Railroad News

Watco Companies, LLC, the owner and operator of Greens Port Industrial Park (Greens Port), located on the Houston Ship Channel, has acquired the assets of Industrial Terminals, L.P.

Watco Companies, LLC, the owner and operator of Greens Port Industrial Park (Greens Port), located on the Houston Ship Channel, has acquired the assets of Industrial Terminals, L.P.

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated $482 million for transportation projects in the Los Angeles area, including a potential light-rail line in the East San Fernando Valley.

The commission approved the funds through the State Transportation Improvement Program. CTC set aside $202 million for the East San Fernando Valley transit project, which could involve building a light-rail line or bus rapid transit route.

Union Pacific (UP) has announced plans to spend an estimated $59.3 million on its Utah network in 2018 to improve safety, efficiency and customer service.

Union Pacific (UP) has announced plans to spend an estimated $59.3 million on its Utah network in 2018 to improve safety, efficiency and customer service.

U.S. railroads posted a 1.4 percent increase in traffic for the week ending March 24 compared with the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Total carloads for the week rose 2.5 percent to 265,756 units, while total intermodal volume inched up 0.3 percent to 260,765 containers and trailers compared with volumes in the same week in 2017.

BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) has announced a 2018 capital expenditure program for California valued at about $230 million.

The Pennsylvania State Transportation Commission has approved $32 million in grants to 27 rail freight improvement projects that will help sustain more than 400 jobs across Pennsylvania.

"Keeping our extensive rail freight system in good shape is a vital component of creating a sound foundation for Pennsylvania's economy," said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. "These investments underscore our continued commitment in building a world-class infrastructure system that supports the creation of new jobs and our business community."

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), speaking just a few miles from where she grew up, told a crowd of Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc., employees that the work they do is the backbone of where the country needs to go.

John R. Harrison has transitioned to a different role at Willamette Valley Company (WVCO) after serving for three decades as the company's CEO and president, WVCO announced March 28.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) yesterday released its 2017 crime data showing a nearly 40 percent surge in arrests compared to 2016.

In 2017, BART police officers made 1,730 arrests versus 1,238 arrests in the previous year.

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) is considering a 5 percent fare increase for the South Shore Line to help pay for positive train control (PTC) implementation.

The proposal would include a 50-cent increase in the price of a one-way ticket from Chicago to Hammond, Indiana. The price hike would apply to all stations except the stop in Chicago's Hegewisch neighborhood. Metra controls fares for that station.

Norfolk Southern Corp. has appointed Michael McClellan vice president strategic planning and Claude "Ed" Elkins vice president industrial products effective April 1.

McClellan, who in his new role will report to NS President and Chief Executive Officer James Squires, joined NS in 1998 as assistant VP performance planning. He became VP intermodal and automotive marketing in 2000 and VP industrial products in 2013.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) on Monday approved a $51.5 million contract to acquire eight S70 model streetcars from Siemens Industries Inc.

BNSF Railway Co. has planned $230 million in capital expenditures this year to expand capacity and perform scheduled maintenance work in California.

BNSF, which operates a 2,000-mile network in California, will install additional production track and new lift equipment at the Los Angeles Intermodal Facility, and extend the existing north lead track to improve switching capability at the Stockton Intermodal Facility.

BNSF Railway Co. has planned $230 million in capital expenditures this year to expand capacity and perform scheduled maintenance work in California.

BNSF, which operates a 2,000-mile network in California, will install additional production track and new lift equipment at the Los Angeles Intermodal Facility, and extend the existing north lead track to improve switching capability at the Stockton Intermodal Facility.

Georgia Ports Authority and other officials on Monday broke ground on the $127 million Mason Mega Rail Terminal.

The project will increase the Port of Savannah's rail lift capacity to 1 million containers per year, and open new markets that will span an arc of cities from Memphis, Tennessee, to St. Louis, and from Chicago to Cincinnati, port officials said in a press release.

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) broke ground on the $126.7 million Mason Mega Rail Terminal on March 26.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf yesterday announced funding approval for 27 freight-rail improvement projects.

The State Transportation Commission has approved $32 million for the
projects through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program and the Rail Freight Assistance Program, Wolf announced in a press release.