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Feb
15

FRA has $73M available in rail safety grants

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is accepting grant applications for projects that will strengthen rail safety efforts through the implementation of positive train control (PTC), crossing improvements and congestion mitigation.

 

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Feb
15

Siemens, Atlanta Streetcar ink digital services pact

Rail News Home Internet/Digital 2/15/2018 Rail News: Internet/Digital
Under the agreement, Siemens will provide technical support and materials for preventive and corrective maintenance on streetcars.Photo – Siemens

Siemens has formed a long-term technical and digital service partnership with the Atlanta Streetcar.

Under the agreement, Siemens will provide technical support and materials for preventive and corrective maintenance on streetcars. The company also will use its Railigent™ digital rail services platform to analyze data to help improve streetcar operations, Siemens officials said in a press release.

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Feb
15

FTA lowers grant ratings for Amtrak tunnel, bridge projects

The Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) downgrading this week of two critical "Gateway" projects in the Northeast Corridor will further jeopardize the projects from receiving federal funding, supporters of the passenger-rail corridor said yesterday.

In its annual funding recommendations report to Congress on the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, the FTA this week rated both the Hudson Tunnel and the Portal North Bridge replacement projects as "medium-low" in priority for federal grants. Medium-low is second-lowest rating on a five-point scale that helps determine whether federal funding is warranted.

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Feb
15

Thelma Drake next Federal Transit Administrator

The White House announced late on Feb. 13 that President Donald Trump intends to nominate former Virginia Republican Congresswoman Thelma Drake to be Federal Transit Administrator.

 

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Feb
15

Thelma Drake next Federal Transit Administrator

The White House announced late on Feb. 13 that President Donald Trump intends to nominate former Virginia Republican Congresswoman Thelma Drake to be Federal Transit Administrator.

 

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Feb
15

Intermodal trend continues for U.S., Canadian railroads in Week 6

Intermodal volumes continued their upward trend for U.S. railroads, which posted a 3.7 percent increase in containers and trailers for the week ending Feb. 10 compared with the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

U.S. railroads' total traffic volume for the week rose 1.6 percent to 519,545 carloads and intermodal units compared with the same week in 2017. However, carload traffic slipped 0.5 percent to 251,058 units compared with a year ago.

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Feb
15

FTA lowers rating for Gateway tunnels

A revision by the Federal Transit Administration lowering the priority rating for the proposed Gateway rail tunnels could endanger funding for the project linking New York and New Jersey.

 

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Feb
15

Trump nominates Drake to serve as FTA administrator

President Donald Trump has nominated former U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake to serve as administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Drake is an assistant director of public works for Norfolk, Virginia, and is the former director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT).

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Feb
15

NJ Transit OKs alignment for Hudson-Bergen light-rail extension

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 2/15/2018 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The 10-mile alignment would largely follow CSX's northern branch running track.Photo – NJ Transit

New Jersey Transit's board yesterday approved a proposed alignment for the Hudson-Bergen light-rail expansion project.

The locally preferred alternative consists of a 10-mile, two-track extension of the Hudson-Bergen line from its current terminus at the Tonnelle Avenue station in North Bergen to the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

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Feb
15

NTSB to FRA: Require railroads to screen for sleep disorders

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) yesterday issued a special investigation report on two end-of-track collisions at terminal stations in New Jersey and New York.

The report includes new safety recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and new safety recommendations to New Jersey Transit and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

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Feb
15

From the editor: New owner, same mission

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

As we reported in our Daily News on Jan. 29, Trade Press Media Group Inc. has been acquired by Forum Media Group, which is based in Merching, Germany.

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Feb
14

Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending February 10, 2018

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The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending February 10, 2018.

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Feb
14

Shale Support opens Louisiana rail terminal

Rail News Home Shippers 2/14/2018 Rail News: Shippers
Shale Support Holdings LLC has opened a new rail terminal in Gibsland, Louisiana.The terminal features 24/7 service, 100-car capacity, on-site storage for containerized sand boxes and room for future storage capabilities, according to a company press release.Shale Support provides frac sand and logistical solutions to the oil and gas proppant market. The company is aligned with destination terminals that serve the Marcellus, Utica, Haynesville, Tuscaloosa, Mid-Con, Permian and Eagle Ford shale basins.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 2/14/2018


Feb
14

Sound Transit names Arnold customer experience chief

Rail News Home Railroading People 2/14/2018 Rail News: Railroading People
Arnold will find ways to improve the passenger experience as Sound Transit expands its system.Photo – Sound Transit

Sound Transit has appointed Russell Arnold chief customer experience officer.

He is tasked with finding ways to improve the experience for future passengers as the agency designs and expands its system. Arnold also will collaborate with agency departments to resolve existing issues and enhance experience of current riders, Sound Transit officials said in a press release.

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Feb
14

Ports of Indiana logged 5 percent growth in 2017

Rail News Home Intermodal 2/14/2018 Rail News: Intermodal
Last year was the fourth consecutive year that the ports handled more than 10 million tons of cargo.Photo – portsofindiana.com

The Ports of Indiana handled 11.8 million tons in 2017, a 5 percent increase from 2016 and the second-highest annual shipment total in the organization's 57-year history, port officials announced today.

Last year was the fourth consecutive year that the ports handled more than 10 million tons of cargo. Major cargo increases in 2017 included minerals, up 28 percent; limestone, up 26 percent; steel, fertilizer and ethanol, each up 14 percent; and coal, up 9 percent.

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Feb
14

BNSF details capital programs for Montana, Missouri and Kansas

BNSF unveiled details of its planned $385 million capital plan across Montana, Missouri and Kansas. The focus of all three state programs will be on maintenance projects.

BNSF says the largest component of its $135 million Montana plan will be for replacing and upgrading rail, crossties and ballast. The maintenance program in Montana this year includes approximately 820 miles of track surfacing and/or undercutting work, as well as the replacement of nearly 60 miles of rail and about 200,000 crossties. BNSF also says multiple projects are scheduled on the Kootenai River Subdivision, which runs between Sandpoint, Idaho and Whitefish, Mont. BNSF will signalize various sidings on the subdivision between Sandpoint and Whitefish to enable Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) and make improvements to the Flathead Tunnel, the 7-mile long railroad tunnel in northwest Montana.

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Feb
14

BNSF details capital programs for Montana, Missouri and Kansas

BNSF unveiled details of its planned $385 million capital plan across Montana, Missouri and Kansas. The focus of all three state programs will be on maintenance projects.

BNSF says the largest component of its $135 million Montana plan will be for replacing and upgrading rail, crossties and ballast. The maintenance program in Montana this year includes approximately 820 miles of track surfacing and/or undercutting work, as well as the replacement of nearly 60 miles of rail and about 200,000 crossties. BNSF also says multiple projects are scheduled on the Kootenai River Subdivision, which runs between Sandpoint, Idaho and Whitefish, Mont. BNSF will signalize various sidings on the subdivision between Sandpoint and Whitefish to enable Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) and make improvements to the Flathead Tunnel, the 7-mile long railroad tunnel in northwest Montana.

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Feb
14

David Collenette to chair Ontario’s HSR advisory board

Ontario has named David Collenette as the leader of its High Speed Rail (HSR) Planning Advisory Board, officials said.

 

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Feb
14

David Collenette to chair Ontario’s HSR advisory board

Ontario has named David Collenette as the leader of its High Speed Rail (HSR) Planning Advisory Board, officials said.

 

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Feb
14

Denver RTD tests PTC, crossing technology on G Line

Rail News Home Positive Train Control 2/14/2018 Rail News: Positive Train Control
The work involves synchronizing and optimizing the PTC system and conventional control systems at 16 grade crossings along the line.Photo – Denver RTD

The Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) has begun testing positive train control (PTC) and a wireless crossing system (WCS) on its G Line commuter-rail route.

The work involves synchronizing and optimizing the PTC system and the conventional control systems at 16 grade crossings along the line, RTD officials said in a press release issued earlier this month.

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