Railroad News

In an op-ed published today in the Washington Examiner, Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Hamberger and shipper industry executives issued a strong rebuke of President Donald Trump's trade policies.

Trump's recently announced tariffs on certain foreign goods will hinder global commerce and could reverse economic progress spurred by the president's regulation reforms and tax cuts, wrote Hamberger, American Chemistry Council CEO Cal Dooley and American Petroleum Institute CEO Jack Gerard.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Senior Associate Editor

On July 15, Metra will roll out two fare zone pilot programs aimed at attracting new riders and simplifying the agency's fare structure.

The first program calls for consolidating outer zones and capping fares for trips over 45 miles.

New Jersey Transit has completed a $4 million platform rehabilitation and transit arts project at its Cranford commuter-rail station.

Funded by the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund, the work included structural repairs, new windscreens and canopy replacements, along with new benches, marketing display cases and trash cans.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is seeking input on the development of a new strategic plan to guide its programs and member services for fiscal years 2020-2022.

To gather feedback, the association has launched an online survey through July 31.

The North County Transit District (NCTD) of San Diego has approved a $37 million order for five diesel-electric Siemens Charger locomotives.

An OmniTRAX Inc. affiliate has acquired the Alabama & Tennessee River Railway LLC (ATN) and the Fulton County Railway LLC (FCR) from CSX.

The operations of ATN and FCR, which have been managed by OmniTRAX for several years, are expected to continue unchanged following the acquisition, OmniTRAX officials said in a press release.

CSX Corp. has appointed Mark Wallace executive vice president sales and marketing, and Diana Sorfleet, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, the Class I announced yesterday.

Wallace joined CSX in March 2017 as executive VP corporate affairs and chief of staff, and was named executive VP and CAO in January.

Imports at the nation's major retail container ports are expected to set a new record this month, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.

The results are being driven by increasing consumer demand and rising retail sales, NRF and Hackett officials said in a press release.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Editor

On June 29, the Canadian government announced it would issue reciprocal surtaxes on CA$16.6 billion of imports of steel, aluminum and other products (from yogurt to ketchup to whiskey) from the United States. The surtaxes, which the Canadian government said were issued “in direct, measured and proportional response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum,” went into effect July 1.

Amtrak is now allowing pets on trains along its Chicago-St.Louis corridor.

The national intercity passenger railroad's Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle trains are the final Midwestern routes to adopt the pet-friendly policy. Amtrak's entire Midwest network now allows pets on board, railroad officials said in a press release.

U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) late last week toured Union Pacific Railroad's Clarks Park Yard U.S. Customs and Border Protection Facility in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Organized by the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC), the tour "highlighted the importance of border security and international trade" for UP and the rail industry, NRC officials said in a press release.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) last week marked its 50th anniversary.

On July 1, 1968, the agency was established as the Urban Mass Transportation Administration to provide federal assistance for mass transit projects. In the 1970s, the administration's resources were broadened with the creation of an annual formula grant program through the National Mass Transportation Assistance Act.

Today, the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) announced a newly redesigned website that was recently launched to better reflect the variety of programs and resources it offers to the short line industry.

Accessible at www.shortlinesafety.org, the new site provides fast and easy access to programs and support materials, including hazardous materials and safety culture resources, and downloadable safety tips, SLSI officials said in a press release.

The Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) this month will host eight public meetings to provide an update on its fare pass program study and proposed changes to fare policies.

The meetings will take place throughout the Denver metropolitan area between July 16 and 26.

Container Maintenance Corp. late last month announced plans to establish a facility in Dillon County, South Carolina, near Inland Port Dillon, which ties into the Port of Charleston and is served by CSX.

To open in the third quarter, the facility will be used to provide container and chassis maintenance services for a variety of customers in the area. Container Maintenance offers repair, upkeep and depot services, and stores and redistributes intermodal equipment.

On July 1, Watco Cos. LLC marked its 35th anniversary. The company was launched in 1983 by founder Dick Webb as an industrial switching operation in DeRidder, Louisiana.

Now, Watco has grown from one to more than 4,000 customers, from 14 to 5,200 employees, and from one to 202 operations, including 38 short lines. The company provides rail, switching, terminal and port, mechanical and other services in 37 states and four countries.

President Donald Trump has nominated former Metra Chairman Martin Oberman as a Surface Transportation Board (STB) member.

If his nomination is approved by the Senate, Oberman will serve the remainder of a five-year term that expires Dec. 31, 2023. The open Democratic seat on the board was vacated by former STB Chairman Dan Elliott last year.