Railroad News

CSX Corporation (CSX) has appointed Angela Williams as its new vice president and controller as successor to Andrew Glassman.

CSX Corporation (CSX) has appointed Angela Williams as its new vice president and controller as successor to Andrew Glassman.

CSX Corporation (CSX) has appointed Angela Williams as its new vice president and controller as successor to Andrew Glassman.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has certified transit-rail state safety oversight (SSO) programs in Massachusetts and Hawaii, the agency announced yesterday.

FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams made the announcement at the American Public Transportation Association's legislative conference in Washington, D.C.

The Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of railroad services in the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles area.

The Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of railroad services in the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles area.

The Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of railroad services in the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles area.

President Donald Trump's proposed funding cuts for transit capital projects would jeopardize $38 billion worth of planned projects, according to an analysis commissioned by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

The study's findings were highlighted yesterday by transit-industry leaders during a press briefing held at APTA's legislative conference in Washington, D.C.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is asking all Class Is to send the board their service outlooks for 2018.

The request, which the board sent to all Class I executives last week, was made in response to concerns the board has received from two major rail shipper associations about deteriorating service.

Advanced Rail Systems

Advanced Rail Systems (ARS), which provides automated yard switches and devices, manufactures the YM-16 electro-hydraulic switch machine. The YM-16 needs “virtually no maintenance” — no greasing, lubricating or replacement of wear parts is required, according to the company. It also has enough power to throw #24 turnouts and turnouts with welded heel blocks.

The Fort Worth Transportation Authority earlier this month took delivery of the second trainset for its TEXRail commuter-rail system.

The Vancouver-area Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation and the province of British Columbia late last week agreed to provide CA$2.5 billion in regional funding for Translink's rail expansions.

To deliver projects in the second phase of Translink's 10-year infrastructure plan, the mayors and the province have proposed a 2 percent increase in transit fares over two years, beginning in 2020. They also proposed increasing parking fares and property taxes.

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and CSX recently executed a final contract amendment that will enable construction of a new Virginia Railway Express (VRE) station in Prince William County, Virginia.

The new station will be a key component of Potomac Shores' emerging town center. Situated on the banks of the Potomac River 30 miles south of Washington, D.C., the 1,920-acre community is being developed by SunCal, a real estate development company that focuses on large-scale, mixed-use master-planned communities. SunCal is sponsoring the new VRE station's construction.

The TransLink Mayors' Council and the government of British Columbia have agreed on a plan to fund the CA$2.5 billion (US$1.91 billion) regional share of the Phase Two Plan for infrastructure.

TransLink describes the 10-year Phase Two Plan as a historic investment in the region's transit and transportation system and, once implemented, will help meet current and future demand. TransLink reported a six-percent increase in transit ridership in 2017 and expects the demand to increase as the region is expected to add more than 1 million people in the next 30 years.

The TransLink Mayors' Council and the government of British Columbia have agreed on a plan to fund the CA$2.5 billion (US$1.91 billion) regional share of the Phase Two Plan for infrastructure.

TransLink describes the 10-year Phase Two Plan as a historic investment in the region's transit and transportation system and, once implemented, will help meet current and future demand. TransLink reported a six-percent increase in transit ridership in 2017 and expects the demand to increase as the region is expected to add more than 1 million people in the next 30 years.

A Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) has been released for a Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority (LACMTA) project that will speed the turnaround time Red and Purple line trains need at Union Station, which will allow more of these trains along the lines.

Studying the potential of connecting Canada to the Pacific Northwest through ultra-high-speed rail service received a sign of support with the government of British Columbia agreeing to help fund analysis of such service.

The CA$300,000 (US$229,232) pledge will go toward an in-depth study with Washington state on the concept of rail service that would cut travel times between Vancouver and Seattle to about 60 minutes, which is down from the current three hours.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) have called on Amtrak to rename its intermodal station in Rochester after the late U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter.

Slaughter (D-N.Y.) died last week after sustaining injuries from a fall at her home in Washington, D.C. She was 88 and in the midst of her 16th term representing upstate New York in Congress.