Amy Rice, 39Job description: Since joining CSX in 2011, Rice has served as VP of strategic planning, VP of operations planning and performance, and VP of of finance. She also served in the sales and marketing department as director of marketing for intermodal.Education: Master of Business Administration, University of Michigan; Bachelor of Business Administration, Emory UniversityNominator's quote: "During CSX's transition to precision scheduled railroading, Amy's unique skills and experience have been invaluable in driving the company strategy forward and in creating long-term value for customers and shareholders." — Diana Sorfleet, CSXWhy did you go into railroading? CSX has a very strong reputation in Jacksonville, Florida, and I was impressed by the loyalty and engagement of the CSX employees I knew in the community. As I got to know the company through the interview process and my early tenure, I was excited by the dynamic nature of the transportation industry, and the opportunity created from the blend of history and institutional knowledge with a more diverse workforce and the demands of a modernizing supply chain.What career accomplishment are you most proud of so far? Several years ago, I made a lateral move from sales and marketing to finance at the railroad. This role was offered to me as a developmental opportunity, and I was uncertain as to how both my performance and enjoyment of the role would compare to my prior experience. Making that career move and climbing the learning curve in a new function while building relationships with new business partners was a healthy challenge, and ultimately opened many doors for future opportunity. Looking back, I'm proud that I took the personal risk and it has guided my perspective on ongoing career decisions.What do you enjoying doing when you're not at work? I am active in the community, and serve on the board of Hubbard House (a local nonprofit serving victims of domestic violence) as well as the business advisory committee of the Coggin College of Business at the University of North Florida. I enjoy running and try to run the Thanksgiving half-marathon each year. I also play in a Working Women's Tennis League. Most of my weekends are spent watching my kids' sporting events and enjoying time with family and friends.What do you hope to be doing or learning in five years? I hope to find myself with ongoing and enhanced opportunity to influence key business strategies through my work and my board service. I expect to continue my own learning journey and to extend my focus on developing talent. Rising Stars 2018 Award Winners:
Railroad News
Amy Rice, 39Job description: Since joining CSX in 2011, Rice has served as VP of strategic planning, VP of operations planning and performance, and VP of of finance. She also served in the sales and marketing department as director of marketing for intermodal.Education: Master of Business Administration, University of Michigan; Bachelor of Business Administration, Emory UniversityNominator's quote: "During CSX's transition to precision scheduled railroading, Amy's unique skills and experience have been invaluable in driving the company strategy forward and in creating long-term value for customers and shareholders." — Diana Sorfleet, CSXWhy did you go into railroading? CSX has a very strong reputation in Jacksonville, Florida, and I was impressed by the loyalty and engagement of the CSX employees I knew in the community. As I got to know the company through the interview process and my early tenure, I was excited by the dynamic nature of the transportation industry, and the opportunity created from the blend of history and institutional knowledge with a more diverse workforce and the demands of a modernizing supply chain.What career accomplishment are you most proud of so far? Several years ago, I made a lateral move from sales and marketing to finance at the railroad. This role was offered to me as a developmental opportunity, and I was uncertain as to how both my performance and enjoyment of the role would compare to my prior experience. Making that career move and climbing the learning curve in a new function while building relationships with new business partners was a healthy challenge, and ultimately opened many doors for future opportunity. Looking back, I'm proud that I took the personal risk and it has guided my perspective on ongoing career decisions.What do you enjoying doing when you're not at work? I am active in the community, and serve on the board of Hubbard House (a local nonprofit serving victims of domestic violence) as well as the business advisory committee of the Coggin College of Business at the University of North Florida. I enjoy running and try to run the Thanksgiving half-marathon each year. I also play in a Working Women's Tennis League. Most of my weekends are spent watching my kids' sporting events and enjoying time with family and friends.What do you hope to be doing or learning in five years? I hope to find myself with ongoing and enhanced opportunity to influence key business strategies through my work and my board service. I expect to continue my own learning journey and to extend my focus on developing talent. Rising Stars 2018 Award Winners:
By
Late last month, we announced the agenda for RailTrends® 2018, which will be held Nov. 29-30 at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City. RailTrends is presented by Progressive Railroading.
Crews will install a radio case, antenna and ancillary pieces for the wayside data radio along the Connecticut-area line.Photo – MTA
MTA Metro-North Railroad tomorrow will begin installing positive train control (PTC) equipment on the New Canaan Branch.
Crews will install a radio case, antenna and ancillary pieces for the wayside data radio.
Bruce Landsberg (right) was sworn in as NTSB member and vice chairman on Aug. 7 by Chairman Robert Sumwalt.Photo – NTSB, James Anderson
Bruce Landsberg has been appointed vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Landsberg, who joined the board this week, is past president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute and has held management positions with FlightSafety International and Cessna Aircraft Co.
The Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. (CGB) announced yesterday it has completed a $32 million expansion of its soybean processing plant at the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon.
Announced in fall 2016, the project more than doubled the size of the plant, which opened at the port in 1997. The expansion was designed to increase service for Indiana's soybean farmers, as well as increase product supply for agribusiness customers, CGB officials said in a press release issued by the Ports of Indiana.
Amtrak yesterday released renderings of the interior of its new Acela Express fleet that will operate on the Northeast Corridor.
Scheduled to enter service in 2021, the trains will feature leather seats with integrated in-seat lighting and personal electrical outlets and USB ports.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's (PennDOT) Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports and Waterways is now accepting applications for the 2018-19 Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and the Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP).In the last grant period, the department awarded $32 million for 27 freight-rail projects. The department manages RTAP, which is a capital budget grant program funded with bonds; and RFAP, which is underwritten through the Multimodal Fund created by Act 89, Pennsylvania's comprehensive transportation funding legislation.Applications for funding are due Aug. 30. They are available on the bureau's website."Pennsylvania's vibrant rail freight network serves as an economic development catalyst, which translates into jobs and a healthy economy," said PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards in a press release. "Our grant programs reflect the commonwealth's commitment to preserve and improve the rail freight transportation network."Pennsylvania ranks first in the country in the number of operating railroads, with 64, and ranks near the top in total track mileage, with more than 5,600 miles, according to PennDOT.
Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.
More News from 8/9/2018
New Jersey Transit's board yesterday adopted a $1.46 billion capital program for fiscal-year 2019 that includes projects to improve and expand its rail system.
The program allocates funds for state-of-good-repair work on transit stations and infrastructure, positive train control installation and other safety initiatives, NJ Transit officials said in a press release.
The repair process is expected to take more than a year, acccording to an internal review.Photo – Federal Transit Administration
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will need to pull 548 of its new 7000-series rail cars from service to address wire crimping defects, according to a recent internal review.
This year's story of U.S. rail traffic growth continued into week No. 31, with railroads logging a 4.2 percent increase in carloads and intermodal units over the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.
Total carloads for the week ending Aug. 4 were 279,907 units, up 3 percent, while U.S. intermodal volume for the week was 291,088 containers and trailers, up 5.4 percent, compared with the same week in 2017, AAR officials said in a press release.'
Darren Reynolds, 33
Job description: Responsible for driving business development opportunities — including with ports, short lines and other project proponents — in addition to supporting opportunities for operating efficiency and optimizing CN's cohabitation with passenger railways. Currently the project manager for the Milton Logistics Hub, a new CA$250 million intermodal terminal being developed in the Toronto area.
Education: Degree in civil engineering, McGill University
Sebrina Poythress (left) and Sireesha Vadlamani are members of NS’ PTC test team in Atlanta.Photo – Norfolk Southern Railway
By
Sebrina Poythress (left) and Sireesha Vadlamani are members of NS’ PTC test team in Atlanta.Photo – Norfolk Southern Railway
By
Rio Grande Pacific Corp. (RGPC) has appointed Nathan Neblett chief executive officer of CTC Inc., the company's communication and signaling systems provider. He'll lead long-term planning to support growth and market positioning expertise across business lines, RGPC officials said in a press release.
Loram Maintenance of Way Inc. has appointed Luke Olson vice president of sales and marketing. He will be responsible for contract services, sales and marketing, as well as new and existing product development. He joined the company in 2003 as international marketing coordinator and most recently served as director of rail grinding. He played an "instrumental" role in developing the 400 Series Rail Grinder and expanding Loram's global presence, company officials said in a press release.
Kimberly Yu joined Metrolink in September 2015 as deputy COO for planning and project delivery.Photo – Metrolink
Metrolink in Southern California has promoted Kimberly Yu to chief operating officer.
Since she joined the commuter railroad in September 2015, she has served as deputy COO for planning and project delivery.
"The funding will go a long way to addressing freight and passenger rail-related capital project needs in rural communities," said FRA Administrator Ronald Batory.Photo – Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) this week announced $1.26 million for Special Transportation Circumstances (STC) grants to help fund rail capital projects in Alaska and Wyoming.
The funding was made available by 2017 appropriations legislation for the terminal wireless communications positive train control project in Alaska and the Greater Junction Railroad rehabilitation project in Wyoming, according to an FRA press release.
The deadline to nominate someone for the League of Railway Women's (LRW) 2018 Outstanding Woman of the Year Award is just a week away.Nomination forms are due Aug. 15.Co-sponsored by Progressive Railroading, the award is presented annually to a woman who has made significant contributions to the rail industry through leadership, dedication and vision. Women working in the North American rail industry are eligible for the recognition.Past award winners include Transportation Technology Center Inc.'s Lisa Stabler; MTA Metro-North Railroad's Anamaria Bonilla (2016); GO Transit's Mary Proc (2015); Alaska Railroad Corp.'s Wendy Lindskoog (2014); and Norfolk Southern Corp.'s Deb Butler (2013).The 2018 recipient will be honored during the general session at the RSI/CMA 2018 Rail Expo & Technical Conference, which will be held Sept. 9-11 in Nashville, Tennessee.Nomination criteria and the nomination form can be downloaded from the LRW website until Aug. 15.
Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.
More News from 8/8/2018
CP won a 2018 RAC Safety Award for its Locomotive Engineer Training Simulation Program (pictured).Photo – Railway Association of Canada
The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) today announced its 2018 Safety Awards.
The awards recognize RAC member companies' initiatives that help to ensure Canada's rail network remains "among the safest in the world," according to an RAC press release.
The agency will halt off-peak, one-seat Raritan Valley Line service through early 2019.Photo – Bombardier.com
New Jersey Transit next month will suspend all service on the Atlantic City Rail Line to install positive train control (PTC) equipment on the rail fleet.
The agency also will halt off-peak, one-seat Raritan Valley Line service starting Sept. 10. While no trains will be lost on this line, the change means that passengers will need to transfer to and from New York trains in Newark Penn Station, according to a report on NJ.com.
International Rail Partners (IRP) announced yesterday it has acquired Grenada Railroad from Iowa Pacific Holdings.
IRP will operate the railroad through a lease-purchase agreement with the North Central Mississippi Regional Railroad Authority, according to an IRP press release.