Railroad News

London Trackwork Inc., a supplier of rail transit track components, has been awarded a contract for special trackwork for Canada’s Valley Line light-rail transit project in Edmonton, AB.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has launched a new campaign to remind drivers to practice caution at railroad crossings.

Trackmobile has announced a new partnership with Rail Safe Training, Inc., with the start of the New Year.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx joined local dignitaries participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the CityLYNX Gold Line Phase 2 project in Charlotte, N.C., on Jan. 14.

The Charlotte Area Transit System's (CATS) second phase of the CityLYNX Gold Line Streetcar system that will improve transit options in the greater Charlotte area and offer faster, more convenient access to downtown by extending streetcar service west two miles from the Charlotte Transportation Center (CTC) through Uptown Charlotte and the Historic West End neighborhoods to French Street. At the other end of the line, the project will extend service east one-half mile along Hawthorne Lane from Novant Presbyterian Hospital to Sunnyside Avenue.

An estimated 5,500 Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) South Shore Line riders were stranded on Jan. 12 following a "severe flash freeze situation."

Weather conditions allowed ice to buildup on NICTD's overhead wires and train pantagraphs, impairing train operation and eventually causing the suspension of service along the line, but not before passengers on several trains were stuck waiting to be transported back to their stations of origin – some waiting for as long as five hours.

A Congressionally-mandated report has found that U.S. infrastructure requires more investment to maintain existing systems, as well as tackle a significant backlog of repair work.

"We have an infrastructure system that is fundamental to the nation's economic health and it needs greater attention and resources," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "Improving our nation's roads, bridges and transit helps create jobs, connects communities and ensures that our nation is equipped for the future."

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has recommended Tutor Perini/O&G, a joint venture to build the second segment of the Purple Line Extension.

The second section of the project will extend the Purple Line subway to Century City. The project has secured $1.6 billion in federal funding and the joint venture's proposal of $1.377 billion is approximately $500 million lower than competing bids.

SNC-Lavalin (SNC) has received two new rail and transit contracts in the U.S.

TranSystems Corp., a transportation-focused consulting firm, has chosen Tim Rock as its market sector leader for its freight rail and intermodal sector.

Sound Transit, Seattle’s regional transit system, has started building its Northgate light-rail station.

Kansas City Southern (KCS) President and CEO Patrick Ottensmeyer has been named as the U.S. chairman of its strategic trade initiatives working group by the U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published a letter declaring its support for Orange County Transportation Authority’s (OCTA) first modern streetcar this week, enabling the project to begin the engineering phase.

Testing will begin along a portion of the Port Defiance Bypass project in Washington state in mid January.

While Sound Transit owns the tracks where testing will take place, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will conduct the testing between Tacoma and DuPont along a section of track running parallel to Interstate 5. Trains will travel at speeds up to 40 mph in January and increase to 70 mph in February and March. The testing is to support the effort to begin Amtrak Cascades passenger trains on the route in the fall of 2017.

Valley Metro may begin final design work on the planned South Central Light Rail Extension after securing a key federal approval.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the project following extensive environmental review of the extension. The review studied potential impacts to the neighboring environment including noise and vibration, air quality, as well as historical and archaeological resources. The receipt of a FONSI is required before Valley Metro and the city of Phoenix, Ariz., could begin final design work on the project.

Plans to modernize Chicago’s Union Station will move forward following the announcement that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) new Build America Bureau and the city of Chicago are entering an Emerging Projects Agreement (EmPA).

Jeff Davis, a railroad industry veteran, has joined TNW Corporation (TNW) as its chief operating officer (COO). Davis assumed the role effective Jan. 1.

METRORail celebrated Jan. 9 the first passenger rail ride across its recently completed Harrisburg Overpass. 

The Chicago Transit Authority is moving forward with the Garfield Gateway project, through which the transit agency plans to make major enhancements to its Garfield Green Line station.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has introduced a proposal to invest $120 million in “state-of-the-art” improvements at 16 Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) stations and efforts to bolster system connectivity with the addition of a terminal at MacArthur Airport and a new stop at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Kansas City Southern (KCS), Watco Companies, LLC (Watco) and WTC Industrial (WTC) have announced a joint venture investment through which they will facilitate and expand U.S. exports of liquid fuels to Mexico.