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Aug
08

Rising Stars: Annka Robinson, Dallas Area Rapid Transit/Trinity Railway Express

Annka Robinson, 33

Job description: Robinson is responsible for ensuring safety related to maintenance-of-way activities on the Trinity Railway Express.

Education: Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, bachelor's degree in civil engineering

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Aug
07

Rail supplier news from GE, Rail Partners, Andrew Stahl, and The Andersons (Aug. 7)

Rail News Home Railroading Supplier Spotlight 8/7/2017 Rail News: Railroading Supplier Spotlight
GE Transportation's new Evolution Series locomotive for Indian Railways.Photo – GE Transportation

GE Transportation has unveiled the first of 1,000 Evolution Series locomotives for Indian Railways. The ES43ACmi unit underwent nearly two months of testing and validation before receiving a coat of red and yellow paint, GE officials said in a press release. With the new paint job completed, the company is preparing to ship the locomotive in a few weeks. Expected to arrive in India later this year, the unit is part of a $2.5 billion locomotive order from Indian Railways.

Rail Partners Management Group LLC has acquired the assets and operations of Tactical Cleaning Co. from Strategic Environmental & Energy Resources. Tactical Cleaning provides fixed-base and mobile rail-car cleaning services to large and small rail-car customers throughout North America. Rail Partners will retain the company's brand name and all Tactical Cleaning operational personnel will remain in place, according to a Rail Partners press release. Financing for the transaction was provided by Seneca Partners and Uniprop. Other financial details were undisclosed.

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Aug
07

North Shore's Robey named 'Transportation Person of the Year'

Rail News Home Railroading People 8/7/2017 Rail News: Railroading People
Richard RobeyPhoto – North East Association of Rail Shippers

The North East Association of Rail Shippers announced last week it is recognizing North Shore Railroad Co. Chairman Emeritus Richard Robey as the Transportation Person of the Year.

"Dick was a true pioneer in the short-line industry at a time when few believed that railroading had much of a future," association officials said in a press release.

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Aug
07

MBTA's Poftak highlights infrastructure improvement projects

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/7/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Crews performing work on the new Beverly Drawbridge.Photo – MBTA

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) interim General Manager Steve Poftak over the weekend visited several infrastructure improvement project sites.

One stop included the site of a railroad drawbridge replacement in Beverly, Massachusetts. To accommodate the work, the MBTA on July 17 shut down Newburyport/Rockport Line service north of Salem, Massachusetts. Train service is slated to return to normal tomorrow, MBTA officials said in a press release.

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Aug
07

Safety report: Canadian Pacific trains crashed after missed signal

Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has found that an August 2016 collision between two Canadian Pacific trains occurred when one of the trains ran a stop signal.

The investigation highlights the need for onboard voice and video recorders, TSB officials said in a press release.

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Aug
07

Safety report: Canadian Pacific trains crashed after missed signal

Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has found that an August 2016 collision between two Canadian Pacific trains occurred when one of the trains ran a stop signal.

The investigation highlights the need for onboard voice and video recorders, TSB officials said in a press release.

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Aug
07

MARTA cracks down on rail fare dodgers

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/7/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The agency made a series of arrests during a six-week effort to curb fare evasion.Photo – MARTA

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has arrested 536 fare evaders during a recent six-week crackdown, the agency announced late last week.

Over the past six weeks, plainclothes officers have actively monitored fare gates across MARTA's 38 rail stations for riders hopping on board without paying. The effort led to hundreds of arrests and suspensions from the agency's system, MARTA officials said in a press release.

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Aug
07

Caltrain OKs station improvement contract, fare hike

Caltrain's board has awarded a $32 million contract to Proven Management Inc. for the South San Francisco Station improvement project.

The project involves track and signal work, along with the installation of a new 700-foot center boarding platform. The work also will provide a connection to a new pedestrian underpass from the platform to Grand Avenue/Poletti Drive.

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Aug
07

EEOC alleges CSX discriminates against women in hiring

CSX violated federal law by implementing a physical abilities battery that discriminates against women, according to a lawsuit field by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) last week.

The EEOC alleges that since at least 2008, CSX has conducted isokinetic strength testing as a requirement for workers to be selected for various jobs. Known as the IPCS Biodex, the strength test causes a discriminatory impact on women seeking jobs as conductors, material handlers/clerks, and a number of other job categories, the EEOC said in a press release.

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Aug
07

EEOC alleges CSX discriminates against women in hiring

CSX violated federal law by implementing a physical abilities battery that discriminates against women, according to a lawsuit field by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) last week.

The EEOC alleges that since at least 2008, CSX has conducted isokinetic strength testing as a requirement for workers to be selected for various jobs. Known as the IPCS Biodex, the strength test causes a discriminatory impact on women seeking jobs as conductors, material handlers/clerks, and a number of other job categories, the EEOC said in a press release.

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Aug
07

FASTLANE small project grants: More than $56M to go to rail

Rail specific and rail related projects across six states have been selected to receive grants as part of the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) program.

 

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Aug
07

FASTLANE small project grants: More than $56M to go to rail

Rail specific and rail related projects across six states have been selected to receive grants as part of the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) program.

 

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Aug
07

MBTA keeps infrastructure improvements on track

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is using its increase in capital spending on system-wide upgrades and repairs. Following a 40-percent increase from last year, MBTA says it's kicking its infrastructure improvements into high gear.

"We're fully committed to our goal of increased investments in our system's existing infrastructure by putting funds toward maintenance and repairs, resulting in better service for our customers," said interim MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak.

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Aug
07

MBTA keeps infrastructure improvements on track

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is using its increase in capital spending on system-wide upgrades and repairs. Following a 40-percent increase from last year, MBTA says it's kicking its infrastructure improvements into high gear.

"We're fully committed to our goal of increased investments in our system's existing infrastructure by putting funds toward maintenance and repairs, resulting in better service for our customers," said interim MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak.

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Aug
07

Caltrain approves $32.1 million contract award to Proven Management

Caltrain awarded a $32.1-million contract to Proven Management Inc. for the South San Francisco Station Improvement Project.

Caltrain's Board of Directors approved the contract at its August meeting. The project's construction is slated to begin in November and is expected to be completed by summer 2019.

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Aug
07

Caltrain approves $32.1 million contract award to Proven Management

Caltrain awarded a $32.1-million contract to Proven Management Inc. for the South San Francisco Station Improvement Project.

Caltrain's Board of Directors approved the contract at its August meeting. The project's construction is slated to begin in November and is expected to be completed by summer 2019.

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Aug
07

USDOT proposes $79 million in FASTLANE grant awards

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao late last week informed Congress that the U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed nearly $79 million in grants for freight-related rail, port and roadway infrastructure projects under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.

The notification to Congress, sent Aug. 2, initiates a 60-day period in which Congress could vote to disapprove the proposed projects if it finds a project objectionable, according to a report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

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Aug
07

Rising Stars: Myat Ohn, HNTB

Myat Ohn, 34

Job description: Ohn serves as the deputy segment lead for the the San Jose-Merced section of California’s high-speed rail project. In her role, she manages the project’s scope, schedule, budget and sub-consultants. Ohn also designs the track plan and profile as track and guideway lead for the section. In addition, she coordinates with other rail agencies, cities, counties and stakeholders.

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, University of California-Berkeley

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Aug
04

Omaha Track hosts congressional visit

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) joined representatives of Omaha Track Inc. and local railroads to tour the company's facilities in Omaha this week.

Omaha Track President and Owner Terry Peterson led the tour, which included visits to the new corporate office and the Omaha Track Equipment facility, where maintenance-of-way equipment is custom built, fabricated and maintained.

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Aug
04

CP unveils 2016 corporate sustainability report

Rail News Home Canadian Pacific 8/4/2017 Rail News: Canadian Pacific
The railroad has cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent since 2015, according to the report.Photo – Canadian Pacific

Canadian Pacific yesterday released its 2016 corporate sustainability report.

The document outlines the railroad's commitment to "long-term value creation and sustainable operations," CP officials said in a press release.

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