Railroad News

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) repealed a May 2015 rulemaking that would have required the installation of electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes on certain tank cars, according to U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). The USDOT had until Dec. 4 to publish a determination that the ECP rule either was justified or should be repealed.

The Federal Railroad Administration rulemaking had set a timetable for requiring ECP brakes on newer tank cars trains used to haul certain hazardous or flammable materials, such as ethanol and crude oil. ECP brakes issue electronic signals to simultaneously apply and release brakes throughout the length of a train instead of each car applying brakes individually —  a system the government considers more effective in emergency situations.

The Andersons Inc. Rail Group President Rasesh Shah will retire in July 2018. Shah, who began his career with the company in 1978, was "instrumental" in creating the Rail Group in 1989, according to a press release issued by The Andersons. The company has selected Joseph McNeely to serve as the new president of the Rail Group, effective Jan. 8. Shah will provide transition assistance until he retires. McNeely has more than three decades of experience in the financial, manufacturing and distribution industries, specializing in the rail-car business. Most recently, he served as president and chief executive officer of FreightCar America Inc. McNeely also held vice president roles at Mitsui Rail Capital and GATX Corp.

Wabtec Corp. has acquired turbocharger manufacturer Melett Ltd., which has operations in Europe, North America and China. Melett, which has annual sales of around $40 million, provides turbochargers and repair parts to more than 100 countries in the world, Wabtec officials said in a press release. The acquisition is aimed at complementing Wabtec's overall turbocharger strategy and its overall product portfolio. Financial details of the transaction weren't disclosed.

CDPQ Infra has pushed the deadline to continue accepting project bids for the Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM) engineering and construction contract.

A subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, CDPQ Infra plans to launch a period of thorough conversations with the qualified parties regarding the construction contract.

CDPQ Infra has pushed the deadline to continue accepting project bids for the Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM) engineering and construction contract.

A subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, CDPQ Infra plans to launch a period of thorough conversations with the qualified parties regarding the construction contract.

CDPQ Infra has pushed the deadline to continue accepting project bids for the Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM) engineering and construction contract.

A subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, CDPQ Infra plans to launch a period of thorough conversations with the qualified parties regarding the construction contract.

The Valley Metro RPTA and Valley Metro Rail Boards have unanimously approved an extension of CEO Scott Smith's employment agreement for two more years.

Smith had previously served as the agency's interim CEO from February 2016 through November 2016 before transitioning to a two-year term as CEO.

The Valley Metro RPTA and Valley Metro Rail Boards have unanimously approved an extension of CEO Scott Smith's employment agreement for two more years.

Smith had previously served as the agency's interim CEO from February 2016 through November 2016 before transitioning to a two-year term as CEO.

The Valley Metro RPTA and Valley Metro Rail Boards have unanimously approved an extension of CEO Scott Smith's employment agreement for two more years.

Smith had previously served as the agency's interim CEO from February 2016 through November 2016 before transitioning to a two-year term as CEO.

Airbrakes, hours of service, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and level boarding rules were included in comments the Association of American Railroads (AAR) filed Friday with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) concerning federal regulations AAR is offering up for reevaluation.

AAR's comments are in response to a directive from the Trump administration to reform regulatory processes and individual regulations to better serve the public. The association says the rules included in its comments are "ideal areas for repeal, replacement, suspension or modification."

Airbrakes, hours of service, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and level boarding rules were included in comments the Association of American Railroads (AAR) filed Friday with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) concerning federal regulations AAR is offering up for reevaluation.

AAR's comments are in response to a directive from the Trump administration to reform regulatory processes and individual regulations to better serve the public. The association says the rules included in its comments are "ideal areas for repeal, replacement, suspension or modification."

Airbrakes, hours of service, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and level boarding rules were included in comments the Association of American Railroads (AAR) filed Friday with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) concerning federal regulations AAR is offering up for reevaluation.

AAR's comments are in response to a directive from the Trump administration to reform regulatory processes and individual regulations to better serve the public. The association says the rules included in its comments are "ideal areas for repeal, replacement, suspension or modification."

Regional Plan Association (RPA) has released a long-range plan for the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metropolitan region that it says ensures growth and equitable prosperity opportunities.

The RPA describes itself as a nearly 100-year-old research, planning and advocacy organization focused on improving the tri-state area's prosperity, infrastructure, sustainability and quality of life. It developed its Fourth Regional Plan to help elected officials, policymakers and advocates plan for the region's future and help shape the area's growth.

Regional Plan Association (RPA) has released a long-range plan for the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metropolitan region that it says ensures growth and equitable prosperity opportunities.

The RPA describes itself as a nearly 100-year-old research, planning and advocacy organization focused on improving the tri-state area's prosperity, infrastructure, sustainability and quality of life. It developed its Fourth Regional Plan to help elected officials, policymakers and advocates plan for the region's future and help shape the area's growth.

Regional Plan Association (RPA) has released a long-range plan for the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metropolitan region that it says ensures growth and equitable prosperity opportunities.

The RPA describes itself as a nearly 100-year-old research, planning and advocacy organization focused on improving the tri-state area's prosperity, infrastructure, sustainability and quality of life. It developed its Fourth Regional Plan to help elected officials, policymakers and advocates plan for the region's future and help shape the area's growth.

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority held a groundbreaking ceremony Dec. 2 for its $1.5 billion Foothill Gold Line light-rail extension from Glendora to Montclair at Citrus College in Glendora, Calif.

The construction authority said elected representatives from all levels of government, as well as transportation officials and community stakeholders, joined to celebrate the beginning of construction for the six-station, 12.3-mile extension.

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority held a groundbreaking ceremony Dec. 2 for its $1.5 billion Foothill Gold Line light-rail extension from Glendora to Montclair at Citrus College in Glendora, Calif.

The construction authority said elected representatives from all levels of government, as well as transportation officials and community stakeholders, joined to celebrate the beginning of construction for the six-station, 12.3-mile extension.

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority held a groundbreaking ceremony Dec. 2 for its $1.5 billion Foothill Gold Line light-rail extension from Glendora to Montclair at Citrus College in Glendora, Calif.

The construction authority said elected representatives from all levels of government, as well as transportation officials and community stakeholders, joined to celebrate the beginning of construction for the six-station, 12.3-mile extension.

VIA Rail Canada Inc. served 1.2 million passengers in the third quarter, a 12 percent increase compared with the same period in 2016.

The railroad's revenue in the quarter rose 14 percent to CA$113 million, while operating expenses increased 5 percent to CA$147 million.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has appointed infrastructure consultant Paul Karas to be commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT).

Most recently, Karas served for four years as vice president and manager of RS&H Inc., a transportation buildings infrastructure consulting firm, according to a press release issued by the governor's office.