Railroad News

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) yesterday announced a proposal that would make it easier for public-private partnerships to be formed in public transportation projects.

The proposed Private Investment Project Procedures for public transportation capital projects will help the federal government develop "more effective approaches" to spurring private participation and investment in project planning, development, finance, design, construction, maintenance and operation, according to an FTA press release.

Rail-car orders in the second quarter totaled 17,665 units compared with 4,814 units in the first quarter and 7,555 units in second-quarter 2016, according to quarterly statistics released last week by the Railway Supply Institute's American Railway Car Institute Committee (ARCI).

Car deliveries in Q2 increased to 10,625 units from Q1 deliveries of 10,042 units. However, they decreased in the last quarter compared with Q2 2016's deliveries of 15,655 units.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today will begin holding hearings to solicit public input the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) for the Hudson River rail tunnel project.

The FRA will hold two sessions today. Hearings also are scheduled for Thursday and 10. Each meeting will include afternoon and evening sessions.

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. reported second-quarter operating revenue rose 7.8 percent to $540.4 million, while operating income increased 16.2 percent to $101.3 million compared with the same quarter in 2016.

G&W's adjusted operating income in the quarter rose 13.3 percent to $107.4 million compared with $94.7 million in Q2 2016, according to a G&W press release.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) yesterday warned rail workers of the risks of working on tracks using only a watchman or lookout to provide the train-approach warning.

Issued yesterday, Safety Alert No. 066 was prompted in part by the deaths of two rail workers who died after being struck by a train while working on track in South Dakota. The NTSB investigation into the January accident found that the sight distance used by the worker serving as the lookout was about half the distance required by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

Darrell Krueger, 35

Job description: Krueger is a mechanical engineer. He tests and evaluates many parts of the railroad, from alternative fuels to hand tools. He also works on derailment investigation and cause-finding.

Education: Auburn University, B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) on Aug. 5 will kick off a capital improvement project to rebuild a Green Line interlocking.

The project involves replacement of four switches, as well as signal upgrades, power cable renewal, grout pad replacement, station rehabilitation, preventive maintenance and replacement of 1,500 crossties on a 4.5-mile section of track.

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) logged a record 3.85 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in fiscal-year 2017, a 6.7 percent increase, or 242,221 more TEUs, over last year, the authority recently announced.

In the last half of FY2017, the Port of Savannah moved 1.99 million TEUs for a growth rate of 11.6 percent over the same period in FY2016, according to a GPA press release.

Strobel Energy Group has signed a contract to design and construct an ethyl acetate facility in Nebraska that will be served by BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad.

Strobel officials announced late last week that the company has signed an engineering, procurement and construction agreement with Prairie Catalytic LLC, a subsidiary of Greenyug LLC, to design and build the commercial scale bio-ethanol-to-ethyl acetate facility in Columbus, Nebraska.

Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A. de C.V. (Ferromex) will use digital services to monitor locomotive performance under a new long-term service agreement between the railroad and GE Transportation.

The agreement — which brings digital services to freight rail in Mexico for the first time — provides data on the health status and performance of the railroad's 100 Evolution Series locomotives, according to a blog posted on GE Transportation's website.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has approved moving the Durham-Orange light-rail project into the engineering phase of the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program.

The news means the $2.47 billion project is eligible for $1 billion in federal funds, according to a press release issued by GoTriangle, which oversees transit in Wake, Durham and Orange counties in North Carolina.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) late last week launched a new workforce development program aimed at creating career opportunities in the transportation industry.

Known as Workforce Initiative Now-LA (WIN-LA), the program is designed to foster collaboration between Metro and institutions and organizations interested in helping job seekers, companies and local communities.

Early voting reports from local unions indicate that West Coast longshore workers at 29 ports in California, Oregon and Washington will approve a new bargaining agreement with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), union officials announced late last week.

Tallies of the vote totals so far indicated that the contract extension will pass by 67 percent. The union's coast balloting committee will announced the official results on Aug. 4, according to a press release from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee late last week unanimously approved the $60 billion fiscal-year 2018 funding bill for transportation, housing and urban development, and related agencies.

The proposal would continue providing federal funding for Amtrak's long-distance routes, as well as for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program. In particular, the bill slots $1.6 for the national intercity passenger railroad, with $358.4 million dedicated for the Northeast Corridor and the remaining $1.24 billion for Amtrak's nationwide network.

Travis Kelly, 35

Job description: Kelly supports Texas Central’s local and state government relations, media relations, and digital and stakeholder outreach. The company is building a privately financed 240-mile high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth.

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies, Baylor University

Bombardier posted second-quarter revenue of $4.1 billion, down from $4.3 billion during the same period in 2016. The company's adjusted net income was $39 million versus an adjusted net loss of $83 million during the same period last year. The firm reported adjusted earnings per share of 2 cents versus a 6 cent adjusted loss per share in 2016. Bombardier Transportation — the company's rail segment — logged revenue of $1.98 billion compared with $1.96 billion. The news comes as the rail segment's "operational transformation and site specialization strategy" continues to gain traction, said Bombardier officials. The entire company is in the midst of executing a five-year plan to improve operating margins.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver has placed its second major contract for Protran Technology's Advance Warning and Collision Avoidance Systems. Protran's product portfolio includes the Protracker Train Device, which is mounted in the cab of a train or tied into the train's monitor. The train operator will receive audible and visual alerts of nearby personnel wearing the Protracker Personal Alert Device.

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) on Tuesday unveiled a new website.

The site provides information on Canada's Class I, short line, intercity, commuter and tourist rail operators, as well as RAC's various services and initiatives.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has released $14 million in funds from the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program for the second phase of a rail improvement project in Springfield, Illinois.

The funds are from a TIGER grant to the city to construct new underpasses at Ash and Laurel streets as part of a project to improve rail and traffic safety, according to a press release issued by U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Darin LaHood (R-Ill.).

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has chosen Arup to conduct a feasibility reassessment of a proposed commuter-rail connection between Boston's North and South stations.

Arup will evaluate design options and impacts of the project, as well as costs and benefits. The report is slated for completion in spring 2018, Arup officials said in a press release.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's (PANYNJ) cargo volumes set a record during the first six months of 2017, the authority announced this week.

Volumes through June 30 were 4.4 percent higher than during the same period in 2015, when the previous record of 3,093,789 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) was set, according to a PANYNJ press release.