Railroad News

BNSF Logistics LLC has promoted Dan Curtis to president, the company announced Tuesday.

Curtis has served as BNSF Logistics' chief operating officer since 2014. He has more than 15 years of experience in the transportation and logistics business.

CDPQ Infra said two consortia, Groupe NouvLR and Groupe des Partenaires pour la Mobilité des Montréalais (PMM), won contracts for the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project, which will begin construction in April.

CDPQ Infra noted that the awarding of the contracts and setting of the construction start date marks the official launch of the REM project, which it says will build the "largest public transportation network in Greater Montréal in 50 years."

CDPQ Infra said two consortia, Groupe NouvLR and Groupe des Partenaires pour la Mobilité des Montréalais (PMM), won contracts for the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project, which will begin construction in April.

CDPQ Infra noted that the awarding of the contracts and setting of the construction start date marks the official launch of the REM project, which it says will build the "largest public transportation network in Greater Montréal in 50 years."

A study conducted by AECOM on behalf of the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) finds it feasible that passenger rail service could return to the Lower Montauk Branch rail corridor.

Population along the branch, which is owned by Long Island Rail Road, has grown, but new development has lagged. The study's executive summary explains "it is important to consider infrastructure changes that would be needed to support growth if and when that time comes."

A study conducted by AECOM on behalf of the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) finds it feasible that passenger rail service could return to the Lower Montauk Branch rail corridor.

Population along the branch, which is owned by Long Island Rail Road, has grown, but new development has lagged. The study's executive summary explains "it is important to consider infrastructure changes that would be needed to support growth if and when that time comes."

As concerns about the implementation of positive train control (PTC) continue to make headlines, Union Pacific (UP) says it expects to meet all required deadlines for installing PTC on its network.

As concerns about the implementation of positive train control (PTC) continue to make headlines, Union Pacific (UP) says it expects to meet all required deadlines for installing PTC on its network.

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) has prequalified five teams to build and finance GO Transit's Lakeshore East-Central Corridor expansion project.

Teams were chosen based on their construction capability, experience, qualified personnel and financial capacity to deliver a project of this size and scope, IO officials said in a press release.

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Rail finance and leasing execs think 2018 will be better than 2017 was, economy wise and business wise.

BNSF Railway Co. will spend $160 million to upgrade its infrastructure in Washington state, the Class I announced yesterday.

The railroad's Washington capital expenditures plan this year will focus on maintenance projects. The plan's largest component will involve replacing and upgrading rail, ties and ballast, BNSF officials said in a press release.

BNSF Railway Co. will spend $160 million to upgrade its infrastructure in Washington state, the Class I announced yesterday.

The railroad's Washington capital expenditures plan this year will focus on maintenance projects. The plan's largest component will involve replacing and upgrading rail, ties and ballast, BNSF officials said in a press release.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has launched a comprehensive track repair and maintenance program aimed at speeding up travel time and improving reliability.

Known as FastTracks, the $179 million program involves repairing and upgrading rail,  ties and electrical power throughout the system. The effort is expected to reduce by six minutes a typical round-trip commute on the Red, Blue, Brown and Green lines.

Union Pacific Railroad yesterday announced the status of its positive train control (PTC) implementation plan.

UP will meet all required deadlines for installing PTC on its network, and will continue to test and refine the system's "immature technologies" in 2019-2020, according to a company press release.

Union Pacific Railroad yesterday announced the status of its positive train control (PTC) implementation plan.

UP will meet all required deadlines for installing PTC on its network, and will continue to test and refine the system's "immature technologies" in 2019-2020, according to a company press release.

U.S. railroads' combined traffic for January was steady, logging a 0.1 percent increase in carloads and intermodal units compared with the same month a year ago, according to Association for American Railroads (AAR) data.

Last month, U.S. railroads moved 1,217,405 carloads, down 3.4 percent, and 1,310,141 containers and trailers, up 3.5 percent, compared with January 2017. Combined carload and intermodal traffic was 2,527,546 units.

Progress Rail announced that it's contemplating closing its engine manufacturing facility in LaGrange, Illinois. The company is considering transitioning manufacturing and assembly to other U.S. facilities, including its plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In addition, Progress Rail may transfer certain engine and locomotive component manufacturing to outside suppliers, company officials said in a statement. The company is "evaluating how to use its existing manufacturing space as efficiently as possible to remain a competitive supplier to the rail industry," Progress Rail officials said. The closure of the LaGrange plant would affect about 600 full-time jobs directly related to engine manufacturing, but would not affect other non-manufacturing jobs on the campus, including 600 administrative roles and engineering support roles.

American Railcar Industries Inc.'s (ARI) board has appointed John O'Bryan president and chief executive officer. He began his duties on an interim basis last month. O'Bryan joined the company as chief commercial officer in June 2017 and has made "great strides in building a leading sales team," said ARI Chairman SungHwan Cho in a press release. O'Bryan previously served as president and CEO of American Railcar Leasing, president of Mitsui Rail Capital, and chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Rescar.

Industry-Railway Suppliers Inc. (IRS), a tool and products distributor for railroad construction, has acquired the assets of ESCO Equipment Co.

Since 1962, ESCO has provided sales and business representation for global railroad product and equipment manufacturers with a mix of maintenance-of-way products. The company brings with it "rail industry professionals with an established reputation for delivering outstanding service and expertise," IRS officials said in a press release.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that two commuter railroad terminal accidents in the New York area were caused by engineer fatigue resulting from undiagnosed severe obstructive sleep apnea.

The NTSB found the two accidents had "almost identical" probable causes and safety issues. The board also determined that these safety issues were not unique to these two properties, but exist throughout the country at many intercity passenger and commuter passenger train terminals.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that two commuter railroad terminal accidents in the New York area were caused by engineer fatigue resulting from undiagnosed severe obstructive sleep apnea.

The NTSB found the two accidents had "almost identical" probable causes and safety issues. The board also determined that these safety issues were not unique to these two properties, but exist throughout the country at many intercity passenger and commuter passenger train terminals.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has wrapped up the final step in the Wilson Station Reconstruction Project, which revamped a building that was nearly a century old and transformed it into a modern rail station.