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Feb
01

Amtrak train carrying GOP lawmakers hits truck at grade crossing

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into what caused an Amtrak train to hit a garbage truck yesterday afternoon at a grade crossing in Crozet, Virginia.

The train was carrying Republican members of Congress on their way to a legislative retreat in West Virginia. One man — one of three in the truck — was killed and six other people were injured, according to local media reports.

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Feb
01

BNSF details $3.3B capital program for 2018

BNSF Railway has released details about its 2018 capital plan of $3.3 billion, noting that it reflects continued focus on maintaining its network as well as expansion projects aimed at meeting customer demands.

 

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Feb
01

House T&I subcommittee schedules hearing on PTC

A February hearing of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will focus on the progress made toward implementing Positive Train Control (PTC).

According to the chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee, U.S. Reps. Jeff Denham (R-CA-10) and Michael Capuano (D-MA-7), several groups and organizations will address the subcommittee including Amtrak, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Railroad Administration, private rail operators, public transit officials and labor.

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Feb
01

BNSF budgets $3.3 billion for 2018 capex plan

BNSF Railway Co. will spend $3.3 billion on capital expenses this year, the Class I announced yesterday.

The investment is the same amount as last year's capital budget, according to a BNSF press release.

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Feb
01

BNSF budgets $3.3 billion for 2018 capex plan

BNSF Railway Co. will spend $3.3 billion on capital expenses this year, the Class I announced yesterday.

The investment is the same amount as last year's capital budget, according to a BNSF press release.

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Jan
31

Rail supplier news from GREX, Harsco, FreightCar America, HNTB and NAI Global (Jan. 31)

Georgetown Rail Equipment Co. (GREX) hosted an event held this week to honor the Snead family, which founded the company. The family became known in the rail and quarry industries in the 1940s, when Edwin Brazelton Snead founded Texas Crushed Stone. He also founded Georgetown Railroad in 1958 to haul limestone from Georgetown to Austin, Texas. His eldest son Ned went on to establish GREX. This week's celebration was hosted in the GREX Business Car 400, which also bears Brazelton Snead's name. The 1920s-era car recently was moved to a permanent location at the company's Georgetown headquarters, where the car will be used to host special events, customer meetings and charitable events.

Harsco Rail Europe has begun delivering 31 rail vehicles to Switzerland's national railroad Schweizerische Bundesbahnen SBB for the maintenance of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Harsco obtained the contract for the order in 2013. Last month, Harsco held a ceremony to mark the delivery of the first six of 13 base vehicles, which weigh 80 metric tons. The units can be powered by electricity alone or a combination of diesel and electric power. The base vehicles can be operated from the driver's cab, via remote control or from other wagons.

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Jan
31

New Hampshire business group calls for Boston-Manchester passenger rail

A nonpartisan business coalition was formed yesterday to advocate for extending passenger rail from Boston to Manchester, New Hampshire.

The New Hampshire Business for Rail Expansion has released a list of more than 50 businesses, organizations and individuals in support of the extension. The list includes Northwestern Mutual and University of New Hampshire.

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Jan
31

California rail providers receive $52M in state funding

The California State Transportation Agency awarded $51.9 million in State Rail Assistance program funding to seven recipients. The funds are made possible by the passage of state Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) last year.

SB 1 created the State Rail Assistance Program by directing a portion of new revenue specifically to intercity rail and commuter rail. The majority of program funding is directed by statutory formula to rail operators. The legislation is expected to provide $7.6 billion in new transit funding over the next decade.

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Jan
31

Kevin Corbett nominated as NJ Transit executive director

The New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) board is set to consider New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's nomination of Kevin Corbett to serve as the public transportation system's executive director at its next meeting.

 

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Jan
31

Caltrain awarded $2.5 million in state funding under new law

Caltrain announced yesterday that it will be awarded $2.5 million from California's new State Rail Assistance Grant program.

The program was created by Senate Bill 1, the landmark statewide transportation legislation signed last year. Caltrain expects to receive close to another $4 million from the program next year, railroad officials said in a press release.

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Jan
31

Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending January 27, 2018

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The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 27, 2018.

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Jan
31

RTA: Crosstie production, purchases tumbled in 2017

Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends 1/31/2018 Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
In December, crosstie production fell 9.3 percent to 1.26 million units and purchases dropped 10.1 percent to 1.53 million units from November levels, according to the Railway Tie Association's (RTA) monthly report.Compared with year-ago levels, production in December plunged 34.7 percent, while purchases tumbled 12.2 percent.Production for full-year 2017 declined 24.5 percent to 20.5 million units, while purchases dipped 3.1 percent to 23.4 million units."Purchases are in a downward trend at a 3.1 percent annual rate," RTA's report stated. "Production is also trending lower and is down by a 24.5 percent annual rate."

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 1/31/2018


Jan
31

TNW names Delgado to market development role

TNW Corp. has hired Luis Delgado to serve as market development manager.

Delgado will support marketing of TNW's three railroads and their respective logistics centers by contributing to the company's strategic planning and managing sales initiatives and programs.

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Jan
31

Wisconsin & Southern buoys winter business with salt, propane shipments

The regional moves road salt into a terminal at its Johnson Street Yard in Madison, Wisconsin.Photo – Watco Cos. LLC

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

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Jan
31

Texas Central unveils plans for Dallas train station

[Editor's note: This story was updated at 1:40 p.m. CST.]

Texas Central earlier this week unveiled details of its planned bullet-train station in downtown Dallas.

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Jan
31

New Jersey Gov. Murphy taps Corbett to lead NJ Transit

Rail News Home Railroading People 1/31/2018 Rail News: Railroading People
Corbett (at podium) currently serves as vice president of cross services at AECOM.Photo – Gov. Phil Murphy's Twitter account

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy yesterday nominated Kevin Corbett to serve as executive director of New Jersey Transit.

The governor asked the agency's board to take up the nomination at its Feb. 4 meeting. If approved by the board, Corbett would succeed Steven Santoro, who earlier this month announced plans to resign.

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Jan
31

Trump calls for $1.5 trillion infrastructure package

President Donald Trump called on Congress last night to produce legislation that will modernize the nation's infrastructure.

In his first State of the Union address, Trump said he wants a bill that will generate "at least $1.5 trillion for the new infrastructure investment we need."

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Jan
30

PATCO train strikes dangling utility pole

A Port Authority Transit Corp. (PATCO) commuter train yesterday struck an electrical conduit hanging near track in Camden, New Jersey, resulting in four passenger injuries and extensive delays.

The train, which was traveling eastbound near the Ferry Avenue Station, was carrying 23 passengers, eight of whom were PATCO employees.

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Jan
30

DCTA names Baker director of strategic partnerships

Rail News Home Railroading People 1/30/2018 Rail News: Railroading People
Lindsey BakerPhoto – DCTA

The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) has appointed Lindsey Baker director of strategic partnerships.

In her role, Baker will identify and establish strategic partnerships for the deployment of systemwide planning for the agency, DCTA officials said in a press release.

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Jan
30

New BNSF bridge successfully moved into place

Oklahoma Department of Transportation (OKDOT) successfully moved two BNSF bridge spans into place the weekend of Jan. 26-28 in a complicated maneuver that was part of a highway expansion project.

OKDOT said the move was the first of its kind in state history, took two years to plan and required a 60-hour work window where all lanes of I-235 in Oklahoma City were shut down for the move.

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