Railroad News

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and ELERTS Corp. yesterday rolled out the SEPTA Transit Watch app, which enables riders to report security or safety issues to agency police.

Passengers can use the app to anonymously send photos or videos with GPS locations to alert police of potential criminal behavior, SEPTA officials said in a press release.

Andrea Waldock Niethold, former chief of staff to Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), has been named the director of government affairs for Canadian National.

Waldock Niethold worked with Rep. Barletta for the past five and a half years serving as his legislative director before being named chief of staff. CN says she "brings a wide range of transportation policy experiences and expertise to her new role."

Andrea Waldock Niethold, former chief of staff to Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), has been named the director of government affairs for Canadian National.

Waldock Niethold worked with Rep. Barletta for the past five and a half years serving as his legislative director before being named chief of staff. CN says she "brings a wide range of transportation policy experiences and expertise to her new role."

U.S. railroads logged 268,364 carloads for the week ending Aug. 12, a 0.3 percent increase compared with carload activity in the same week a year ago, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Combined with intermodal volume, U.S. railroads posted 548,790 carloads, containers and trailers during the week, a 2.7 percent increase compared with a year ago. Intermodal volume rose 5.1 percent to 280,426 units for the week.

Hanson Professional Services Inc. has acquired Engineered Rail Solutions (ERS) LLC.

ERS provides logistical and market analysis, engineering design services and operational optimization, especially in the rail and material handling industries nationwide.

Hanson Professional Services Inc. has acquired Engineered Rail Solutions (ERS) LLC.

ERS provides logistical and market analysis, engineering design services and operational optimization, especially in the rail and material handling industries nationwide.

Watermill Group has acquired track fastener manufacturer and distributor Cooper & Turner.

The company says that Cooper & Turner senior management, including Watermill CEO Tony Brown and Head of Watermill Production David Brown, will remain in their current positions and retain a significant shareholding in the company.

Watermill Group has acquired track fastener manufacturer and distributor Cooper & Turner.

The company says that Cooper & Turner senior management, including Watermill CEO Tony Brown and Head of Watermill Production David Brown, will remain in their current positions and retain a significant shareholding in the company.

Metra's board has chosen James Derwinski as the Chicago commuter railroad's next executive director and chief executive officer.

He will succeed Don Orseno, who earlier this year announced plans to retire the end of 2017, Metra announced yesterday in a press release.

Oliver Ernhofer has been named New York Transportation Planning Manager and Senior Supervising Planner for WSP USA.

Oliver Ernhofer has been named New York Transportation Planning Manager and Senior Supervising Planner for WSP USA.

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Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) crews will rebuild track in downtown Oakland, California, over the Labor Day weekend.

Workers will replace rail and upgrade electrical systems, and perform other maintenance and repair work, BART officials said in a press release.

Pin Oak Terminals officials on Monday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the company's new petroleum and liquid storage terminal at the Port of South Louisiana.

Announced in October 2015, the project involved a $600 million capital investment in storage terminals, docks and related infrastructure along the Mississippi River's east bank at Mount Airy, Louisiana.

Mattagami First Nation has filed a lawsuit against CN for damage caused by two train derailments near Gogoma, Ontario, in February and March 2015

The derailments spilled millions of liters of crude oil that damaged the local environment and watershed. The spills have had a "catastrophic" impact on the Mattagami First Nation's territory, First Nation officials said in a press release.

Mattagami First Nation has filed a lawsuit against CN for damage caused by two train derailments near Gogoma, Ontario, in February and March 2015

The derailments spilled millions of liters of crude oil that damaged the local environment and watershed. The spills have had a "catastrophic" impact on the Mattagami First Nation's territory, First Nation officials said in a press release.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) late last week reminded transit agencies and railroads about ways to protect their systems from terrorist attacks.

The TSA's message followed the release of a recent video from terrorist group Al-Qaeda that focused on threats to U.S. rail systems by homegrown violent extremists, TSA officials said in an emailed statement.

President Donald Trump yesterday signed an executive order aimed at speeding up the federal permitting process for construction of transportation, water and other infrastructure projects while still protecting the environment.

The order also requires agencies to work together "more efficiently" by requiring one lead agency for each major infrastructure project, Trump said, according to a transcript of his comments. Agencies will be held accountable if they fail to streamline the permitting process.