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Oct
17

Amtrak taps Griffin as new EVP, CMO

Amtrak has hired Timothy Griffin as executive vice president and chief marketing officer, the national passenger railroad announced yesterday.

Griffin will be responsible for marketing, passenger experience, product support and management, and business development for the Northeast Corridor, state-supported routes and long-distance services, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

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Oct
17

NJ Transit's Raritan River Bridge project clears environmental review

Rail News Home Maintenance Of Way 10/17/2017 Rail News: Maintenance Of Way
A rendering of the new Raritan River bridge.Photo – njtransitresilienceprogram.com

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) last week issued a finding of no significant impact for New Jersey Transit's project to replace the Raritan River rail drawbridge.

NJ Transit this month will begin the final design plans, which are slated to be completed by the end of 2018.

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Oct
17

FTA issues FONSI for NJ Transit’s Raritan River Bridge replacement project

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on Oct. 13 for New Jersey Transit's Raritan River Bridge Replacement project.

The issuance of the FONSI is a milestone as NJ Transit moves forward to make its infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather following the devastating impacts of Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

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Oct
17

FTA issues FONSI for NJ Transit’s Raritan River Bridge replacement project

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on Oct. 13 for New Jersey Transit's Raritan River Bridge Replacement project.

The issuance of the FONSI is a milestone as NJ Transit moves forward to make its infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather following the devastating impacts of Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

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Oct
17

FTA issues FONSI for NJ Transit’s Raritan River Bridge replacement project

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on Oct. 13 for New Jersey Transit's Raritan River Bridge Replacement project.

The issuance of the FONSI is a milestone as NJ Transit moves forward to make its infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather following the devastating impacts of Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

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Oct
17

Canada gives OmniTRAX 30 days to repair HBR

The government of Canada is giving OmniTRAX 30 days to repair and restore service on the Hudson Bay Railway to Churchill, Manitoba, or risk a lawsuit for breach of contract.

Official statements from Canada Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr and Merv Tweed, president of OminTRAX Canada, each blamed actions of the other for the delayed rail repairs.

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Oct
17

Canada gives OmniTRAX 30 days to repair HBR

The government of Canada is giving OmniTRAX 30 days to repair and restore service on the Hudson Bay Railway to Churchill, Manitoba, or risk a lawsuit for breach of contract.

Official statements from Canada Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr and Merv Tweed, president of OminTRAX Canada, each blamed actions of the other for the delayed rail repairs.

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Oct
17

Canada gives OmniTRAX 30 days to repair HBR

The government of Canada is giving OmniTRAX 30 days to repair and restore service on the Hudson Bay Railway to Churchill, Manitoba, or risk a lawsuit for breach of contract.

Official statements from Canada Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr and Merv Tweed, president of OminTRAX Canada, each blamed actions of the other for the delayed rail repairs.

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Oct
17

CSX posts revenue, income gains in Q3

CSX Corp. today reported third-quarter net income increased 1 percent to $459 million, or 51 cents per share, compared with $455 million, or 48 cents per share, during the same period a year ago.

Excluding a $1 million restructuring charge in this year's Q3 results, adjusted earnings per share remained at 51 cents.

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Oct
17

CSX posts revenue, income gains in Q3

CSX Corp. today reported third-quarter net income increased 1 percent to $459 million, or 51 cents per share, compared with $455 million, or 48 cents per share, during the same period a year ago.

Excluding a $1 million restructuring charge in this year's Q3 results, adjusted earnings per share remained at 51 cents.

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Oct
17

NVTA’s $43 billion build-out strategy

WMATA Metrorail extensions, capacity and service enhancements for Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and new light rail transit (LRT) are among the numerous projects proposed by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) in a TransAction Plan Update adopted Oct. 12.

"Addressing regional transportation needs through 2040, the Transaction Plan focuses on eleven major travel corridors in Northern Virginia and identifies 352 projects and $43.2 billion in unmet transportation needs," NVTA said.

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Oct
17

NVTA’s $43 billion build-out strategy

WMATA Metrorail extensions, capacity and service enhancements for Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and new light rail transit (LRT) are among the numerous projects proposed by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) in a TransAction Plan Update adopted Oct. 12.

"Addressing regional transportation needs through 2040, the Transaction Plan focuses on eleven major travel corridors in Northern Virginia and identifies 352 projects and $43.2 billion in unmet transportation needs," NVTA said.

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Oct
17

NVTA’s $43 billion build-out strategy

WMATA Metrorail extensions, capacity and service enhancements for Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and new light rail transit (LRT) are among the numerous projects proposed by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) in a TransAction Plan Update adopted Oct. 12.

"Addressing regional transportation needs through 2040, the Transaction Plan focuses on eleven major travel corridors in Northern Virginia and identifies 352 projects and $43.2 billion in unmet transportation needs," NVTA said.

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Oct
16

APTA names new board members, honors transit agencies' marketing efforts

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has announced additions to its board and executive leadership committee.

Jacksonville Transportation Authority Chief Executive Officer Nathaniel Ford Sr. was named APTA's chair. He succeeds Doran Barnes, who serves as executive director of Foothill Transit in West Covina, California.

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Oct
16

Georgia Ports Authority announces record cargo in FY2017

Rail News Home Intermodal 10/16/2017 Rail News: Intermodal
The authority logged an 8.3 percent increase in total tonnage across all terminals.Photo – Georgia Ports Authority

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal joined Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) officials late last week in announcing record cargo volumes for fiscal-year 2017 and new infrastructure development plans.
 
In a review of the ports' work in FY2017, Deal announced growth of 8.3 percent in total tonnage across all terminals. Savannah handled 3.85 million 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs), while Brunswick moved 607,000 auto and machinery units. No other Southeast port recorded greater volumes for those commodities, Deal said in a press release. FY2017 covers the period from July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017.
 
In his state-of-the-ports speech, GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch announced two significant e-commerce developments: National furniture supplier Noble House will build a 630,000 square-foot facility that will serve the eastern United States, while home accessory company Best Choice will build 345,000 square feet.
 
Those plans are in addition to 3 million square feet of distribution center space completed within the last year and 5.2 million square feet now under construction, GPA officials said.
 
Lynch also outlined plans to accommodate record growth and expand new markets. Those plans include:
• a $128 million mega-rail project that will add track on terminal to better handle 10,000-foot-long trains. To start in the first quarter of FY2018 and conclude at 2020’s end, the project calls for adding 97,000 feet of new track, including 18 new working tracks, and bringing all switching operations to the Garden City Terminal;
• ground-breaking in FY2017 of the Appalachian Regional Port, an inland rail yard in Chatsworth. To be completed in fall 2018, the CSX-served inland port is designed to expand the GPA’s reach into Tennessee, northeast Alabama and portions of Kentucky; and
• the Savannah Harbor expansion project, which will deepen the outer harbor to 49 feet at low tide and 56 feet at high tide. The project also will deepen the inner harbor to 47 feet.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

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Oct
16

New York City Transit to renovate Astoria Line stations

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 10/16/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The improvements include structural repairs and improvements to mezzanines and platforms.Photo – mta.info

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) next week will begin renovating its 30th Avenue and 36th Avenue Astoria Line stations.

The "top-to-bottom" renovations include structural repairs, improvements to mezzanines and platforms, waterproofing, and refurbishment of existing railings and stairs, NYCT officials said in a press release.

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Oct
16

Denver RTD receives FTA approval to wrap up G Line testing

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 10/16/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
RTD is still waiting on approval from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.Photo – rtd-denver.com

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has granted conditional approval to the Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) to finish testing along the G Line commuter-rail route.

The agency still awaits approval from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which has state regulatory authority over grade crossings. Last month, the commission rejected RTD's application to complete testing of the line.

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Oct
16

Denver RTD receives FRA approval to wrap up G Line testing

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 10/16/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
RTD is still waiting on approval from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.Photo – rtd-denver.com

[Editor's note: This story was updated at 3:10 p.m. CDT.]

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has granted conditional approval to the Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) to finish testing along the G Line commuter-rail route.

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Oct
16

Freight index reaches monthly high in August

Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends 10/16/2017 Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
A chart depicting the seasonally-adjusted TSIPhoto – Bureau of Transportation Statistics

The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) reached an all-time monthly high in August, which was 1.5 percent higher than the previous highest level reached just a month earlier in July, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported last week.
 
The TSI is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry.
 
The August 2017 index level of 130.7 was 6.7 percent higher than the August 2016 index, bureau officials said in a press release.
 
In addition, the most recent index exceeded the level of 130 for the first time, they said.
 
The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in for-hire freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index. The index measures the output of the freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 10/16/2017


Oct
16

FTA unveils environmental report for SEPTA's King of Prussia Rail project

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 10/16/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The project calls for extending SEPTA's Norristown High Speed Line into King of Prussia.Photo – kingofprussiarail.com

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released a draft environmental impact statement for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's (SEPTA) King of Prussia Rail project.

The project calls for extending SEPTA's Norristown High Speed Line into King of Prussia from either the 69th Street or Norristown transportation centers.

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