuter railroads impacted by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 must install their PTC systems by Dec. 31, 2018, or by two years after that date if they receive an allowable extension due to limited, justifiable circumstances.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

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Jul
10

Grupo México completes FEC acquisition

Grupo México, S.A.B. de C.V. has completed the acquisition of Florida East Coast Holdings Corp. (FEC) through its Transportation Business Unit Grupo México Transportes, S.A. de C.V. (GMXT).

As previously reported, the US$2-billion acquisition positions GMXT as a relevant player in the North American transport business, together with its current operations in Mexico and the state of Texas. The acquisition was funded with a $1.55-billion loan from BBVA and Credit Suisse, as well as a $250-million loan from Santander, with the remainder funded with GMXT's own resources and $97 million in debt at the FEC level.

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Jul
10

Grupo México completes FEC acquisition

Grupo México, S.A.B. de C.V. has completed the acquisition of Florida East Coast Holdings Corp. (FEC) through its Transportation Business Unit Grupo México Transportes, S.A. de C.V. (GMXT).

As previously reported, the US$2-billion acquisition positions GMXT as a relevant player in the North American transport business, together with its current operations in Mexico and the state of Texas. The acquisition was funded with a $1.55-billion loan from BBVA and Credit Suisse, as well as a $250-million loan from Santander, with the remainder funded with GMXT's own resources and $97 million in debt at the FEC level.

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Jul
10

Grupo México completes FEC acquisition

Grupo México, S.A.B. de C.V. has completed the acquisition of Florida East Coast Holdings Corp. (FEC) through its Transportation Business Unit Grupo México Transportes, S.A. de C.V. (GMXT).

As previously reported, the US$2-billion acquisition positions GMXT as a relevant player in the North American transport business, together with its current operations in Mexico and the state of Texas. The acquisition was funded with a $1.55-billion loan from BBVA and Credit Suisse, as well as a $250-million loan from Santander, with the remainder funded with GMXT's own resources and $97 million in debt at the FEC level.

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Jul
10

Metrolinx safety officer receives OL Canada award

Operation Lifesaver Canada has named Metrolinx transit safety officer Peter Mohyla as the recipient of its 2016 Roger Cyr Award for Public Safety.

Mohyla has served 30 years as a Metrolinx transit safety officer. Operation Lifesaver Canada says that during those three decades, he has used his field experience and passion to promote safety along Metrolinx's railway corridors in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), coordinating school presentations and community events, working with police and other public safety agencies and finding innovative ways to educate the public — including through his social media posts and a recent video series which he produced with TVOKids entitled Anytime is Train Time.

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Jul
10

Metrolinx safety officer receives OL Canada award

Operation Lifesaver Canada has named Metrolinx transit safety officer Peter Mohyla as the recipient of its 2016 Roger Cyr Award for Public Safety.

Mohyla has served 30 years as a Metrolinx transit safety officer. Operation Lifesaver Canada says that during those three decades, he has used his field experience and passion to promote safety along Metrolinx's railway corridors in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), coordinating school presentations and community events, working with police and other public safety agencies and finding innovative ways to educate the public — including through his social media posts and a recent video series which he produced with TVOKids entitled Anytime is Train Time.

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Jul
10

Metrolinx safety officer receives OL Canada award

Operation Lifesaver Canada has named Metrolinx transit safety officer Peter Mohyla as the recipient of its 2016 Roger Cyr Award for Public Safety.

Mohyla has served 30 years as a Metrolinx transit safety officer. Operation Lifesaver Canada says that during those three decades, he has used his field experience and passion to promote safety along Metrolinx's railway corridors in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), coordinating school presentations and community events, working with police and other public safety agencies and finding innovative ways to educate the public — including through his social media posts and a recent video series which he produced with TVOKids entitled Anytime is Train Time.

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Jul
10

Calgary: Green tax to fund Green Line

The Canadian province of Alberta plans to spend CA$1.53 billion (US$1.187 billion) in provincial carbon tax money to fund one-third of Calgary Transit's Green Line light-rail transit expansion project.

As reported in the July 6 edition of The Globe & Mail, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the carbon tax is a key factor in the LRT expansion. "Every cent of it in terms of the provincial government's contribution is coming from the Climate Leadership Fund, which is funded by the carbon levy, and it absolutely would not have been possible without it." Notley said. Calgary City Council approved the final alignment and 28 station locations for the 46km (28.58-mile) Green Line project in June.

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Jul
10

Calgary: Green tax to fund Green Line

The Canadian province of Alberta plans to spend CA$1.53 billion (US$1.187 billion) in provincial carbon tax money to fund one-third of Calgary Transit's Green Line light-rail transit expansion project.

As reported in the July 6 edition of The Globe & Mail, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the carbon tax is a key factor in the LRT expansion. "Every cent of it in terms of the provincial government's contribution is coming from the Climate Leadership Fund, which is funded by the carbon levy, and it absolutely would not have been possible without it." Notley said. Calgary City Council approved the final alignment and 28 station locations for the 46km (28.58-mile) Green Line project in June.

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Jul
10

Calgary: Green tax to fund Green Line

The Canadian province of Alberta plans to spend CA$1.53 billion (US$1.187 billion) in provincial carbon tax money to fund one-third of Calgary Transit's Green Line light-rail transit expansion project.

As reported in the July 6 edition of The Globe & Mail, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the carbon tax is a key factor in the LRT expansion. "Every cent of it in terms of the provincial government's contribution is coming from the Climate Leadership Fund, which is funded by the carbon levy, and it absolutely would not have been possible without it." Notley said. Calgary City Council approved the final alignment and 28 station locations for the 46km (28.58-mile) Green Line project in June.

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Jul
10

Norfolk Southern's five-year plan centers on safety, service, stewardship and growth

The Class I is in the second year of a five-year plan to streamline operations, improve customer service, and increase traffic, revenue and profits.Photo – Norfolk Southern Corp.

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

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Jul
10

Norfolk Southern's five-year plan centers on safety, service, stewardship and growth

The Class I is in the second year of a five-year plan to streamline operations, improve customer service, and increase traffic, revenue and profits.Photo – Norfolk Southern Corp.

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

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