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Dec
11

Texas Central names McLane chairman of the board

Texas Central has announced that Drayton McLane, Jr. has been appointed chairman of its board. McLane is known for his work as a successful businessman and former Houston Astros owner.

 

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Dec
11

Caltrain names Funghi head of electrification effort

Rail News Home Railroading People 12/11/2017 Rail News: Railroading People
John FunghiPhoto – San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

Caltrain has appointed John Funghi chief officer of its modernization project, which calls for electrifying the railroad's corridor between San Francisco and San Jose, California.

An engineer, Funghi has "extensive experience" managing major construction projects in the public sector and as a construction contractor, Caltrain officials said in a press release.

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Dec
11

Caltrain selects Funghi to lead modernization program

Caltrain has announced that John Funghi will serve as chief officer of the Caltrain Modernization Program.

 

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Dec
11

Caltrain selects Funghi to lead modernization program

Caltrain has announced that John Funghi will serve as chief officer of the Caltrain Modernization Program.

 

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Dec
11

NTSB would be 'modernized' under reauthorization bill

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 12/11/2017 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
A bipartisan bill to reauthorize the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was introduced last week in the U.S. Senate.U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) introduced the NTSB Reauthorization Act (S. 2202), which would reauthorize the board at an average level of $113.4 million through fiscal year 2023. The bill also calls for reforms to modernize and improve transparency in the agency's investigations, recommendations and board member discussions, according to a press release issued by the Senate Committee on  Commerce, Science and Transportation."After tragic accidents, we ask NTSB to get facts and tell us what went wrong," said Thune. "This legislation expands the agency’s ability to explain causes and improves the NTSB's recommendation process so that we can more effectively address our most pressing safety challenges."Thune is the committee's chairman and Nelson is ranking member.Specifically, the bill calls for:
• Adding still images to items the NTSB may disclose during an investigation. The bill also would close loopholes that allowed for the release of confidential information by other federal agencies obtained during NTSB investigations.
• Requiring the NTSB to publish a report on the process used to prioritize and select safety recommendations included in the agency's "Most Wanted List."
• Allowing a majority of members to meet privately and discuss official business with "robust disclosure requirements." "The National Transportation Safety Board is the driver of safety improvements for our transportation system — whether it's investigating accidents or making recommendations to improve our safety laws," said Nelson. "This bill will expand the board's tools and give them the resources they need to make sure that major transportation accidents are thoroughly investigated."

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 12/11/2017


Dec
11

KCSM to help transport fuel for new ExxonMobile gas stations in Mexico

Rail News Home Kansas City Southern 12/11/2017 Rail News: Kansas City Southern
This month, the company is opening eight Mobile-branded service stations in Queretaro, Mexico.Photo – Business Wire

ExxonMobil has partnered with retailer Grupo Orsan to open eight Mobile-branded service stations in Queretaro, Mexico. Fuel will be distributed by rail via two private terminals that are served by Kansas City Southern de Mexico.

The terminals are located in San Luis Potosi and San Jose Iturbide, Mexico.

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Dec
11

KCSM to help transport fuel for new ExxonMobile gas stations in Mexico

Rail News Home Kansas City Southern 12/11/2017 Rail News: Kansas City Southern
This month, the company is opening eight Mobile-branded service stations in Queretaro, Mexico.Photo – Business Wire

ExxonMobil has partnered with retailer Grupo Orsan to open eight Mobile-branded service stations in Queretaro, Mexico. Fuel will be distributed by rail via two private terminals that are served by Kansas City Southern de Mexico.

The terminals are located in San Luis Potosi and San Jose Iturbide, Mexico.

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Dec
11

NTSB reauthorization bill aims to increase communication, transparency

A bill reauthorizing the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was introduced last week in the Senate and aims to enhance the board's safety investigations through added transparency.

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who serve respectively as the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and three other committee members introduced S. 2202, the National Transportation Safety Board Reauthorization Act on Dec. 6. The legislation reauthorizes the NTSB at an average level of $113.4 million through fiscal year 2023 and, according to the senators, offers several key reforms to modernize and improve transparency in the safety agency's investigations, recommendations and board member discussions.

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Dec
11

NTSB reauthorization bill aims to increase communication, transparency

A bill reauthorizing the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was introduced last week in the Senate and aims to enhance the board's safety investigations through added transparency.

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who serve respectively as the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and three other committee members introduced S. 2202, the National Transportation Safety Board Reauthorization Act on Dec. 6. The legislation reauthorizes the NTSB at an average level of $113.4 million through fiscal year 2023 and, according to the senators, offers several key reforms to modernize and improve transparency in the safety agency's investigations, recommendations and board member discussions.

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Dec
11

TSB finds Quebec crash partially due to obstructed crossing signals

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said a key factor in a September 2016 collision between a VIA Rail passenger train and a tractor-trailer in Quebec was an obstructed view of the crossing warning system.

The accident occurred Sept. 20, 2016, when a VIA Rail passenger train traveling southward on the Joliette Subdivision was struck by a tractor-trailer at the Highway 348 crossing in Sainte-Ursule, Quebec. The track and the crossing warning system were damaged and the tractor-trailer was destroyed. The driver sustained serious injuries and two passengers on the train sustained minor injuries

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Dec
11

TSB finds Quebec crash partially due to obstructed crossing signals

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said a key factor in a September 2016 collision between a VIA Rail passenger train and a tractor-trailer in Quebec was an obstructed view of the crossing warning system.

The accident occurred Sept. 20, 2016, when a VIA Rail passenger train traveling southward on the Joliette Subdivision was struck by a tractor-trailer at the Highway 348 crossing in Sainte-Ursule, Quebec. The track and the crossing warning system were damaged and the tractor-trailer was destroyed. The driver sustained serious injuries and two passengers on the train sustained minor injuries

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Dec
11

Alaska Railroad to promote Hopp to COO, Engebretson to retire

The Alaska Railroad (ARRC) has promoted Clark Hopp, vice president of engineering, to serve as chief operating officer (COO) beginning Jan. 1, 2018.

 

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Dec
11

Alaska Railroad to promote Hopp to COO, Engebretson to retire

The Alaska Railroad (ARRC) has promoted Clark Hopp, vice president of engineering, to serve as chief operating officer (COO) beginning Jan. 1, 2018.

 

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Dec
11

Alaska Railroad's Hopp to succeed Engebretson as COO

The Alaska Railroad Corp. (ARRC) has named Clark Hopp chief operating officer effective Jan. 1.

Hopp is currently ARRC's vice president of engineering. As COO, he will succeed Doug Engebretson, who is retiring. The COO oversees ARRC's rail transportation, engineering, mechanical, safety and grant administration functions.

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Dec
11

AAR NAMES KRISTIN SMITH TO HEAD COMMUNICATIONS

Patricia Reilly to Retire at the End of the Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 11, 2017 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) announced today that Patricia M. Reilly, SVP – Communications, will be leaving at the end of the year. Reilly will be succeeded by Kristin Smith, who was recently promoted to VP – Communications.

Reilly has been spearheading the Communications efforts at the AAR since 2008, and was instrumental in establishing the long-running and award-winning "Freight Rail Works" branding/advocacy ad campaign as the face of the freight rail industry inside Washington, DC. During her time at the AAR, Reilly has expanded the scope and reach of the industry's efforts to raise awareness about freight rail's many benefits and contributions, with an emphasis on all the industry does in the name of safety.   Reilly will be launching a strategic communications consultancy, Cabin8Communications, in the new year.

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Dec
11

NRF: Despite NAFTA uncertainty, imports 'riding high' in 2017

Imports at the United States' major retail container ports are projected to grow 1.5 percent this month over the same period last year, according to the latest Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.

Ports covered by the report are expected to handle 1.6 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) this month. For October, ports handled 1.77 million TEUs, up 0.3 percent and up 5.9 percent year over year. November was estimated at 1.64 million TEUs, down 0.3 percent.

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Dec
11

NS' safety train educated thousands about hazmat response in 2017

Rail News Home Norfolk Southern Railway 12/11/2017 Rail News: Norfolk Southern Railway
The safety train visited 23 communities across 14 states during its 2017 tour,Photo – nscorp.com

Norfolk Southern Railway trained 3,241 first responders this year on the company's hazmat safety train, a rolling learning lab that helps communities prepare for and safely respond to potential rail incidents.

The safety train visited 23 communities across 14 states during its 2017 tour, providing free training to firefighters, law enforcement, emergency management personnel and other first responders, according to an NS press release.

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Dec
11

NS' safety train educated thousands about hazmat response in 2017

Rail News Home Norfolk Southern Railway 12/11/2017 Rail News: Norfolk Southern Railway
The safety train visited 23 communities across 14 states during its 2017 tour,Photo – nscorp.com

Norfolk Southern Railway trained 3,241 first responders this year on the company's hazmat safety train, a rolling learning lab that helps communities prepare for and safely respond to potential rail incidents.

The safety train visited 23 communities across 14 states during its 2017 tour, providing free training to firefighters, law enforcement, emergency management personnel and other first responders, according to an NS press release.

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Dec
11

Texas Central appoints McLane chairman

Rail News Home Railroading People 12/11/2017 Rail News: Railroading People
McLane first joined the board in January.Photo – Texas Central Partners LLC

Texas Central Partners LLC, the private firm developing a bullet-train line between Houston and Dallas, has appointed Drayton McLane Jr. chairman.

A former owner of the Houston Astros, McLane first joined the board in January. He's currently chairman of the McLane Group and other family controlled companies.

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Dec
11

Freight railroads, four unions reach tentative agreements

The nation's freight railroads have reached tentative labor agreements with four unions, the National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC) announced late last week.

Agreements have been reached with the Brotherhood Railway Carmen (BRC), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and the Transportation Communications International Union (TCU), according to an NRLC press release.

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