Skip to main content
Jun
07

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for May and the Week Ending June 3, 2017

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 3, 2017, as well as volume for May 2017.

U.S. railroads originated 1,286,075 carloads in May 2017, up 8.4 percent, or 99,290 carloads, over May 2016. U.S. railroads also originated 1,339,417 containers and trailers in May 2017, up 4.6 percent, or 58,665 units, from the same month last year. Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in May 2017 were 2,625,492, up 6.4 percent or 157,955 carloads and intermodal units over May 2016.

Continue reading
Jun
07

CTA marks 125th anniversary of 'L' rail system

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 6/7/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Chicago's 'L' trains initially were pulled by coal-burning steam locomotives like the one depicted here.Photo – CTA's Flickr account

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) yesterday marked the 125th anniversary of Chicago's "L" train system.

In 1892, trains began operating on a line between a terminal at 39th Street to Congress Street in Chicago. Those trains consisted of four wooden passenger cars pulled by a small coal-burning steam locomotive.

Continue reading
Jun
07

CP unveils sales and marketing initiatives

Rail News Home Canadian Pacific 6/7/2017 Rail News: Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific today announced new efforts by its sales and marketing team to improve the customer experience and generate growth opportunities.Building on the success of its grain franchise and Dedicated Train Program, CP's sales and marketing team is focused on strategic improvements across all lines of business, CP officials said in a press release."We have a proven operating model, the shortest routes in key markets, and are now making great strides in customer service," said President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel. "Over the last four years, a lot of work has been done to improve our cost structure and build a strong foundation for success. We are now well positioned to leverage CP's safe, highly efficient and low-cost transportation model." CP announced two recent initiatives that demonstrate its approach to enhancing the customer experience through offering a "more reliable total product" and extending its market reach:
• The Class I is ordering 41 new gensets equipped with the latest telematics and most fuel efficient technology available in the marketplace to be delivered throughout 2017 and first-quarter 2018. Gensets are purpose-built 40-foot containers that house two generators capable of powering up to 17 refrigerated ocean-going containers. With this investment, CP is expanding its protective and perishable service product to serve a growing segment of the transportation market.
• A new "live" lift at Portal, N.D., was opened in May. Portal is the border crossing for CP's intermodal traffic moving between western Canada and the U.S. Midwest. The new service allows CP to lift single containers off of trains for inspection by Canadian and U.S. authorities as opposed to having entire intermodal cars set-off, which could hold three or more containers. The investment will eliminate non-targeted containers from being delayed at the border crossing, CP officials said."We are now at an inflection point and are well positioned to grow the franchise, sell a competitive service and offer our customers a best-in-class, total transportation solution," said CP Chief Marketing Officer John Brooks. "CP delivers safely and efficiently from A to Z, but now by collaborating closely with our customers and actively listening, we better understand their needs and are taking action to strengthen our total product in the marketplace."

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 6/7/2017


Jun
07

CP unveils sales and marketing initiatives

Rail News Home Canadian Pacific 6/7/2017 Rail News: Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific today announced new efforts by its sales and marketing team to improve the customer experience and generate growth opportunities.Building on the success of its grain franchise and Dedicated Train Program, CP's sales and marketing team is focused on strategic improvements across all lines of business, CP officials said in a press release."We have a proven operating model, the shortest routes in key markets, and are now making great strides in customer service," said President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel. "Over the last four years, a lot of work has been done to improve our cost structure and build a strong foundation for success. We are now well positioned to leverage CP's safe, highly efficient and low-cost transportation model." CP announced two recent initiatives that demonstrate its approach to enhancing the customer experience through offering a "more reliable total product" and extending its market reach:
• The Class I is ordering 41 new gensets equipped with the latest telematics and most fuel efficient technology available in the marketplace to be delivered throughout 2017 and first-quarter 2018. Gensets are purpose-built 40-foot containers that house two generators capable of powering up to 17 refrigerated ocean-going containers. With this investment, CP is expanding its protective and perishable service product to serve a growing segment of the transportation market.
• A new "live" lift at Portal, N.D., was opened in May. Portal is the border crossing for CP's intermodal traffic moving between western Canada and the U.S. Midwest. The new service allows CP to lift single containers off of trains for inspection by Canadian and U.S. authorities as opposed to having entire intermodal cars set-off, which could hold three or more containers. The investment will eliminate non-targeted containers from being delayed at the border crossing, CP officials said."We are now at an inflection point and are well positioned to grow the franchise, sell a competitive service and offer our customers a best-in-class, total transportation solution," said CP Chief Marketing Officer John Brooks. "CP delivers safely and efficiently from A to Z, but now by collaborating closely with our customers and actively listening, we better understand their needs and are taking action to strengthen our total product in the marketplace."

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 6/7/2017


Jun
07

TNW celebrates 35th anniversary

TNW Corporation, a Dallas-based owner-operator of shortline railroads and logistics centers, is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2017.

TNW Corporation started in 1982 as the holding company for a shortline railway, Texas North Western Railway (TXNW), serving customers in the Texas panhandle near Sunray, Texas, with an interchange connection on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad.

Continue reading
Jun
07

California High-Speed Rail Authority invests $115 million in LACMTA’s Regional Connector

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has committed $115 million to help fund Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (LACMTA) Regional Connector Transit Project.

 

Continue reading
Jun
07

Maryland Transit Administration shuffles top leadership

Paul Comfort has been replaced as the head of the Maryland Transit Administration with Kevin B. Quinn, Jr., named acting administrator by Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn.

 

Continue reading
Jun
07

Three teams shortlisted for Hurontario LRT project

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have shortlisted three teams to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Hurontario Light Rail Transit (LRT) project.

The Hurontario LRT project includes consists of 12.5 miles of new, dedicated line between Port Credit GO Station in Mississauga, ON, to the Gateway Terminal at Steeles Avenue in Brampton, 22 stations and a maintenance and storage facility for the light-rail vehicles.

Continue reading
Jun
07

TNW celebrates 35th anniversary

TNW Corporation, a Dallas-based owner-operator of shortline railroads and logistics centers, is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2017.

TNW Corporation started in 1982 as the holding company for a shortline railway, Texas North Western Railway (TXNW), serving customers in the Texas panhandle near Sunray, Texas, with an interchange connection on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad.

Continue reading
Jun
07

California High-Speed Rail Authority invests $115 million in LACMTA’s Regional Connector

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has committed $115 million to help fund Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (LACMTA) Regional Connector Transit Project.

 

Continue reading
Jun
07

Maryland Transit Administration shuffles top leadership

Paul Comfort has been replaced as the head of the Maryland Transit Administration with Kevin B. Quinn, Jr., named acting administrator by Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn.

 

Continue reading
Jun
07

Three teams shortlisted for Hurontario LRT project

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have shortlisted three teams to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Hurontario Light Rail Transit (LRT) project.

The Hurontario LRT project includes consists of 12.5 miles of new, dedicated line between Port Credit GO Station in Mississauga, ON, to the Gateway Terminal at Steeles Avenue in Brampton, 22 stations and a maintenance and storage facility for the light-rail vehicles.

Continue reading
Jun
07

TNW celebrates 35th anniversary

TNW Corporation, a Dallas-based owner-operator of shortline railroads and logistics centers, is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2017.

TNW Corporation started in 1982 as the holding company for a shortline railway, Texas North Western Railway (TXNW), serving customers in the Texas panhandle near Sunray, Texas, with an interchange connection on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad.

Continue reading
Jun
07

California High-Speed Rail Authority invests $115 million in LACMTA’s Regional Connector

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has committed $115 million to help fund Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (LACMTA) Regional Connector Transit Project.

 

Continue reading
Jun
07

Maryland Transit Administration shuffles top leadership

Paul Comfort has been replaced as the head of the Maryland Transit Administration with Kevin B. Quinn, Jr., named acting administrator by Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn.

 

Continue reading
Jun
07

Three teams shortlisted for Hurontario LRT project

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have shortlisted three teams to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Hurontario Light Rail Transit (LRT) project.

The Hurontario LRT project includes consists of 12.5 miles of new, dedicated line between Port Credit GO Station in Mississauga, ON, to the Gateway Terminal at Steeles Avenue in Brampton, 22 stations and a maintenance and storage facility for the light-rail vehicles.

Continue reading
Jun
06

WMATA replaces escalators at Woodley Park Station

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) late last week wrapped up a major capital project to replace six escalators at the Woodley Park Station in Washington, D.C.

As part of the project, crews replaced the three longest escalators in the District of Columbia, WMATA officials said in a press release.

Continue reading
Jun
06

MBTA breaks ground on new commuter-rail station

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 6/6/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The station is located in Boston's Mattapan neighborhood.Photo – Massachusetts Department of Transportation

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) yesterday broke ground on the Blue Hill Avenue Station on the Fairmount commuter-rail line.

Located in Boston's Mattapan neighborhood, the station will feature a center-island platform and two covered pedestrian ramps.

Continue reading
Jun
06

Port of Oakland seeks more rail business

The Port of Oakland is ready to move more cargo via rail, the port's Executive Director Chris Lytle told a meeting of railroad executives in San Francisco last week.

The port has two "outstanding partners" in Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway Co., Lytle told the annual meeting of the North American Rail Shippers Association.

Continue reading
Jun
06

Amtrak to prep train crews for new Roanoke service

Rail News Home Amtrak 6/6/2017 Rail News: Amtrak
Amtrak, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and Norfolk Southern Railway, this week will begin operating non-scheduled trains on track between Lynchburg and Roanoke, Va.Amtrak is operating the trains to help locomotive engineers and conductors learn the track and territory between the two cities. The trains, which will carry no passengers, are expected to operate two times per day, five days a week, according to an Amtrak press release.Operating qualifying trains is a key step in the process to bring intercity passenger-rail service to Roanoke this fall, Amtrak officials said. The railroad's Northeast Regional service will extend from Lynchburg to Roanoke and operate one roundtrip seven days per week.Amtrak, the DRTP and Roanoke officials are working to return passenger-rail service to the city for the first time in 40 years. Northeast Regional service will provide a same-seat trip to and from Roanoke and to Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Philadelphia; New York City; and other cities along the Northeast Corridor.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 6/6/2017