Infrastructure firm AECOM announced that Navin Sagar has been appointed vice president and national director transit systems of the firm's transit systems practice in North America.
Also, Jon Schmidt has been promoted to the transit systems deputy practice leader, working with Sagar. He has been with Aecom for 17 years.
New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority unveiled a comprehensive plan to rapidly modernize the world's busiest subway system.
Designed to handle the harsh railroad environment, the new control module will feature better resistance to lightning strikes and more robust push-button controls, the company says.
Railway Equipment Co. also offers remote monitoring on The Magnum product line. The Sno-NET® remote monitoring system allows users access to switch heater controls via a web browser, enabling personnel to make real-time, proactive decisions. The Sno-NET system communicates via a cellular modem to a railroad-specific server accessible by railroad personnel. Custom notifications are sent to the appropriate people when an intervention is needed to ensure switch reliability.
5/15/2017
Rail News: Passenger Rail
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) last week marked the fifth anniversary of its Expo Line light-rail route.
The line has become the second busiest of Metro's four light-rail lines, agency officials said in a press release. Only the 22-mile Blue Line between downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach has more riders.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 6, 2017.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) next month will increase fares and reduce service on its Metrorail system.
Peak period fares will rise 10 cents, while off-peak fares will increase 25 cents, effective June 25. The agency charges passengers based on a distance traveled; the new minimum fare for rides during peak hours will be $2.25, with a maximum of $6.
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) joined representatives from Arkansas & Missouri Railroad (A&M) for a tour and policy discussion May 12.
A&M took the group from Ft. Smith to Rudy, Ark., in one of the railroad's excursion cars, stopping along the way to tour the Arkansas River Bridge. The bridge is on of three rail bridges that would be repaired through a planned project with the city of Ft. Smith, which applied for a Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grant. President Trump signed an omnibus appropriations bill that allocates $850 million for a second round of FASTLANE grants. A short portion of A&M, including the Arkansas River Bridge, is included in the Strategic Rail Corridor Network, which provides access to essential military bases and supports installations for the deployment of military equipment during emergencies and natural disasters.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a new study conducted by Morning Consult on the opening day of Infrastructure Week 2017 that shows voters believe infrastructure matters and they support more investment in it.
"Voters want the federal government to invest more in the nation's transportation infrastructure, believe those investments would create jobs and help American businesses and want Congress to move forward now with an infrastructure package," the U. S. Chamber of Commerce said in a press release.
The Morrison-Yamhill MAX improvements project reached a milestone over the weekend as the Portland streetcar resumed service.
The street is still closed to auto traffic and TriMet's MAX service will remain on an adjusted schedule as crews complete track and intersection improvements on SW Morrison and Yamhill streets at 11th and 1st avenues.
Detroit's new QLINE streetcar system late last week opened for passenger service.
M-1 Rail, which built the system, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and opened the system for riders on May 12 after a ceremonial trip with local officials, the Detroit Free Press reported.
5/15/2017
Rail News: People
5/15/2017
Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
The digital rail division's data analytics and applications center is housed on Georgia Tech's campus. Siemens aims to harness the school's "intellectual horsepower" to improve manufacturing design and automation, said Simon Davidoff, who heads the new digital rail division.
To start off, Siemens Digital Rail Services is working with two clients: the Atlanta Streetcar and the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in North Carolina. Both agencies use Siemens-built trains.