Railroad News

The Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act, introduced in March of this year, has achieved 226 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives (H.R. 721) and 51 co-sponsors in the Senate (S. 407), the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) announced.

The BRACE Act is important to short line railroads because it includes language to make permanent the 45G tax credit. Under the terms of the credit a short line railroad must invest one dollar for every 50 cents in credit up to a credit cap equivalent to $3,500 per mile of track. It is a critical in assisting the nation's 603 short line railroads in upgrading track and bridges, and has been a major target of the ASLRRA's lobby efforts.

The Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act, introduced in March of this year, has achieved 226 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives (H.R. 721) and 51 co-sponsors in the Senate (S. 407), the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) announced.

The BRACE Act is important to short line railroads because it includes language to make permanent the 45G tax credit. Under the terms of the credit a short line railroad must invest one dollar for every 50 cents in credit up to a credit cap equivalent to $3,500 per mile of track. It is a critical in assisting the nation's 603 short line railroads in upgrading track and bridges, and has been a major target of the ASLRRA's lobby efforts.

Metra's Board of Directors along with agency officials sent the Metra Safety Train on an excursion to "highlight the numerous ways that Metra strives to operate the safest possible railroad for its customers, employees, local schoolchildren and the public."

The special train operated along the Milwaukee District West Line from Chicago Union Station to Elgin. Metra officials were joined by Illinois State Senator Tom Cullerton, State Representative Marcus Evans, Elgin Mayor David Kaptain and Park Ridge Deputy Police Chief Lou Jogmen, who also serves as the chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee for the Illinois State Police.

Metra's Board of Directors along with agency officials sent the Metra Safety Train on an excursion to "highlight the numerous ways that Metra strives to operate the safest possible railroad for its customers, employees, local schoolchildren and the public."

The special train operated along the Milwaukee District West Line from Chicago Union Station to Elgin. Metra officials were joined by Illinois State Senator Tom Cullerton, State Representative Marcus Evans, Elgin Mayor David Kaptain and Park Ridge Deputy Police Chief Lou Jogmen, who also serves as the chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee for the Illinois State Police.

Metra's Board of Directors along with agency officials sent the Metra Safety Train on an excursion to "highlight the numerous ways that Metra strives to operate the safest possible railroad for its customers, employees, local schoolchildren and the public."

The special train operated along the Milwaukee District West Line from Chicago Union Station to Elgin. Metra officials were joined by Illinois State Senator Tom Cullerton, State Representative Marcus Evans, Elgin Mayor David Kaptain and Park Ridge Deputy Police Chief Lou Jogmen, who also serves as the chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee for the Illinois State Police.

Rio Grande Pacific Dispatch (RGPD), formerly Nebraska Central Dispatch, has rebranded with a new name and logo, to strengthen its connection to parent company Rio Grande Pacific Corp., and more accurately depict the company's operations.

The company said that while its dispatching services originated as part of the Nebraska Central Railroad Co. more than a decade ago, the relocation of its dispatching center to Fort Worth, Tex., in 2016 necessitated a rebranding.

Rio Grande Pacific Dispatch (RGPD), formerly Nebraska Central Dispatch, has rebranded with a new name and logo, to strengthen its connection to parent company Rio Grande Pacific Corp., and more accurately depict the company's operations.

The company said that while its dispatching services originated as part of the Nebraska Central Railroad Co. more than a decade ago, the relocation of its dispatching center to Fort Worth, Tex., in 2016 necessitated a rebranding.

Rio Grande Pacific Dispatch (RGPD), formerly Nebraska Central Dispatch, has rebranded with a new name and logo, to strengthen its connection to parent company Rio Grande Pacific Corp., and more accurately depict the company's operations.

The company said that while its dispatching services originated as part of the Nebraska Central Railroad Co. more than a decade ago, the relocation of its dispatching center to Fort Worth, Tex., in 2016 necessitated a rebranding.

U.S. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (R-Ind.) earlier this week joined R. J. Corman Railroad Services LLC representatives to tour a trackwork project on the Louisville & Indiana Railroad (L&I).

The 106-mile short line has contracted R. J. Corman to perform improvements that will enable the railroad to increase rail-car weight capacity to 286,000 pounds. From 2015 through 2017, 94 miles of continuous-welded rail and more than 80,000 ties will be installed.

Rail Construction Equipment Co. has rebranded itself as RCE Equipment Solutions Inc. The new name reflects the company's "growth and diversification goals," RCE officials said in a press release. Although the company has been primarily focused on rail maintenance equipment, RCE within recent years has received several requests for custom equipment design projects outside the rail market. RCE Equipment Solutions will serve as the umbrella company for three different divisions: RCE Rail, which continues to cater to the rail market; RCE Energy, which develops machinery for the energy sector; and RCE Engineering. Meanwhile, RCE's facility in Rockford, Illinois, is undergoing an "extensive" expansion, company officials said. To support the additional products, the company added 11,000 square feet of production space and 6,000 square feet of additional engineering and support space.

In Alstom's first fiscal quarter, the company booked $2.18 billion worth of orders compared to $1.03 billion for the same period in its last fiscal year. The quarter runs from April 1 through June 30. In addition, Alstom logged sales of $2.13 billion, up 6 percent. The company's orders this year include two contracts for almost 100 light-rail vehicles in Canada, a fleet modernization project in the United States and a metro system contract in Vietnam. By 2020, Alstom expects its sales to grow by about 5 percent each year.

A complex crossing design and distracted ambulance driver were contributing factors to a fatal grade crossing accident that occurred in September 2015 in Langley, British Columbia, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada's (TSB) just released investigation report.

On Sept. 11 2015, a CN train struck an ambulance at the Crush Crescent–Glover Road crossing in Langley. Two paramedics, including the driver, were injured. The patient who was being transported later died due to injuries sustained in the accident.

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) on Wednesday celebrated its 31 billionth ride since the agency was established in 1921.

The TTC estimates the trip took place last month. The agency selected a random rider to represent the 31 billionth trip who received a year's worth of complimentary monthly passes.

Workers at intermodal rail transportation firm Parsec Inc. in Illinois recently voted overwhelmingly in favor of joining the the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Employed at Parsec's Elwood terminal near BNSF Railway Co.'s Logistic Park Chicago, the more than 500 workers will form their own union as Teamsters Local 179. Parsec provides contracted terminal management services at more than 30 locations in the United States and Canada.

The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) reached an all-time high in May at 126.8, besting the previous record of 126.0 set in February 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

The index — which is based on the amount of freight carried by for-hire transportation entities — rose 2.2 percent from April's mark, posting a gain after two straight monthly declines. The Freight TSI also registered its largest month-over-month gain since it rose 2.9 percent from November to December 2011, BTS officials said in a press release.

In late June, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation (SFDF) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the first project in its new industrial park: a refrigerated warehouse and distribution center that will be served by BNSF Railway Co.

The 205,000-square-foot facility will be operated by Win Chill LLC and situated on a 54-acre parcel in Foundation Park, which is located near Interstates 90 and 29 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Win Chill expects the distribution center to be operational by spring 2018.

In late June, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation (SFDF) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the first project in its new industrial park: a refrigerated warehouse and distribution center that will be served by BNSF Railway Co.

The 205,000-square-foot facility will be operated by Win Chill LLC and situated on a 54-acre parcel in Foundation Park, which is located near Interstates 90 and 29 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Win Chill expects the distribution center to be operational by spring 2018.

Metro Transit on Aug. 15 plans to open bids for the first construction contract for the Southwest light-rail line in Minnesota.

The work includes building 29 miles of track, 15 stations, eight park-and-ride facilities and two cut-and-cover light-rail tunnels, and modifications to seven existing bridges. The agency anticipates that the contract will be awarded in November.

Gay M. Knipper joined HNTB as senior program manager and vice president, specializing in program and construction management. She is based in the firm's New Orleans office and works with clients throughout the country.

Knipper has more than three decades of infrastructure experience and has been responsible for all aspects of management, administration and financial control on several multibillion-dollar PM/CM programs. She will play a key role in serving HNTB's clients, initially focusing on the firm's work with the Georgia Department of Transportation Major Mobility Investment Program.

Gay M. Knipper joined HNTB as senior program manager and vice president, specializing in program and construction management. She is based in the firm's New Orleans office and works with clients throughout the country.

Knipper has more than three decades of infrastructure experience and has been responsible for all aspects of management, administration and financial control on several multibillion-dollar PM/CM programs. She will play a key role in serving HNTB's clients, initially focusing on the firm's work with the Georgia Department of Transportation Major Mobility Investment Program.

Gay M. Knipper joined HNTB as senior program manager and vice president, specializing in program and construction management. She is based in the firm's New Orleans office and works with clients throughout the country.

Knipper has more than three decades of infrastructure experience and has been responsible for all aspects of management, administration and financial control on several multibillion-dollar PM/CM programs. She will play a key role in serving HNTB's clients, initially focusing on the firm's work with the Georgia Department of Transportation Major Mobility Investment Program.