The Seven County Infrastructure Coalition's (SCIC) board voted to select Drexel Hamilton Infrastructure Partners LP for a public-private partnership to finance, develop and construct the proposed Uinta Basin Railway in Utah.
The Uinta Basin Railway is a new freight-rail line proposed by SCIC to connect the Uinta Basin to the national rail network and make it possible to economically transport goods in and out of the region, according to the project's website.
Tony Hatch is an independent transportation analyst and consultant, and a program consultant for Progressive Railroading’s RailTrends® conference.
Last month, two western (well, west of the Mississippi) railroads reported above-consensus first-quarter earnings: Kansas City Southern, which grew year over year (YOY) by 18 percent (adjusted, versus Street estimates of around 10 percent); and Union Pacific Railroad, in its weather-dominated quarter, by 15 percent YOY (versus around 12 percent). KCS lowered its operating ratio by 160 basis points (bps) to (adjusted) 64.2, and UP lowered its OR by a point — having absorbed a 160bps weather impact — to 63.6. It was also noted that “at Union Pacific, we do not include real estate sales in our OR.” Zing! But more than the results — it was the differing tones and tenors of the earnings' webcasts that struck me.
Tony Hatch is an independent transportation analyst and consultant, and a program consultant for Progressive Railroading’s RailTrends® conference.
Last month, two western (well, west of the Mississippi) railroads reported above-consensus first-quarter earnings: Kansas City Southern, which grew year over year (YOY) by 18 percent (adjusted, versus Street estimates of around 10 percent); and Union Pacific Railroad, in its weather-dominated quarter, by 15 percent YOY (versus around 12 percent). KCS lowered its operating ratio by 160 basis points (bps) to (adjusted) 64.2, and UP lowered its OR by a point — having absorbed a 160bps weather impact — to 63.6. It was also noted that “at Union Pacific, we do not include real estate sales in our OR.” Zing! But more than the results — it was the differing tones and tenors of the earnings' webcasts that struck me.
Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.
The Kansas City Streetcar Authority today received its second streetcar from vehicle manufacturer CAF USA Inc., which increased the fleet from four to five vehicles.
Streetcar No. 805 is the first of two vehicles scheduled to arrive in Kansas City, Missouri, this year.
The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) yesterday began collecting fares on the G Line after offering free rides on the electric commuter-rail line since it opened April 26.
RTD offered free rides in appreciation of the public’s patience in the delayed opening of the 11-mile, eight-station line that connects passengers from Denver’s western-most station to Union Station downtown, RTD officials said in a press release.
Last week two overhead electrical wires broke on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Harris County, Texas, (METRO) light-rail system, prompting an emergency shutdown of three lines to repair the hazards.
Crews yesterday completed emergency repairs on the Red Line extension that runs between the University of Houston-Downtown Station and the Northline Transit Center, but the shutdown continues on the Green and Purples lines as crews reinforce 79 locations of wire to prevent them from falling in the event of another break, METRO officials said in a press release.
Union Pacific Railroad executives joined other public and private-sector officials in ceremonies last week marking the 150th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike in Promontory Summit, Utah, which signaled the completion of the transcontinental railroad.
On May 9, a ceremony held at Ogden Union Station in Ogden, Utah, featured UP's steam locomotives Living Legend No. 844 and Big Boy No. 4014. The two met, recreating the historic image taken at Promontory Summit on May 10, according to a UP press release.
Union Pacific Railroad executives joined other public and private-sector officials in ceremonies last week marking the 150th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike in Promontory Summit, Utah, which signaled the completion of the transcontinental railroad.
On May 9, a ceremony held at Ogden Union Station in Ogden, Utah, featured UP's steam locomotives Living Legend No. 844 and Big Boy No. 4014. The two met, recreating the historic image taken at Promontory Summit on May 10, according to a UP press release.
CN announced last week that union members have ratified three of four tentative agreements reached between CN and Unifor Council 4000 negotiators in March.
The three ratified agreements, reached prior to their expiration, cover 2,000 CN railroaders in Canada, including all clerks and intermodal workers, excavator-operators, as well as conductors and locomotive engineers working on the SAR internal short line in northern Alberta, Canada, according to a CN press release.
Valley Metro on May 18 will begin operation of the 1.9-mile Gilbert Road light-rail extension in Mesa, Arizona.
The agency will mark the opening of the more than $180 million extension by offering limited free transit passes to riders, according to a Valley Metro press release.
CN announced last week that union members have ratified three of four tentative agreements reached between CN and Unifor Council 4000 negotiators in March.
The three ratified agreements, reached prior to their expiration, cover 2,000 CN railroaders in Canada, including all clerks and intermodal workers, excavator-operators, as well as conductors and locomotive engineers working on the SAR internal short line in northern Alberta, Canada, according to a CN press release.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has awarded $15 million in state grants for three projects in the Alameda Corridor-East (ACE) grade-separation program of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG).
The grant program will contribute $5 million each toward the completion of roadway underpasses under construction on Fairway Drive and Fullerton Road in Industry, California; in Rowland Heights, California; and on Durfee Avenue in Pico, Rivera, California, according to a SGVCOG press release.
The Timken Co. launched a new website, driveschain.com, for identifying and selecting precision roller, attachment and engineered-class chains. The site includes an attachment chain configurator, technical resources and engineering tools and a master product catalog. In a separate announcement, Timken celebrated the three-year anniversary of the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest rail tunnel in the world that connects Zurich and Milan. Timken provided tapered roller bearings for the tunnel boring machine that cut through 95 miles of granite.
Siemens Mobility Inc. and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Local 234 have signed a five-year contract. The contract calls for an annual wage increase of 3 percent per year and an increase in shift differential pay to 45 cents per hour for second shift workers. Other negotiations included a cap for mandatory Saturday overtime assignments; up to two weeks paid parental leave; and an increased allowance for safety shoes and glasses to $125 annually. Local 234 members will also maintain the same health and welfare benefits as Siemens Mobility company officials.
Businesses that ship commodities on the Illinois Waterway system are being encouraged to make alternative plans due to scheduled closures of locks on the system during periods in the summers of 2019, 2020 and 2023.
Shippers will need to find alternative routes during the closure windows or ship along the Illinois River outside those periods, according to St. Louis Regional Freightway officials. One alternative route is the Mississippi River through the St. Louis region, they suggested in a press release.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) yesterday appointed Julie Kirschbaum director of transit. Kirschbaum has been acting director of transit since October 2018.
In her new role, Kirschbaum will manage the agency’s transit division, which oversees day-to-day Muni metro light-rail operations.
The Virginia Maritime Association International Trade Symposium has presented The Andersons Inc. with the 2018 Shipper of the Year Award.
The annual award recognizes an "exceptional shipper" that works with the Port of Virginia to make it better for all users, port officials said in a press release.
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New Jersey Transit’s board earlier this week approved construction of a new storm-resilient electrical substation at the Bay Head rail yard on the North Jersey Coast Line to replace two existing substations damaged during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Funded by the Federal Transit Administration, the new substation will be protectively encased and elevated above anticipated salt water storm surges and flooding levels, according to a NJ Transit press release.
MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) this week implemented automatic train operation (ATO) on the system’s Flushing Line in Queens, New York.
ATO allows a train to be programmed to automatically provide optimal acceleration, braking and cruising speeds. This provides more regular and evenly spaced service, as well as smoother, faster trips compared to manual train operation, NYCT officials said in a press release.