Railroad News

The Merced County, California, Board of Supervisors earlier this week authorized a memorandum of agreement with the the Port of Los Angeles that calls for a joint business development plan.

The agreement will help open the door to "significant investment and development" in the Mid-California International Trade District located at Castle Commerce Center and Castle Airport in Atwater, California, county officials said in a press release.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (Metro) board has approved a staff recommendation to study proposed safety improvements that could lead to converting the Orange bus-rapid-transit (BRT) line to a light-rail line.

The study will examine the possible installation of railroad-style crossing gates at intersections along the Orange Line BRT route. The agency also will examine other possible grade separations at key locations along the 18-mile bus line, which has its own right of way.

Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) President Bonnie Murphy will complete her term and leave the organization Nov. 1 to become a vice president of rail and railroad management at Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).

Murphy, who joined OLI in January 2016, has more than 30 years of rail experience and 10 years of executive-level government experience.

Union Pacific Railroad and logistics service provider Katoen Natie this week broke ground on a new plastic packaging facility in south Dallas County, Texas.

The plant will be located at the 3,000-acre Prime Pointe Industrial Park, which is adjacent to UP's Dallas Intermodal Terminal.

Union Pacific Railroad and logistics service provider Katoen Natie this week broke ground on a new plastic packaging facility in south Dallas County, Texas.

The plant will be located at the 3,000-acre Prime Pointe Industrial Park, which is adjacent to UP's Dallas Intermodal Terminal.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is utilizing a fleet of specialized equipment and increased vegetation control methods to help combat a potentially hazardous by-product of autumn: leaf slime.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is utilizing a fleet of specialized equipment and increased vegetation control methods to help combat a potentially hazardous by-product of autumn: leaf slime.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is utilizing a fleet of specialized equipment and increased vegetation control methods to help combat a potentially hazardous by-product of autumn: leaf slime.

Bonnie Murphy will conclude her term as president of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), on November 1; she has been with OLI since January 2016.

Murphy, who has more than 30 years of rail industry experience and 10 years of executive-level government experience, will join Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) as vice president commuter rail and railroad management.

Bonnie Murphy will conclude her term as president of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), on November 1; she has been with OLI since January 2016.

Murphy, who has more than 30 years of rail industry experience and 10 years of executive-level government experience, will join Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) as vice president commuter rail and railroad management.

Bonnie Murphy will conclude her term as president of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), on November 1; she has been with OLI since January 2016.

Murphy, who has more than 30 years of rail industry experience and 10 years of executive-level government experience, will join Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) as vice president commuter rail and railroad management.

U.S. railroads moved 559,989 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Oct. 21, a 3 percent increase over the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Total carloads for the week ticked up 0.2 percent to 268,943 units, while intermodal volume surged 5.6 percent to 291,046 containers and trailers compared with year-ago traffic results.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has awarded a $539.5 million contract to Cubic Transportation Systems to replace the agency's MetroCard with an electronic fare payment system.

The new system will enable riders to pay for rides using credit and debit cards or mobile devices instead of purchasing and adding value to a separate fare card.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has fully restored Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) ability to receive automatic access to federal grant reimbursement, the agency announced yesterday.

The FTA's action comes after WMATA submitted 65 correction action plans to address recommendations in a 2014 financial management oversight report. The completion of those action plans marks the final step in fully restoring WMATA's ability to receive federal funds.

Union Pacific Railroad today reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings and revenue despite the Class I's business disruptions caused by Hurricane Harvey.

UP announced third-quarter net income increased to $1.2 billion, or $1.50 per diluted share, compared with net income of $1.1 billion, or $1.36 per diluted share, in the same period a year ago.