Railroad News

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Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams yesterday called on states to get their transit-rail safety oversight programs by Sept. 30 or sooner.

Metro Transit-St. Louis last week unveiled a personal safety app that enables train and bus riders to discreetly contact law enforcement in emergencies.

Passengers who believe they are in an unsafe situation can open the "SafeTrek" app and hold their thumb on a "safe" button. Once safe, the rider releases the button and enters a customized four-digit number.

An $8.2 million project is underway to replace the U.S. Route 11 bridge over CSX track in the town of Dekalb in St. Lawrence County, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) announced late last week.

The project begins east of State Route 812 and ends near County Route 19. The new bridge will be founded on driven piles and have reinforced concrete substructures, which will provide greater lateral clearance for the CSX rail line that passes beneath, NYSDOT officials said in a press release.

As part of its effort to attract millennial riders, Metrolink has begun conducting a new online survey of Southern California college and university students.

The survey asks questions that gauge how students get to school, work and other destinations. It also asks what features would make public transit a better commuting option.

Union Pacific Railroad this year will invest $24 million in its infrastructure in Colorado.

The Class I has set aside $17.3 million to maintain track and $4.8 million to maintain bridges in the state. Key projects will include $3.4 million to replace more than 26,000 ties between Denver and Fort Lupton, and $3.3 million to replace more than 19,000 ties between Lazear and Somerset.

Amtrak last month ended its ticket discounts for military veterans, an action that has prompted a change.org petition asking the national passenger railroad to reinstate the program.

Amtrak eliminated its "Veterans Advantage" discount on Amtrak tickets for travel and on weekend Acela service on March 26, after offering the program since February 2001.

R. J. Corman Railroad Group LLC has hired Paul Lauritzen as vice president of transportation.

Lauritzen will direct and oversee R. J. Corman Railroad Switching Co. LLC, which provides railroad services for U.S. industrial facilities that include loading, assembly, disassembly and movement of rail-car consists, R. J. Corman officials said in a press release.

Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario (IO) have chosen Mosaic Transit Group as the preferred bidder to design, build, finance and maintain the CA$1.2 billion Finch West light-rail project.

The agencies expect to reach financial closure and award the contract this spring, with design and construction to begin shortly after, according to an IO press release.

Canadian Pacific and two of its unions — the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference – Train & Engine (TCRC) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) — are working through the collective bargaining process, the Class I announced late last week.

However, a "significant gap" remains between the railroad and the unions. If an agreement cannot be reached, a work stoppage could occur as early as April 21, CP officials said in a press release.

Koppers Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire Cox Industrial for $200 million in cash. Cox Industrial manufactures and distributes power distribution and transmission poles, pilings and related products to investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives and municipalities. The acquisition advances Koppers' strategy to become a "vertically integrated, high-value global supplier of wood-based technologies to infrastructure markets," company officials said in a press release. Koppers had exited the utility pole market in January 2015. However, the opportunity to re-enter the market with a "growth-focused management team" and the scale to compete was "attractive and compelling," said Koppers President and Chief Executive Officer Leroy Ball.

CSX has ordered Protran Technology's collision avoidance system (CAS) for installation on several hundred of its railway track machines. The system uses a radio solution to provide consistent distance measurements and alerts to other vehicles in the area. The CAS is expandable to provide protection to workers, as well as warnings for end of work zones. All safety interactions are recorded for review, Protran officials said in a press release. Financial details of CSX's order were not disclosed.

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued a request for proposals (RFP) to five prequalified teams to build and finance infrastructure upgrades on GO Transit's Lakeshore East line.

The scope of work includes two grade separations, track grading and drainage work and utility relocation along the central segment of the Lakeshore East corridor.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General has agreed to an audit of California's high-speed rail project, U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) announced yesterday.

The office agreed to action after Denham requested in December 2017 that it look into the project's "continued cost overruns" and a timeline that has grown over the years.

At an TRANSCAER® Awards ceremony held this week, the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) was recognized for advancing rail safety awareness and emergency response training.

RAC's Director of Dangerous Goods Andy Ash and transportation of dangerous goods specialists Jean-Pierre Couture and Curtis Myson each won Regional Service Awards for promoting and growing the TRANSCAER initiative in Ontario, Quebec and the Prairies, respectively, according to an RAC press release.

Phillip Eng has been appointed president of MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).

He succeeds Patrick Nowakowski, whose resignation takes effect today. Eng joined the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in March 2017, when he was appointed chief operating officer.

An Alstom-led consortium with SNC-Lavalin has obtained a CA$2.8 billion contract to deliver a complete automatic and driverless light-rail system for the Reseau Express Metropolitan (REM) project in Montreal.

The consortium's contract with CDPQ Infra includes rolling stock and signaling, as well as operation and maintenance services. Alstom's share of the contract is CA$2.2 billion and SNC-Lavalin's share is CA$600 million, according to an Alstom press release.

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved a 30-year, $4.9 billion contract with LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS) to design, build, finance, operate and maintain a new automated people mover (APM) train system at Los Angeles International Airport.

The agreement marks the largest contract ever awarded in the city's history, according to a press release issued by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).

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