Railroad News

Rail News Home Positive Train Control 5/26/2017 Rail News: Positive Train Control
The FRA is providing $33.7 million for Amtrak's PTC efforts on a route in New York.Photo – Amtrak

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 5/26/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Trump's proposal would slash funds for the agencies' expansion plans.Photo – L.A. Metro

Rail News Home Amtrak 5/26/2017 Rail News: Amtrak
A rendering of the development area.Photo – Amtrak.com

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) appointed Sally Librera, to vice president and chief officer of the Staten Island Railway (SIR).

Librera, a longtime professional in MTA New York City Transit's Department of Subways operations, is the first woman to lead SIR; her appointment is effective immediately.

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) appointed Sally Librera, to vice president and chief officer of the Staten Island Railway (SIR).

Librera, a longtime professional in MTA New York City Transit's Department of Subways operations, is the first woman to lead SIR; her appointment is effective immediately.

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) appointed Sally Librera, to vice president and chief officer of the Staten Island Railway (SIR).

Librera, a longtime professional in MTA New York City Transit's Department of Subways operations, is the first woman to lead SIR; her appointment is effective immediately.

GO Transit marks its 50th anniversary, celebrating the Ontario transit's ability to make it easier for people to travel across Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).

GO Transit, short for Government of Ontario Transit, began operating on May 23, 1967, as a 14-stop commuter rail line from Hamilton to Pickering. In its first year of operation, GO Transit carried 2.5 million riders, exceeding its projected ridership for that year in just six months. Today, GO Transit says it accommodates about 70 million trips per year on seven rail lines, connecting to 15 GO bus terminals and 17 municipal transit systems across the GTHA.

GO Transit marks its 50th anniversary, celebrating the Ontario transit's ability to make it easier for people to travel across Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).

GO Transit, short for Government of Ontario Transit, began operating on May 23, 1967, as a 14-stop commuter rail line from Hamilton to Pickering. In its first year of operation, GO Transit carried 2.5 million riders, exceeding its projected ridership for that year in just six months. Today, GO Transit says it accommodates about 70 million trips per year on seven rail lines, connecting to 15 GO bus terminals and 17 municipal transit systems across the GTHA.

GO Transit marks its 50th anniversary, celebrating the Ontario transit's ability to make it easier for people to travel across Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).

GO Transit, short for Government of Ontario Transit, began operating on May 23, 1967, as a 14-stop commuter rail line from Hamilton to Pickering. In its first year of operation, GO Transit carried 2.5 million riders, exceeding its projected ridership for that year in just six months. Today, GO Transit says it accommodates about 70 million trips per year on seven rail lines, connecting to 15 GO bus terminals and 17 municipal transit systems across the GTHA.

Watco Companies celebrated a new Safety Through Awareness and Training (STAT) Center with a ribbon cutting.

The state-of-the-art facility is located in Fairfield, Ala. and will be home to training hundreds of Watco team members each year. The center was created as Watco ramped up efforts to provide standardized safety training for all team members. The company said that the addition of the STAT Center will ensure that team members receive the same training regardless of their location.

Watco Companies celebrated a new Safety Through Awareness and Training (STAT) Center with a ribbon cutting.

The state-of-the-art facility is located in Fairfield, Ala. and will be home to training hundreds of Watco team members each year. The center was created as Watco ramped up efforts to provide standardized safety training for all team members. The company said that the addition of the STAT Center will ensure that team members receive the same training regardless of their location.

Watco Companies celebrated a new Safety Through Awareness and Training (STAT) Center with a ribbon cutting.

The state-of-the-art facility is located in Fairfield, Ala. and will be home to training hundreds of Watco team members each year. The center was created as Watco ramped up efforts to provide standardized safety training for all team members. The company said that the addition of the STAT Center will ensure that team members receive the same training regardless of their location.

Metra will receive at $20-million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) on its Milwaukee North and West lines.

 

Metra will receive at $20-million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) on its Milwaukee North and West lines.

 

Metra will receive at $20-million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) on its Milwaukee North and West lines.

 

Rail News Home Intermodal 5/25/2017 Rail News: Intermodal
Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corp. announced yesterday the recent opening of a new metals transload and warehouse facility in Joliet, Ill., which will offer access to BNSF Railway Co.Located at the CenterPoint Intermodal Center-Joliet, the new 121,680-square-foot facility is operated by Odyssey subsidiary CMI Logistics LLC, according to a company press release.Access to BNSF is provided through the park's private freight, heavyweight road system. The site also provides access for flatbed motor carriers entering the facility from Interstates 55 and 80."We are now in a position to better serve our metals industry clients and increase our throughput by up to 20 percent," said Odyssey President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Shellman. "This is an investment in the future of our business and continues to strengthen our leadership position in providing our clients with innovative solutions to their logistics challenges."The new facility features 10 docks, three drive-through bays, reinforced slab floors, 16 trailer positions and 6,000 square feet of office space. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 5/25/2017

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 5/25/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Fares will be reduced for Midtown Direct trains on the Morris and Essex lines.Photo – NJ Transit

Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends 5/25/2017 Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
U.S. railroads' traffic increased 5.5 percent to 534,922 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending May 20 compared with the same period a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads' (AAR) data.Total carloads for the week rose 6.4 percent to 260,115 units, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume climbed 4.6 percent to 274,807 containers and trailers compared with the same week in 2016, according to an AAR press release.Five of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked by AAR on a weekly basis posted increases compared with the 20th week of 2016. Those included grain, up 24.5 percent to 23,997 carloads; coal, up 18.6 percent to 78,990 carloads; and nonmetallic minerals, up 6.4 percent to 39,693 carloads.Commodity groups that logged decreases compared with a year ago included petroleum and petroleum products, down 16.8 percent to 9,670 carloads; motor vehicles and parts, down 6.8 percent to 17,782 carloads; and forest products, down 1.9 percent to 10,155 carloads.Canadian railroads moved 77,163 carloads during the week, an increase of 14.4 percent compared with a year ago. Railroads in Canada also reported intermodal volume for the week rose 10.5 percent to 68,175 units, compared with the 2016 period.In Mexico, railroads logged 16,661 carloads for the week, down 7.9 percent compared with the same week last year, and 11,489 intermodal units, up 3.1 percent.For the first 20 weeks of 2017, U.S. railroads' cumulative carload and intermodal volume increased 4.1 percent to 10,364,280 units; Canadian railroads' cumulative volume rose 10.8 percent to 2,843,485 units; and Mexican railroads' cumulative volume declined 2.3 percent to 526,710 units compared with the same period in 2016. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 5/25/2017

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 5/25/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad yesterday outlined a plan to invest $49 million in its Missouri infrastructure this year. The Class I expects to spend $43 million for track maintenance and $3 million for bridge maintenance in the state, UP officials said in a press release. One key project involves replacing 92,174 ties and installing 34,481 tons of ballast on the rail line between Labadie and Chamois. That work is slated to cost $12 million.Another critical project calls for replacing 57,489 ties and installing 42,462 tons of ballast on track between Mineral Point and Annapolis. The planned projects in Missouri are the latest to be unveiled as part of UP's state-by-state capex announcements. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 5/25/2017

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 5/25/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad yesterday outlined a plan to invest $49 million in its Missouri infrastructure this year. The Class I expects to spend $43 million for track maintenance and $3 million for bridge maintenance in the state, UP officials said in a press release. One key project involves replacing 92,174 ties and installing 34,481 tons of ballast on the rail line between Labadie and Chamois. That work is slated to cost $12 million.Another critical project calls for replacing 57,489 ties and installing 42,462 tons of ballast on track between Mineral Point and Annapolis. The planned projects in Missouri are the latest to be unveiled as part of UP's state-by-state capex announcements. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 5/25/2017