Railroad News

VIA Rail Canada Inc. earlier this week unveiled a list of four companies chosen to participate in a request for proposals (RFP) to replace the railroad's rolling stock along the Quebec City-Windsor corridor.

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners in Minnesota yesterday endorsed a plan to build a 12-mile streetcar line connecting downtown St. Paul, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America in Bloomington.

The Riverview Corridor project would use existing Metro Transit Green Line light-rail infrastructure at St. Paul's Union Depot and in the city's downtown. The streetcar line also would use Metro Transit's Blue Line infrastructure south of the Mississippi River, starting at Fort Snelling.

CN will spend CA$210 million of its 2018 capital program to improve and expand its network in Saskatchewan.

The Class I's projects will include more than 20 miles of new double track in three locations across the province. Other capital program investments will focus on the replacement, upgrade and maintenance of key track infrastructure to improve overall safety and efficiency, CN officials said in a press release.

TransLink has proposed using distance-based fares for rides on SkyTrain, SeaBus and future rapid rail projects.

Under the proposal, the agency's existing three-zone system would be replaced with one that charges customers based on the number of kilometers they travel between stations. The maximum fare would remain the same as it is under the current zone system.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have included $556,250 in its 2018 work plan for the start of a feasibility study for the Miami Harbor Safety and Navigational Channel Improvements Program at PortMiami.
 
The channel improvements are necessary to accommodate economic growth at the port and in the region. Safety and navigational enhancements will enable the port to accommodate vessels carrying 14,000 20-foot-equivalent-units calling on the East Coast, Miami-Dade officials said in a press release.

"In order to expand the economic significance of PortMiami, sustained investments in infrastructure are critical," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. "The stronger we are economically, the more resilient Miami-Dade County can be as a community."
 
The study is another key step to respond to customers and the "next generation of cruise and cargo business," said Port Director Juan Kuryla.

CentrePort Canada Inc. has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a partner to develop a 665-acre rail park in Rosser, Manitoba.

The park will be designed to combine industrial space with logistics infrastructure and services to attract "rail-intensive companies," CentrePort officials said in a press release.

The League of Railway Women (LRW) has begun accepting applications for its annual "outstanding member of the year" award.

The award honors a league member who has a passion for the rail industry, commitment to community service, and dedication to leadership and support for the personal and professional growth of women in rail.

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) has appointed Alex Elegudin senior adviser for systemwide accessibility.

Elegudin will oversee expansion of accessibility for subway and bus riders, as well as improvements to the Access-A-Ride paratransit service. The efforts are part of NYCT President Andy Byford's plan to modernize subways and buses.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) staff have recommended building a 9.2-mile light-rail line for the East San Fernando Valley transit project.

The route would run from the Orange Line's Van Nuys station in Los Angeles to a Metrolink station in LA's Sylmar neighborhood. Trains would travel along the center of Van Nuys Boulevard and the San Fernando railroad right-of-way, which is adjacent to San Fernando Road.

Capital Development Partners has begun construction on a $125 million logistics campus at the Port of Savannah in Georgia.

The 190-acre industrial campus will offer dual rail service via Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX. The site also will offer transload capability and more than 2,000 container storage positions, according to a Capital Development press release.

As of mid-May, U.S. Class Is employed 147,000 workers, up 0.71 percent since mid-April, but down 1.36 percent compared with May 2017, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

All but one employment category — professional and administrative — reflected slight increases in the workforce on a month-over-month basis. Categories that logged increases since mid-April were transportation (train and engine), up 1.15 percent to 61,593 employees; maintenance of equipment and stores, up 0.78 percent to 26,856; executives, officials and staff assistants, up 0.74 percent to 8,359 employees; maintenance of way and structures, up 0.39 percent to 32,770; and transportation (other than train and engine), up 0.32 percent to 5,584.

MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) has rolled out a program that will temporarily provide discounted fares for riders traveling between Brooklyn and seven stations in Queens, New York.

The price of a one-way ticket between Brooklyn and the selected stations will be $5. That compares to the railroad's current peak fare of $10.25 and its off-peak fare of $7.50.

Guelph Junction Railway Ltd. will present at its annual meeting today a CA$100,000 dividend to its sole shareholder, the city of Guelph, Ontario.

The dividend is a first for the railroad. In December 2016, Guelph Junction Railway's board approved a dividend policy to ensure the railway's strategic growth while increasing shareholder value.

Caltrain today will start a one-year project to improve safety at 15 grade crossings between San Francisco and San Jose, California.

The $3.5 million project calls for more clearly marked pedestrian crossings, tactile pavement markers and guardrails. Crews also will install or update medians at eight locations to deter motorists from driving around gates, Caltrain officials said in a press release.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) late last week adopted a $1.285 billion six-year program, which includes funds for 44 key multimodal projects in the region.

This is the first time the agency has funded a six-year transportation program, NVTA officials said in a press release. The plan includes $4 million to improve the Virginia Railway Express's Crystal City Station in Arlington, Virginia.

A CSX train derailed last night in southwest Indiana near Princeton, causing a number of rail cars to catch fire.

The train derailed at about 8:10 p.m. about an hour from Evansville. Preliminary reports indicated a release from a rail car containing propane, a CSX spokesman said in an email.

Connecticut's new Hartford Line commuter-rail route served more than 10,300 riders on June 16, the line's first day of service, according to Gov. Dannel Malloy.

The "overwhelming demand" prompted the state to provide additional service on June 17, according to a press release issued by Malloy's office. Amtrak also added an extra afternoon train out of Springfield, Massachusetts, to accommodate riders, the Hartford Courant reported.

TWC Enterprises Ltd. has entered an agreement to sell the White Pass & Yukon Route rail and port operations in Skagway, Alaska, to cruise ship operator Carnival Corp.

TWC said in a press release earlier this month that it entered into a purchase and sale agreement for $290 million, minus debt, taxes and liabilities of $70 million to $80 million. The sale is set to close July 31, according to a TWC press release.

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Passed late last year, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 arguably was the most sweeping tax reform measure in three decades. The changes included a reduction in the corporate tax rate, increased expensing and bonus depreciation, and limits on the deduction for business interest. For some companies, it also boosted 2017 earnings.