Railroad News

Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., completed its acquisition of the shares of Atlantic Western Transportation, Inc., parent company of Heart of Georgia Railroad, Inc. (HOG).

Founded in 1999, HOG operates across the state of Georgia on 219 miles of track leased from the Georgia Department of Transportation. It connects with GWI's Georgia Southwestern Railroad at Americus, Ga., and with GWI's Georgia Central Railway at Vidalia, Ga. HOG serves an inland intermodal terminal at Cordele, Ga., providing direct rail service five days a week via the Georgia Central Railway to the Port of Savannah for auto, agricultural products and other merchandise customers. HOG has Class 1 railroad connections with CSX at Cordele and with Norfolk Southern at Americus and Helena, Ga.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) yesterday announced the recipients of $197 million in grants to help commuter and intercity passenger railroads meet the Dec. 31, 2018, deadline to implement positive train control (PTC).

The federal dollars will be awarded to 17 projects in 13 states. The FRA and FTA received 27 eligible applications requesting $455 million, more than double the funds authorized by Congress, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Progressive Railroading and RailTrends® have named Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John "Jack" Hellmann the 2017 recipient of the Railroad Innovator Award, which recognizes an individual's outstanding achievement in the rail industry.


Hellmann joined G&W in 2000 as the short-line holding company's chief financial officer. In 2005, he was promoted to president; in 2007, G&W added "CEO" to his title. On May 24, Hellmann was named chairman of the board, succeeding Mortimer Fuller III, who retired. Fuller had been G&W's CEO for 30 years and chairman for 40.

GO Transit last week marked its 50th anniversary.

The agency, which provides public transportation in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, began operating on May 23, 1967, as a 14-stop commuter-rail line from Hamilton to Pickering, Ontario.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will announce some of its 2017 round of FASTLANE grants "soon," while other project applications will be re-solicited before more grants are issued, according to a report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

The AASHTO Journal cited comments by James Ray, the USDOT special adviser on infrastructure, who spoke last week at the association's spring meeting in Portland, Maine.

TransLink and the Vancouver-area Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation earlier this week unveiled a 90-day action plan to solicit funding for major transportation expansions in the region.

The plan calls on the British Columbia government to "be ready to make quick decisions over the summer and fall" to fund the next phase of the 10-year vision for metro Vancouver transit and transportation, TransLink officials said in a press release.

HNTB Corp. by year's end is expected to complete an analysis of operating plans and preliminary costs for a proposed passenger-rail line connecting Chicago and Columbus, Ohio.

The alternatives analysis is required by the National Environmental Policy Act to begin the project. Once completed, the analysis could position the project to receive federal funds for design and construction, according to a press release issued by the city of Fort Wayne, Ind.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) has introduced the Rail Shippers Fairness Act that would, among other measures, require railroads to participate in competitive switching.

The bill aims to "reduce costs and improve service problems" faced by Wisconsin rail shippers, including farmers, manufacturers and utilities, according to a press release issued by Baldwin's office.

Union Pacific (UP) is investing approximately $85 million in Illinois infrastructure this year. UP plans to increase safety and efficiency with these improvements.

UP's investment plan in Illinois is part of an ongoing investment strategy. From 2012 to 2016, the company invested more than $566 million strengthening Illinois' transportation infrastructure. This year, UP will use $70 million to maintain railroad track and $10 million to maintain bridges in the state. Key projects planned this year include:

Union Pacific (UP) is investing approximately $85 million in Illinois infrastructure this year. UP plans to increase safety and efficiency with these improvements.

UP's investment plan in Illinois is part of an ongoing investment strategy. From 2012 to 2016, the company invested more than $566 million strengthening Illinois' transportation infrastructure. This year, UP will use $70 million to maintain railroad track and $10 million to maintain bridges in the state. Key projects planned this year include:

Union Pacific (UP) is investing approximately $85 million in Illinois infrastructure this year. UP plans to increase safety and efficiency with these improvements.

UP's investment plan in Illinois is part of an ongoing investment strategy. From 2012 to 2016, the company invested more than $566 million strengthening Illinois' transportation infrastructure. This year, UP will use $70 million to maintain railroad track and $10 million to maintain bridges in the state. Key projects planned this year include:

Amtrak announced preliminary schedule changes in efforts to speed up the infrastructure renewal at New York Penn Station.

Amtrak announced preliminary schedule changes in efforts to speed up the infrastructure renewal at New York Penn Station.

Amtrak announced preliminary schedule changes in efforts to speed up the infrastructure renewal at New York Penn Station.

Twin Eagle Sand Logistics, LLC (Twin Eagle), a subsidiary of Twin Eagle Resource Management, LLC, outlined plans to expand the Permian Rail Park near Big Springs, Texas.

Twin Eagle said the expansion of the Union Pacific-served park is to meet the strong demand of the Midland Basin. Phase 1 of the unit train capable rail park was completed in February of 2016 and comprised 33,000 feet of track for rail-to-truck frac sand trans-loading services. Phase 2 of the park includes 15,000 tons of flat storage, 7,800 feet of additional rail track and a 50-percent expansion of the transload road. Phase 3 will include the development of the rail park's 150-acre Lot 2 parcel. The new development of Lot 2 will feature 30,000 tons of rail-accessible vertical silo storage. Phase 3 of the park will break ground next month and will be completed by the first quarter of 2018.

Twin Eagle Sand Logistics, LLC (Twin Eagle), a subsidiary of Twin Eagle Resource Management, LLC, outlined plans to expand the Permian Rail Park near Big Springs, Texas.

Twin Eagle said the expansion of the Union Pacific-served park is to meet the strong demand of the Midland Basin. Phase 1 of the unit train capable rail park was completed in February of 2016 and comprised 33,000 feet of track for rail-to-truck frac sand trans-loading services. Phase 2 of the park includes 15,000 tons of flat storage, 7,800 feet of additional rail track and a 50-percent expansion of the transload road. Phase 3 will include the development of the rail park's 150-acre Lot 2 parcel. The new development of Lot 2 will feature 30,000 tons of rail-accessible vertical silo storage. Phase 3 of the park will break ground next month and will be completed by the first quarter of 2018.

A consortium led by General Electric and including Transnet, South Africa, has been named preferred bidder by the government of Nigeria government for a concession to rehabilitate, finance and operate Nigerian Railways' 2178-mile network.

The consortium also includes SinoHydro, a Chinese infrastructure construction services company, and APM Terminals, a port, terminal and intermodal services provider.

A consortium led by General Electric and including Transnet, South Africa, has been named preferred bidder by the government of Nigeria government for a concession to rehabilitate, finance and operate Nigerian Railways' 2178-mile network.

The consortium also includes SinoHydro, a Chinese infrastructure construction services company, and APM Terminals, a port, terminal and intermodal services provider.