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Dec
12

CN grain shipments return to pre-strike pace

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 12/12/2019 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN's movement of Canadian grain is back to pre-strike pace after recovering from an eight-day strike that occurred in November, the Class I announced today.CN spotted more than 6,800 hopper cars per week during the first two weeks of November, which were the 14th and 15th weeks of the crop year and its high point, CN officials said in a press release.The strike prevented CN from accepting new orders during Week 17, as CN was operating at only 10 percent of overall capacity. By the second week of December (week 19), CN returned to shipping at peak levels, as well as taking on all customer hopper demand for the second and third weeks of December, company officials said."After a tough harvest due to adverse weather and an eight-day labor stoppage, our railroaders have been hard at work to get movements back on track,” said Allen Foster, vice president of bulk at CN. “Our disciplined approach to recovery after the strike has allowed CN to return to a normal pace, as did all the investments we have made in track infrastructure and new locomotives over the past two years."During the crop year's first 18 weeks, CN set an all-time record month in October, with 2.8 million metric tons (MMT). The Class I set an all-time record week in Week 11, which ran from Oct. 13-19, at 685,187 metric tons.In late November, CN and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference reached a tentative contract agreement, ending a week-long strike involving about 3,200 CN conductors and rail yard crews in Canada. Employees returned to work on Nov. 26.

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Dec
12

Amtrak at (nearly) 50: The railroad faces its next chapter

Last month, Amtrak released a photo of the first prototype of the new Acela Express trains on track outside the Alstom plant in Hornell, New York.Photo – AMTRAK

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Dec
11

Rail supplier news from Hitachi Rail, RKH, Siemens, Arup and FTS (Dec. 11)

Rail News Home Railroading Supplier Spotlight 12/11/2019 Rail News: Railroading Supplier Spotlight
First Trenitalia awarded Hitachi Rail a $461 million contract to provide and maintain 23 intercity trains for the Avanti West Coast rail service in the United Kingdom. The trains will be a mix of 10 seven-car electric trains and 13 five-car bi-mode trains. The investment is being financed through Rock Rail West Coast, a joint venture between Rock Rail and Aberdeen Standard Investments. Rock Rail West Coast will own the trains and lease them to First Trenitalia.The RKH Qitarat joint venture between Keolis, RATP Dev and the Hamad Group has completed construction of Qatar Rail’s Doha Metro rail network in Qatar. The joint venture has opened the Green, Red and Gold lines in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup being held in Qatar. RKH Qitarat's 20-year contract also includes network operation and maintenance, according to a press release.Siemens USA appointed Marsha Smith chief financial officer to succeed Heribert Stumpf, who will be retiring after 38 years of service with the company. Effective Jan. 1, 2020, Smith will take on the new role in addition to her current role as CFO for Siemens Mobility North America. In her new position, Smith will oversee the finance organization for the smart infrastructure, digital industries and Siemens Mobility businesses. Smith has more than 20 years of experience in Siemens’ financial organizations.Arup selected Brian Swett to lead its Boston office. He will deliver projects that provide social and economic value while enhancing sustainability and resilience, company officials said in a press release. Arup's Boston office portfolio includes the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line extension and the John W. Olver Transit Center. Swett has more than a decade of experience leading projects in the public and private sectors. Prior to joining Arup in 2015, he was the chief of environment, energy and open space for the city of Boston.The Focused Technology Solutions Inc. (FTS) team relocated to a new executive office and manufacturing facility in Hackettstown, New Jersey. The site will enable the company to broaden its production and research and development business for the transportation sector, FTS officials said in a press release.

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Dec
11

TTC named top employer in Toronto

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 12/11/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Mediacorp Canada Inc. honored the Toronto Transit Commission for creating a customer-focused workforce.Photo – TTC Facebook

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) last week was recognized by Mediacorp Canada Inc. as one of the top employers in the Toronto area. 

The 14th annual competition honored the TTC for actively developing and creating an “empowered, customer-focused workforce,” TTC officials said in a press release.

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Dec
11

Cleveland RTA announces new board appointments

Rail News Home Railroading People 12/11/2019 Rail News: Railroading People
David Weiss and Luz Pellot were elected to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's board.Photo – GCRTA Facebook

City of Cleveland officials last week appointed new members to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's (GCRTA) board. 

David Weiss was elected by the Cuyahoga County Mayors and City Managers Association to fill a term previously held by Georgine Welo, mayor of South Euclid. Weiss’ term will begin March 3, 2020, GCRTA officials said in a press release.

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Dec
11

San Francisco MTA to hike cable car fares

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 12/11/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's cable car fares have not changed since 2015.Photo – SFMTA

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will increase fares for its cable-car line, effective Jan. 1, 2020. 

Single ride fare and one-day passes for the agency’s cable car will increase by $1, while three- and seven-day passes will increase by $2.

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Dec
11

Amtrak honored for Chicago Union Station restoration project

Rail News Home Amtrak 12/11/2019 Rail News: Amtrak
Amtrak's project to restore the Great Hall at Chicago Union Station has been recognized with six awards from architectural, engineering, construction and real estate organizations or publications.Photo – amtrak.com

Amtrak's $22 million project to restore the Great Hall at Chicago Union Station has reaped recognition in the form of six awards from architectural, engineering, construction and real estate organizations or publications.

The awards are the:
• 2019 Interior Architecture Award – American Institute of Architects, Chicago Chapter
• 2019 Overall Transformation of the Year – GlobeSt Real Estate Forum Magazine
• 2019 Silver Reconstruction Award – Building Design & Construction Magazine
• 2019 Best Project, Government/Public Building – ENR Midwest Magazine
•2019 Best Renovation/Retrofit Project – Structural Engineers Association of Illinois
•2019 Metamorphosis Award, Whole Building – Retrofit Magazine

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Dec
11

APTA: House conference report includes provision to prohibit Chinese rolling stock procurements

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 12/11/2019 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
A provision that would prohibit federal transit funds from being used to buy buses or rail rolling stock from a company based in China has been included in the U.S. House National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal-year 2020 conference report, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reported yesterday.In a Legislative Update, APTA reported that the conference report includes the measure that would affect federal transit funding used to buy rolling stock from an entity that is incorporated in or has manufacturing facilities in the United States and "is owned or controlled by, is a subsidiary of, or is otherwise related legally or financially to a corporation based in" China.Earlier this year, House and Senate NDAA bills contained similar provisions that would prohibit certain Chinese rolling stock procurements. The House will likely vote on the conference report this week, with the Senate taking up the measure soon after, APTA officials said in the update.

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Dec
11

WMATA, ATU Local 689 reach deal on four-year contract

Rail News Home Labor 12/11/2019 Rail News: Labor
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) yesterday announced a tentative agreement with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689 on a four-year labor contract. If terms are ratified by the union and approved by WMATA's board, the new contract would begin after the current one expires June 30, 2020, WMATA officials said in a joint press release.ATU Local 689 is WMATA's largest union.The agreement would create incentives for better customer service, enable WMATA to live within its legally required 3 percent subsidy growth cap, and create a path to bring in-house work performed at Cinder Bed Road bus garage on the Silver Line, they said.Benefits would cover both labor and management. Economic details won't be released until after union members and WMATA board members have an opportunity to review the agreement.“After many months of negotiation, we reached a good deal for our employees that also provides our board of directors with an affordable option for bus and rail service for the next four years,” said WMATA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Paul Wiedefeld.ATU Local 689 President and Business Agent Raymond Jackson said the agreement will help safeguard union jobs against privatization."This deal would benefit all of our members and solidify transit careers as a pathway to the middle class," Jackson said. "We look forward to providing details to our members as soon as possible."The new deal appeared likely to help bring an end to a strike underway at the bus garage, located in northern Virginia, the Washington Post reported.The strike began in October. ATU Local 689 has strongly objected to WMATA's privatization of operations at the garage, which is managed by Transdev.

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Dec
11

AAR, truckers laud North American trade deal

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 12/11/2019 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
AAR President and CEO Ian JefferiesPhoto – aar.org

Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and Chief Executive Officer Ian Jefferies yesterday praised the announced deal on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that could clear the way for congressional approval in the near future.

Yesterday, House Democrats and President Trump announced they'd reached an agreement to revise a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada. If approved by Congress, the USMCA would replace the former North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

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Dec
11

Transit Outlook 2020: Funding, election concerns color expectations

Compiled By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Associate Editor

As the United States enters its presidential election year and public transit agencies from coast to coast continue plans for expanding passenger-rail services in 2020, agency leaders remain hopeful that investment in the nation’s infrastructure will stand out as a top priority.

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Dec
11

CSX CEO Foote: Next year affords an opportunity to leverage improved service to drive above-market growth

In November, Progressive Railroading asked each Class I chief executive officer to address questions pertaining to their 2020 outlook. CSX President and CEO James Foote in early December provided the following responses in an email.

What's your take on the potential for volume growth in 2020 after a difficult year for rail traffic in 2019? Are there certain commodities/business groups you feel pretty good about heading into next year? Which ones are you concerned about, and why? What, predominantly, do you believe will drive business growth in 2020?

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Dec
11

CSX CEO Foote: Next year affords an opportunity to leverage improved service to drive above-market growth

In November, Progressive Railroading asked each Class I chief executive officer to address questions pertaining to their 2020 outlook. CSX President and CEO James Foote in early December provided the following responses in an email.

What's your take on the potential for volume growth in 2020 after a difficult year for rail traffic in 2019? Are there certain commodities/business groups you feel pretty good about heading into next year? Which ones are you concerned about, and why? What, predominantly, do you believe will drive business growth in 2020?

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Dec
10

WMATA extends wireless service on Green Line

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 12/10/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Cellular service is available in all underground Metrorail stations.Photo – WMATA

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) late last week announced that wireless service now is available on the entire Green Line and most of the Yellow Line. Service is provided by AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless.

WMATA activated wireless service on Green Line tunnel segments between the Gallery Place and Branch Avenue stations. Now, 80 of 100 miles of tunnel track and the Blue, Green and Orange lines are equipped for cellular and data service, WMATA officials said in a press release.

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Dec
10

Retailers: Imports surged in November ahead of December tariffs

Rail News Home Shippers 12/10/2019 Rail News: Shippers
November volume jumped to 1.95 million TEUs, up 8 percent year over year, according to the NRF.Photo – Port of Savannah

Container volume at the nation’s major ports bumped up significantly in November as retailers imported merchandise ahead of new tariffs set to take effect this month, according to the Global Port Tracker report released yesterday by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.

President Trump announced a tentative agreement on a partial trade deal with China in October, but the measure has yet to be finalized and a new round of tariffs on consumer goods is still scheduled to take effect Dec. 15.

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Dec
10

BRS elects Tarrant VP headquarters

Rail News Home Railroading People 12/10/2019 Rail News: Railroading People
Tim TarrantPhoto – Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen

The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) has elected Tim Tarrant vice president of headquarters, union officials announced last week.

Tarrant had served as BRS' VP East since October 2018. Prior to that, he was the organization's research director and a Grand Lodge representative. As VP of headquarters, Tarrant succeeds Kelly Haley, who retired, BRS officials said in a press release.

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Dec
10

SkyTrain strike averted: Union, TransLink reach tentative deal

Rail News Home Labor 12/10/2019 Rail News: Labor
The strike would have involved about 900 SkyTrain workers.Photo – TransLink

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 7000 and BC Rapid Transit Co. reached a tentative agreement early this morning, narrowly averting a planned SkyTrain strike that would have shut down the Expo and Millennium lines today.

Details of the tentative pact — which would cover about 900 SkyTrain workers — won’t be released until it's ratified, union officials said in a press release.

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Dec
10

U.S. Reps. DeFazio, Malinowski slam PHMSA for granting LNG-by-rail permit

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 12/10/2019 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) offered sharp criticism of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) decision to grant a special permit to a company that wants to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail from Pennsylvania to New Jersey for export.On Dec. 5, PHMSA granted a special permit to Energy Transport Solutions LLC to authorize transportation of LNG in DOT-113C120 tank cars between Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, and Gibbstown, New Jersey, with no intermediate stops, subject to certain operational controls.In doing so, the agency jumped ahead of its notice of proposed rulemaking on moving LNG by rail, DeFazio and Malinowski said in a press release.The decision to grant the permit came despite repeated objections from members of Congress, and safety and environmental groups, they said."For months I have been sounding the alarm on this dangerous plan. Not only has PHMSA failed to take the proper steps of testing, analyzing or reviewing this unprecedented plan, it failed to provide Congress and the public the opportunity to consider whether the permit’s operating conditions sufficiently address the potential safety implications — an opportunity that’s required by law," said DeFazio."This decision by the Department of Transportation to allow LNG to move in large volumes without adequate safeguards is irresponsible, and yet another example of the [Trump] administration putting corporate interests over the safety of the American public,” Malinowski added.In June, the U.S. House passed a DeFazio amendment to H.R. 3055, which would prohibit the U.S. transportation secretary from finalizing a rulemaking on issuing a special permit to allow LNG transport by rail.

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Dec
10

Early construction work starts on NJ Transit resilience project

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 12/10/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The agency aims to better manage its rail equipment when extreme weather occurs.Photo – NJ Transit

New Jersey Transit yesterday announced Amtrak crews have started early construction work on a major resilience project at County Yard in New Brunswick along the Northeast Corridor.

NJ Transit continues to advance efforts to make its rail system more resilient to extreme weather effects. The resilience program includes an expansion of the Amtrak-owned County Yard and the "Delco Lead" storage and service restoration project. Both projects will help reduce the risk of damage to rail equipment by extreme weather and create an inspection facility to bring rail equipment back into service shortly after weather-caused impacts, NJ Transit officials said in a press release.

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Dec
10

UP reorganizes marketing and sales structure

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 12/10/2019 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad today announced a new organizational structure for marketing sales, consolidating its business groups from four to the following three: bulk, industrial and premium. The changes will take effect Jan. 1.Formerly agricultural products, bulk will add coal and petroleum coke products to its portfolio, while liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petroleum and sand products will shift to the Class I’s industrial business, UP officials said in a press release. Coal, LPG, petroleum, petroleum coke and sand currently are part of the energy business group."This new structure will allow us to better serve our customers while helping Union Pacific remain agile to market conditions," said Kenny Rocker, executive vice president-marketing and sales.

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