Railroad News

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has unveiled plans for a real-time service feature on digital advertising screens throughout its rail system.

A passenger information bar will appear across the bottom of digital screens installed at rail stations and remain onscreen even as ads play. The bar will provide arrival times for upcoming trains, as well as real-time information on service delays and disruptions, CTA officials said in a press release.

Union Pacific Railroad will spend $103.6 million this year to maintain track and bridges in Illinois.

The Class I's 2018 capital expenditures program includes $40.8 million to maintain track and $23.5 million to maintain bridges in the state, according to a UP press release.

Union Pacific Railroad will spend $103.6 million this year to maintain track and bridges in Illinois.

The Class I's 2018 capital expenditures program includes $40.8 million to maintain track and $23.5 million to maintain bridges in the state, according to a UP press release.

The Réseau de transport métropolitain (RTM) in Quebec detailed a five-year plan to improve service reliability along all rail lines and includes investments in infrastructure, rolling stock, operations, maintenance, as well as an enhanced winter operation plan.

RTM says that in addition to the CA$450 million (US$344.7 million) program, it would implement a service guarantee program that will offer user compensation options in the form of discounts or free train tickets; the details of which will be revealed later.

Union Pacific (UP) has announced it will support $103.6 million in Illinois' transportation infrastructure work this year.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is collaborating with the city of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) on the complete replacement of the Woodland Avenue bridge.

Protran Technology, a division of Harsco Rail, has tapped Kyley Holmstrom to serve as the company's director of sales.

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) yesterday released its fiscal-year 2019 proposed budget, which includes continued investments in the MAX light-rail system.

The proposal details $710.1 million for the agency's overall operating expenses, along with $274.2 million for TriMet's capital improvement program.

The Port of Stockton announced yesterday that 2017 was a record breaker, with the port logging a 21 percent increase in cargo volume and a 10 percent increase in vessel calls over 2016.

"In 2017 we grew our cargo business to record levels and our tenant base is at an all-time high," said Richard Aschieris, director of the California port, in a press release.

Sound Transit has awarded a design-build management contract to the South County Transit Partners joint venture for the 7.8-mile light-rail extension to Federal Way, Washington.

The team is composed of Mott MacDonald and SNC-Lavalin. The agreement initially covers the preconstruction period up to the award of the actual design-build contract, SNC-Lavalin officials said in a press release.

U.S. railroads logged a 6.2 percent traffic increase in the week ending March 10, with growth reported in both carload and intermodal activity compared with the same week a year ago.

Total carloads for the week rose 1.6 percent to 256,075 carload compared with the same week in 2017, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume soared 10.8 percent to 278,207 containers and trailers, according to the Association of American Railroads' data.

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

Transport for London has awarded a $149 million contract extension to Bombardier Transportation to service trains operating on the London Overground network. The agreement extends the length of an existing train services contract from December 2023 to May 2030. Bombardier will provide maintenance and support services for its Electrostar Class 378 fleet. Maintenance will occur at four locations in and around London, Bombardier officials said in a press release.

Alstom has completed its first all-electric locomotive at its plant in Madhepura, India. The unit is part of a $4.33 billion order for 800 electric double-section locomotives. Signed in 2015, the agreement is one of the biggest contracts in Alstom's history. Each 12,000-horsepower locomotive has a hauling capacity of 6,000 metric tons and speed of 75 mph. The units were developed with the support of six Alstom sites in France, according to a company press release.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) next week will kick off a project to renew 1970s-era track along its Route 36 trolley line.

Slated to run through June 9, the project will take place on Elmwood Avenue between 59th and 65th streets in Philadelphia. The street structure supporting the tracks has deteriorated due to weather, traffic and the age of the road surface, SEPTA officials said in a press release.

Metra next month will replace 17,000 ties over a 17-mile single-track span along the Milwaukee District North Line.

The Chicago commuter railroad also will replace five switches, perform brush clearing and continue to upgrade the signal system in preparation for a positive train control (PTC) system.

The infrastructure needs and value brought by the shortline railroads in the United States were the topic of testimony given at two Congressional hearings this week.

Sound Transit has awarded South County Transit Partners, a joint venture of Mott MacDonald and SNC-Lavalin, a design-build contract for the project management of its Federal Way Link Extension in the Seattle area, SNC-Lavalin announced.

The North County Transit District (NCTD) late last week marked the 10th anniversary of its Sprinter light-rail system.

Since Sprinter opened a decade ago, it has provided more than 23 million trips, NCTD officials said in a press release.