Railroad News

A study by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) has found rail transportation operators in the area contribute more than $600 million to the commonwealth's general fund.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) last week recognized eight of its member organizations for sustainability achievements.

Amtrak and engineering firm TRC Cos. Inc. earned Gold Level recognition for their accomplishments. The national intercity passenger railroad has reduced electrical consumption at facilities through energy-efficient lighting products, automated building controls and facility-based energy plans.

Union Pacific Railroad and Kansas City Southern yesterday announced progress in repairing rail infrastructure and restoring service in some areas following Hurricane Harvey's devastation in the Gulf region.

UP has gained access to its rail line near Crosby, Texas, and crews have begun repairs and restoration to the two lines that link Houston and Beaumont, Texas.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) late last week opened the Washington/Wabash Station, which marks the first new downtown "L" station in 20 years.

Built between Madison and Washington streets, the $75 million station replaces two existing ones built more than 120 years ago. The new station is fully accessible for riders with disabilities, CTA officials said in a press release.

Southwest Gulf Railroad Co. (SGRR) has begun construction on the Medina Line, a common carrier rail line in Medina County, Texas.

Surveying and marking the right of way began late last month. The next phases will involve fencing, earthwork, site work and rail installation of the Medina Line, SGRR officials said in a press release.

VIA Rail Canada Inc.'s second-quarter ridership grew 9.5 percent compared with ridership during the same period in 2016, railroad officials announced last week.

VIA served 1 million passengers during Q2 2017 versus 939,000 riders during Q2 2016. The railroad's passenger revenue rose 15 percent to CA$80.9 million in the quarter from CA$70.1 million a year ago.

Patriot Rail Co. LLC and sister company Diversified Port Holdings LLC (DPH) have combined to create an expanded business portfolio, the companies announced late last week.

Through its principal subsidiaries Seaonus and Portus, DPH operates a maritime port logistics business in the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Both Patriot Rail and DPH are based in Jacksonville, Florida.

You asked for , but despite our computers looking very hard, we could not find it. What happened ?

The province of Nova Scotia and the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway Ltd. have signed a one-year agreement to preserve rail infrastructure between St. Peter's Junction and Sydney.

The company will not apply to abandon a portion of the rail line and the province will reimburse valid expenses up to CA$60,000 (US$48,550) a month. Repairs or improvements of the rail line will not be reimbursed, but expenses directly attributed to the line such as salaries, insurance, security and building maintenance will be covered under the agreement.

The province of Nova Scotia and the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway Ltd. have signed a one-year agreement to preserve rail infrastructure between St. Peter's Junction and Sydney.

The company will not apply to abandon a portion of the rail line and the province will reimburse valid expenses up to CA$60,000 (US$48,550) a month. Repairs or improvements of the rail line will not be reimbursed, but expenses directly attributed to the line such as salaries, insurance, security and building maintenance will be covered under the agreement.

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) and SEACOR Holdings Inc. have formed a joint venture to own and operate CG Railway LLC (CGR), a freight railroad that operates rail ferry service between the ports of Mobile, Alabama, and Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz.

CG Railway is a subsidiary that SEACOR recently acquired through its acquisition of International Shipholding Corp. Terms of the 50-50 joint venture were not disclosed.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the proposed East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor (ESFV project).

The project will be a 9.2-mile high-capacity transit route connecting the Metro Orange Line in Van Nuys to the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station through one of the busiest thoroughfares in the San Fernando Valley. Two bus rapid transit alternatives and two rail alternatives are being studied. All alternatives will run north from the Orange Line to the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station, primarily on Van Nuys Boulevard and San Fernando Road. The project is expected to begin construction in 2021, with an opening date between 2027-29.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the proposed East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor (ESFV project).

The project will be a 9.2-mile high-capacity transit route connecting the Metro Orange Line in Van Nuys to the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station through one of the busiest thoroughfares in the San Fernando Valley. Two bus rapid transit alternatives and two rail alternatives are being studied. All alternatives will run north from the Orange Line to the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station, primarily on Van Nuys Boulevard and San Fernando Road. The project is expected to begin construction in 2021, with an opening date between 2027-29.

Genessee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) and SEACOR Holdings Inc. will own and operate CG Railway (CGR), LCC, through a 50/50 joint venture.

Genessee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) and SEACOR Holdings Inc. will own and operate CG Railway (CGR), LCC, through a 50/50 joint venture.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has released the draft environmental impact statement and environmental impact report for the proposed East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor.

The documents examine two bus rapid transit routes and two rail routes for the 9.2-mile corridor. Each alternative runs north from the Orange Line bus rapid transit route in Los Angeles' Van Nuys neighborhood to Metrolink's Sylmar/San Fernando Station.

Working with Rockwell Collins, Amtrak plans to equip approximately 310 diesel-electric locomotives with Positive Train Control (PTC) technology by the Dec. 31, 2018 federal deadline mandate.

Amtrak has signed an agreement with Rockwell Collins to implement the company's ARINC RailwayNet℠ service, a hosted network, messaging and application platform designed to meet PTC requirements. RailwayNet℠ will allow Amtrak's national diesel-electric locomotive fleet to interface with the PTC systems of host railroads. Under the agreement, Rockwell Collins will initialize the fleet to operate on 19 railroads, including commuter and freight lines that host Amtrak services, among them state-sponsored routes in the East and Midwest.

Working with Rockwell Collins, Amtrak plans to equip approximately 310 diesel-electric locomotives with Positive Train Control (PTC) technology by the Dec. 31, 2018 federal deadline mandate.

Amtrak has signed an agreement with Rockwell Collins to implement the company's ARINC RailwayNet℠ service, a hosted network, messaging and application platform designed to meet PTC requirements. RailwayNet℠ will allow Amtrak's national diesel-electric locomotive fleet to interface with the PTC systems of host railroads. Under the agreement, Rockwell Collins will initialize the fleet to operate on 19 railroads, including commuter and freight lines that host Amtrak services, among them state-sponsored routes in the East and Midwest.

U.S. Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) yesterday visited Press-Seal Corp. in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to discuss public policy priorities for the rail and business communities.

During his visit, Banks toured Press-Seal's plant to learn about the company's freight-rail and transit products. The Railway Engineering-Maintenance and Suppliers Association (REMSA) — of which Press-Seal is a member — coordinated the event.