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May
30

Teamsters go on strike at CP; IBEW reaches tentative pact

More than 3,000 conductors and locomotive engineers represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Train & Engine (TCRC) at Canadian Pacific went on strike last night, Teamsters Canada announced.

The strike began at 10 p.m. yesterday after the union and CP could not agree to a new contract. Negotiations with the company are ongoing, Teamsters Canada officials said in a statement.

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May
30

Teamsters go on strike at CP; IBEW reaches tentative pact

More than 3,000 conductors and locomotive engineers represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Train & Engine (TCRC) at Canadian Pacific went on strike last night, Teamsters Canada announced.

The strike began at 10 p.m. yesterday after the union and CP could not agree to a new contract. Negotiations with the company are ongoing, Teamsters Canada officials said in a statement.

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May
30

CSX to undertake safety assessment

CSX Corporation (CSX) has tapped DEKRA, Inc., to complete a safety assessment as part of the Class 1's efforts to boost safety for employees, customers and the communities in which it operates.

 

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May
30

Ed Hamberger to receive 2018 Railroad Innovator Award from Progressive Railroading, RailTrends

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

Progressive Railroading and RailTrends® have named Association of American Railroads President and Chief Executive Officer Ed Hamberger the 2018 recipient of the Railroad Innovator Award, which recognizes an individual's outstanding achievement in the rail industry.


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May
30

Just one word: Plastics

IRIS USA, a manufacturer and distributor of injection-molded plastic products, is building a new manufacturing plant at the Humboldt Industrial Park, Hazleton, Pa., on the Reading & Northern Railroad (RBMN).

 

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May
29

Rail supplier news from DTi, Strato, Transit Wireless and WSP (May 29)

Rail News Home Railroading Supplier Spotlight 5/29/2018 Rail News: Railroading Supplier Spotlight
DTi announced that its grommet edging has met European fire standards.Photo – Device Technologies Inc.

Massachusetts-based Device Technologies Inc. (DTi) announced that its Spring-Fast® SL-FST Transit and Rail Series wire protection grommet edging has met the EN 45545-2 European fire standard, which is mandatory for all rolling stock materials operating in Europe starting this year. The product also meets the related ASTM requirements for flame, smoke and toxicity standards. Companies that serve both the North American and European rail equipment industry now can have "unified design specifications for grommet edging," DTi officials said in a press release.

Strato Inc. has received TTX Co.'s 2017 Supplier Evaluation Committee (SECO) award for the 22nd consecutive year. TTX rates suppliers on quality, cost, delivery, service, finance and administration. Suppliers are also ranked on their ability to provide "the highest quality, most reliable equipment at the lowest cost," Strato officials said in a press release. Strato manufactures airbrake hoses and components, as well as freight and passenger car parts, castings and fabrications, and custom product design and engineering engineering services.

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May
29

Georgia Ports Authority moved record TEUs in April

Last month marked the busiest April ever for the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), with the Port of Savannah moving 356,700 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for the month.

That figure marked a 7.1 percent increase over April 2017. So far this fiscal year, GPA has moved more than 3.4 million TEUs total, an 8.8 percent increase over the first 10 months of FY2017.

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May
29

AASHTO leader Wright announces retirement

Rail News Home Railroading People 5/29/2018 Rail News: Railroading People
Wright has served as AASHTO's executive director since November 2012.Photo – AASHTO

Frederick "Bud" Wright will retire as executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) by year's end.

Wright has been serving as AASHTO's seventh executive director since November 2012. During his tenure, he led the association's development of a strategic plan that included all transportation modes, AASHTO officials said in a press release.

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May
29

House committee OKs $2.6 billion for FTA's CIG program

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 5/29/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
The CIG program is an anticipated funding source for Sound Transit's Lynnwood Link light-rail extension.Photo – Sound Transit

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee last week approved a $71.8 billion transportation, housing and urban development funding bill for fiscal-year 2019.

The legislation provides $13.6 billion for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), marking a $141 million increase over FY 2018. That funding includes $2.6 billion for the FTA's Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program, which provides funding for major transit projects, such as new light-rail lines and commuter-rail systems.

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May
29

LRW opens nominations for 'Outstanding Woman of the Year'

Rail News Home Railroading People 5/29/2018 Rail News: Railroading People
"Women have played an important role in the building and operation of our North American railroads," said Lisa Stabler, winner of the 2017 Outstanding Woman of the Year Award.Photo – Progressive Railroading

The League of Railway Women (LRW) is accepting nominations for the 2018 Outstanding Woman of the Year Award.

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.

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May
29

CSX hires consultant to conduct safety assessment

Rail News Home CSX Transportation 5/29/2018 Rail News: CSX Transportation
CSX Corp. has selected global consulting firm DEKRA Inc. to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Class I's safety performance.The assessment is a "key component of CSX's intensified focus on improving safety performance for its employees, customers and the communities in which it operates," according to a CSX press release.DEKRA's assessment of CSX will begin in June and is expected to be completed in fall, they said."We look forward to this independent assessment where we will learn about areas of opportunity to further enhance our safety performance to be the best in the industry," said CSX President and Chief Executive Officer James Foote.Foote announced earlier this month at this year's annual shareholders meeting that CSX would put more resources into safety. In addition to hiring the consulting firm, the Class I would soon announce a new safety officer, he said at the time.

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May
29

CSX hires consultant to conduct safety assessment

Rail News Home CSX Transportation 5/29/2018 Rail News: CSX Transportation
CSX Corp. has selected global consulting firm DEKRA Inc. to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Class I's safety performance.The assessment is a "key component of CSX's intensified focus on improving safety performance for its employees, customers and the communities in which it operates," according to a CSX press release.DEKRA's assessment of CSX will begin in June and is expected to be completed in fall, they said."We look forward to this independent assessment where we will learn about areas of opportunity to further enhance our safety performance to be the best in the industry," said CSX President and Chief Executive Officer James Foote.Foote announced earlier this month at this year's annual shareholders meeting that CSX would put more resources into safety. In addition to hiring the consulting firm, the Class I would soon announce a new safety officer, he said at the time.

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May
29

Schenck Process launches new rail scale system

Schenck Process is offering an online rail scale system it says saves time and improves productivity.

 

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May
29

TCRC, IBEW reject CP's final contract offer, issue strike notice

Rail News Home Canadian Pacific 5/29/2018 Rail News: Canadian Pacific
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Train & Engine (TCRC) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have notified Canadian Pacific of the unions' respective plans to strike as of 10 p.m. Eastern time today.In both cases, the parties gave more than the required 72-hour notice following last week's vote by the unions' members to reject CP's final contract offers in a vote that was administered by the Canada Industrial Relations Board."CP has commenced its work stoppage contingency plan and will work closely with customers to ensure a smooth, efficient and safe wind down of operations," CP officials said in a press release issued late last week. CP officials also said they would continue to work with the unions in the hopes of reaching an agreement. "Teamsters and the IBEW are committed to working with federal mediators and reaching a negotiated settlement. Both unions are willing to remain at the bargaining table until the May 29 strike deadline and beyond," according to a press release issued by the TCRC.However, CP "clearly isn't serious about reaching a negotiated settlement," said TCRC President Doug Finnson.IBEW and TCRC members voted overwhelmingly last week to reject CP's final offer. IBEW represents about 360 signals and communications employees and TCRC represents about 3,000 conductors and locomotive engineers at CP.

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May
29

TCRC, IBEW reject CP's final contract offer, issue strike notice

Rail News Home Canadian Pacific 5/29/2018 Rail News: Canadian Pacific
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Train & Engine (TCRC) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have notified Canadian Pacific of the unions' respective plans to strike as of 10 p.m. Eastern time today.In both cases, the parties gave more than the required 72-hour notice following last week's vote by the unions' members to reject CP's final contract offers in a vote that was administered by the Canada Industrial Relations Board."CP has commenced its work stoppage contingency plan and will work closely with customers to ensure a smooth, efficient and safe wind down of operations," CP officials said in a press release issued late last week. CP officials also said they would continue to work with the unions in the hopes of reaching an agreement. "Teamsters and the IBEW are committed to working with federal mediators and reaching a negotiated settlement. Both unions are willing to remain at the bargaining table until the May 29 strike deadline and beyond," according to a press release issued by the TCRC.However, CP "clearly isn't serious about reaching a negotiated settlement," said TCRC President Doug Finnson.IBEW and TCRC members voted overwhelmingly last week to reject CP's final offer. IBEW represents about 360 signals and communications employees and TCRC represents about 3,000 conductors and locomotive engineers at CP.

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May
29

Norfolk Southern joins BiTA

Rail News Home Norfolk Southern Railway 5/29/2018 Rail News: Norfolk Southern Railway
Joining BiTA will help NS "identify opportunities where blockchain can be used to improve the transportation supply chain for our customers," said Fred Ehlers.Photo – nscorp.com

Norfolk Southern Railway is the latest railroad company to announce its membership in the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

Joining BiTA will help NS "identify opportunities where blockchain can be used to improve the transportation supply chain for our customers," said Fred Ehlers, NS' vice president information technology and chief information officer, in a press release.
 
A consortium of more than 250 transportation and logistics companies, BiTA seeks to cultivate a set of industry benchmarks, educate the market, and advance blockchain technology and its transportation and logistics applications within the supply chain.

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May
29

Norfolk Southern joins BiTA

Rail News Home Norfolk Southern Railway 5/29/2018 Rail News: Norfolk Southern Railway
Joining BiTA will help NS "identify opportunities where blockchain can be used to improve the transportation supply chain for our customers," said Fred Ehlers.Photo – nscorp.com

Norfolk Southern Railway is the latest railroad company to announce its membership in the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

Joining BiTA will help NS "identify opportunities where blockchain can be used to improve the transportation supply chain for our customers," said Fred Ehlers, NS' vice president information technology and chief information officer, in a press release.
 
A consortium of more than 250 transportation and logistics companies, BiTA seeks to cultivate a set of industry benchmarks, educate the market, and advance blockchain technology and its transportation and logistics applications within the supply chain.

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May
29

Two unions issue strike notice after rejecting CP contract offer

Two unions have informed Canadian Pacific (CP) of plans to initiate a strike beginning at 10 p.m. Eastern time on May 29.

 

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May
25

NJ Transit rolls out interactive touchscreens at rail stations

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 5/25/2018 Rail News: Passenger Rail
NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett (at left) demonstrates the new technology.Photo – NJ Transit

New Jersey Transit has begun piloting new interactive touchscreen kiosks at certain commuter-rail and Hudson-Bergen light-rail stations.

The new technology — which now is in place at Newark Penn Station, Hoboken Terminal and two light-rail stations — is part of the agency's attempt to improve communication with customers, NJ Transit officials said in a press release.

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May
25

FTA makes grants available for TOD planning

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 5/25/2018 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) yesterday announced the availability of $25.8 million in grant funds to support planning for transit-oriented development (TOD).The competitive grant funds will be distributed under the FTA's Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning, which provides funding to integrate land use and transportation planning along eligible transit projects, FTA officials said in a press release.The grants will fund comprehensive planning to support transit ridership, multimodal connections and mixed-use development near transit stations."It is important for communities and transit agencies to comprehensively plan their public transportation systems to improve mobility and access to transit," said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. "This program is an excellent opportunity for cities and towns to maximize transit-oriented development around their transit systems and ensure they are capturing the value associated with transit."The FTA's notice of the grant funding has been posted in the Federal Register.

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More News from 5/25/2018