Railroad News

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) last week released a framework for the allocation of more than $780 million of federal funds for transit agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief an Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law last month.

The proposed allocations, which were developed through a partnership between MTC and transit agency staff, represents the first of two distributions of the estimated $1.3 billion in CARES Act funding for which Bay Area transit agencies are eligible and will be considered by the commission on April 22, MTC officials said in a press release.

New Jersey Transit Senior Vice President and General Manager of Rail Operations Raymond Kenny died last week from complications of COVID-19, Newsday reported. He was 68.

Kenny had nearly 50 years of rail industry experience, including a stint as acting president of MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) late last week unveiled a notice of funding opportunity for up to $311.8 million in capital projects under the Consolidated Rai Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program.

With funding provided in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, the federal dollars can be used for freight- and passenger-rail projects that improve safety, efficiency and reliability. Eligible applications for competitive selection include projects that address congestion and grade crossings; upgrade short line or regional infrastructure; relocate rail lines; improve intercity passenger-rail capital assets; and deploy rail safety technology.

PT Kereta Indonesia (PT KAI) ordered 36 EMD® GT38AC freight locomotives from Progress Rail. The locomotives will enter service at PT KAI’s coal haulage operation in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Delivery will begin in late 2021.

Cambridge Systematics Inc. launched Mobility Forward, a suite of services designed to help transit agencies support riders during the COVID-19 pandemic and through recovery. The suite addresses how agencies can assess impacts on finance and performance; plan for modified operations; prepare grant and funding applications; and transform service to meet future mobility trends, Cambridge Systematics officials said in a press release. The company also is deploying an open-source trip planning software to help riders plan safe trips to essential places.

The Jacksonville Port Authority (Jaxport) earlier this week announced it is deferring the application fee for all new Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) No. 64 applications received by July 31. 

An FTZ is a secured site within the United States, but technically considered outside of U.S. Customs' jurisdiction, allowing shippers to clear cargo as it leaves the FTZ while saving on import clearance costs.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Metra have reported ridership drops of over 80 percent, and project they will face millions of dollars in lost revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Metra ridership is projected to fall 97 percent in April, compared with the same month last year. Meanwhile, CTA ridership is down about 80 percent compared with normal levels, the Tribune reported.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) yesterday issued a letter to the New York State Congressional Delegation requesting an additional $3.9 billion in federal funding as Congress considers its next COVID-19 relief package. 

Last month, the MTA secured nearly $4 billion in federal funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. However, MTA is projecting significant additional losses as the pandemic in New York City worsens, MTA officials said in a press release.

Today, Progressive Railroading announced the names of 25 people chosen for recognition this year as Rising Stars in the North American railroad industry.

This is the eighth year Progressive Railroading has sponsored the Rising Stars Awards program. The magazine defines a Rising Star as someone under the age of 40 who has made, or is making, a positive impact on his or her company, organization, department or team, and is viewed by others — peers, colleagues, supervisors, clients or associates — as an up-and-coming leader in the rail industry.

Kansas City Southern today reported record revenue of $731.7 million for the first quarter, an 8 percent increase from first-quarter 2019. Overall carload volume rose 4 percent compared to the same period a year ago.

KCS officials said the Q1 revenue growth was led primarily by an 18 percent increase in its chemicals and petroleum business, which was boosted by higher refined fuel products and liquid petroleum gas shipments to Mexico.

The Greenbrier Cos. Inc. has suspended new rail-car production at its Gunderson manufacturing plan in Portland, Oregon, due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. About 200 workers will be affected by the suspension, company officials said in a press release. Greenbrier is adjusting production and staffing levels in response to current and anticipated levels of new freight-car demand.

Transfesa Logistics has launched a refrigerated express 72-hour rail route to transport essential, hygiene and medical products from Valencia and Murcia, Spain, to London. A lighter rail box car allows around 30 containers per train to be moved, Transfesa officials said in a press release. 

The Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) is looking to fill three vacancies on its Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC).

The 17-member citizens group advises the agency on RTD’s strategies, initiatives and transportation programs.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) crews earlier this week began replacing rail power cables on weekdays in downtown San Francisco, a project made possible by reduced ridership due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Previously, power cable replacement work was performed late at night and on Sundays. With reduced ridership on the system, BART crews are now able to start replacements earlier. 

TNW Corp. has hired Bobby Franklin as general manager of the Texas North Western Railway (TXNW) in Sunray, Texas.

Franklin has extensive experience in the rail industry, most recently serving as vice president at the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad. His previous roles include chief transportation at the New Orleans railroad, as well as terminal manager and superintendent during a 12-year career at CSX.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) earlier this week reached an agreement with its labor unions on family benefits for transportation workers who died of COVID-19.

The benefits include a payment of $500,000 from the MTA to the surviving family of any worker who lost their life as a result of COVID-19. The agency will also provide health insurance to the spouse and dependents of the worker for three years. 

American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Chairwoman Nuria Fernandez has established a task force to guide the transit agency's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The APTA Mobility Recovery and Restoration Task Force will be led by Phillip Washington, chief executive officer of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and former APTA chair. Serving as task force co-chairs are Joanna Pinkerton, president and CEO of Central Ohio Transit Authority; and Paul Wiedefeld, general manager and CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on all business sectors continues to be reflected in U.S. freight-rail traffic numbers, with railroads logging 412,503 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending April 11, a 21.9 percent decrease compared with the same week in 2019, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Total carloads for the week were 198,726 units, down 23.8 percent. Intermodal volume was 213,777 containers and trailers, down 20 percent.

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) has awarded a three-year contract to RailWorks Corp. to provide track and maintenance services for the Metro SubwayLink and Light RailLink divisions, the company announced yesterday.

RailWorks' track services subsidiary will perform all minor, major and preventive track maintenance, as well as emergency response services on the 77 miles of Metro SubwayLink and Light RailLink track within the state's system.