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Oct
28

Former LACMTA exec joins Honolulu rail project on interim basis

The Board of Directors of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) selected Krishniah N. Murthy as the authority's interim executive director and CEO.

Murthy will begin on Dec. 5 and his employment agreement is for one year. Murthy succeeds Dan Grabauskas, who resigned effective Aug. 18. HART ex-officio voting board member Michael D. Formby is acting executive director between Grabauskas' resignation and Murthy's start.

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Oct
28

Knox Kershaw hosts Rep. Mike Rogers for facility tour and rail discussion

Knox Kershaw, Inc., hosted U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL-3) for a tour and discussion of rail and manufacturing issues at its long-held Montgomery, Ala., facility.

Local businesses, such as Central Steel Service, Inc., Loftis/Robbins, Inc., and railroad representatives from Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services and Norfolk Southern also participated in the event, which was coordinated by the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association.

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Oct
27

InnoTrans 2016: Rail-industry suppliers display digital technologies as event breaks attendance records

Rail News Home Internet-Digital October 2016 Rail News: Internet-Digital

At InnoTrans 2016, held Sept. 20-23 in Berlin, 12 U.S.-based railway supply companies showcased their goods and services at the USA Pavilion.Photo – REMSA By Michael PopkeInnoTrans 2016 — the world’s largest biennial international showcase for transport technology — set a new record by attracting nearly 3,000 exhibitors from 60 countries to Germany’s Berlin Exhibition Grounds in late September. What’s more, 144,470 visitors from more than 140 countries walked the 1.2 million square feet of floor space at the biennial event, and an outdoor display featured 127 vehicles. “You hear about how big it is, but until you actually go, it’s hard to have perspective,” said Tim Francis, vice president of marketing for Herzog Railroad Services Inc., who experienced InnoTrans for the first time. “I still don’t think I saw the whole thing, because it’s just so big.” It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at InnoTrans, which is why the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA), Railway Supply Institute and Railway Systems Suppliers Inc. (RSSI) sponsored the USA Pavilion. The three industry associations also sponsored it in 2014 and 2012. “The exclusive USA Pavilion allows U.S.-based railway supply companies and organizations a unique opportunity to highlight their goods and services at InnoTrans," said REMSA Executive Director David Tennent. This year, 12 organizations took advantage of that opportunity: AIC Rail, Emerson Process Management-TopWorx, Herzog, IEM Corp., Loram Maintenance of Way Inc., Railway Interchange, Rocla Concrete Tie Inc., ROV Railway Industry, ThermOmegaTech Inc., TransCore, Transportation Technology Center Inc. and Williams-Hayward Protective Coatings Inc.For example, Herzog showcased its array of maintenance-of-way equipment, including the Automated Conveyer Train (A.C.T.). The A.C.T.'s entire consist (15 cars minimum) can unload in a curve of up to 13 degrees with a super elevation of up to five inches. Each car within the consist can carry 97 tons of material up to five inches in diameter and as small as a particle of sand.“The international market holds great promise for North American railroad suppliers, and the USA Pavilion showcases companies interested in marketing their products globally,” said RSSI Executive Director Mike Drudy.There was plenty of showcasing outside the USA Pavilion, as well. GE Transportation, in collaboration with Intel Corp., introduced a “superbrain” platform solution for locomotives that transforms them into mobile data headquarters and interacts with GE’s existing GoLINC platform.The outdoor display at InnoTrans 2016 featured 127 vehicles. Photo – REMSA

The company also announced a partnership with Amsted Rail that combines technologies for rail-car monitoring; debuted the first-ever European digital pilot with DB Cargo, Europe’s largest rail operator; and showcased a series of locomotive modernization products designed for aging fleets.

“Today, even with incredibly intelligent and reliable locomotives, railroads still experience hundreds of thousands of unexpected operational delays each year, costing the industry billions of dollars," said Peter Thomas, chief commercial officer for GE Transportation — Digital Solutions. "[At InnoTrans,] we had customers visit from all over the world, and they were incredibly interested in learning more about digital solutions. Our goal is to enable a train, through the use of sensors, to continuously gather data about itself and its environment, making the train ‘aware’ so a railroad can make better decisions.”

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Progressive Railroading
Oct
27

Providence and Worcester shareholders approve GWI acquisition

Shareholders of Providence and Worcester Railroad Company (P&W) voted to approve the proposed acquisition of PWRR by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI).

In mid-August 2016, GWI revealed plans to acquire P&W for $126 million. Subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, P&W will merge with Pullman Acquisition Sub Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of GWI, with P&W surviving the merger and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of GWI.

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Oct
27

HDR taking unique approach to Tacoma Link expansion design

HDR, Inc., was selected in July 2016 to provide final design services for Sound Transit's Tacoma Link Expansion and expanded maintenance facility.

HDR says the final design will be custom tailored to the unique needs of Sound Transit and the city of Tacoma, where heavy traffic means bicycles, as well as cars.

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Oct
27

PennDOT holds groundbreaking event for Mount Joy station improvements

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Leslie S. Richards hosted a groundbreaking event Oct. 26 for improvements to the Mount Joy station on Amtrak's Keystone Corridor, the latest in a series of investments to improve service on the 104-mile line.

 

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Oct
26

LRIW's 'Woman of the Year' Anamaria Bonilla focuses on technology, mentoring at Metro-North

Rail News Home People October 2016 Rail News: People

"You can't solve all of your problems with the same information from year to year ... You've got to get out there if you really want to improve things," says Metro-North's Bonilla.Photo – MTA Metro-North Railroad By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Associate EditorAnamaria Bonilla doesn't wait for solutions to fall into her lap. She actively seeks them out.In her role as assistant chief engineer of track and structures at MTA Metro-North Railroad, Bonilla led the effort to introduce new bridge and track inspection technology. One way she learns about the latest technological advances is by taking continuing education courses and attending rail conferences. And when her employer wasn't able to cover the cost of attending those conferences, Bonilla paid her own way. For her, the opportunity to network and glean new insights is invaluable. "You can't solve all of your problems with the same information from year to year, otherwise you're just going to repeat the same mistakes," she says. "You've got to get out there if you really want to improve things."Her commitment to finding solutions hasn't gone unnoticed. Earlier this month, Bonilla received the League of Railway Industry Women's "Outstanding Woman of The Year" award, which honors women who are making a positive impact on the rail industry. One accomplishment of note: Bonilla reached out to HNTB Corp. to develop the RailAdvise® bridge management system, which keeps an inventory of all of Metro-North's bridges. The technology, which was the first of its kind at Metro-North, has provided a way for the railroad's employees to access vital data with a few clicks, she says."You don't have to ask three different people for the latest inspection report. It's all right there on your desktop," Bonilla adds. "It puts information in everyone at Metro-North's hands so they can help us address problems."Metro-North rolled out RailAdvise following the Federal Railroad Administration's 2010 safety standards, which required railroads to adopt more stringent bridge inspection procedures.Bonilla also helped increase the number of staffers working on Metro-North's bridges. When she first started, the railroad had one bridge repair crew, but she brought that number to eight. To do that, she worked closely with MTA's long range planning department. She's also lobbied for more money from the capital program for bridge replacement and other rehab projects.In addition, Bonilla managed the procurement of Metro-North's first track inspection machine and oversaw the creation of an inventory tracking system of all rail joints — two measures that Metro-North officials say helped boost safety.Bonilla played a key role in the development of Metro-North's RailAdvise bridge management application.

And she continues to forge ahead on the rail-safety technology front. Under her direction, Metro-North is piloting a new monitoring system at four bridges. Developed by Georgetown Rail Equipment Co. subsidiary SENSR, the technology uses accelerometers to detect if a bridge gets struck by a truck. Metro-North staff receive a text or email if the devices pick up a "notable vibration" on a bridge, Bonilla says.

"She puts her fingerprints on these data streams and utilizes them to solve a specific problem that's keeping her up at night," adds Greg Grissom, chief operating officer at Georgetown Rail, which performs annual track inspections for Metro-North. "She drives new functionality and new ideas."

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Progressive Railroading
Oct
26

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending October 22, 2016

AAR

​For Immediate Release

 

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending October 22, 2016

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 26, 2016 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending October 22, 2016.

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Oct
26

CN's Q3 revenue falls 3 percent

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 10/26/2016 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN reported third-quarter revenue fell 6 percent to 3 billion Canadian dollars compared with year-ago results, as the Class I faced lower shipping volumes in coal, crude oil and frac sand.CN's third-quarter net income fell to CA$972 million, or CA$1.25 per diluted share, compared with net income of CA$1 billion, or CA$1.26 a year earlier, according to a CN press release.Operating income declined 5 percent to CA$1.4 billion during the quarter, compared with a year ago. Operating expenses fell 7 percent to CA$1.6 billion. The Class I's operating ratio was 53.3 percent, a 0.5-point improvement compared with the prior year quarter's performance."With solid execution from our industry-leading operating team and a network-wide focus on providing quality service, CN delivered outstanding results in the third quarter while facing a still sluggish North American and global economy," said Luc Jobin, CN president and chief executive officer."Despite shifting traffic demands, including a delayed Canadian grain harvest, we remained flexible and service-focused," Jobin said. "We also continued to reinvest in our business and infrastructure, investments that are driving ongoing safety, service and productivity improvements, while we maintained our commitment to providing the long-term value that helps CN and its customers succeed." CN raised its financial outlook and now expects 2016 adjusted diluted earnings per share to increase about 1 percent, compared with an earlier financial outlook that called for adjusted earnings per share to be in line with last year.By segment, CN reported revenue increases in grain and fertilizer, up 4 percent; automotive, up 3 percent; and forest products, up 2 percent.Also by segment, CN posted revenue decreases in coal, down 32 percent; metals and minerals, down 20 percent; and petroleum and chemicals, down 13 percent.CN's intermodal revenue declined 4 percent.The revenue decline was mainly attributable to lower volumes of crude oil, coal, and frac sand, and lower applicable fuel surcharge rates. Carloadings for the quarter declined 4 percent. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 10/26/2016

Oct
26

CN's Q3 revenue falls 3 percent

10/26/2016    

Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN

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Oct
26

NS posts 2 percent net income gain in Q3

Rail News Home Norfolk Southern Railway 10/26/2016 Rail News: Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Corp. reported third-quarter net income of $460 million, up 2 percent, and diluted earnings per share of $1.55, up 4 percent, compared with third-quarter results last year.The Class I surpassed surpassed Wall Street analysts' expectations for the quarter. Analysts expected NS to post earnings of $1.45 per share, according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research.NS' railway operating revenue fell 7 percent to $2.5 billion for the quarter compared with the same period a year ago, due to reduced volumes and lower fuel surcharge revenue. Overall volumes declined 4 percent to 1.9 million units for the quarter, according to an NS press release."Our continued focus on efficiency and asset utilization, balanced with our commitment to customer service, drove an operating ratio of 67.5 percent for the quarter and a record 68.7 percent for the first nine months, setting us well on the way to achieving productivity savings of about $250 million and an operating ratio below 70 percent for the year — even in the face of economic headwinds," said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer James Squires.Moving forward, the company is well positioned for growth opportunities over the longer term, Squires said.Also during the quarter, NS reported general merchandise revenue dropped 10 percent to $1.6 billion compared with Q3 2015. The company's five merchandise commodity groups reported the following year-over-year revenue results:
• Chemicals, $408 million, down 10 percent;
• Agriculture, $380 million, even;
• Metals/construction, $337 million, up 2 percent;
• Automotive, $236 million, down 4 percent; and
• Paper/forest, $191 million, down 6 percent.Intermodal revenue slipped 7 percent to $575 million. Volume fell 1 percent as a result of lower volume from Triple Crown Services, which was restructured last year. Excluding Triple Crown Services, domestic intermodal volume and international volume rose 8 percent and 1 percent, respectively.NS' coal revenue declined 18 percent to $397 million compared with a year ago. Above-normal stockpiles and low natural gas prices combined to decrease coal volume by 15 percent.Railway operating expenses fell 10 percent to $1.7 billion primarily due to cost-cutting initiatives, lower fuel expenses, the absence of last year's restructuring costs, and gains from the disposition of operating property.Income from railway operations remained flat at $820 million compared with third-quarter 2015. The 67.5 operating ratio improved 2.2 points on a year-over-year basis. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 10/26/2016

Oct
26

NS posts 2 percent net income gain in Q3

10/26/2016    

Rail News: Norfolk Southern Railway

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Oct
25

CSX, Maryland agree to pursue Howard Street Tunnel project

CSX

10/25/2016    

Rail News: CSX Transportation

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Oct
21

BNSF, CSX, FECR help ship tons of hurricane relief supplies to Haiti

Rail News Home BNSF Railway 10/21/2016 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway worked with CSX and two humanitarian organizations to move a trainload of relief supplies for hurricane survivors in Haiti. Photo – bnsfmedia.com

[Editor's note: This story was updated at 3 p.m. Central time.]

BNSF Railway Co., CSX and Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) this week assisted two humanitarian organizations move a trainload of relief supplies for hurricane survivors in Haiti, according to a report on BNSF's website.

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Oct
21

BNSF, CSX, FECR help ship tons of hurricane relief supplies to Haiti

10/21/2016    

Rail News: BNSF Railway

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Oct
21

BNSF honors Burlington Junction Railway as short line of the year

10/21/2016    

Rail News: BNSF Railway

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Oct
20

UP's Q3 earnings take hit from freight volume 'challenges'

10/20/2016    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

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Oct
19

Freight Rail Industry Shipper Organizations Recognize the Efforts of Hazardous Materials Handlers

AAR

Freight Rail Industry, Shipper Organizations Recognize

the Efforts of Hazardous Materials Handlers

Groups Announce Annual Holden-Proefrock, Grand Slam and TRANSCAER® Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 19, 2016 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today announced the 2015 recipients of the Holden-Proefrock Award and Non-Accident Release Grand Slam Award. In addition, TRANSCAER® announced the winners of their National Achievement Awards. The awards are given annually to individuals and railroads operating in the hazardous materials fields.  

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Oct
19

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending October 15, 2016

AAR

​For Immediate Release

 

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending October 15, 2016

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 19, 2016 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending October 15, 2016.

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Oct
19

CP Q3 revenue falls 9 percent, names Velani CFO

Rail News Home Canadian Pacific 10/19/2016 Rail News: Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific's third-quarter revenue fell 9 percent to 1.55 billion Canadian dollars, while diluted earnings per share (EPS) rose 15 percent to CA$2.34 compared with revenue and earnings in third-quarter 2015, the Class I announced this morning.The railroad also announced an operating ratio of 57.7 percent, the "lowest-ever" when compared with adjusted operating ratios in previous quarters, CP officials said in a press release. In third quarter 2015, the Class I set a then-Q3 ratio record at 59.9.Analysts expected CP's Q3 revenue to come in around CA$1.23 billion and an EPS of CA$2.79 per share. CP posted an adjusted diluted Q3 EPS of CA$2.73."Despite decreased revenues, tied to a delayed grain harvest and stiff economic headwinds, our business model continues to perform on the cost side," said CP Chief Executive Officer E. Hunter Harrison. "Our commitment to efficiency, asset optimization, and operational excellence has produced yet another record-low operating ratio." By commodity, CP reported adjusted revenue during the quarter rose 1 percent for U.S. grain, 5 percent for fertilizers and sulphur, 8 percent for forest products, and 1 percent for chemicals and plastics. International intermodal revenue increased 5 percent for the quarter. Commodities that posted revenue decreases during the quarter were Canadian grain, down 15 percent; coal, down 2 percent; potash, down 1 percent; crude, down 88 percent; metals, minerals and consumer products, down 18 percent; and automotive, down 1 percent. Domestic intermodal revenue declined 2 percent.Considering the delayed grain harvest, lower crude volumes, a challenging Canadian economy compounded by a strengthening Canadian dollar, the company is now expecting mid-single-digit growth for 2016, according to Harrison."While disappointed that we will not meet our previous forecast, I am incredibly proud that despite these challenges, CP will deliver its lowest-ever annual operating ratio," said Harrison. "Our industry-leading operating plan and continued focus on improving service to our customers means we are well-positioned to capitalize on increasing volumes leading into 2017."Meanwhile, CP announced Nadeem Velani has been named vice president and chief financial officer. Velani has been serving as vice president and interim CFO since Sept. 9.Velani joined CP in March 2013 and served as VP of investor relations before becoming interim CFO. Prior to CP, he worked for 15 years at CN, where he served in strategic and financial planning, investor relations, sales and marketing and the office of president and CEO. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 10/19/2016