Skip to main content
Sep
07

Transdev to operate, maintain Milwaukee Streetcar

Milwaukee's Department of Public Works (DPW) has selected Transdev Services Inc. as the operations and maintenance contractor for the Milwaukee Streetcar.

Under the agreement, Transdev will be responsible for all day-to-day operations, as well as vehicle and facilities maintenance. The firm also will hire and train staff, maintain track and implement safety programs.

Continue reading
Sep
07

Hurricane Harvey: UP earnings to take a hit; BNSF restoring service

Union Pacific Railroad expects lost business during Hurricane Harvey and costs associated with storm cleanup to reduce third-quarter earnings by 5 cents a share, the company's top executive said yesterday.

UP Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Fritz told the news agency Reuters that pent-up demand from manufacturers in the Houston area and recovery efforts should help boost the railroad's fourth-quarter.

Continue reading
Sep
07

Hurricane Harvey: UP earnings to take a hit; BNSF restoring service

Union Pacific Railroad expects lost business during Hurricane Harvey and costs associated with storm cleanup to reduce third-quarter earnings by 5 cents a share, the company's top executive said yesterday.

UP Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Fritz told the news agency Reuters that pent-up demand from manufacturers in the Houston area and recovery efforts should help boost the railroad's fourth-quarter.

Continue reading
Sep
07

U.S. rail traffic grew 2.6 percent in August

U.S. railroads logged a 2.6 percent increase in combined carload and intermodal traffic in August compared with the same month last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

A 5.6 percent increase in intermodal containers and trailers helped push the railroads' total combined traffic to 2,744,486 million units for the month compared with August 2016. But total carloads last month slipped 0.3 percent to 1,343,405 units, AAR officials said in a press release.

Continue reading
Sep
07

Hawaii Gov. Ige signs bill to fund Honolulu's transit-rail project

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 9/7/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The bill is expected to generate $2.4 billion for the passenger-rail project.Photo – Gov. David Ige's Flickr account

Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Tuesday signed a bill that extends through 2030 a tax surcharge to pay for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit's (HART) planned passenger-rail system.

The law extends Oahu's general excise tax surcharge three additional years and increases the state's hotel room tax by 1 percent for the next 13 years, according to a press release issued by Ige's office.

Continue reading
Sep
07

CSX listening session postponed due to hurricane threat

The National Hurricane Center's latest projected track of Hurricane Irma has prompted the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to postpone its Sept. 12 listening session concerning CSX's rail service issues, the board announced yesterday.

The center has projected landfall in southern Florida early on Sept. 11. CSX's headquarters are based in Jacksonville, Fla.

Continue reading
Sep
07

CSX listening session postponed due to hurricane threat

The National Hurricane Center's latest projected track of Hurricane Irma has prompted the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to postpone its Sept. 12 listening session concerning CSX's rail service issues, the board announced yesterday.

The center has projected landfall in southern Florida early on Sept. 11. CSX's headquarters are based in Jacksonville, Fla.

Continue reading
Tags:
CSX
Sep
07

STB reveals 'revenue adequate' Class Is for 2016

Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends 9/7/2017 Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced yesterday that the Class Is that achieved "revenue adequacy" for 2016 were BNSF Railway Co., Norfolk Southern's combined railroad subsidiaries, Canadian Pacific's Soo Line Corp. and Union Pacific Railroad.A railroad is considered to be revenue adequate if it achieves a rate of return on net investment equal to at least the current cost of capital for the railroad industry for 2016, which the board determined to be 8.88 percent, according to an STB press release.The STB determined that those four Class Is achieved a rate of return on net investment equal to or greater than the agency's calculation of the cost of capital for the railroad industry.Soo Line is part of CP's U.S. operations.Congress requires the STB to conduct revenue adequacy determinations on an annual basis.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 9/7/2017


Sep
07

USDOT accepting TIGER applications for FY17

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is accepting Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant applications through Oct. 16 for Fiscal Year 2017 awards.

USDOT has $500 million available for the discretionary grant program and will be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or a region. The FY 2017 Appropriations Act specifies that TIGER Discretionary Grants may not be less than $5 million and not greater than $25 million, except that for projects located in rural areas the minimum TIGER Discretionary Grant size is $1 million.

Continue reading
Sep
07

USDOT accepting TIGER applications for FY17

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is accepting Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant applications through Oct. 16 for Fiscal Year 2017 awards.

USDOT has $500 million available for the discretionary grant program and will be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or a region. The FY 2017 Appropriations Act specifies that TIGER Discretionary Grants may not be less than $5 million and not greater than $25 million, except that for projects located in rural areas the minimum TIGER Discretionary Grant size is $1 million.

Continue reading
Sep
07

USDOT accepting TIGER applications for FY17

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is accepting Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant applications through Oct. 16 for Fiscal Year 2017 awards.

USDOT has $500 million available for the discretionary grant program and will be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or a region. The FY 2017 Appropriations Act specifies that TIGER Discretionary Grants may not be less than $5 million and not greater than $25 million, except that for projects located in rural areas the minimum TIGER Discretionary Grant size is $1 million.

Continue reading
Sep
07

USDOT opens applications for TIGER grants

Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends 9/7/2017 Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
In fiscal-year 2017, the department is offering $500 million through the TIGER grant program.Photo – USDOT

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) yesterday announced the availability of $500 million in discretionary grant funding through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 set aside $500 million for National Infrastructure Investments, also known as TIGER grants, according to a USDOT press release. As with previous TIGER rounds, funds will be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that have a significant impact on the United States, a metropolitan area or a region.

Continue reading
Sep
07

LIRR continues Ronkonkoma Double Track Project

Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) crews will conduct critical work to advance the LIRR's Ronkonkoma Branch Double Track Project during the weekends of Sept. 9-10 and 16-17.

The Double Track Project is a $387-million infrastructure project, funded over two capital programs that will add a second track to the 18-mile stretch from Farmingdale to Ronkonkoma by the end of 2018. The purpose of the project is to improve train service by allowing for half-hourly, off-peak service in both directions, increased reverse peak service and greater flexibility to minimize the impact of service disruptions along the branch.

Continue reading
Sep
07

LIRR continues Ronkonkoma Double Track Project

Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) crews will conduct critical work to advance the LIRR's Ronkonkoma Branch Double Track Project during the weekends of Sept. 9-10 and 16-17.

The Double Track Project is a $387-million infrastructure project, funded over two capital programs that will add a second track to the 18-mile stretch from Farmingdale to Ronkonkoma by the end of 2018. The purpose of the project is to improve train service by allowing for half-hourly, off-peak service in both directions, increased reverse peak service and greater flexibility to minimize the impact of service disruptions along the branch.

Continue reading
Sep
07

LIRR continues Ronkonkoma Double Track Project

Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) crews will conduct critical work to advance the LIRR's Ronkonkoma Branch Double Track Project during the weekends of Sept. 9-10 and 16-17.

The Double Track Project is a $387-million infrastructure project, funded over two capital programs that will add a second track to the 18-mile stretch from Farmingdale to Ronkonkoma by the end of 2018. The purpose of the project is to improve train service by allowing for half-hourly, off-peak service in both directions, increased reverse peak service and greater flexibility to minimize the impact of service disruptions along the branch.

Continue reading
Sep
07

Colorado explores Front Range commuter line

A Colorado commission is exploring plans for a commuter rail line connecting cities along the state's Front Range.

 

Continue reading
Sep
07

Colorado explores Front Range commuter line

A Colorado commission is exploring plans for a commuter rail line connecting cities along the state's Front Range.

 

Continue reading
Sep
07

Colorado explores Front Range commuter line

A Colorado commission is exploring plans for a commuter rail line connecting cities along the state's Front Range.

 

Continue reading
Sep
06

WMATA, VRE generate $600 million annually for Virginia, report says

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) rail system and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) provide more than $600 million each year to Virginia's general fund, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) announced yesterday.

The figure comes from a new report that evaluated the economic value of the two rail systems.

Continue reading
Sep
06

BART to start testing trains on Berryessa Extension

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 9/6/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The Berryessa Extension is the first phase of the larger Silicon Valley Extension.Photo – Santa Clara VTA

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) today will begin testing trains along the Berryessa Extension running from Fremont to San Jose, California.

The first trains — which won't carry riders yet — will be used to test communication systems, tracks and software. This is known as the "static testing phase" and is a key step before opening the extension for passenger service, according to a press release issued by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA).

Continue reading