Skip to main content
Aug
08

Rising Stars: Annka Robinson, Dallas Area Rapid Transit/Trinity Railway Express

Annka Robinson, 33

Job description: Robinson is responsible for ensuring safety related to maintenance-of-way activities on the Trinity Railway Express.

Education: Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, bachelor's degree in civil engineering

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
07

Rail supplier news from GE, Rail Partners, Andrew Stahl, and The Andersons (Aug. 7)

Rail News Home Railroading Supplier Spotlight 8/7/2017 Rail News: Railroading Supplier Spotlight
GE Transportation's new Evolution Series locomotive for Indian Railways.Photo – GE Transportation

GE Transportation has unveiled the first of 1,000 Evolution Series locomotives for Indian Railways. The ES43ACmi unit underwent nearly two months of testing and validation before receiving a coat of red and yellow paint, GE officials said in a press release. With the new paint job completed, the company is preparing to ship the locomotive in a few weeks. Expected to arrive in India later this year, the unit is part of a $2.5 billion locomotive order from Indian Railways.

Rail Partners Management Group LLC has acquired the assets and operations of Tactical Cleaning Co. from Strategic Environmental & Energy Resources. Tactical Cleaning provides fixed-base and mobile rail-car cleaning services to large and small rail-car customers throughout North America. Rail Partners will retain the company's brand name and all Tactical Cleaning operational personnel will remain in place, according to a Rail Partners press release. Financing for the transaction was provided by Seneca Partners and Uniprop. Other financial details were undisclosed.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
07

North Shore's Robey named 'Transportation Person of the Year'

Rail News Home Railroading People 8/7/2017 Rail News: Railroading People
Richard RobeyPhoto – North East Association of Rail Shippers

The North East Association of Rail Shippers announced last week it is recognizing North Shore Railroad Co. Chairman Emeritus Richard Robey as the Transportation Person of the Year.

"Dick was a true pioneer in the short-line industry at a time when few believed that railroading had much of a future," association officials said in a press release.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
07

MBTA's Poftak highlights infrastructure improvement projects

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/7/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Crews performing work on the new Beverly Drawbridge.Photo – MBTA

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) interim General Manager Steve Poftak over the weekend visited several infrastructure improvement project sites.

One stop included the site of a railroad drawbridge replacement in Beverly, Massachusetts. To accommodate the work, the MBTA on July 17 shut down Newburyport/Rockport Line service north of Salem, Massachusetts. Train service is slated to return to normal tomorrow, MBTA officials said in a press release.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
07

Safety report: Canadian Pacific trains crashed after missed signal

Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has found that an August 2016 collision between two Canadian Pacific trains occurred when one of the trains ran a stop signal.

The investigation highlights the need for onboard voice and video recorders, TSB officials said in a press release.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
07

MARTA cracks down on rail fare dodgers

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/7/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The agency made a series of arrests during a six-week effort to curb fare evasion.Photo – MARTA

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has arrested 536 fare evaders during a recent six-week crackdown, the agency announced late last week.

Over the past six weeks, plainclothes officers have actively monitored fare gates across MARTA's 38 rail stations for riders hopping on board without paying. The effort led to hundreds of arrests and suspensions from the agency's system, MARTA officials said in a press release.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
07

EEOC alleges CSX discriminates against women in hiring

CSX violated federal law by implementing a physical abilities battery that discriminates against women, according to a lawsuit field by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) last week.

The EEOC alleges that since at least 2008, CSX has conducted isokinetic strength testing as a requirement for workers to be selected for various jobs. Known as the IPCS Biodex, the strength test causes a discriminatory impact on women seeking jobs as conductors, material handlers/clerks, and a number of other job categories, the EEOC said in a press release.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
07

Caltrain OKs station improvement contract, fare hike

Caltrain's board has awarded a $32 million contract to Proven Management Inc. for the South San Francisco Station improvement project.

The project involves track and signal work, along with the installation of a new 700-foot center boarding platform. The work also will provide a connection to a new pedestrian underpass from the platform to Grand Avenue/Poletti Drive.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
07

USDOT proposes $79 million in FASTLANE grant awards

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao late last week informed Congress that the U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed nearly $79 million in grants for freight-related rail, port and roadway infrastructure projects under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.

The notification to Congress, sent Aug. 2, initiates a 60-day period in which Congress could vote to disapprove the proposed projects if it finds a project objectionable, according to a report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
07

Rising Stars: Myat Ohn, HNTB

Myat Ohn, 34

Job description: Ohn serves as the deputy segment lead for the the San Jose-Merced section of California’s high-speed rail project. In her role, she manages the project’s scope, schedule, budget and sub-consultants. Ohn also designs the track plan and profile as track and guideway lead for the section. In addition, she coordinates with other rail agencies, cities, counties and stakeholders.

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, University of California-Berkeley

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
04

Omaha Track hosts congressional visit

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) joined representatives of Omaha Track Inc. and local railroads to tour the company's facilities in Omaha this week.

Omaha Track President and Owner Terry Peterson led the tour, which included visits to the new corporate office and the Omaha Track Equipment facility, where maintenance-of-way equipment is custom built, fabricated and maintained.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
04

CP unveils 2016 corporate sustainability report

Rail News Home Canadian Pacific 8/4/2017 Rail News: Canadian Pacific
The railroad has cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent since 2015, according to the report.Photo – Canadian Pacific

Canadian Pacific yesterday released its 2016 corporate sustainability report.

The document outlines the railroad's commitment to "long-term value creation and sustainable operations," CP officials said in a press release.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
04

Solaris inks seven-year transloading agreement

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 8/4/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Under the pact, an operator will provide minimum quarterly proppant volumes through a new UP-served facility in Oklahoma.Photo – Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure's website

Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure Inc. on Wednesday announced a new seven-year transloading agreement with an exploration and production operator in the Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and Kingfisher Counties (STACK) oil play in Oklahoma.

Under the agreement, the operator will provide minimum quarterly proppant volumes through a new facility that Solaris is developing in Kingfisher, Oklahoma.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
04

California launches new website to track high-speed rail project

Rail News Home High-Speed Rail 8/4/2017 Rail News: High-Speed Rail
The site includes an interactive construction map.Photo – California High-Speed Rail Authority

The California High-Speed Rail Authority has launched BuildHSR.com, a new website that provides updates about the 119 miles of construction underway in the state's Central Valley.

The site will be updated regularly with road and construction alerts, photos, videos construction milestones and events, CHSRA officials said in a press release.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
04

FRA to invite bids to replace Amtrak on certain routes

Rail News Home Amtrak 8/4/2017 Rail News: Amtrak
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has published a final rule for a new pilot program that would seek competitive bids from "eligible petitioners" to replace Amtrak as the operator of up to three long-distance routes.The rules fall under a provision of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act that requires the FRA to implement the pilot program.Published in the Federal Register last month, the final rule takes effect Sept. 5 and establishes a petition, notification and bid process by which the FRA will evaluate and select bids to provide passenger-rail service over particular long-distance routes.The rule also establishes deadlines for filing petitions and bids and the execution of contracts with winning bidders.Under the FAST Act, an entity may be an "eligible petitioner" for the pilot program only if it owns the relevant rail infrastructure on the route or has a "written agreement" with the rail infrastructure owner. Additionally, a winning bidder who doesn't own the infrastructure must obtain from the owner a written agreement that governs access issues.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 8/4/2017


Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
04

CN derailment prompts TSB to recommend track inspection changes

Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) yesterday recommended that Transport Canada incorporate predictive data on rail surface conditions to help improve track inspections.

The board's recommendation was part of its investigation into the March 2015 derailment and fire involving a CN freight train near Gogama, Ontario, TSB officials said in a press release.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
04

Maine to receive FASTLANE grant for rail bridge project

Rail News Home Maintenance Of Way 8/4/2017 Rail News: Maintenance Of Way
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)Photo – collins.senate.gov

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will award a $7.89 million grant to help fund a railroad bridge repair project in Maine, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced yesterday.

The grant is being awarded under the USDOT grant program known as Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-Term Achievement of National Efficiencies, or FASTLANE. The $7.89 million in funding will be provided to the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) for a project to repair and upgrade 22 rail bridges on the Madawaska Subdivision of the Maine Northern Railway, according to a press release issued by Collins' office.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
04

FTA issues record of decision for Amtrak Portal Bridge replacement

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has issued a record of decision for a project to replace Amtrak's Portal Bridge in New Jersey.

The document formally adopts the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) environmental impact statement for the project, which involves replacing a century-old swing bridge over the Hackensack River in New Jersey with a high-level fixed bridge.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
04

Rising Stars: Julie Mink, Tealinc Ltd.

Julie Mink, 37

Job description: As president of a small company, Mink is involved in every facet of the company. Her duties include establishing policies and procedures, implementing long-term planning and strategy, initiating employee development programs, generating marketing materials and developing business with existing and new customers to provide rail-car sales, rail-car leases, transportation consulting or management services.

Education: Studied journalism and business management at University of Northern Colorado; graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a degree in business management.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.

Aug
03

Metro-North Railroad slates hearing on increased service proposal

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/3/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The proposal would make permanent a pilot program from October 2016.Photo – MTA

MTA Metro-North Railroad on Aug. 23 will host a public hearing on a proposal to permanently increase service at two Harlem Line stations in the Bronx, New York.

The plan would make permanent a pilot program from October 2016. In an effort to build ridership and provide Bronx residents with more travel options, Metro-North previously implemented a program that provided hourly service at the Tremont and Melrose stations during off-peak and weekend travel times. The stations previously were served at two-hour intervals.

Continue reading

Copyright

© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.