Railroad News

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) is holding four community meetings this month to gather input on five potential routes for the northern extension of the Crenshaw/LAX light-rail line.

The extension ultimately will provide a direct rail connection to the South Bay, Los Angeles International Airport area, South Los Angeles, Inglewood, Crenshaw Corridor, Mid-City, Central Los Angeles, West Hollywood and Hollywood communities. The alternative routes would either extend the Crenshaw Line north to the Purple Line subway and then through West Hollywood to the Red Line, or to the Red and Purple lines at Vermont Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard near LA's Koreatown neighborhood.

A tax dispute with the local government has prompted the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway (LGSR) to end passenger train rides out of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania.

LGSR officials announced yesterday that Andy Muller Jr., president and chief executive officer of the LGSR and its sister railroad and operator Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (RBMN), has decided to end the passenger rides out of the community starting in late November.

The decline in U.S. freight-rail traffic continued during the week ending Oct. 12, with railroads reporting increases in just two of 10 commodity categories tracked weekly by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

U.S. railroads posted 510,820 carloads and intermodal units for the week, down 7 percent compared with the same week in 2018. The number of U.S. roads' carloads dropped 7.5 percent to 243,807 units, while the number of intermodal containers and trailers fell 6.6 percent to 267,013, according to AAR data.

During 2018, Norfolk Southern Corp. decreased its greenhouse gas emissions by 2.6 percent year over year and achieved an all-time best operating ratio of 65 percent, according to the Class I's 12th annual Corporate Social Responsibility report.

Released yesterday, the report details NS' environmental, economic and social impacts during 2018 and early 2019.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) yesterday announced Danny Simpson as the 2019 recipient of the Holden-Proefrock Award, and 41 recipients of the 2018 Non-Accident Release (NAR) Grand Slam Awards. 

The awards are given annually to individuals, shippers and railroads operating in hazardous material fields.

Despite lower revenue, CSX posted a 3 percent increase in net earnings and a company record low operating ratio (OR) for third-quarter 2019 compared to the same period a year ago, the Class I reported yesterday.

Third-quarter revenue fell 5 percent to $2.98 billion, as merchandise revenue growth was more than offset by coal and intermodal declines. CSX decreased expenses by 8 percent year over year to $1.69 billion, driven by continued efficiency gains and volume-related savings, CSX officials said in a press release.

Compiled by Vesna Brajkovic, Associate Editor

Wabtec Corp. this month marked its 150th anniversary. The company’s origins began with founder George Westinghouse Jr.’s invention of the automatic air brake. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers recognized the significance of Westinghouse’s air brake to society with an historic mechanical engineering landmark designation. Meanwhile, Wabtec also celebrated the grand opening of its global headquarters in Pittsburgh. The office will house 250 employees, company officials said in a press release.

Hy-Tech Engineered Solutions Inc. has acquired Blaz-Man Gear and Gear Products & Manufacturing. The acquisitions will triple Hy-Tech’s capacity in gear production; allow the company to expand into more complex spiral and straight bevel gear design and manufacture; and lower costs, company officials said in a press release. The new companies will operate together with Hy-Tech’s existing gear company, Quality Gear, forming a new Power Transmission Division in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Harris County (METRO) earlier this week launched a pilot program to provide free Wi-Fi access to riders on the Green and Purple light-rail lines.

Wi-Fi will also be available on select bus routes until mid-January 2020. The rail and bus routes were chosen because of their proximity to universities and other schools, METRO officials said in a press release.

MTA Metro-North Railroad today will continue its Connect With Us rider feedback program by hosting a forum discussion at its commuter-rail station in Mount Kisco, New York. 

The railroad launched the program in 2014 to foster dialogue between riders and Metro-North leadership about service and progress on major issues, Metro-North officials said in a press release. 

The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) reached a record high of 140.6 in August, up 4.1 percent from the index in August 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

The index — which is based on the amount of freight carried by for-hire transportation entities — rose 1.4 percent from July's index and marked the second consecutive monthly increase.

The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program partners yesterday joined community leaders from Chicago neighborhoods to announce educational programs for students and residents as part of the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project.

The CREATE partners agreed to support educational programs in the Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Englewood and West Chatham neighborhoods to encourage students' interest and foster learning in transportation, engineering and technical fields throughout the design and construction of the project, which is anticipated to last through 2024.

New Jersey Transit yesterday began construction at the New Brunswick, Trenton Transit Center, Princeton Junction and Elizabeth train stations, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced

As part of the work, NJ Transit crews will extend the eastbound platform at New Brunswick Station, as well as install an escalator and make improvements to the elevator system. 

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) yesterday honored individuals and organizations for leadership and vision during its 2019 TRANSform conference in New York City.

The APTA Honors recognize leaders in the North American public transportation industry who are models of excellence, have demonstrated significant leadership and whose accomplishments have advanced public transportation, APTA officials said in a press release.