Stay updated on news, articles and information for the rail industry
Railroad News
Stay updated on news, articles and information for the rail industry
In early 2020, parts of International District/Chinatown Station will close so crews can build rail connections that will allow the East Link extension to serve downtown Seattle.Photo – Sound Transit Facebook
Sound Transit last week released a draft service plan for 2020, which outlines significant service disruption for the Link light-rail system in the first quarter of the year.
For 10 weeks between January and March, parts of International District/Chinatown Station will close so crews can build rail connections that will allow the East Link extension to serve downtown Seattle and beyond, according to the service plan.
SEPTA has leased five rail cars from the Maryland Area Regional Commuter Rail system to increase capacity.Photo – SEPTA Facebook
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) last week announced that it is working with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to provide travel alternatives for commuters during reconstruction of Interstate 95.
To accommodate a potential influx of riders during interstate construction, SEPTA today is adding capacity and increasing train frequency on the Trenton and West Trenton lines, SEPTA officials said in a press release.
Tara HernandezPhoto – Port of New Orleans
The Port of New Orleans and Public Belt Railroad boards last week elected Tara Hernandez chair.
The boards also named Darryl Berger vice chair and William Langenstein III, secretary-treasurer. With the port's acquisition of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad effective in February 2018, port commissioners also serve as directors of the railroad's board.
Union Pacific Railroad last week announced four appointments affecting marketing and sales.Effective immediately, Jacque Bendon has been named vice president of industrial products; Kari Kirchhoefer, VP of Loup Logistics; Seana Fairchild, assistant VP of industrial products; and Elise Gosch, general director of strategic planning and communications, UP officials said in a press release.Bendon, previously AVP of industrial products, marketing and sales, succeeds Kirchhoefer. Bendon has worked for UP in various roles for 21 years, having begun her career in corporate audit. She's held leadership positions in the industrial products, chemicals and UP distribution services departments.Kirchhoefer, previously vice president of industrial products, marketing and sales, succeeds Shawntell Kroese as VP of Loup Logistics. Kirchhoefer has served UP for more than 26 years and held leadership positions in the chemicals, streamline, automotive and agriculture products departments, and in the market development and sales center.Succeeding Bendon is Fairchild, who previously was general director of strategic planning and communications, marketing and sales. Fairchild joined UP 15 years ago, and has held roles in the commercial strategy, customer experience, intermodal, chemicals and tax departments.Previously senior director of commercial strategy and pricing, Gosch succeeds Fairchild. Gosch has been with UP for more than 15 years and held roles in the distribution services, agriculture products, industrial products, intermodal departments, and in the market development and sales center.
Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.
More News from 9/30/2019
Union Pacific Railroad last week announced four appointments affecting marketing and sales.Effective immediately, Jacque Bendon has been named vice president of industrial products; Kari Kirchhoefer, VP of Loup Logistics; Seana Fairchild, assistant VP of industrial products; and Elise Gosch, general director of strategic planning and communications, UP officials said in a press release.Bendon, previously AVP of industrial products, marketing and sales, succeeds Kirchhoefer. Bendon has worked for UP in various roles for 21 years, having begun her career in corporate audit. She's held leadership positions in the industrial products, chemicals and UP distribution services departments.Kirchhoefer, previously vice president of industrial products, marketing and sales, succeeds Shawntell Kroese as VP of Loup Logistics. Kirchhoefer has served UP for more than 26 years and held leadership positions in the chemicals, streamline, automotive and agriculture products departments, and in the market development and sales center.Succeeding Bendon is Fairchild, who previously was general director of strategic planning and communications, marketing and sales. Fairchild joined UP 15 years ago, and has held roles in the commercial strategy, customer experience, intermodal, chemicals and tax departments.Previously senior director of commercial strategy and pricing, Gosch succeeds Fairchild. Gosch has been with UP for more than 15 years and held roles in the distribution services, agriculture products, industrial products, intermodal departments, and in the market development and sales center.
Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.
More News from 9/30/2019
FreightCar America Inc. formed a joint venture with Fabricaciones y Servicios de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (Fasemex) to manufacture rail cars. FreightCar America is building a new manufacturing factory in Castanos, Mexico, which is expected to start producing rail cars in mid-2020, company officials said in a press release. The joint venture will be consolidated and controlled by FreightCar America, and FreightCar America and Fasemex will evenly share profits and losses. FreightCar America is committing $25 million in assets and cash to the joint venture over the next several years.Robel Holding GmbH has established the Robel North America Corp. subsidiary to spearhead the sale of hand-guide machines in the United States and Canada. Christopher Drew will lead the company headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia, Robel officials said in a press release.Icomera is relocating operations from Rockville to larger facilities in Bethesda, Maryland. The office move is part of Icomera’s increased investment in the District of Columbia region and a substantially expanded U.S. team, company officials said in a press release. Icomera provides mobile internet connectivity and application platforms for trains and trams.Atlantic Intermodal Services (AIS) has purchased a facility in Charleston, South Carolina, to accommodate expanding operations. The facility is close to its current leased office space and will be equal distance from the North Charleston and Wando ports, AIS officials said in a press release. The company will be fully operational in the new facility in January 2020.MERMEC Inc. appointed Alan Calegari director and board chairman. Calegari will provide strategic support to company President Gerry Coyne, MERMEC officials said in a press release. Previously, Calegari was director of building systems and operations and vice president of operations for Johnson Controls Automotive Systems in Europe; president and chief executive officer of the Siemens security division; president and CEO of Dedicated Micros, Inc; and president and CEO of Union Switch & Signal.Transdev North America hired Bill Spraul as regional vice president for the southeast, where he will oversee operations and contribute to the company's growth strategy, Transdev officials said in a press release. Previously, Spraual was Transdev's chief executive overseeing the TRANSPO municipal bus system, chief operating officer of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System’s transit services division and director of transit operations for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority.
Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.
More News from 9/27/2019
Craig Campbell will serve in the business owner/manager seat on Alaska Railroad's board.Photo – Office of Lieutenant Governor of Alaska
Alaska Gov. Michael Dunleavy earlier this month appointed former Alaska Lt. Gov. Craig Campbell to the Alaska Railroad Corp.'s board to serve in the business owner/manager seat.
Campbell’s appointment went into effect Sept. 11. He will be reappointed to the position Oct. 3 to serve a five-year term, according to a press release from Dunleavy’s office.
RTD’s N Line will open in May or August 2020.Photo – RTD
The Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) earlier this week announced it will postpone the opening date of the N Line, a 18.5-mile commuter-rail line between Denver and Thorton, Colorado, until May or August of 2020.
The previous opening date for the N Line was projected in first-quarter 2020.
The EPA funding will pay for equipping the RTG cranes with hybrid battery/genset engine systems.Photo – South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority and the South Carolina Department of Health received a $2 million federal grant to upgrade the engines of 12 rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes, port officials announced yesterday.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the grant through its Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program. The funding will equip the RTG cranes with hybrid battery/genset engine systems, replacing the existing hi-power diesel engines, port authority officials said in a press release.
American Public Transportation Association (APTA) officials earlier this week urged Congress to increase support for commuter railroads by authorizing $1 billion in funding for positive train control (PTC) over six years through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grants program.APTA and commuter railroad executives made their plea during a Sept. 24 hearing before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials. The hearing's topic was "Challenges and Opportunities for Commuter Railroads."PTC will cost commuter railroads $4.1 billion to implement and almost 90 percent of those costs are being borne by transit agencies, state and local governments, said APTA President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Skoutelas in his prepared testimony."In addition, PTC will cost an estimated $160 million each year to operate and maintain. For publicly funded agencies that rely on federal, state and local funding, as well as passenger fares to operate their service, these costs are staggering," Skoutelas said.Moreover, the PTC costs come on top of an existing $90 billion backlog in state-of-good-repair costs to the current public transportation system, including commuter railroads, he noted."A recent survey of commuter railroad agencies found that many commuter railroads have state-of-good repair needs that far outweigh their capital budgets, even before including the additional costs associated with implementing PTC," he added.As a result, commuter railroads have had to divert funds from other critical infrastructure and safety projects to cover the costs of PTC implementation, he said."APTA urges Congress to authorize a total of $1 billion over six years ($160 million per year) under the CRISI program specifically to provide grants to publicly-funded commuter railroads to implement, operate, and maintain PTC," Skoutelas testified.APTA also called Congress to authorize $1.5 billion over six years in CRISI funding to provide grants to commuter and other passenger railroads for projects that improve grade crossing safety.
Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.
More News from 9/27/2019
Following completion of a feasibility study, LA Metro will recommend areas within LA County to conduct a potential congestion relief pricing pilot.Photo – LA Metro Facebook
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) board yesterday approved two contracts to assess how and where it would be possible to pilot congestion relief pricing in Los Angeles County.
LA Metro awarded WSP USA Inc. a more than $3 million contract to investigate the feasibility and framework for testing and implementing motorist pricing strategies, evaluate potential pricing models, identify a location to pilot the program and establish an implementation plan.
Attorneys general from 10 states have joined Montana and North Dakota in calling on the U.S. Department of Transportation to overrule a Washington state law regarding the transportation of crude oil by rail.
This week, attorneys general from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia wrote to the department to support the position of the Montana and North Dakota attorneys general, who have petitioned the Trump administration to overturn Washington's law.
UP CFO Rob Knight will retire Dec. 31.Photo – up.com
Union Pacific Chief Financial Officer Rob Knight will retire on Dec. 31, the Class I announced yesterday. Jennifer Hamann will succeed him effective Jan. 1, 2020.
Knight joined UP in 1980 and held numerous leadership positions prior to being named CFO in 2004. During his tenure as CFO, he led many initiatives that helped the company earn the highest market capitalization of any North American transportation company, UP officials said in a press release.
UP CFO Rob Knight will retire Dec. 31.Photo – up.com
Union Pacific Chief Financial Officer Rob Knight will retire on Dec. 31, the Class I announced yesterday. Jennifer Hamann will succeed him effective Jan. 1, 2020.
Knight joined UP in 1980 and held numerous leadership positions prior to being named CFO in 2004. During his tenure as CFO, he led many initiatives that helped the company earn the highest market capitalization of any North American transportation company, UP officials said in a press release.
Amtrak Police and Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) have partnered again for the third annual “Operation Clear Track” event to enforce grade crossing and trespassing laws during Rail Safety Week, which runs through Sept. 29.During the week, 600 police and sheriff’s departments across the country will report to hundreds of railroad grade crossings deemed “high incident” locations by the Federal Railroad Administration, OLI officials said in a press release.Once onsite, law enforcement officials will enforce their state grade crossing and trespassing laws during a three-hour safety detail, handing out railroad safety public awareness cards and writing citations and warnings to violators.This year, Operation Clear Track also will be held in Canada.Railroads and transit-rail agencies across the country are involved in events this week to bring awareness to the importance of safety at grade crossings.
Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.
More News from 9/26/2019
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) announced yesterday they've reached a tentative agreement with Transit America Services Inc. for engineers employed by Caltrain.The tentative agreement governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for more than 60 members, BLET officials said in a press release.Ballots, which have been mailed to active members eligible to vote on the ratification agreement, are due Oct. 15.With an average of 65,000 riders each weekday, Caltrain commuter service operates between San Francisco on the north end, through San Jose to Gilroy on the south end. Previously, Amtrak operated the service until spring 2012.
Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.
More News from 9/26/2019
MBTA has completed final repairs to train control signals, track signals and electronic track switching controls on the Red Line.Photo – MBTA
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) yesterday announced it has completed all necessary Red Line signal repairs and restored regularly scheduled service on the line following a June rail-car derailment that caused significant infrastructure damage and service disruptions over the summer.
As of last week, all restoration work was completed with final repairs made to train control signals, track signals and electronic track switching controls.
Operation Lifesaver Canada (OL) announced yesterday that Canadian Pacific Police Service Constable Brad Bidulka will be awarded its Roger Cyr Award.The award recognizes "rail safety ambassadors who have made exceptional contributions to rail safety in Canada," OL officials said in a press release. The award is announced annually during Canada's Rail Safety Week, which is being recognized this week through Sept. 29.“Brad is proof that through passion and commitment, each of us can make our communities safer places to live,” said OL Canada’s National Director Sarah Mayes. “Whether he’s knocking on doors to speak directly with community members, or hosting a mock-collision in minus-30 weather to highlight the importance of obeying railway signs and signals, Brad goes above and beyond to get the rail safety message across.”Bidulka joined CP's police service in 2015. In 2017 he worked to establish and chair a new OL provincial committee in Saskatchewan, to help coordinate rail safety education and outreach efforts in the province, OL officials said.Since that time, Bidulka has built up the committee’s membership and secured the support of more than a dozen key organizations in the region.Bidulka also understands the value of one-on-one rail safety conversations, OL officials said. After footage recently surfaced on social media of children climbing under a stopped train at a crossing, he identified the community and reached out to its local association. Along with parent discussions, school presentations and a rail safety open house at the community center, Bidulka and his team knocked on doors throughout the community to spread the rail safety message. He still visits the area weekly to speak with community members, and he oversaw the installation of 12 new “no trespassing” signs along rail lines in the area.Named after the founder of Operation Lifesaver Canada, the Roger Cyr Award for Public Rail Safety was first awarded in 1981 and is a joint initiative of OL, the Railway Association of Canada and Transport Canada.
Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.
More News from 9/26/2019
MTA's proposed 2020-2024 capital plan increases infrastructure spending by 70 percent.Photo – MTA LIRR
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) board yesterday approved the proposed capital plan that calls for $51.5 billion to be invested in New York City’s subways, railroads and buses over the next five years.
The plan, which would increase infrastructure spending by 70 percent over current levels, calls for investing more than $37.3 billion in MTA New York City Transit’s subway, $5.7 billion in Long Island Rail Road's needs and $4.7 billion in Metro-North Railroad's needs, MTA officials said in a press release.