Railroad News

Union Pacific Railroad is making progress on its plan to implement positive train control (PTC) and will meet all required deadlines for installing the safety technology on its network, the Class I announced yesterday.

"As allowed by federal law," UP will continue to implement, test and refine the technology during 2019 and 2020, company officials said in a press release.

CSX is selling 373 miles of rail lines to Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad LLC (FGAR), according to a Nov. 6 filing with the Surface Transportation Board (STB).

The notice of intent to acquire the rail lines did not mention a sale price.

Kansas City Southern yesterday announced the retirement of W. James Wochner as senior vice president and chief legal officer, effective March 31, 2019.

In addition, Adam Godderz will be promoted from associate general counsel and corporate secretary to general counsel and corporate secretary for KCS and the Kansas City Southern Railway Co. on Jan. 1, 2019, company officials said in a press release.

CSX last week unveiled its new Pride in Service community investment program to honor and improve the lives of military veterans, active duty military and first responders.

The multimillion-dollar commitment and "collaborative approach" will affect more than 100,000 people over the next two years, CSX officials said in a press release.

Kansas City Southern's 18th annual Holiday Express will distribute a total of $171,756 in gift cards to The Salvation Army at stops along its route starting Nov. 21.

The holiday train will visit 22 communities on 27 dates, starting in Shreveport, Louisiana, and wrapping up Dec. 18 in Kansas City, Missouri. Other stops in other states include Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois. A complete schedule is available on the KCS website.

Details of Norfolk Southern Corp.'s potential relocation of its headquarters from Norfolk, Virginia, to Atlanta emerged in documents released yesterday by Invest Atlanta, the city's economic development agency.

NS is proposing construction of a new headquarters in Midtown Atlanta that would feature 750,000 square feet of office space and a daycare center for employees' children, according to the documents.

Norfolk Southern Corp. has tapped Michael Farrell to serve as senior vice president of transportation.

Based in Atlanta, Farrell will report to Michael Wheeler, executive VP and chief operating officer. Farrell's duties will include all transportation operations, division mechanical and rail terminal management functions, NS officials said in a press release.

Canadian Pacific has broken its record for the shipment of grain, moving 2.64 million metric tons (MMT) of Canadian grain and grain products in October, the Class I announced today.

The milestone makes October 2018 CP's biggest month ever for moving Canadian grain, breaking a record set in September 2017, CP officials said in a press release.

CSX will operate its 76th annual Santa Train on Nov. 17, as part of the Class I's efforts to deliver toys, food, winter clothing and other gifts to residents in need along the 110-mile route.

The train will travel through the Appalachia region and stop in 14 locations in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. More than 15 tons of toys and other items will be delivered to families, CSX officials said in a press release.

Yesterday in Madrid, Texas Central Railway and Renfe officials signed an agreement that formalizes the Spanish rail operator as the Texas bullet train's strategic operating partner.

With its decades of experience, Spain-based Renfe was a "natural fit" to join Texas Central’s other partners, Texas Central officials said in a press release.

MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) has opened newly renovated Farmingdale and Wantagh stations.

Although work on the Farmingdale Station is ongoing, doors to the building were opened yesterday. The facility's upgrade is part of an $84 million, eight-station renovation package awarded earlier this year.

Metra recently launched revenue service demonstrations (RSDs) of its positive train control (PTC) system on the Rock Island District Line, which runs southwest from Chicago to Joliet, Illinois.

The RSDs are the final stage before PTC is fully implemented along the route. The demonstrations involve operating some trains in regular service with PTC engaged to determine if the system is working as intended.

Metropolitan Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff yesterday announced she will be stepping down at November’s end to pursue a new professional opportunity.

Per council bylaws, Vice Chair Harry Melander will assume her duties until the Minnesota governor-elect appoints a new chair.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) this week released its Watchlist 2018 to highlight seven safety hazards in the industry.

This year's list cites the TSB's call to action on safety management and employee fatigue issues across transportation modes, board officials said in a press release.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) yesterday announced it chose L'Enfant Plaza as the site for a new centrally located headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The agency now will seek final board approval to purchase a vacant office building at the plaza as the replacement for its current headquarters, the Jackson Graham Building. WMATA plans to strip the acquired building’s exterior and completely renovate the facility, including new commercial amenities on the ground floor. In addition, the agency might add three floors to create lease space and generate additional revenue, WMATA officials said in a press release.

The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay yesterday announced its new subsidiary Coos Bay Rail Line Inc. (CBRL) will begin operating the 134-mile port-owned rail line between Danebo and Coquille, Oregon, Nov. 1.

The previous operator Coos Bay Rail Link (CBR) notified the port of its intention to divest its relationship with the port and cease operations on the line by October’s end. CBR owner ARG Transportation Services continues to pursue legal recourse because the company believes the port breached its contract with the short line, ARG President Scott Parkinson said in an email.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) announced last week that Director of Transit John Haley has retired.

During his 30-year career as a transportation professional, he served as general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and deputy general manager of Bay Area Rapid Transit.