Railroad News

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

If the United States' $90 billion public transit repair backlog isn't addressed soon, it could result in a $340 billion loss to the country's economy over the next six years.

The city of Milwaukee earlier this week took delivery of its second streetcar vehicle from Brookville Equipment Corp.

Metro Transit's Southwest light-rail project has jumped in price by $145 million to more than $2 billion, Metropolitan Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff said Tuesday in a project update.

The cost increase is due to factors such as freight-rail negotiations, additional environmental analysis and the rebidding of the civil contracting, Tchourumoff wrote to the council's corridor management committee.

A Blacklands Railroad subsidiary has opened a transloading and storage terminal at the Northern Nevada Railport and Logistics Center in Fernley, Nevada, the Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA) announced yesterday.

The subsidiary, Black Gold Rail Terminals: Northern Nevada, will help the short line meet its intermodal, logistics and distribution needs in a cost-effective manner, according to an NNDA press release.

Quebec government leaders have adopted special legislation that will pave the way for the Societe de transport de Montreal (STM) to acquire new Azur subway trains.

U.S. railroads posted a 5.8 percent increase in carload and intermodal traffic for the week ending May 12 compared with the same week in 2017, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Total carloads for the week increased 5.3 percent to 267,196 units, while intermodal volume climbed 6.3 percent to 282,833 containers and trailers compared with the same period a year ago.

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

The National Mediation Board (NMB) has reorganized.

The Office of Chief of Staff, the position of chief of staff and the position of assistant chief of staff have been eliminated, while two new offices have been created: Fiscal Services and Information Services.

Duos Technologies Group Inc. has obtained a "multimillion-dollar" contract with CN to provide the Class I with high-resolution train imaging systems for security and mechanical inspection.

The award includes four complete rail inspection portals and deployment of Duos' first commercial thermal undercarriage inspection system, which recently was beta-tested at the rail-testing facility in Pueblo, Colorado, Duos Technologies officials said in a press release.

Brightline has partnered with ride-hailing company Lyft to provide first- and last-mile services at its stations.

As part of the agreement, Brightline's three stations will feature designated Lyft pickup and drop-off zones. Brightline passengers will be able to use the Brightline mobile app to see their Lyft driver's estimated time of arrival and check the approximate cost of a ride.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has appointed Edward Cetnar superintendent of the Port Authority Police Department.

Cetnar succeeds Michael Fedorko, who announced his retirement last week after serving as superintendent since 2009.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday confirmed that the federal government will provide up to CA$1.53 billion toward the Green Line light-rail project in Calgary, Alberta.

The sum marks the Canadian government's largest contribution for an infrastructure project in Alberta, according to a press release issued by Trudeau's office.

Maryland is the latest state to achieve federal certification of a transit-rail safety oversight program.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) yesterday announced that Maryland's state safety oversight (SSO) program has been certified ahead of the April 15, 2019, deadline.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) yesterday issued a notice of funding opportunity for $250 million in grants to help fund the deployment of positive train control technology on freight, intercity passenger and commuter railroads.

Eligible projects for the grants include back-office systems; wayside, communications and onboard hardware equipment; software; equipment installation; spectrum; any component, testing and training for the implementation of PTC systems; and interoperability, according to an FRA press release.

Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Hamberger announced today he will retire from the organization early next year.

Having served in the role since 1998, Hamberger is the longest-tenured head of the 84-year-old association, according to an AAR press release.

GE Transportation this year marks the 50th anniversary of its Locotrol® technologies, which enable train engineers to control multiple locomotives remotely distributed within a train. The technology provides coordinated braking and traction power to facilitate quicker brake applications and releases. Deployed on 20,000 locomotives in 16 countries, Locotrol works with braking systems and locomotive control systems on both diesel-electric and electric locomotives, said GE Transportation Chief Digital Officer Laurie Tolson in a press release.

Savage Saudi Arabia has delivered seven locomotives and two locomotive booster units from the United States to Saudi Arabia's Eastern and Northern provinces. The units will support rail operations at Saudi Aramco and Ma'aden Wa'ad Al-Shamal Phosphate Co. facilities. Savage will own, operate and maintain the two Tier-3 compliant locomotives delivered to Saudi Aramco's Wasit and Berri gas plants in the Jubail area. Savage has an agreement to provide rail switching, track maintenance and track signaling system operations and maintenance for Saudi Aramco at the plants.