Railroad News

Three top CSX executives will be leaving the railroad on Nov. 15—Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cindy M. Sanborn; Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Fredrik J. Eliasson; and Executive Vice President Law and Public Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Ellen M. Fitzsimmons. Sanborn and Eliasson are resigning "to pursue other interests." Fitzsimmons is retiring. All "will remain engaged in supporting the transition until early 2018," CSX said.

Railroad industry veteran James M. Foote is joining CSX as COO. He will have responsibility for both operations and sales and marketing—replacing both Eliasson and Sanborn—and will be based at the railroad's headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla. Foote has more than 40 years of experience starting with the Chicago & North Western and then with CN as Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing. Most recently, he was President and CEO of Bright Rail Energy. Foote, who worked under CSX President and CEO E. Hunter Harrison at CN, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Superior and holds a law degree from the John Marshal Law School.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has chosen Matt Williamson, manager of environmental and industry safety for CSX Corp., to receive the 2017 Professional Environmental Excellence Award.

The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding performance in environmental awareness and responsibility during the year. Considered the highest honor for environmental professionals in the rail industry, the award was presented to Williamson at the annual Railroad Environmental Conference at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) yesterday marked the completion of seven grade separation projects along a BNSF Railway Co. line running through Fullerton, Anaheim and Placentia, California.

The $663 million effort involved building vehicular bridges and underpasses to separate motorists and pedestrians from the rail line, which is used by at least 70 trains daily.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) yesterday marked the completion of seven grade separation projects along a BNSF Railway Co. line running through Fullerton, Anaheim and Placentia, California.

The $663 million effort involved building vehicular bridges and underpasses to separate motorists and pedestrians from the rail line, which is used by at least 70 trains daily.

CN reported third-quarter net income fell 1 percent to CA$958 million, while diluted earnings per share rose 2 percent to CA$1.27 compared with third-quarter 2016's financial results.

Revenue for the quarter rose 7 percent to CA$3.2 billion; operating income climbed 4 percent to CA$1.5 billion; and adjusted net income increased 2 percent to CA$989 million compared with the same period a year ago, according to a company press release.

CN reported third-quarter net income fell 1 percent to CA$958 million, while diluted earnings per share rose 2 percent to CA$1.27 compared with third-quarter 2016's financial results.

Revenue for the quarter rose 7 percent to CA$3.2 billion; operating income climbed 4 percent to CA$1.5 billion; and adjusted net income increased 2 percent to CA$989 million compared with the same period a year ago, according to a company press release.

​WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 25, 2017 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending October 21, 2017.

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 559,989 carloads and intermodal units, up 3 percent compared with the same week last year.

Norfolk Southern Corp. reported third-quarter net income rose 10 percent to $506 million, or $1.75 per share, from $460 million, or $1.55 a share, in the same period a year ago.

NS' bottom-line growth was driven by an 11 percent increase in railway operations income, yielding a record quarterly operating ratio of 65.9 percent compared with 67.5 percent a year ago, company officials said in a press release.

Norfolk Southern Corp. reported third-quarter net income rose 10 percent to $506 million, or $1.75 per share, from $460 million, or $1.55 a share, in the same period a year ago.

NS' bottom-line growth was driven by an 11 percent increase in railway operations income, yielding a record quarterly operating ratio of 65.9 percent compared with 67.5 percent a year ago, company officials said in a press release.

CSX Corp. announced today that three of its top executives — Cindy Sanborn, Fredrik Eliasson and Ellen Fitzsimmons — will leave the company effective Nov. 15.

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sanborn and Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Eliasson will resign. Fitzsimmons — who serves as executive vice president of law and public affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary — will retire, according to a CSX press release.

CSX Corp. announced today that three of its top executives — Cindy Sanborn, Fredrik Eliasson and Ellen Fitzsimmons — will leave the company effective Nov. 15.

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sanborn and Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Eliasson will resign. Fitzsimmons — who serves as executive vice president of law and public affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary — will retire, according to a CSX press release.

Ontario is establishing a High-Speed Rail (HSR) Planning Advisory Board to provide strategic support and community engagement as province pursues plans to build a high-speed connection between Toronto and Windsor.

According to the province, the landmark project would be Canada's first HSR service and would slash people's travel times, providing a faster, greener travel option that creates new opportunities for workers, businesses and anyone traveling in this part of the province.

Ontario is establishing a High-Speed Rail (HSR) Planning Advisory Board to provide strategic support and community engagement as province pursues plans to build a high-speed connection between Toronto and Windsor.

According to the province, the landmark project would be Canada's first HSR service and would slash people's travel times, providing a faster, greener travel option that creates new opportunities for workers, businesses and anyone traveling in this part of the province.

Ontario is establishing a High-Speed Rail (HSR) Planning Advisory Board to provide strategic support and community engagement as the province pursues plans to build a high-speed connection between Toronto and Windsor.

Two of the three teams shortlisted for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line Extension (GLX) Project have said they can product the project at or under the $1.319-billion Affordability Limit.

The design-build teams issued the certifications as part of the final Request for Proposals process and MBTA says it allows the project to continue into its next phase.

Two of the three teams shortlisted for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line Extension (GLX) Project have said they can product the project at or under the $1.319-billion Affordability Limit.

The design-build teams issued the certifications as part of the final Request for Proposals process and MBTA says it allows the project to continue into its next phase.

Two of the three teams shortlisted for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line Extension (GLX) Project have said they can product the project at or under the $1.319-billion Affordability Limit.

The design-build teams issued the certifications as part of the final Request for Proposals process and MBTA says it allows the project to continue into its next phase.

A consortium led by EllisDon Capital Inc. and STRABAG Inc. has been selected by Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx as the preferred proponent for the Highway 401 Rail Tunnel project.

In addition to leading Toronto Tunnel Partners (TTP), EllisDon Capital and STRABAG will serve as construction managers and financial advisors. TTP includes WSP Canada Inc., Dr. Sauer & Partners and Amec Foster Wheeler for design services. The Request for Qualifications for the project was issued in September 2016 and a Request for Proposals was issued in February 2017. IO and Metrolinx expect to reach financial close in late fall 2017, with construction to begin shortly after.

A consortium led by EllisDon Capital Inc. and STRABAG Inc. has been selected by Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx as the preferred proponent for the Highway 401 Rail Tunnel project.

In addition to leading Toronto Tunnel Partners (TTP), EllisDon Capital and STRABAG will serve as construction managers and financial advisors. TTP includes WSP Canada Inc., Dr. Sauer & Partners and Amec Foster Wheeler for design services. The Request for Qualifications for the project was issued in September 2016 and a Request for Proposals was issued in February 2017. IO and Metrolinx expect to reach financial close in late fall 2017, with construction to begin shortly after.

A consortium led by EllisDon Capital Inc. and STRABAG Inc. has been selected by Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx as the preferred proponent for the Highway 401 Rail Tunnel project.

In addition to leading Toronto Tunnel Partners (TTP), EllisDon Capital and STRABAG will serve as construction managers and financial advisors. TTP includes WSP Canada Inc., Dr. Sauer & Partners and Amec Foster Wheeler for design services. The Request for Qualifications for the project was issued in September 2016 and a Request for Proposals was issued in February 2017. IO and Metrolinx expect to reach financial close in late fall 2017, with construction to begin shortly after.