Railroad News

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Aug. 30 rejected an application filed by Great Lakes Basin Transportation, Inc. (GLBT) for authority to construct and operate a rail line in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.

STB cited that it found GLBT's application "incomplete" and has discontinued environmental review.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Aug. 30 rejected an application filed by Great Lakes Basin Transportation, Inc. (GLBT) for authority to construct and operate a rail line in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.

STB cited that it found GLBT's application "incomplete" and has discontinued environmental review.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Aug. 30 rejected an application filed by Great Lakes Basin Transportation, Inc. (GLBT) for authority to construct and operate a rail line in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.

STB cited that it found GLBT's application "incomplete" and has discontinued environmental review.

SYSTRA has acquired bridge design company International Bridge Technologies (IBT).

Following the acquisition, IBT will be renamed SYSTRA IBT. SYSTRA says that the combination of the two companies "will provide clients with high-end technical expertise in bridge design combined with high-quality production capabilities that can be rapidly mobilized to meet clients' requirements."

SYSTRA has acquired bridge design company International Bridge Technologies (IBT).

Following the acquisition, IBT will be renamed SYSTRA IBT. SYSTRA says that the combination of the two companies "will provide clients with high-end technical expertise in bridge design combined with high-quality production capabilities that can be rapidly mobilized to meet clients' requirements."

SYSTRA has acquired bridge design company International Bridge Technologies (IBT).

Following the acquisition, IBT will be renamed SYSTRA IBT. SYSTRA says that the combination of the two companies "will provide clients with high-end technical expertise in bridge design combined with high-quality production capabilities that can be rapidly mobilized to meet clients' requirements."

Siemens and the International Society of Automation have partnered to raise awareness about industrial security needs and global standards. Both parties will share expertise in protecting the automation environment based on IEC 62443 cybersecurity standard. They'll also provide educational material and host events and webinars to boost cybersecurity awareness among owner-operators of industrial equipment, Siemens officials said in a press release. Recent global ransomware attacks have demonstrated the possible impacts of cybersecurity vulnerability, they added.

Americold broke ground on a 15.5-million-cubic-foot automated facility at its Rochelle, Illinois, campus. Expected to open in December 2018, the addition will increase automation capabilities, boost available capacity for the company's Chicago-area customers and provide an additional 57,600 pallet positions. Americold's Rochelle campus now is home to two conventional warehouse facilities. The company provides temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics services.

Metro Transit-St. Louis on Sept. 5 will ban smoking on all its properties.

Smoking already is prohibited on the agency's vehicles and on MetroLink light-rail station platforms. However, the new ban extends to all transit center locations, including parking lots and indoor and outdoor waiting areas.

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) is working with Masabi Ltd. to a provide mobile ticketing app for the agency's new commuter-rail service.

Available on the Google Play and Apple App store, Masabi's "SMART eTickets" app enables riders to buy tickets and plan trips. The technology also integrated with the "Transit" app, which provides real-time departure information and service-distruption notifications.

U.S. railroads moved 551,776 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending Aug. 26, a 2.3 percent increase compared with the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported yesterday.

U.S. roads posted 272,153 carloads, up 1 percent compared with the same week in 2016, and 279,623 containers and trailers, up 3.6 percent versus a year ago, according to an AAR press release.

Union Pacific Railroad announced its second-quarter progress in implementing positive train control (PTC) on its network.

The Class I's efforts during the quarter included preparing 27 additional track segments for PTC operations, bringing the total track segments to 104, or 56 percent completed. Those 27 segments are equipped with wayside devices and have defined GPS coordinates, which identify thousands of precise locations for systemwide PTC coordination, UP officials said in a press release.

New Jersey Transit has issued body cameras for every member of its 263-member police force.

The cameras are aimed at providing additional transparency when officers interact with the public, NJ Transit spokeswoman Lisa Torbic said in an email.

Southwest Gulf Railroad Company (SGRR) began construction on The Medina Line, a nine-mile project first approved by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in 2008.

Southwest Gulf Railroad Company (SGRR) began construction on The Medina Line, a nine-mile project first approved by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in 2008.

Southwest Gulf Railroad Company (SGRR) began construction on The Medina Line, a nine-mile project first approved by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in 2008.

Union Pacific provided a second quarter update on its progress regarding implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) and notes it has made strides toward its 2018 goal.

Union Pacific provided a second quarter update on its progress regarding implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) and notes it has made strides toward its 2018 goal.

Union Pacific provided a second quarter update on its progress regarding implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) and notes it has made strides toward its 2018 goal.

U.S. Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.-3) joined representatives from Press-Seal Corporation and passenger rail advocacy groups to tour Press-Seal's Fort Wayne, Ind., facility.

Rep. Banks spent the day learning about Press-Seal's freight rail and transit products and discussed public policy priorities for the business and rail communities in greater Fort Wayne. The tour was led by Press-Seal Corporation's Director of Operations Peter Skinner. During the visit, Rep. Banks saw the manufacturing of several rail products, including nylon tie inserts for concrete rail ties, rail pads for switches and special track work and steel inserts used in concrete ties made for the transit industry.

U.S. Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.-3) joined representatives from Press-Seal Corporation and passenger rail advocacy groups to tour Press-Seal's Fort Wayne, Ind., facility.

Rep. Banks spent the day learning about Press-Seal's freight rail and transit products and discussed public policy priorities for the business and rail communities in greater Fort Wayne. The tour was led by Press-Seal Corporation's Director of Operations Peter Skinner. During the visit, Rep. Banks saw the manufacturing of several rail products, including nylon tie inserts for concrete rail ties, rail pads for switches and special track work and steel inserts used in concrete ties made for the transit industry.