Railroad News

G3 yesterday announced plans to build two new grain elevators in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

G3 will construct one elevator in Vermilion, Alberta, which will have a capacity of 34,000 tons and be located on a CN line. The second elevator, which will be built in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, will have a capacity of 42,000 tons and be located on a Canadian Pacific line.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced yesterday the approval of 26 freight-rail improvement projects, along with the state's share of the cost.

The projects are designed to improve freight mobility while creating or sustaining more than 390 jobs, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has created a new pilot program to expedite long-term, low-cost loans for short-line and regional railroads, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced yesterday.

The Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Financing Express (RRIF Express) is aimed at reducing the time and costs associated with securing loans to modernize aging freight-rail infrastructure.

—By Richard Kloster

The rail equipment industry entered 2019 with cautious optimism, which is the best spin you could put on it. The real sentiment was probably more along the lines of “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst,” which is about what we had. With 2020 right around the corner, the “prepare for the worst” part is front and center again as the rail equipment community braces for more of the same next year.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) yesterday launched its One Metro New York (OMNY) contactless fare payment system at the 34th Street-Penn Station in Manhattan, one of the busiest transit hubs in New York City. 

The OMNY system enables riders to enter the MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) system by tapping a contactless prepaid card, mobile phone or smart watch against a payment reader. 

The Maryland Department of Transportation's Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) earlier this week reopened the BWI Airport rail station in Linthicum, following completion of a $4.7 million renovation project.

Renovation work at the station, which serves Amtrak Northeast Corridor trains and the MARC Penn Line commuter-rail service, included expanded seating areas, more natural sunlight, new ticketing facilities, and new options for refreshments and snacks, MDOT MTA officials said in a press release.

The Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) board yesterday approved a five-year contract with Intersection to manage advertisements across CTA's rail system and continue efforts to earn revenue from sources other than fares.

The agreement calls for Intersection to install 775 digital screens across CTA’s rail system, nearly tripling the 425 digital screens now installed, CTA officials said in a press release. The installation will include large format displays, in-station and street level screens, interactive digital kiosks and a digital advertising display in every CTA station. 

Brightline, soon to be known as Virgin Trains USA, will locate a train station in Boca Raton, Florida, now that the Boca Raton City Council has approved a long-term land lease for the construction of the station and parking garage near the city's Downtown Library.

By the end of 2020, the Boca Raton facility is expected to be the third new station in Brightline's south corridor, joining Aventura and PortMiami hubs in connecting the privately owned intercity passenger rail system, city and Brightline officials announced yesterday.

Construction on Sound Transit's Northgate Link light-rail extension in Seattle is more than 90 percent complete, the transit agency announced yesterday.

Upon project completion in 2021, the 4.3-mile extension will connect riders between Northgate and downtown Seattle through two new underground stations, Roosevelt and U District, and one new elevated station, Northgate.

The U.S. rail traffic decline continued during the week ending Dec. 7, with railroads logging 517,130 carloads and intermodal units, down 9.4 percent compared with the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Railroads posted a total 248,174 carloads during the week, down 7.2 percent, and intermodal volume of 268,956 containers and trailers, down 11.3 percent compared to 2018.

Ridership on U.S. public transit agencies rose 2.2 percent in third-quarter 2019 compared with ridership during third-quarter 2018, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reported yesterday.

The growth in total ridership included a 5.46 percent surge on heavy rail systems and a 4.38 percent gain on commuter-rail systems, APTA officials said in a press release.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., senior associate editor

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) last week was recognized by Mediacorp Canada Inc. as one of the top employers in the Toronto area. 

The 14th annual competition honored the TTC for actively developing and creating an “empowered, customer-focused workforce,” TTC officials said in a press release.

City of Cleveland officials last week appointed new members to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's (GCRTA) board. 

David Weiss was elected by the Cuyahoga County Mayors and City Managers Association to fill a term previously held by Georgine Welo, mayor of South Euclid. Weiss’ term will begin March 3, 2020, GCRTA officials said in a press release.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will increase fares for its cable-car line, effective Jan. 1, 2020. 

Single ride fare and one-day passes for the agency’s cable car will increase by $1, while three- and seven-day passes will increase by $2.

Amtrak's $22 million project to restore the Great Hall at Chicago Union Station has reaped recognition in the form of six awards from architectural, engineering, construction and real estate organizations or publications.

The awards are the:
• 2019 Interior Architecture Award – American Institute of Architects, Chicago Chapter
• 2019 Overall Transformation of the Year – GlobeSt Real Estate Forum Magazine
• 2019 Silver Reconstruction Award – Building Design & Construction Magazine
• 2019 Best Project, Government/Public Building – ENR Midwest Magazine
•2019 Best Renovation/Retrofit Project – Structural Engineers Association of Illinois
•2019 Metamorphosis Award, Whole Building – Retrofit Magazine