Railroad News

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO), yesterday restored full service on its light-rail system following emergency repairs on three lines earlier this week. 

Following the break of two overhead electrical wires, METRO crews last week initiated a partial shutdown along the Red Line extension and Green and Purple lines to reinforce wires at 79 locations.

Due to Gloucester Drawbridge construction, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) will replace train service from Rockport to West Gloucester Station with bus service during the first two weeks in June.

The century-old Gloucester Drawbridge, which carries Rockport Line trains over the Annisquam River in Gloucester, is being replaced. During the June construction, the south side of the existing timber trestle will be demolished, and the remaining north side of the bridge will be monitored and tested, according to an MBTA press release. 

Starting June 1, Chicago commuter railroad Metra will increase weekend service on the Rock Island and Union Pacific Northwest lines as part of a three-month summer pilot program. 

In a recent Metra-conducted survey, a majority of riders indicated they wanted more frequent and faster train service. Metra’s pilot program will track if increased service will boost ridership and revenue on weekends, Metra officials said in a press release.

The downward trend in U.S. rail traffic continued in Week 19, with railroads reporting 529,263 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.7 percent compared with the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

For the week ending May 11, railroads registered 258,641 total carloads, down 3.1 percent, and 270,622 containers and trailers, down 4.3 percent.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak yesterday signed legislation requiring a minimum crew of two people on Class I and II freight trains operating in the state.

Railroads that violate the law will face fines of $5,000 for a first offense, $10,000 for a second offense within three years and $25,000 for a third offense, according to a press release issued by the SMART-TD labor organization.

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

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Marmon Holdings Inc. announced the acquisition of Transco Railway Products Inc. from Transco Inc. Financial terms were not disclosed. Transco provides rail tank- and freight-car repair and maintenance, auto-rack certification and hopper car cleaning. The company will operate within Marmon’s rail and leasing sector in the rail-car repair service group, according to a Marmon press release. Bob Nelson, Transco's current president, will continue to lead the business.

Alstom will supply 16 six-car, electric Coradia Polyvalent trains to the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region in France for about $191 million.The region previously ordered 24 four-car electric trains, 18 of which have been delivered, according to an Alstom press release. In a separate announcement, Alstom will deliver five additional Coradia Polyvalent dual-mode regional trains to Region Sud in France for about $36 million.

Rocky Mountaineer founder and owner Peter Armstrong dedicated one of the company’s new bi-level GoldLead Service rail cars to David McLean, chairman emeritus of CN. 

The announcement marks the eighth rail car dedicated by Rocky Mountaineer since 1990 to acknowledge notable people and their contributions to the rail industry. 

The Coalition for America's Gateways & Trade Corridors (CAGTC) is calling on Congress to approve a minimum federal investment of $12 billion annually to support the nation's freight infrastructure through a multimodal competitive grant program.

Experience has shown that grant programs such as the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) and Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) spur innovation and creative funding and financing arrangements that leverage the federal dollar, CAGTC officials said in a press release.

The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corp. (NOPB), a subsidiary of the Port of New Orleans, has named M.D. "Mike" Stolzman general manager.

Stolzman previously served in leadership roles managing operations, budgets and rail lines during times of change, port and railroad officials said in a press release.

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) has awarded a $138.9 million contract to a Talgo-SYSTRA joint venture to rebuild 121 Bombardier rail cars used by Metrolink.

The base order is for 50 cars, which will be increased by 71 cars if funding becomes available, according to a Talgo press release.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority earlier this week completed a master plan for expanding container terminal capacity and development at the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia, Canada. 

Completed in partnership with AECOM, the plan identifies the long-term potential to develop 6 million to 7 million 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity by developing multiple terminals at the port, authority officials said in a press release.

Amtrak and New Jersey Transit yesterday announced a joint $31 million investment to improve railroad infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) in New Jersey and conduct renewal work throughout spring and summer. 

As part of the investment, Amtrak crews on May 20 will begin a block tie replacement program at Newark Penn Station. Crews will replace 95 feet of ties on Track 1 and 1,100 feet of ties on Track 4. The existing wooden have deteriorated and will be replaced by concrete ties, according to a press release from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's office.

The League of Railway Women (LRW) is calling for nominations of rail industry women to serve on its board for a term that extends from October 2019 to September 2021.

Run by an all volunteer board, the LRW represents women who work for railroads and the rail supply industry.

The Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) and the Panama Canal Authority recently extended their memorandum (MOU) of understanding that calls for joint promotions and information exchanges.

Signed by STC Chairman Mike Bellar and authority Chairman Jorge Quijano, the MOU extends a partnership between the two organizations that serves to raise awareness of the canal's role as a "key link in the agricultural supply chain," according to an STC press release.