Railroad News

The New Jersey Transit's board yesterday adopted a fiscal-year 2020 $2.39 billion operating budget and a $1.42 billion capital program. 

The capital program funds continue state-of-good-repair investments in transit stations and infrastructure, investments in the Northeast Corridor, fare modernization, safety initiatives, rail car purchases, positive train control installation, system expansion and support for local mobility programs, NJ Transit officials said in a press release.

Union Pacific Railroad reported today that 2019 second-quarter net income rose 4 percent to $1.6 billion, or $2.22 per diluted share, compared with $1.5 billion, or $1.98 per diluted share, in the same quarter a year ago.

UP's operating income rose 8 percent to $2.3 billion and the company's operating ratio (OR) improved to 59.6 percent from 63.0 percent compared with second-quarter 2018.

Union Pacific Railroad reported today that 2019 second-quarter net income rose 4 percent to $1.6 billion, or $2.22 per diluted share, compared with $1.5 billion, or $1.98 per diluted share, in the same quarter a year ago.

UP's operating income rose 8 percent to $2.3 billion and the company's operating ratio (OR) improved to 59.6 percent from 63.0 percent compared with second-quarter 2018.

U.S. rail traffic has continued its downward trend so far this month, with railroads posting a combined 5.6 percent decline to 527,908 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending July 13 compared with the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Total carloads for the week fell 4 percent to 260,762 units, while intermodal volume plummeted 7.2 percent to 267,146 containers and trailers.

McMillen Jacobs Associates appointed Victor Romero as executive vice president of its underground division. Romero has been with McMillen Jacobs for 28 years, providing underground engineering in the rail-transit, highway, water and wastewater sectors, company officials said in a press release. Isabelle Lamb will succeed Romero as managing director of the Australia and New Zealand region. Lamb has over 25 years of experience in the design and management of teams for the construction of tunnels, underground structures and associated surface facilities for transit, water and roadway projects.

ABB signed a five-year contract to provide the Swiss Federal Railway (SBB) with its RER670 intelligent electronic device for transformer and line distance protection, ABB officials said in a press release. ABB has also supplied SBB with its REB500 busbar protection.

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) crews will begin switch replacement work at the 96th Street interlocking in Manhattan starting later this week and stretching into August.

The project will take place in phases, ultimately leading to the installation of entirely new switches between the northbound express and local tracks at the 96 Street interlocking on the Seventh Avenue Line, NYCT officials said in a press release.

TNW Corp. this week announced two appointments: Andy Scheriger to director of sales and business development for TNW, and Eric Chavez to general manager at the Texas Rock Crusher Railway (TXR).

Prior to his appointment, Scheriger served as GM at TXR. In his new role, he will contribute to TNW's strategic planing and managing sales initiatives and programs. He will oversee customer account coordination; interaction with customers, prospects and customers; and new prospect initiatives.

Metrolink yesterday announced it appointed Todd McIntyre chief strategy officer to lead the California commuter railroad’s planning, government affairs, community relations, procurement and railroad services.

McIntyre joins Metrolink after three years as chief of staff at the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) in Washington, D.C., Metrolink officials said in a press release.

American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Skoutelas yesterday urged Congress to improve and strengthen the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program.

In prepared testimony to the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Skoutelas suggested Congress conduct a review of the CIG program to assess the statutory, regulatory and administrative requirements to be eligible for a CIG grant.

Harbor Rail Services of California has selected Coast Autonomous to deploy self-driving vehicles at Union Pacific Railroad's Kinney County Railport (KCRP) in Texas.

The collaboration between Coast and Harbor Rail, which operates the railport, marks the first deployment of self-driving vehicles at a U.S. rail yard, Coast and Harbor Rail officials said in a press release.

CN will rebuild the rail bridge over the Steen River in Alberta, with Imperial Oil and Suncor contributing funds to the reconstruction, the Class I announced yesterday.

The approaches on both ends of the 360-foot bridge will be rebuilt with concrete and steel and the bridge deck of the steel span across the river will be replaced. Construction should be completed by mid-August, CN officials said in a press release.

CN will rebuild the rail bridge over the Steen River in Alberta, with Imperial Oil and Suncor contributing funds to the reconstruction, the Class I announced yesterday.

The approaches on both ends of the 360-foot bridge will be rebuilt with concrete and steel and the bridge deck of the steel span across the river will be replaced. Construction should be completed by mid-August, CN officials said in a press release.

CSX's second-quarter revenue fell 1 percent to $3.06 billion compared with the previous year's quarter, as merchandise growth was offset by intermodal weakness, the Class I announced yesterday.

The railroad posted Q2 net earnings of $870 million, or $1.08 per share, versus $877 million, or $1.01 per share, in the same quarter last year, CSX officials said in a press release.

CSX's second-quarter revenue fell 1 percent to $3.06 billion compared with the previous year's quarter, as merchandise growth was offset by intermodal weakness, the Class I announced yesterday.

The railroad posted Q2 net earnings of $870 million, or $1.08 per share, versus $877 million, or $1.01 per share, in the same quarter last year, CSX officials said in a press release.

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

From Jack Hellmann to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. employees July 1: "This morning we are excited to announce that G&W has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Brookfield Infrastructure and GIC, pending regulatory and shareholder approval. If approved, the sale is expected to close at the end of 2019 or early 2020. Brookfield and GIC are two of the most respected infrastructure investors in the world who have a long-term view of investing that is perfectly suited to long-lived rail assets. Not only will Brookfield/GIC support the continued execution of G&W’s growth strategy by our current management team, but they also will bring expertise from their ownership of other rail assets around the world ...”

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is expanding its use of new maps and communication tools to make it easier for riders to use transit.

In February, SEPTA released a transit map that depicts SEPTA’s bus and rail routes together as a single network. Now, SEPTA is adding frequency-based transit maps that will be installed at stations throughout the system, SEPTA officials said in a press release.