Railroad News

U.S. railroads moved 565,502 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending May 26, marking a 4.4 percent increase over the same week last year.

Total carloads ticked up 3 percent to 273,226 units during Week 21, while intermodal traffic grew 5.8 percent to 292,276 containers and trailers, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

CSX Corp. has named James Schwichtenberg as the Class I's new vice president and chief safety officer.

A "recognized leader in rail safety," Schwichtenberg will lead the company's renewed focus on safety, CSX officials said in a press release. He will report to Ed Harris, executive vice president of operations.

Railinc Corp. has promoted Joan Smemoe to chief information officer and vice president of information technology (IT). She will begin her new position June 11.

A member of Railinc's executive management team, Smemoe will lead the company's data, product development and information systems platforms. She will report to President and Chief Executive Officer Allen West in her new role.

The Oregon Senate has confirmed three new board members for the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet).

Nominated by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, the new directors bring experience in community involvement, construction, labor, business and education, agency officials said in a press release.

California has approved a $750,000 grant to help connect the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) rail systems.

The grants will help fund planning for the ACE-BART connection, according to a press release issued by the Tri-Valley—San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority.

Kansas City Southern has promoted Ginger Adamiak to vice president of energy, industrial development and commercial innovation, the Class I announced yesterday.

Adamiak previously served as VP of energy and short-line relations. Her promotion is part of the KCS' realignment of its commercial innovation and industrial development functions to create one organization focused on developing new revenue streams, said Executive VP and Chief Marketing Officer Brian Hancock in a press release.

The freight-rail industry has invested an estimated $100 billion in infrastructure, equipment and technology over the past four years to prepare for a 41 percent increase in freight shipments by 2040.

The investments have paid off by making U.S. railroads safer, with mainline accidents down 32 percent over the past decade, Association of American Railroads (AAR) officials said today, as they released a white paper highlighting how technology has improved rail network safety.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded a $75 million Small Starts grant to Sound Transit for its Hilltop Tacoma Link extension.

The 2.4-mile light-rail extension will run along Commerce Street and Stadium Way to the Hilltop District in Tacoma, Washington. The line will include six new stations.

The Canadian government last week announced a CA$15.5 million investment in three infrastructure projects at the Port of Quebec.

The first project will upgrade rail and road infrastructure in the port's Anse au Foulon area to increase efficiency. Additionally, electrical network and water system will be upgraded, government officials said in a press release.

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

A draft agreement for a new rail service operator along the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line in California is now available for public view, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) announced late last week.

The commission will consider the draft agreement at a June 14 meeting in Watsonville, California.

President Donald Trump has proposed rescinding $279 million of prior-year surface transportation funding, including $100 million of public transit and intercity passenger-rail grants, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced yesterday.

In a "legislative alert," APTA said that the president's administration has proposed rescinding:
• $47 million in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula grants that had been provided in federal fiscal-year 2005 and prior years; and
• $53 million in the Federal Railroad Administration-issued capital assistance for high-speed rail corridors and intercity passenger-rail service, including $47 million for the Chicago-to-Iowa City intercity passenger-rail project.

Sound Transit has named Don Billen executive director of planning, environment and project development department.

Billen previously served as the department's deputy director. Since September 2017, has has been the department's acting executive director.

Amtrak has issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) from master developers interested in making improvements to the railroad's 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.

With the release of the RFQ, Amtrak begins a two-phase process that will result in the selection of a preferred developer that will assist in introducing new customer amenities, reinvigorating the retail and commercial potential of the station, enhancing transit and pedestrian circulation, and expanding the station's concourses to accommodate anticipated increases in ridership, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

A group of Manitoba First Nations — through a newly formed partnership with private Canadian company iChurchill Inc. — has entered into an acquisition agreement with OmniTRAX Inc. and the Port of Churchill to acquire the Hudson Bay Railway Co. in Manitoba.

The rail line, which operates between Gillam and Churchill, has been inoperable since portions of it were washed out by floods in May 2017.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) on Tuesday issued a final request for proposals (RFP) to three shortlisted contracting teams to design and build the first phase of the Red and Purple modernization program.

The three teams are Chicago Rail Constructors, Kiewit Infrastructure Co. and the Walsh Fluor design-build team. CTA selected the three bidders in late 2017.