Railroad News

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Associate Editor

The National Mediation Board (NMB) has reorganized.

The Office of Chief of Staff, the position of chief of staff and the position of assistant chief of staff have been eliminated, while two new offices have been created: Fiscal Services and Information Services.

Duos Technologies Group Inc. has obtained a "multimillion-dollar" contract with CN to provide the Class I with high-resolution train imaging systems for security and mechanical inspection.

The award includes four complete rail inspection portals and deployment of Duos' first commercial thermal undercarriage inspection system, which recently was beta-tested at the rail-testing facility in Pueblo, Colorado, Duos Technologies officials said in a press release.

Brightline has partnered with ride-hailing company Lyft to provide first- and last-mile services at its stations.

As part of the agreement, Brightline's three stations will feature designated Lyft pickup and drop-off zones. Brightline passengers will be able to use the Brightline mobile app to see their Lyft driver's estimated time of arrival and check the approximate cost of a ride.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has appointed Edward Cetnar superintendent of the Port Authority Police Department.

Cetnar succeeds Michael Fedorko, who announced his retirement last week after serving as superintendent since 2009.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday confirmed that the federal government will provide up to CA$1.53 billion toward the Green Line light-rail project in Calgary, Alberta.

The sum marks the Canadian government's largest contribution for an infrastructure project in Alberta, according to a press release issued by Trudeau's office.

Maryland is the latest state to achieve federal certification of a transit-rail safety oversight program.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) yesterday announced that Maryland's state safety oversight (SSO) program has been certified ahead of the April 15, 2019, deadline.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) yesterday issued a notice of funding opportunity for $250 million in grants to help fund the deployment of positive train control technology on freight, intercity passenger and commuter railroads.

Eligible projects for the grants include back-office systems; wayside, communications and onboard hardware equipment; software; equipment installation; spectrum; any component, testing and training for the implementation of PTC systems; and interoperability, according to an FRA press release.

Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Hamberger announced today he will retire from the organization early next year.

Having served in the role since 1998, Hamberger is the longest-tenured head of the 84-year-old association, according to an AAR press release.

GE Transportation this year marks the 50th anniversary of its Locotrol® technologies, which enable train engineers to control multiple locomotives remotely distributed within a train. The technology provides coordinated braking and traction power to facilitate quicker brake applications and releases. Deployed on 20,000 locomotives in 16 countries, Locotrol works with braking systems and locomotive control systems on both diesel-electric and electric locomotives, said GE Transportation Chief Digital Officer Laurie Tolson in a press release.

Savage Saudi Arabia has delivered seven locomotives and two locomotive booster units from the United States to Saudi Arabia's Eastern and Northern provinces. The units will support rail operations at Saudi Aramco and Ma'aden Wa'ad Al-Shamal Phosphate Co. facilities. Savage will own, operate and maintain the two Tier-3 compliant locomotives delivered to Saudi Aramco's Wasit and Berri gas plants in the Jubail area. Savage has an agreement to provide rail switching, track maintenance and track signaling system operations and maintenance for Saudi Aramco at the plants.

Las Vegas Railway Express Inc. has appointed Lou Schillinger president.

He is the founder, president and chief executive officer of United Shortline Insurance Services Inc. (USIS), which has provided insurance products for railroads for 26 years.

Metrolink's board late last week approved a 25 percent fare cut on its San Bernardino Line in an effort to increase ridership.

One of the commuter railroad's busiest lines, the San Bernardino Line serves the San Gabriel Valley in California, with stops at Los Angeles Union Station, California State University in Los Angeles, Montclair, Rancho Cucamonga and downtown San Bernardino.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has asked Federal Railroad Administrator Ronald Batory to work with freight railroads around the Chicago area to ensure Amtrak's on-time performance improves in Illinois and around the country.

In a letter to Batory sent last week, Durbin noted that Amtrak's Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale route continues to be "one of the worst performing routes" in the country.

The freight-rail industry has invested an estimated $100 billion in infrastructure, equipment and technology over the past four years to prepare for a 41 percent increase in freight shipments by 2040.

The investments have paid off by making U.S. railroads safer, with mainline accidents down 32 percent over the past decade, Association of American Railroads (AAR) officials said today, as they released a white paper highlighting how technology has improved rail network safety.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded a $75 million Small Starts grant to Sound Transit for its Hilltop Tacoma Link extension.

The 2.4-mile light-rail extension will run along Commerce Street and Stadium Way to the Hilltop District in Tacoma, Washington. The line will include six new stations.

The Canadian government last week announced a CA$15.5 million investment in three infrastructure projects at the Port of Quebec.

The first project will upgrade rail and road infrastructure in the port's Anse au Foulon area to increase efficiency. Additionally, electrical network and water system will be upgraded, government officials said in a press release.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Senior Associate Editor

Amtrak
2018 C&S budget: $102.5 million
2017 C&S budget: $69.2 million
Major C&S projects planned in 2018: For fiscal-year 2018, continue PTC projects on the Empire Corridor and Springfield Line.

CSX
2018 C&S budget: $44 million
2017 C&S budget: $56.5 million
Major C&S projects planned in 2018: C&S capital focuses on SRO obsolescence, signal reliability, communications upgrades, defect detectors and hump yard improvements.
Note: The budget doesn’t include $116 million expected to be spent on signal upgrades for positive train control (PTC) implementation this year.

Norfolk Southern Corp.
2018 C&S budget: $31 million
2017 C&S budget: $30.8 million
Major C&S projects planned in 2018: Replace process control system (PCS), centralized traffic control (CTC) and direct traffic control (DTC) system at Elkhart Yard, and replace PCS system at Enola Yard.