Railroad News

The Federal Railroad Administration on May 15 issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $250 million in Positive Train Control (PTC) Systems Grants.

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.

Edward R. Hamberger, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), has announced his upcoming retirement from the organization in early 2019.

The government of Canada will cover nearly half the costs of a street and safety project in Edmonton, Alberta, which will grade separate the top priority crossing in the city.

Canada will fund CA$39.8 million (US$31.1 million) for the 50th Street Widening Project, which will ease traffic congestion and improve safety along the corridor between 76th and 90th Avenue. The city says 50 Street provides access to adjacent developing industrial areas and functions as a major north-south commuter and goods movement corridor.

The government of Canada has committed CA$1.53 billion (US$1.19 billion) in funding to Calgary's Green Line Light-Rail Project, the largest ever infrastructure investment made by the federal government to the province of Alberta.

In June 2017, the Calgary City Council approved the final alignment of the project, which will be 28.58 miles long and include 28 stations at full build out. Stage 1 of the light-rail project calls for the construction of 12.4 miles of track, 14 stations, a vehicle maintenance and storage facility, eight bridges, four tunnels, 70 low-floor light-rail vehicles and three park-and-ride facilities.

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.

WASHINGTON – Technology class was in session for Congress Monday, courtesy of Class 1 railroads.

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.

Las Vegas Railway Express Inc. has appointed Lou Schillinger president.

He is the founder, president and chief executive officer of United Shortline Insurance Services Inc. (USIS), which has provided insurance products for railroads for 26 years.

Metrolink's board late last week approved a 25 percent fare cut on its San Bernardino Line in an effort to increase ridership.

One of the commuter railroad's busiest lines, the San Bernardino Line serves the San Gabriel Valley in California, with stops at Los Angeles Union Station, California State University in Los Angeles, Montclair, Rancho Cucamonga and downtown San Bernardino.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has asked Federal Railroad Administrator Ronald Batory to work with freight railroads around the Chicago area to ensure Amtrak's on-time performance improves in Illinois and around the country.

In a letter to Batory sent last week, Durbin noted that Amtrak's Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale route continues to be "one of the worst performing routes" in the country.

Ahead of an event held on Capitol Hill to demonstrate the rail industry's innovations, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) released a white paper highlighting technology's role in making the U.S. rail network safer, more efficient and more reliable.

"America is home to the greatest freight rail network in the world, and we are putting technology to work to keep it that way," said AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger. "Next-generation innovations like drones, lasers and automated technologies are revolutionizing how we run a railroad."

Ice jams have caused flooding along parts of Alaska Railroad's line north of Talkeetna resulting in suspended service due to scoured ballast.

The railroad said ice pushed nearly 1,000 feet of track off the track bed by more than 25 feet in some areas, as well as caused scoured track bed ballast. Water was over the rail for approximately two miles between mileposts 247 and 250.