Railroad News

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

Just like their Class I interchange partners, regionals and short lines expect to mine opportunities and confront challenges in 2018. One prime opportunity: carload growth.

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

The coming year likely won’t be a barn-burner, but it won’t be a gut-puncher either when it comes to building and sustaining business, Class I chief executive officers believe.

Caltrain has appointed John Funghi chief officer of its modernization project, which calls for electrifying the railroad's corridor between San Francisco and San Jose, California.

An engineer, Funghi has "extensive experience" managing major construction projects in the public sector and as a construction contractor, Caltrain officials said in a press release.

ExxonMobil has partnered with retailer Grupo Orsan to open eight Mobile-branded service stations in Queretaro, Mexico. Fuel will be distributed by rail via two private terminals that are served by Kansas City Southern de Mexico.

The terminals are located in San Luis Potosi and San Jose Iturbide, Mexico.

The Alaska Railroad Corp. (ARRC) has named Clark Hopp chief operating officer effective Jan. 1.

Hopp is currently ARRC's vice president of engineering. As COO, he will succeed Doug Engebretson, who is retiring. The COO oversees ARRC's rail transportation, engineering, mechanical, safety and grant administration functions.

Imports at the United States' major retail container ports are projected to grow 1.5 percent this month over the same period last year, according to the latest Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.

Ports covered by the report are expected to handle 1.6 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) this month. For October, ports handled 1.77 million TEUs, up 0.3 percent and up 5.9 percent year over year. November was estimated at 1.64 million TEUs, down 0.3 percent.

Norfolk Southern Railway trained 3,241 first responders this year on the company's hazmat safety train, a rolling learning lab that helps communities prepare for and safely respond to potential rail incidents.

The safety train visited 23 communities across 14 states during its 2017 tour, providing free training to firefighters, law enforcement, emergency management personnel and other first responders, according to an NS press release.

Texas Central Partners LLC, the private firm developing a bullet-train line between Houston and Dallas, has appointed Drayton McLane Jr. chairman.

A former owner of the Houston Astros, McLane first joined the board in January. He's currently chairman of the McLane Group and other family controlled companies.

The nation's freight railroads have reached tentative labor agreements with four unions, the National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC) announced late last week.

Agreements have been reached with the Brotherhood Railway Carmen (BRC), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and the Transportation Communications International Union (TCU), according to an NRLC press release.

Australian Rail Track Corp. (ARTC) has selected GE Transportation's Movement Planner software to provide real-time traffic planning and optimization for the Hunter Valley coal rail network. The control center for the network manages 24,000 metric tons of freight per hour, ARTC officials said in a press release. GE's software develops an optimized traffic plan by weighing multiple factors such as train schedules, traffic-control systems and train movements relative to each other. Movement Planner's Network Viewer and Network Optimizer modules will be implemented progressively on the Hunter Valley network through 2018 and 2019. The rail network is one of the busiest and most complex in Australia, said ARTC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer John Fullerton.

Stantec and Amec Foster Wheeler have been awarded a contract to provide technical advisory, design and construction support services for Metrolinx's Bowmanville rail expansion. The project involves building 12.4 miles of track to extend GO Transit rail service along the Lakeshore East corridor from Oshawa to Bowmanville, Ontario. Stantec and Amec will provide technical services related to the addition of two GO Transit tracks, a new layover facility, four new stations, grade separations and bridge expansions, several culvert and grade crossing modifications and associated utility work. Metrolinx aims to complete construction by 2023, Stantec officials said in a press release.

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) tomorrow will close a portion of the Line 1 subway to replace special track and switches.

To complete the work, the agency will shut down the line Dec. 9-10 between the St. Clair and Lawrence stations.

Rob Reich, a senior vice president at Schneider, has been elected chairman of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE). He succeeds Nicola Motor Co. Chief Operating Officer Scott Perry.

Reich began his career at Schneider in 1992 after serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. His current title at the transportation logistics provider is senior vice president of equipment, maintenance and driver development.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) yesterday selected three contracting teams to develop proposals to design and build the first phase of the Red and Purple modernization program.

The three shortlisted teams are Walsh Fluor Design-Build Team, Chicago Rail Constructors and Kiewit Infrastructure Co. The CTA in June issued a request for qualifications for teams to work on the project.

The Texas North Western Railway (TXNW) and The Andersons Rail Group have established a rail-car repair and service center at the Panhandle Logistics Park near Sunray, Texas.

The new, 580-acre industrial park located in the Texas Panhandle is served by the TXNW Railway and BNSF Railway Co. A TNW Corp. subsidiary, TXNW owns and operates a private rail-car storage facility at the center that features nearly 11,000 storage spots.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's (PANYNJ) board yesterday approved a $3.2 billion operating budget and $3.4 billion capital budget for 2018.

The budgets — which contain no fare or toll increases — will fund agency efforts to enhance security, improve customer service, invest in sustainability and environmental protection, undertake state-of-good repair work and build new transportation facilities, according to a PANYNJ press release.

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

Metra earlier this week offered a media tour of its GPS Center to demonstrate how the railroad communicates with riders.

Located at Metra's headquarters in downtown Chicago, the GPS Center is where platform announcements, website updates, email alerts and most service tweets originate, Metra officials said in a press release.