Railroad News

Railroad associations unveiled their 2018 legislative wish lists, including ideas for President Donald Trump's highly anticipated infrastructure package.

At a U.S. Chamber of Commerce-hosted infrastructure summit yesterday, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) called for any infrastructure package to include a permanent extension of the so-called 45G tax credit, which provides a tax credit to short lines that invest in their rail infrastructure.

The California Public Utilities Commission earlier this week approved Bay Area Rapid Transit's (BART) "Fleet of the Future" rail cars to enter service.

Carload Express Inc. has purchased a BASF polymer plant in Seaford, Delaware.

Due to its close proximity to a main north-south rail line, the 37,000-square-foot building was an "ideal match" for Carload Express, according to a press release issued by SVN-Miller Commercial Real Estate, which advised the sale.

Kansas City Southern today reported record fourth-quarter 2017 revenue of $660 million, up 10 percent from the same period a year ago due to a 5 percent increase in volume.

KCS reported Q4 2017 operating income rose 13 percent to $238 million compared with Q4 2016, KCS officials said in a press release.

Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. yesterday announced record fourth-quarter and full-year results for 2017.

Fourth-quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) soared 159 percent to CA$6.77 from $2.61 a year ago. The 2017 results includes an income tax recovery of $527 million, primarily as a result of U.S. tax reform net of Canadian provincial tax rate increases. Adjusted diluted EPS rose 6 percent to a new quarterly record of $3.22 from $3.04.

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

St. Louis city leaders this week unveiled potential routes and other details of a proposed Northside-Southside light-rail line.

At community meetings, officials shared maps, ridership figures and budget options for the proposed route, according to the Northside-Southside Twitter account.

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon's (TriMet) board has chosen Doug Kelsey as the single finalist for the agency's next general manager.

The board will interview Kelsey on Jan. 24. After considering public comments, the board will convene a special meeting on Jan. 31 to authorize its chair to negotiate a contract with Kelsey or to continue the search.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce this week proposed increasing the federal gas tax by 25 cents per gallon to help pay for critical infrastructure projects.

The proposed increase was among a series of principles the business lobby is offering in a bid to help shape the debate about upgrading U.S. roads, bridges, airports and other significant infrastructure projects, U.S. Chamber officials said in a press release.

U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) have asked Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson for a detailed update on the railroad's safety culture and implementation of positive train control (PTC).

In a letter sent yesterday, the congressmen said they want to know what safety culture weaknesses Amtrak has identified in its organization and the specific steps it is taking to resolve them immediately. The letter was copied to labor unions that represent Amtrak employees.

The Feb. 16 deadline to nominate individuals for Progressive Railroading's Rising Stars program is fast approaching.

Now in its sixth year, the program recognizes up-and-coming leaders in North America's railroad industry. The magazine defines a Rising Star as someone under the age of 40 who is making a positive difference in his or her company, department or team.

U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) yesterday raised questions about the effectiveness of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) maintenance programs following a derailment earlier this week.

In a letter to WMATA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Paul Wiedefeld, Comstock said the Jan. 15 derailment on the Red Line exemplifies the "unacceptable condition of WMATA and the dire need for fundamental reform."

U.S. rail traffic ticked up 0.5 percent to 511,937 carloads and intermodal units in the second week of 2018 compared with the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

For the week ending Jan. 13, total carloads declined 4.1 percent to 241,351 units compared with the same week in 2017, while total U.S. intermodal containers and trailers increased 5 percent to 270,586 units, according to an AAR press release.

By Michael Popke

Valley Metro has taken delivery of rail for its 1.9-mile Gilbert Road light-rail extension in Mesa, Arizona.

Over the next few weeks, the 80-foot rail sticks will be welded together into 400-foot strings. Progress Rail supplied the rail, which is valued at $500,000, Valley Metro spokeswoman Corinne Holliday said in an email.

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) has released a design guide for modernizing the Philadelphia-area trolley system.

Operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the trolley system serves nearly 100,000 people on weekdays. However, the 36-year-old trolley vehicles are nearing the end of their useful life and cause expensive stresses on the system, according to the guide.

Imports at the nation's major retail container ports rose 7 percent in 2017 over 2016, as retail sales grew throughout the year and ended with a strong holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

The 2017 total for ports covered by the Global Port Tracker is expected to be 20.1 million 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs), topping last year's record of 18.8 million TEUs by 7 percent, according to an NRF press release.

GE Transportation has signed two contracts with Kazakhstan's state-run railroad Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) to supply 300 shunter locomotives and provide maintenance services for 175 passenger Evolution™ Series locomotives.