Railroad News

BNSF Railway Company announced it recently became the first Class I railroad to join the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA), comprising more than 200 freight transportation companies working to develop blockchain standards for the logistics industry and the supply chain as a whole. 

"Blockchain technology has the potential to change several aspects of the transportation industry and it is important that the industry comes together to align around a set of standards," said Muru Murugappan, BNSF vice president of technology services and chief information officer. "We are excited to help drive those standards forward as a member of BiTA."

Industry-Railway Suppliers, Inc. (IRS), a leading distributor of tools and products for railway construction and maintenance, has acquired the business assets of ESCO Equipment Company.

Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc., and Georgetown Rail Equipment Company (GREX) have completed a definitive merger agreement where Loram will acquire all outstanding shares of GREX.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has closed three safety recommendations for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

Brian Lindamood has been promoted to vice president engineering at the Alaska Railroad and will oversee the evaluation, planning and construction of the railroad's infrastructure including engineering, bridge maintenance and construction, and capital project management.

Lindamood joined the Alaska Railroad in June 2006 as capital projects manager and has led the railroad's Project Management Department since January 2012. Previously, he held senior positions in several national engineering firms, including Hanson-Wilson Inc. and TranSystems Corporation, specializing in railway design and operational analysis.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) has announced that it has pushed back the opening service date for Phase I of its Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Project.

SCVTA said it will need to push back the original estimated opening date from June 2018 to the fall of 2018. The passenger line will stretch from Warm Springs in Fremont to Berryessa in San Jose.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has moved into the second phase of environmental review for the Cross Harbor Freight Movement Program.

PANYNJ entered a $23.7-million agreement with Cross Harbor Partners, a joint venture of STV Incorporated/AKRF Inc., for a Tier II Environmental Impact Statement that will evaluate two preferred options to move freight across New York Harbor and is expected to take up to three years to complete.

Mike O'Malley has begun his tenure as president of the Railway Supply Institute (RSI), succeeding Tom Simpson following his retirement.

Kimberly Slaughter has joined HNTB Corp. as transit/rail market sector leader. She brings 30 years of comprehensive experience in transportation and public transit.

Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) has opened a new Asia office in Shanghai, China, as the railroad aims to build its business.

BNSF Railway has released details about its 2018 capital plan of $3.3 billion, noting that it reflects continued focus on maintaining its network as well as expansion projects aimed at meeting customer demands.

A February hearing of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will focus on the progress made toward implementing Positive Train Control (PTC).

According to the chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee, U.S. Reps. Jeff Denham (R-CA-10) and Michael Capuano (D-MA-7), several groups and organizations will address the subcommittee including Amtrak, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Railroad Administration, private rail operators, public transit officials and labor.

The California State Transportation Agency awarded $51.9 million in State Rail Assistance program funding to seven recipients. The funds are made possible by the passage of state Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) last year.

SB 1 created the State Rail Assistance Program by directing a portion of new revenue specifically to intercity rail and commuter rail. The majority of program funding is directed by statutory formula to rail operators. The legislation is expected to provide $7.6 billion in new transit funding over the next decade.

The New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) board is set to consider New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's nomination of Kevin Corbett to serve as the public transportation system's executive director at its next meeting.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation (OKDOT) successfully moved two BNSF bridge spans into place the weekend of Jan. 26-28 in a complicated maneuver that was part of a highway expansion project.

OKDOT said the move was the first of its kind in state history, took two years to plan and required a 60-hour work window where all lanes of I-235 in Oklahoma City were shut down for the move.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has selected a preferred alignment for the Red Line Extension (RLE) project, which is set to extend the Red Line to 130th Street from 95th Street.

A trio of rail advocacy groups, the Rail Passengers Association (RPA), the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), are joining forces to make one thing clear: Railroad tracks are no place for pedestrians, cars and bicyclists.

Citing recent fatal incidents in Florida, what the groups call "an unhelpful political campaign targeting the Brightline rail service" and a local group's suggestion that using tracks as walking paths is a normal activity, have prompted the joint focus on safety around railroad tracks.

The Snead Family, responsible for founding several Georgetown, Texas, businesses, including a quarry, a railroad and a rail solution company, was honored at an event held Jan. 29 at Georgetown Rail Equipment Company (GREX).

GREX Executive Chairman Chris Aadnesen hosted the gathering outside the historic GREX Business Car 400, which recently made the move to its permanent home at GREX's headquarters. Attendees included members of the Snead family, employees of the quarry, railroad and GREX businesses, as well as local officials. Aadnesen said the event was a way to thank the Snead family for their contributions to the rail industry and the Georgetown community.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has released and is taking public comment on the new draft of its Massachusetts State Rail Plan.

The draft outlines Massachusetts' priorities and proposed plans for the next two decades of passenger and freight rail investments, officials said.