Railroad News

The government of Canada is giving OmniTRAX 30 days to repair and restore service on the Hudson Bay Railway to Churchill, Manitoba, or risk a lawsuit for breach of contract.

Official statements from Canada Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr and Merv Tweed, president of OminTRAX Canada, each blamed actions of the other for the delayed rail repairs.

The government of Canada is giving OmniTRAX 30 days to repair and restore service on the Hudson Bay Railway to Churchill, Manitoba, or risk a lawsuit for breach of contract.

Official statements from Canada Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr and Merv Tweed, president of OminTRAX Canada, each blamed actions of the other for the delayed rail repairs.

CSX Corp. today reported third-quarter net income increased 1 percent to $459 million, or 51 cents per share, compared with $455 million, or 48 cents per share, during the same period a year ago.

Excluding a $1 million restructuring charge in this year's Q3 results, adjusted earnings per share remained at 51 cents.

CSX Corp. today reported third-quarter net income increased 1 percent to $459 million, or 51 cents per share, compared with $455 million, or 48 cents per share, during the same period a year ago.

Excluding a $1 million restructuring charge in this year's Q3 results, adjusted earnings per share remained at 51 cents.

WMATA Metrorail extensions, capacity and service enhancements for Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and new light rail transit (LRT) are among the numerous projects proposed by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) in a TransAction Plan Update adopted Oct. 12.

"Addressing regional transportation needs through 2040, the Transaction Plan focuses on eleven major travel corridors in Northern Virginia and identifies 352 projects and $43.2 billion in unmet transportation needs," NVTA said.

WMATA Metrorail extensions, capacity and service enhancements for Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and new light rail transit (LRT) are among the numerous projects proposed by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) in a TransAction Plan Update adopted Oct. 12.

"Addressing regional transportation needs through 2040, the Transaction Plan focuses on eleven major travel corridors in Northern Virginia and identifies 352 projects and $43.2 billion in unmet transportation needs," NVTA said.

WMATA Metrorail extensions, capacity and service enhancements for Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and new light rail transit (LRT) are among the numerous projects proposed by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) in a TransAction Plan Update adopted Oct. 12.

"Addressing regional transportation needs through 2040, the Transaction Plan focuses on eleven major travel corridors in Northern Virginia and identifies 352 projects and $43.2 billion in unmet transportation needs," NVTA said.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has announced additions to its board and executive leadership committee.

Jacksonville Transportation Authority Chief Executive Officer Nathaniel Ford Sr. was named APTA's chair. He succeeds Doran Barnes, who serves as executive director of Foothill Transit in West Covina, California.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal joined Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) officials late last week in announcing record cargo volumes for fiscal-year 2017 and new infrastructure development plans.
 
In a review of the ports' work in FY2017, Deal announced growth of 8.3 percent in total tonnage across all terminals. Savannah handled 3.85 million 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs), while Brunswick moved 607,000 auto and machinery units. No other Southeast port recorded greater volumes for those commodities, Deal said in a press release. FY2017 covers the period from July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017.
 
In his state-of-the-ports speech, GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch announced two significant e-commerce developments: National furniture supplier Noble House will build a 630,000 square-foot facility that will serve the eastern United States, while home accessory company Best Choice will build 345,000 square feet.
 
Those plans are in addition to 3 million square feet of distribution center space completed within the last year and 5.2 million square feet now under construction, GPA officials said.
 
Lynch also outlined plans to accommodate record growth and expand new markets. Those plans include:
• a $128 million mega-rail project that will add track on terminal to better handle 10,000-foot-long trains. To start in the first quarter of FY2018 and conclude at 2020’s end, the project calls for adding 97,000 feet of new track, including 18 new working tracks, and bringing all switching operations to the Garden City Terminal;
• ground-breaking in FY2017 of the Appalachian Regional Port, an inland rail yard in Chatsworth. To be completed in fall 2018, the CSX-served inland port is designed to expand the GPA’s reach into Tennessee, northeast Alabama and portions of Kentucky; and
• the Savannah Harbor expansion project, which will deepen the outer harbor to 49 feet at low tide and 56 feet at high tide. The project also will deepen the inner harbor to 47 feet.

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) next week will begin renovating its 30th Avenue and 36th Avenue Astoria Line stations.

The "top-to-bottom" renovations include structural repairs, improvements to mezzanines and platforms, waterproofing, and refurbishment of existing railings and stairs, NYCT officials said in a press release.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has granted conditional approval to the Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) to finish testing along the G Line commuter-rail route.

The agency still awaits approval from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which has state regulatory authority over grade crossings. Last month, the commission rejected RTD's application to complete testing of the line.

[Editor's note: This story was updated at 3:10 p.m. CDT.]

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has granted conditional approval to the Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) to finish testing along the G Line commuter-rail route.

The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) reached an all-time monthly high in August, which was 1.5 percent higher than the previous highest level reached just a month earlier in July, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported last week.
 
The TSI is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry.
 
The August 2017 index level of 130.7 was 6.7 percent higher than the August 2016 index, bureau officials said in a press release.
 
In addition, the most recent index exceeded the level of 130 for the first time, they said.
 
The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in for-hire freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index. The index measures the output of the freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released a draft environmental impact statement for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's (SEPTA) King of Prussia Rail project.

The project calls for extending SEPTA's Norristown High Speed Line into King of Prussia from either the 69th Street or Norristown transportation centers.

A ground breaking ceremony was held Oct. 31 for the replacement of the Portal Bridge, a two-track 110-year-old swing span structure linking New Jersey and New York City.

A ground breaking ceremony was held Oct. 31 for the replacement of the Portal Bridge, a two-track 110-year-old swing span structure linking New Jersey and New York City.

A ground breaking ceremony was held Oct. 31 for the replacement of the Portal Bridge, a two-track 110-year-old swing span structure linking New Jersey and New York City.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement review (Draft EIS) for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's (SEPTA) King of Prussia Rail Project (KOP Rail). 

KOP Rail is a proposed extension of SEPTA's existing Norristown High Speed Line (NHSL) into King of Prussia and would provide a "one-seat" ride to King of Prussia from either the 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby or the Norristown Transportation Center.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement review (Draft EIS) for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's (SEPTA) King of Prussia Rail Project (KOP Rail). 

KOP Rail is a proposed extension of SEPTA's existing Norristown High Speed Line (NHSL) into King of Prussia and would provide a "one-seat" ride to King of Prussia from either the 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby or the Norristown Transportation Center.

GE has named Rafael Santana chief executive officer of GE Transportation effective Nov. 1.
 
Santana is currently president and CEO of GE Latin America. He will succeed Jamie Miller, who will become chief financial officer of GE on Nov. 1.
 
Santana has more than 17 years of experience at GE — including leadership positions in oil and gas, power, and transportation — before being named president and CEO of GE Latin America.
 
Prior to joining GE, Santana served in leadership roles at ExxonMobil and British American Tobacco.
 
In his current role, Santana worked with regional business leaders to make Latin America one of GE's largest and fastest growing regions, GE officials said in a press release.
 
"Rafael has deep roots in GE Transportation, having spent eight years in a variety of commercial and product management roles, as well as leading the Transportation team in Latin America," said GE Chairman and CEO John Flannery. "His experience helping teams navigate through this tough market, combined with his deep global, operational, services and industrial experience make him the perfect fit for this role."