Railroad News

Siemens has formed a long-term technical and digital service partnership with the Atlanta Streetcar.

Under the agreement, Siemens will provide technical support and materials for preventive and corrective maintenance on streetcars. The company also will use its Railigent™ digital rail services platform to analyze data to help improve streetcar operations, Siemens officials said in a press release.

The Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) downgrading this week of two critical "Gateway" projects in the Northeast Corridor will further jeopardize the projects from receiving federal funding, supporters of the passenger-rail corridor said yesterday.

In its annual funding recommendations report to Congress on the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, the FTA this week rated both the Hudson Tunnel and the Portal North Bridge replacement projects as "medium-low" in priority for federal grants. Medium-low is second-lowest rating on a five-point scale that helps determine whether federal funding is warranted.

Intermodal volumes continued their upward trend for U.S. railroads, which posted a 3.7 percent increase in containers and trailers for the week ending Feb. 10 compared with the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

U.S. railroads' total traffic volume for the week rose 1.6 percent to 519,545 carloads and intermodal units compared with the same week in 2017. However, carload traffic slipped 0.5 percent to 251,058 units compared with a year ago.

President Donald Trump has nominated former U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake to serve as administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Drake is an assistant director of public works for Norfolk, Virginia, and is the former director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT).

New Jersey Transit's board yesterday approved a proposed alignment for the Hudson-Bergen light-rail expansion project.

The locally preferred alternative consists of a 10-mile, two-track extension of the Hudson-Bergen line from its current terminus at the Tonnelle Avenue station in North Bergen to the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) yesterday issued a special investigation report on two end-of-track collisions at terminal stations in New Jersey and New York.

The report includes new safety recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and new safety recommendations to New Jersey Transit and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

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As we reported in our Daily News on Jan. 29, Trade Press Media Group Inc. has been acquired by Forum Media Group, which is based in Merching, Germany.

Sound Transit has appointed Russell Arnold chief customer experience officer.

He is tasked with finding ways to improve the experience for future passengers as the agency designs and expands its system. Arnold also will collaborate with agency departments to resolve existing issues and enhance experience of current riders, Sound Transit officials said in a press release.

The Ports of Indiana handled 11.8 million tons in 2017, a 5 percent increase from 2016 and the second-highest annual shipment total in the organization's 57-year history, port officials announced today.

Last year was the fourth consecutive year that the ports handled more than 10 million tons of cargo. Major cargo increases in 2017 included minerals, up 28 percent; limestone, up 26 percent; steel, fertilizer and ethanol, each up 14 percent; and coal, up 9 percent.

The Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) has begun testing positive train control (PTC) and a wireless crossing system (WCS) on its G Line commuter-rail route.

The work involves synchronizing and optimizing the PTC system and the conventional control systems at 16 grade crossings along the line, RTD officials said in a press release issued earlier this month.

The Ontario government has appointed David Collenette chair of its high-speed rail planning advisory board.

A former federal minister of transport, Collenette previously served as the province's special adviser for high-speed rail. As chair of the planning advisory board, he'll continue to provide strategic support and advise government on the project to establish high-speed rail between Toronto and Windsor.

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) this spring will begin the process to replace 26 of its oldest light-rail vehicles.

The U.S. Senate last night approved President Trump's nomination of Ronald Batory as the administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

The Senate also confirmed Raymond Martinez as administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Adam Sullivan as assistant secretary for governmental affairs, according to a statement from the FRA.

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

West Memphis Transload LLC has acquired the assets and transloading business of Arkansas Logistics LLC in West Memphis, Arkansas. Arkansas Logistics' facility will be operated in conjunction with a new bulk transfer facility under construction on adjacent property. The joint operation will be capable of handling steel coils, railroad ties, lumber, agricultural products and various container commodities, West Memphis officials said in a press release. The facility connects to the Friday-Graham Railway, which is switched daily by Union Pacific Railroad.

Pandrol's VIPA DRS rail fastener system has been selected by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand for the northern extension of its Green Line elevated rail route. The 11.8-mile extension of the Bangkok Skytrain will run from Mo Chit to Saphan. Pandrol's system is designed to reduce the transmission of low-frequency noise and vibration due to its low stiffness, company officials said in a press release. The system features an e-Clip baseplate, which is mounted on a studded rubber pad to provide resilience. Pandrol's VIPA DRS system previously was selected for Bangkok's Purple Line and Green Line south extension.

Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC) has painted a new logo on two diesel locomotives to honor U.S. military members and highlight the railroad's efforts to recruit military veterans for employment.

Designed by Tyler Hardin, the logo depicts the silhouettes of three soldiers from different eras — World War I, World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam wars — against a backdrop of the American flag. The design is framed by the LIRC keystone and includes five stars for the branches of service.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) yesterday called on the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to reverse its decision to drop a proposed rule that could have required railroads to test train engineers for obstructive sleep apnea.

In a letter to USDOT Secretary Elaine Chao, Schumer said the proposed rule was a "modest, common-sense approach to combating fatigue on our roads and rails."