Railroad News

Port Tampa Bay in Florida has received a $19.8 million federal grant to construct a 1,300-foot berth and a 30-acre container yard as part of a larger project to improve intermodal transportation.

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the grant as part of its Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program. The INFRA grant will help the port complete its Berth 214 project, an effort to expand the port's container complex.

MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) yesterday unveiled a train capacity tracker on its TrainTime mobile application to show riders where seats are available on its trains.

The seat tracking function enables riders to determine the number of seats available in each rail car so that they can decide where to sit according to social distancing guidelines.

Virgin Trains USA awarded Wabtec Corp. multiple contracts worth $120 million to implement positive train control (PTC) signaling and train control systems on the intercity passenger-rail service in Florida.  

Under the contracts, Wabtec will install its Interoperable-Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS®) PTC safety overlay in two phases.

Norfolk Southern Railway has notified workers that it will close its Bellevue hump yard operation in northern Ohio, The Toledo Blade reported yesterday.

"Due to declining car volumes, NS will idle the yard's hump and begin flat switching rail cars," NS spokesman Jeff DeGraff told the newspaper. "This alteration will allow for greater efficiencies and customer service that achieves the goals set forth in the company's strategic plan."

Norfolk Southern Railway has notified workers that it will close its Bellevue hump yard operation in northern Ohio, The Toledo Blade reported yesterday.

"Due to declining car volumes, NS will idle the yard's hump and begin flat switching rail cars," NS spokesman Jeff DeGraff told the newspaper. "This alteration will allow for greater efficiencies and customer service that achieves the goals set forth in the company's strategic plan."

Longshore workers at Total Terminals International (TTI) in Long Beach, California, set a North American record last week for the highest volume of container movements during a single call, while working the MSC Sveva container ship.

Workers transferred 17,080 containers, the equivalent of 30,744 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs). International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) crane operators worked seven ship-to-shore cranes, handling more than 250 containers per hour to reach the record, Port of Long Beach officials said in a press release.

TransLink yesterday launched a campaign to promote rider use of face coverings while using the system during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the “Wearing is Caring” campaign, TransLink employees will distribute 15,000 TransLink-branded masks to riders. 

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) earlier this week completed decking for the planned Wilshire/Rodeo subway station on the Purple Line extension seven months ahead of schedule.

The project completion was expedited due to a two-and-a-half-month street closure made possible by reduced traffic as a result of the countywide COVID-19 stay-at-home order.

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) announced yesterday its board has elected officers for the coming year, selecting Will McKnight to serve a second year as chairman.

Also elected was GPA Secretary-Treasurer Joel Wooten Jr. as vice chairman and member Kent Fountain as secretary-treasurer.

The South Louisiana Rail Facility (SLRF) will develop an $11.6 million rice mill at the Lacassine Industrial Park in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, Gov. Bel Edwards announced last week.

SLRF will invest $10 million to equip the new 15,000-square-foot facility, with construction slated to begin in September and wrap up by January 2021. The state is providing $1.6 million to the SLRF for the project through the state's Economic Development Award Program, Edwards administration officials said in a press release.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Fiscal and Management Control Board yesterday extended its commuter-rail operating contract with Keolis Commuter Services LLC through June 30, 2026. 

The contract includes incentives for on-time performance, measures to address fare evasion and investments in rail infrastructure.

Caltrain in San Francisco and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS) today increased weekday rail service to accommodate more riders as shelter-in-place restrictions ease in California.

Caltrain will operate 70 six-car trains per weekday, up from 42 since March. The commuter railroad will also increase service frequency to three trains per hour during the peak commute times.

Last week, six private transit operating firms formed the North American Transit Alliance (NATA) to promote transportation solutions and advocate for transit workers.

Under the alliance, First Transit, Keolis, MV Transportation, National Express, RATP Dev USA and Transdev will work with public transit agencies to help shape a future where public transportation is safe, clean and reliable, NATA officials said in a press release.

The Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority (ACTA), the intergovernmental agency that oversees the dedicated railway that operates in the corridor from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to downtown L.A., has named Kevin Scott chief financial officer.

Scott has had a 30-year career as a public finance investment banker, financial adviser and public policy consultant. He was selected for the position after a nationwide executive search by Stanton Chase in Los Angeles in partnership with the Center for Nonprofit Management, ACTA officials said in a press release.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and California officials late last week celebrated the opening of a 10-mile BART rail extension into Santa Clara County.

The officials gave congratulatory remarks at the Berryessa Transit Center in San Jose and performed two ribbon-cuttings before the inaugural northbound and southbound trip between the station and Milpitas Station.