Railroad News

Joint venture Northwest Transit Systems Partners (NTSP) has been chosen to oversee the construction of two new extensions to the Sound Transit light-rail system.

Awarding the contract to the JV, which consists of STV and Mott McDonald, was approved by the Sound Transit Board of Directors in May. The team will perform systems construction management services for the $3.7 billion East Link Extension, a 14-mile-long extension connecting Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond; and the $1.9 billion 4.3-mile Northgate Link Extension between the University of Washington at Husky Stadium, the University District and the Northgate neighborhood. Both light-rail extensions were approved by voters and are considered to be key components of a larger system expansion being undertaken by Sound Transit over the next 25 years.

Joint venture Northwest Transit Systems Partners (NTSP) has been chosen to oversee the construction of two new extensions to the Sound Transit light-rail system.

Awarding the contract to the JV, which consists of STV and Mott McDonald, was approved by the Sound Transit Board of Directors in May. The team will perform systems construction management services for the $3.7 billion East Link Extension, a 14-mile-long extension connecting Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond; and the $1.9 billion 4.3-mile Northgate Link Extension between the University of Washington at Husky Stadium, the University District and the Northgate neighborhood. Both light-rail extensions were approved by voters and are considered to be key components of a larger system expansion being undertaken by Sound Transit over the next 25 years.

Joint venture Northwest Transit Systems Partners (NTSP) has been chosen to oversee the construction of two new extensions to the Sound Transit light-rail system.

Awarding the contract to the JV, which consists of STV and Mott McDonald, was approved by the Sound Transit Board of Directors in May. The team will perform systems construction management services for the $3.7 billion East Link Extension, a 14-mile-long extension connecting Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond; and the $1.9 billion 4.3-mile Northgate Link Extension between the University of Washington at Husky Stadium, the University District and the Northgate neighborhood. Both light-rail extensions were approved by voters and are considered to be key components of a larger system expansion being undertaken by Sound Transit over the next 25 years.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will hold an informal public meeting on Aug. 31 regarding a proposal to improve sections of CSX tracks in Scotland and Bladen counties.

NCDOT says the improvements would help alleviate rail congestion and accommodate for freight growth. The tracks to be improved are located on a busy freight line between Wilmington and Charlotte.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will hold an informal public meeting on Aug. 31 regarding a proposal to improve sections of CSX tracks in Scotland and Bladen counties.

NCDOT says the improvements would help alleviate rail congestion and accommodate for freight growth. The tracks to be improved are located on a busy freight line between Wilmington and Charlotte.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will hold an informal public meeting on Aug. 31 regarding a proposal to improve sections of CSX tracks in Scotland and Bladen counties.

NCDOT says the improvements would help alleviate rail congestion and accommodate for freight growth. The tracks to be improved are located on a busy freight line between Wilmington and Charlotte.

Port Freeport in Texas hosted a groundbreaking ceremony last week to mark the start of construction on the first phase of the Parcel 14 Rail Development project.

Part of the port's long-term strategy, the $21 million rail project is designed to enhance land-side accessibility and supply chain efficiency for Brazoria County's petrochemical industry and other port users, port officials said in a press release.

New York and New Jersey's senatorial delegation are asking the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to reconsider a rule that would require sleep apnea testing of rail workers and commercial truck drivers.

New York and New Jersey's senatorial delegation are asking the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to reconsider a rule that would require sleep apnea testing of rail workers and commercial truck drivers.

New York and New Jersey's senatorial delegation are asking the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to reconsider a rule that would require sleep apnea testing of rail workers and commercial truck drivers.

CN moved a record 21.8 million metric tons of Western Canadian grain during the 2016-17 crop year, the Class I announced today.

Among the crop year's highlights, CN reported that it shipped 7 percent more tonnage on its network than the prior three-year average.

CN moved a record 21.8 million metric tons of Western Canadian grain during the 2016-17 crop year, the Class I announced today.

Among the crop year's highlights, CN reported that it shipped 7 percent more tonnage on its network than the prior three-year average.

New York Air Brake LLC has announced plans to move its peripheral product assembly in Watertown, New York, to Salisbury, North Carolina. The shift consolidates less complex assemblies into the North Carolina manufacturing hub, company officials said in a press release. The Watertown facility will remain the sole location for the design, testing and manufacture of freight-car brakes. Retaining the more complex assemblies enables New York Air Brake to create a "high-tech manufacturing hub," company officials said. The transition is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter and conclude in first-quarter 2018. The shift will affect 40 of the 425 workers at the Watertown plant.

The Watermill Group has acquired Andaray Holdings Ltd. and its Cooper & Turner subsidiary, which is a United Kingdom-based global manufacturer and distributor of large-diameter industrial fastener systems. Cooper & Turner will continue offering its existing product lines from its manufacturing sites and distribution centers. The company also will pursue new product, service and market opportunities around the world, Watermill Group officials said in a press release. Financial details of the transaction weren't disclosed.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Sept. 1 will wrap up reconstruction of the M Line's Fresh Pond Bridge.

The work is part of a $163 million project to replace two deteriorating M line overpasses. The first phase involves rebuilding the century-old Fresh Bond Bridge. Crews began reconstructing the bridge project in July.

Class Is employed 147,540 workers in the United States as of mid-July, down 0.7 percent from mid-June's level and 3.4 percent from mid-July 2016's mark, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

All six employment categories reflected workforce decreases on a month-over-month basis. The number of executives, officials and staff assistants declined 0.24 percent to 8,678; professional and administrative staff, 0.3 percent to 12,643; maintenance of way and structures workers, 0.57 percent to 33,849; maintenance of equipment and stores employees, 0.97 percent to 27,036; transportation (other than train and engine) ranks, 0.26 percent to 5,790; and transportation (train and engine) workers, 0.92 percent to 59,544.

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx late last week issued a request for proposals (RFP) to three teams to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Hurontario light-rail project.

The agencies in October 2016 released a request for qualifications to identify firms interested in leading the project. IO and Metrolinx picked the top three teams based on their construction, design, operation and maintenance capabilities, as well as their financial capacity.

Canadian Pacific has readied its Dedicated Train Program (DTP) in preparation for grain service during the 2017-18 crop year, the Class I announced today.

More than 75 percent of CP's grain service will employ the DTP this season. The program offers customers greater control of rail-car supply to manage their supply chain, CP officials said in a press release. Grain is the Class I’s largest line of business.