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Feb
09

BLET reaches tentative contract with M&NA

Rail News Home Short Lines & Regionals 2/9/2018 Rail News: Short Lines & Regionals
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (M&NA).The tentative pact governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for about 80 operating employees, according to a BLET press release.Ratification ballots have been mailed to active members who work for the M&NA. Voting is scheduled to conclude today.The BLET organized M&NA operating employees in 1999 and their first negotiated agreement went into effect in April 2000.

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Feb
09

CTC awards $96 million to 11 California rail projects

Caltrans released details surrounding $173.4 million in grants awarded to 57 projects by the California Transportation Commission. Out of the pot of funds awarded, $96.4 million will go toward 11 state rail projects.

 

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Feb
09

CTC awards $96 million to 11 California rail projects

Caltrans released details surrounding $173.4 million in grants awarded to 57 projects by the California Transportation Commission. Out of the pot of funds awarded, $96.4 million will go toward 11 state rail projects.

 

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Feb
09

Ontario Northland to speed up locomotive overhauls

The company's new line-boring equipment is expected to cut the timeline for engine overhauls and increase efficiency.Photo – CNW Group/Ontario Northland Transportation Commission

The Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) has obtained new line boring equipment for locomotive overhaul projects.

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Feb
09

HNTB names two to tunnel leadership roles

HNTB Corporation has made two new appointments for leadership roles on its national tunnel and underground team.

The firm named Gordon Clark, PE, vice president, as West Division tunnel practice leader. Mark Ramsey was appointed as West Division tunnel practice construction management and delivery leader and vice president.

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Feb
09

HNTB names two to tunnel leadership roles

HNTB Corporation has made two new appointments for leadership roles on its national tunnel and underground team.

The firm named Gordon Clark, PE, vice president, as West Division tunnel practice leader. Mark Ramsey was appointed as West Division tunnel practice construction management and delivery leader and vice president.

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Feb
09

Secure Rail adds sessions to conference lineup

Two educational sessions have been added to the Secure Rail Conference scheduled for April 24-25 in Orlando, Florida, the event's organizers announced today.

The additional sessions are titled "What Happens After the Assessment? A VRE Case Study;" and "Evaluating the Effects of Cybersecurity Measures."

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Feb
09

Metrolink nets $10.5 million to modernize signals, track

Rail News Home Communication and Signal 2/9/2018 Rail News: Communication and Signal
The railroad will use the funds to replace aging mechanical signals with modern electrical units.Photo – Metrolink

The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) has awarded a $10.5 million grant to Metrolink to modernize its signals and track.

The Los Angeles-area commuter railroad will use the funds to replace aging mechanical signals with modern electrical units. Metrolink also will install new switches and crossovers, and upgrade track infrastructure near Los Angeles Union Station.

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Feb
09

Operation Lifesaver: U.S., Canada to join forces for 2018 Rail Safety Week

Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) announced yesterday that the United States and Canada will combine efforts to recognize the same Rail Safety Week in 2018.

Rail Safety Week will be observed by U.S. and Canadian Operation Lifesaver programs and partners from Sept. 23 to 29, OLI officials said in a press release.

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Feb
09

Small-railroad tax credit in budget bill

The regional and short line railroad investment tax credit (known as 45-G for its provision in the Internal Revenue Code) is poised to be signed into law by President Trump following its unexpected insertion into the massive two-year Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 passed in the predawn hours Friday, Feb. 9, by the House and Senate.

 

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Feb
09

Small-railroad tax credit in budget bill

The regional and short line railroad investment tax credit (known as 45-G for its provision in the Internal Revenue Code) is poised to be signed into law by President Trump following its unexpected insertion into the massive two-year Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 passed in the predawn hours Friday, Feb. 9, by the House and Senate.

 

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Feb
09

Montreal light-rail construction to begin in April

Construction on a new 41-mile light-rail network in Montreal will begin in April, CDPQ Infra Inc. announced yesterday.

Initial testing on the system will start at the end of 2020, with passenger service slated to begin in summer 2021.

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Feb
09

G&W posts Q4 revenue, income growth; forms alliance with Cargomatic

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. reported fourth-quarter 2017 operating revenue rose 10.7 percent to $571.6 million compared with the same quarter in 2016.

Operating income increased 101.9 percent to $108.2 million, while adjusted operating income climbed 2.2 percent to $105.7 million.

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Feb
09

Short-line tax credit extension included in budget bill

Rail News Home Short Lines & Regionals 2/9/2018 Rail News: Short Lines & Regionals
The budget bill passed by Congress and signed by President Trump early this morning includes a one-year extension of the short-line tax credit known as Section 45G, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) confirmed today.The tax credit was extended retroactively for calendar-year 2017 and expired Dec. 31, ASLRRA officials said in an email. The tax credit previously had expired at 2016's end."The short-line tax credit extension benefits the 10,000 short-line railroad shippers across the country," said ASLRRA President Linda Bauer Darr in a press release. "The continuation of this credit is good public policy, allowing our industry to do its share toward improving the nation's infrastructure by incentivizing railroads to increase their capital investment. The extension will allow short lines to continue their success story serving rural, industrial and agricultural America."The tax credit enables regionals and short lines to claim a 50-cent tax credit for each dollar they spend on track rehabilitation and maintenance projects, up to a cap of $3,500 per mile of owned or leased track.The tax credit has helped small railroads invest $4 billion in capital infrastructure improvements since it was enacted in 2005, according to the ASLRRA.The association continues to lobby for a permanent or 10-year extension of the Section 45G provision.

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Feb
08

TTC to temporarily halt service to accommodate light-rail construction

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 2/8/2018 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The Eglington Crosstown light-rail project is slated to open in 2021.Photo – thecrosstown.ca

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) this weekend will partially close its Line 1 subway route as Metrolinx crews continue to build the Eglinton Crosstown light-rail project.

Service will be halted Feb. 10-11 between the Lawrence and St. Clair stations. Current work on the Eglinton Crosstown project includes construction below the existing TTC station at Eglinton, a shift of TTC's platform to the north and installation of a new tunnel ventilation system at the south and north ends of the subway platform.

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Feb
08

Caltrain to launch mobile ticketing app

Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends 2/8/2018 Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
The app will feature a tool to link with other San Francisco-area mobile ticketing apps.Photo – Caltrain's Twitter account

Caltrain on Feb. 10 will launch Caltrain Mobile, a ticketing app that enables riders to purchase and activate tickets from smartphones.

Caltrain Mobile will offer one-way and day pass tickets, as well as zone-upgrade tickets for adults and passengers who qualify for discounted fares.

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Feb
08

Four firms respond to O’Hare Express RFQ

The Chicago Infrastructure Trust (CIT) has received four responses to its Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for design-build work and maintenance for the O'Hare Express operating system.

 

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Feb
08

Four firms respond to O’Hare Express RFQ

The Chicago Infrastructure Trust (CIT) has received four responses to its Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for design-build work and maintenance for the O'Hare Express operating system.

 

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Feb
08

BNSF plans $160M Washington state capital program

BNSF Railway plans to spend $160 million in Washington state during 2018. The state capital plan is part of its larger $3.3 billion 2018 capital plan.

 

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Feb
08

BNSF plans $160M Washington state capital program

BNSF Railway plans to spend $160 million in Washington state during 2018. The state capital plan is part of its larger $3.3 billion 2018 capital plan.

 

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