Railroad News

Metrolink's leaders have asked Congress to maintain a tax deduction benefit for businesses that provide transit passes to their employees.

A proposal in the U.S. House's version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Bill would remove the federal deduction for public transportation benefits. The change could eliminate the incentive for employers to encourage their workers to use public transit, Metrolink officials said in a press release.

A long-anticipated project to replace a 136-year-old bridge over the Fox River on Metra's Milwaukee District West Line kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony Nov. 17.

A long-anticipated project to replace a 136-year-old bridge over the Fox River on Metra's Milwaukee District West Line kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony Nov. 17.

A long-anticipated project to replace a 136-year-old bridge over the Fox River on Metra's Milwaukee District West Line kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony Nov. 17.

Utah has become the third state to receive certification of its rail transit State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program, according to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

"With the certification of its SSO Program, Utah is among the national leaders in strengthening safety for rail transit passengers and workers," said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. "FTA is doing all we can to help each of the remaining states meet the deadline because we want all states to continue to receive the federal transit funding that is so critical to the safe movement of millions of people every day."

Utah has become the third state to receive certification of its rail transit State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program, according to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

"With the certification of its SSO Program, Utah is among the national leaders in strengthening safety for rail transit passengers and workers," said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. "FTA is doing all we can to help each of the remaining states meet the deadline because we want all states to continue to receive the federal transit funding that is so critical to the safe movement of millions of people every day."

Utah has become the third state to receive certification of its rail transit State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program, according to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

"With the certification of its SSO Program, Utah is among the national leaders in strengthening safety for rail transit passengers and workers," said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. "FTA is doing all we can to help each of the remaining states meet the deadline because we want all states to continue to receive the federal transit funding that is so critical to the safe movement of millions of people every day."

The North County Transit District (NCTD) in San Diego, California, next month will enable positive train control (PTC) on all of its Coaster commuter trains.

The agency will implement the technology on the trains over several weeks in December.

The new Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway extension from Downsview Park Station in Toronto to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre in York Region is set to make its debut on Dec. 17.

The new extension will offer subway service beyond regional boundaries in Ontario for the first time, officials said.

The new Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway extension from Downsview Park Station in Toronto to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre in York Region is set to make its debut on Dec. 17.

The new extension will offer subway service beyond regional boundaries in Ontario for the first time, officials said.

The new Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway extension from Downsview Park Station in Toronto to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre in York Region is set to make its debut on Dec. 17.

The new extension will offer subway service beyond regional boundaries in Ontario for the first time, officials said.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has appointed transit industry veteran Paul P. Skoutelas as president and CEO, effective Jan. 8, 2018.

A licensed professional engineer, Skoutelas has been involved with many major capital programs, among them the South Hills Stage ll Light Rail Program and North Shore Rail Connector. He has served on numerous boards and committees for transportation organizations in leadership positions, including APTA, the Transportation Research Board, National Transit Institute, Pennsylvania Transportation Institute and the Transit Cooperative Research Program. Skoutelas currently serves on the APTA Board of Directors and APTA Business Member Board of Governors.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has appointed transit industry veteran Paul P. Skoutelas as president and CEO, effective Jan. 8, 2018.

A licensed professional engineer, Skoutelas has been involved with many major capital programs, among them the South Hills Stage ll Light Rail Program and North Shore Rail Connector. He has served on numerous boards and committees for transportation organizations in leadership positions, including APTA, the Transportation Research Board, National Transit Institute, Pennsylvania Transportation Institute and the Transit Cooperative Research Program. Skoutelas currently serves on the APTA Board of Directors and APTA Business Member Board of Governors.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has appointed transit industry veteran Paul P. Skoutelas as president and CEO, effective Jan. 8, 2018.

A licensed professional engineer, Skoutelas has been involved with many major capital programs, among them the South Hills Stage ll Light Rail Program and North Shore Rail Connector. He has served on numerous boards and committees for transportation organizations in leadership positions, including APTA, the Transportation Research Board, National Transit Institute, Pennsylvania Transportation Institute and the Transit Cooperative Research Program. Skoutelas currently serves on the APTA Board of Directors and APTA Business Member Board of Governors.

Metra, local and federal officials last week broke ground on the Chicago commuter railroad's $34 million project to construct a new bridge over the Fox River in Elgin, Illinois.

The project is designed to remove a rail chokepoint between freight and passenger trains. The bridge construction is being funded in part by a $14 million federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant. Metra will contribute $14 million, while Canadian Pacific will provide $6 million toward the project.

The Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) 5.3-mile subway extension to southern Ontario's York region will open Dec. 17.

Late last week, Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca joined local officials to announce the opening date during a tour of the extension's Vaughan Metropolitan Center and Downsview Park stations.

Mike O'Malley, a former vice president of CSX, will become president of the Railway Supply Institute (RSI) on Feb. 1, 2018. He will succeed Tom Simpson, who is retiring.

O'Malley's career includes experience in the railroad industry, federal and state government, and international trade organizations. He joined CSX in 2007 as vice president, state government and community affairs, before being named vice president, procurement and supply chain management, in 2013.

The American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) board has appointed Paul Skoutelas president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 8, 2018.

Skoutelas has served as CEO of transit agencies in Pittsburgh and Orlando, Florida. Most recently, he was senior vice president at WSP USA. Skoutelas currently serves on APTA's board and the association's business member board of governors.

The Delachaux Group has combined its rail divisions under the Pandrol brand. The companies that will now operate under the Pandrol name include Railtech, Vortok, Pandrol CDM Track, Rosenqvist, Matweld and RSS. The rebranding effort is aimed at creating "synergy from the combined strengths of the market-leading businesses within the rail division, and to make the products and services more streamlined for customers," Delachaux officials said in a press release. The Pandrol organization will focus on four key product lines: rail infrastructure, fastening systems, aluminothermic welding, equipment and control, and electrification. The combined company has been operating in the rail sector for more than a century.

Cubic Transportation Systems has signed a $185 million contract with Transport for London for a three-year extension of services for the agency's Oyster and contactless ticketing system. Cubic will continue to provide operational and maintenance services to the ticketing system and invest in "further innovations" to benefit riders, company officials said in a press release. Meanwhile, Cubic also finalized a $553.8 million contract with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for the design and implementation of New York City's new fare payment system. The MTA contract was awarded in October, and Cubic President Matt Cole signed the agreement Nov. 1. Cubic was chosen to replace the agency's MetroCard with a next-generation fare payment system similar to the one used by Transport for London.