Railroad News

3/16/2017    

Rail News: Passenger Rail

The Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a status update today on railroads' progress implementing positive train control (PTC) systems in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The status update, based on railroad-submitted quarterly data, shows freight railroads continue to make consistent progress while passenger industry progress in installing and activating the life-saving technology only slightly increased.

The Trump Administration released its proposed 2017 budget, which includes reducing funds to the U.S. Department of Transportation and eliminating Amtrak's long distance train funding, as well as popular transportation grants.

 

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report regarding the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) planning of SafeTrack, a large-scale rehabilitation project for its rail infrastructure.

 

3/16/2017    

Rail News: Rail Industry Trends

Gannett Fleming Canada ULC is expanding its transportation practice with the addition of three experienced professionals to its Toronto office: David Bannister, Yousef Kimiagar and Magdy Samaan.

 

3/16/2017    

Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation

Former New York MTA Chairman and CEO Tom Prendergast was honored as Railway Age's 54th Railroader of the Year at a dinner of the Western Railway Club on March 14 at the historic Union League Club, Chicago.

 

Rail News Home MOW March 2017 Rail News: MOW

Drones can be used to inspect portions of rail bridges that otherwise would be inaccessible.Photo – Unmanned Experts Inc. — By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Associate EditorFor years, railroads have been exploring automation to help improve overall operations. To that end, they've invested in a host of new technologies, such as Machine Vision, predictive analytics and driverless train systems — to name just a few examples.The next chapter in the rail automation story may involve unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), more commonly known as drones.These versatile, often camera-equipped devices could help railroads tackle everything from track inspection to yard security to vegetation management, UAV industry experts say. Although the technology holds promise for the rail industry, a few challenges remain, including regulatory and data management issues."We like to say that using a drone is better, faster, cheaper and safer," says Dennis Wierzbicki, rail industry adviser for Unmanned Experts Inc., which conducts rail-bridge inspections with UAVs and offers general drone consulting and training.Because drones are small and nimble, they can more easily access places that otherwise would be precarious to reach. That means less risk of injury for railroad workers, Wierzbicki says.Plus, drones can withstand a range of weather conditions, including wind, low temperatures and moderate rain or snow.“You don't need to be on the track or suspended hundreds of feet over the ground. You don't need to be out in the elements," Wierzbicki says.Drones also produce a dizzying array of data about the assets they're monitoring. Finding a way to sort, understand and leverage that data remains a challenge, says BNSF Railway Co. Telecom Director Todd Graetz, who oversees the railroad's drone program and operations.Data overloadSo, the Class I has co-developed a suite of software to help manage, analyze and distribute all the information its drones collect."We are constantly exploring new ways to further leverage the massive amounts of data our UAVs gather daily," Graetz adds.In May 2015, BNSF was chosen as one of three companies to participate in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Pathfinder program, which is aimed at exploring the commercial use of UAVs. The other two companies: national news channel CNN and drone maker PrecisionHawk.And in October that same year, the Class I partnered with drone manufacturer Insitu Inc. for the railroad's first long-range drone flight.At the moment, Insitu doesn't have any active programs with BNSF, but the company remains open to working with the railroad in the future, says Paul McDuffee, Insitu's associate vice president of government relations and strategy.Other rail clients also reached out to Insitu following the company's work with BNSF, says McDuffee, though he declined to name them.For BNSF, drones have provided another layer of safety to operations, Graetz says. For example, the railroad can use a small rotorcraft to inspect bridges and gain perspective from vantage points that previously were inaccessible.A better viewThe Class I uses two kinds of UAVs: a multirotor aircraft and a hybrid fixed wing model. Both are equipped with sensors that can deliver infrared data, along with high-definition video and photos.The multirotor aircraft is operated at lower altitudes to examine areas around and underneath bridges."These aircrafts are excellent tools to supplement our bridge inspection processes," Graetz says. "Particularly for large bridges, or bridges over waterways and canyons, our inspectors and engineers are able to see what can be the most difficult places to reach on a more frequent basis."BNSF workers deploy a multirotor drone to 
inspect a rail bridge. Photo – BNSF Railway Co.

3/15/2017    

Rail News: Supplier Spotlight

3/15/2017    

Rail News: Amtrak

3/15/2017    

Rail News: Mechanical

Siemens was chosen by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) to provide innovative electrification technology to power the Guadalupe Corridor light rail line. VTA's infrastructure modernization will replace 27-year-old systems with Siemens' new state-of-the-art electrification technology that includes advanced monitoring and diagnostic features to streamline maintenance activities.

The new technology includes traction power substations that convert alternating current electricity provided by the local utility to direct current in order to power the light rail trains, modern protection communication devices and advanced circuit breakers and controllers that monitor the system and report issues if they arise. These systems can detect faults sooner and minimize stress on the line, resulting in a longer vehicle lifecycle and ultimately a more reliable ride for the approximately 10 million passengers who rely on VTA's light rail system each year.

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Original author: Maggie Lancaster, assistant editor

3/15/2017    

Rail News: BNSF Railway

3/15/2017    

Rail News: BNSF Railway

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 3/15/2017 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co., Husky Energy, the Washington State Department of Ecology and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) have agreed on a framework for the environmental cleanup of an underground oil contamination area in northeast Spokane that is within the alignment of the North Spokane Corridor freeway project.The framework sets the basis for WSDOT to continue design and construction of the corridor freeway in a way that aligns the department's legislative funding and construction schedule with the ecology department's obligation to ensure a thorough cleanup of the "Black Tank" contamination site, according to a press release issued by the state, BNSF and Husky Energy.Also, the framework outlines the right-of-way access provisions to the BNSF property needed to keep the freeway profile within the project's approved footprint, and close to WSDOT's original final environmental impact statement plan.The framework sets a 20-year restoration timeframe for the site, which will include pilot tests that will allow final cleanup decisions to be based on performance at the site.All four parties worked together over the past 18 months to develop the agreement. It's a win for all involved, including community members that expressed various concerns such as the impact on neighborhood aesthetics and the need for more expensive bridges and infrastructure maintenance costs, officials said. "We are focused on moving forward with the remediation of the Black Tank site in partnership with our stakeholders and look forward to continued collaboration," said Allen Stegman, general director of environmental at BNSF."Cleaning up the Black Tank site remains our top priority, and we're committed to ensuring a safe groundwater supply for Spokane," said Jim Pendowski, program manager of the ecology department's toxics cleanup program manager. "We're pleased that by working with WSDOT, Husky, and BNSF, we're on the path toward the community-preferred freeway alignment and achieving an effective cleanup." Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 3/15/2017

Kerri Tyerman, PE, joined HNTB Corporation as the transportation department manager working in the firm's New Jersey operations. She is based in HNTB's Parsippany office.

 

AECOM announced that Paul Praylo has been named chief operating officer of its Construction Services (CS) business, a global construction division that has grown from under $2B to nearly $7B in revenue in the last five years.