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Aug
18

Harrison slams Rail Customer Coalition for CSX criticism

CSX President and Chief Executive Officer E. Hunter Harrison has fired back at a coalition of rail-shipper trade associations that complained to Congress about rail-service disruptions as the Class I implements a restructuring aimed at improving efficiency.

In a letter sent Wednesday to the Rail Customer Coalition (RCC), Harrison said CSX was disappointed at the "many unfounded and grossly exaggerated statements" the group has made about CSX's service performance as the Class I implements precision scheduled railroading.

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Aug
17

Rail supplier news from Hanson, Railinc, Bombardier and SIGNET (Aug. 17)

Rail News Home Railroading Supplier Spotlight 8/17/2017 Rail News: Railroading Supplier Spotlight
Hanson Professional Services Inc. has acquired Engineered Rail Solutions (ERS) LLC. The acquisition will enable Hanson to assist clients with "every step of their projects," said Hanson Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sergio Pecori in a press release. The companies entered a strategic alliance in December 2016. The partnership brought logistics analytics and program management services to Hanson's rail clients while expanding engineering capabilities for ERS, which was founded in 2013 and has six employees.Eight of North America's 10 largest third-party logistics (3PL) providers are now using Railinc Corp.'s RailSight intermodal and rail-car data services, software applications and analytics solutions. In addition, 10 of the largest private rail-car fleet owners in North America are using RailSight services, Railinc announced yesterday. Railinc created and developed RailSight as a suite of "data as a service" and "software as a service" cloud-based solutions that provide rail shipment and equipment management data feeds. The software enables users to adapt to changing business conditions and improve business performance with timely shipment location messages, according to the company. RailSight aggregates rail and intermodal container shipment locations from more than 560 railroads across North America.McCann Canada has been selected as agency partner to lead strategic marketing and communications for Bombardier Inc.'s rail transportation and aerospace businesses. The selection followed a competitive request for proposals process that involved agencies in Canada and around the world. McCann will lead the efforts out of its office in Montreal, where Bombardier's headquarters are located.SIGNET Electronic Systems Inc. has promoted Greg Sparrow to vice president of transportation solutions. Sparrow joined the company in 2007 as director of systems integration and was promoted to director of project management in 2012. SIGNET in January 2016 was tapped to serve as local communications systems integrator on an infrastructure improvement project for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's commuter-rail network. Sparrow and SIGNET colleague Paul Austin were instrumental in securing that contract, company officials said in a press release.

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Aug
17

Florida counties create freight logistics zone

Rail News Home Logistics 8/17/2017 Rail News: Logistics
The four counties share a common transportation asset in the Apalachicola Northern Railway, which connects with the Port of Port St. Joe.Photo – portofportstjoe.com

Four Florida counties have established the Gulf to Gadsden Freight Logistics Zone (FLZ) to enable freight transportation and infrastructure services to become a platform for broader economic development.

The establishment of the FLZ can provide the counties of Gulf, Gadsden, Liberty and Franklin with priority for state funding and incentives when pursuing certain projects within the zone.

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Aug
17

DCTA to provide free fares on A-train segment

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/17/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The promotion begins Aug. 28.Photo – DCTA

The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) later this month will provide free rides on a portion of its A-train commuter-rail line in North Texas.

Beginning Aug. 28, rides between the Downtown Denton Transit Center and the MedPark Station will not require fares. Trips between the Hebron Station and Trinity Mills Station also will be free.

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Aug
17

CN names Waldock Niethold government affairs director

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 8/17/2017 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
Andrea Waldock NietholdPhoto – LinkedIn

CN has hired Andrea Waldock Niethold to serve as the Class I's director of government affairs in Washington, D.C.

Waldock Niethold brings a wide range of transportation policy experience to her new role, CN officials said in a press release.

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Aug
17

CN names Waldock Niethold government affairs director

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 8/17/2017 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
Andrea Waldock NietholdPhoto – LinkedIn

CN has hired Andrea Waldock Niethold to serve as the Class I's director of government affairs in Washington, D.C.

Waldock Niethold brings a wide range of transportation policy experience to her new role, CN officials said in a press release.

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Aug
17

SamTrans recommends multimodal approach to Dumbarton Bridge

A phased, multi-modal approach to the Dumbarton Highway and Rail Bridges will improve transport options and times between Alameda and San Mateo counties in California, according to a recently released study.

The study, funded by Facebook, which is headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., looked at various ways to improve transportation along the Dumbarton corridor. In light of the traffic congestion and continued growth in the corridor, there have been efforts to push for studying transportation alternatives and options to connect the two counties in the near- and long-term.

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Aug
17

SamTrans recommends multimodal approach to Dumbarton Bridge

A phased, multi-modal approach to the Dumbarton Highway and Rail Bridges will improve transport options and times between Alameda and San Mateo counties in California, according to a recently released study.

The study, funded by Facebook, which is headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., looked at various ways to improve transportation along the Dumbarton corridor. In light of the traffic congestion and continued growth in the corridor, there have been efforts to push for studying transportation alternatives and options to connect the two counties in the near- and long-term.

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Aug
17

Metra names Derwinski as executive director/CEO

Metra's Board of Directors has elevated its chief mechanical officer to serve as the commuter agency's next executive director/CEO.

James M. Derwinski will take over from Don Orseno, who is retiring at the end of 2017. Derwinski currently oversees the repair, inspection, cleaning and maintenance of nearly 1,200 railcars and locomotives including in-house railcar and locomotive rehabilitation, a contract for locomotive remanufacturing and the installation of Positive Train Control on cab cars and engines. .

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Aug
17

Metra names Derwinski as executive director/CEO

Metra's Board of Directors has elevated its chief mechanical officer to serve as the commuter agency's next executive director/CEO.

James M. Derwinski will take over from Don Orseno, who is retiring at the end of 2017. Derwinski currently oversees the repair, inspection, cleaning and maintenance of nearly 1,200 railcars and locomotives including in-house railcar and locomotive rehabilitation, a contract for locomotive remanufacturing and the installation of Positive Train Control on cab cars and engines. .

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Aug
17

SEPTA launches security reporting app

Rail News Home Security 8/17/2017 Rail News: Security
Riders can use the app to anonymously send photos or videos to transit police.Photo – SEPTA

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and ELERTS Corp. yesterday rolled out the SEPTA Transit Watch app, which enables riders to report security or safety issues to agency police.

Passengers can use the app to anonymously send photos or videos with GPS locations to alert police of potential criminal behavior, SEPTA officials said in a press release.

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Aug
17

CN taps Barletta chief of staff as government affairs director

Andrea Waldock Niethold, former chief of staff to Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), has been named the director of government affairs for Canadian National.

Waldock Niethold worked with Rep. Barletta for the past five and a half years serving as his legislative director before being named chief of staff. CN says she "brings a wide range of transportation policy experiences and expertise to her new role."

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Aug
17

CN taps Barletta chief of staff as government affairs director

Andrea Waldock Niethold, former chief of staff to Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), has been named the director of government affairs for Canadian National.

Waldock Niethold worked with Rep. Barletta for the past five and a half years serving as his legislative director before being named chief of staff. CN says she "brings a wide range of transportation policy experiences and expertise to her new role."

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Aug
17

U.S. rail carload activity steady in Week 32

U.S. railroads logged 268,364 carloads for the week ending Aug. 12, a 0.3 percent increase compared with carload activity in the same week a year ago, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Combined with intermodal volume, U.S. railroads posted 548,790 carloads, containers and trailers during the week, a 2.7 percent increase compared with a year ago. Intermodal volume rose 5.1 percent to 280,426 units for the week.

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Aug
17

UP to lay off hundreds of managers, other rail workers

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 8/17/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad yesterday announced it will eliminate 500 management positions by mid-September as part of a cost-cutting measure.The Class I also intends to reduce 250 non-management positions during the same time period, UP officials said in an email. "Union Pacific for some time has leveraged employee attrition and technology to reduce general and administrative costs," said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Fritz. "Unfortunately, attrition alone will not keep pace with our need and ability to reduce these costs."The move will save about $110 million annually and eliminate 8 percent of UP's managers, the Associated Press reported yesterday.

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Aug
17

UP to lay off hundreds of managers, other rail workers

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 8/17/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad yesterday announced it will eliminate 500 management positions by mid-September as part of a cost-cutting measure.The Class I also intends to reduce 250 non-management positions during the same time period, UP officials said in an email. "Union Pacific for some time has leveraged employee attrition and technology to reduce general and administrative costs," said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Fritz. "Unfortunately, attrition alone will not keep pace with our need and ability to reduce these costs."The move will save about $110 million annually and eliminate 8 percent of UP's managers, the Associated Press reported yesterday.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

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Aug
17

Hanson acquires Engineered Rail Solutions

Hanson Professional Services Inc. has acquired Engineered Rail Solutions (ERS) LLC.

ERS provides logistical and market analysis, engineering design services and operational optimization, especially in the rail and material handling industries nationwide.

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Aug
17

Hanson acquires Engineered Rail Solutions

Hanson Professional Services Inc. has acquired Engineered Rail Solutions (ERS) LLC.

ERS provides logistical and market analysis, engineering design services and operational optimization, especially in the rail and material handling industries nationwide.

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Aug
17

Watermill Group acquires Cooper & Turner

Watermill Group has acquired track fastener manufacturer and distributor Cooper & Turner.

The company says that Cooper & Turner senior management, including Watermill CEO Tony Brown and Head of Watermill Production David Brown, will remain in their current positions and retain a significant shareholding in the company.

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Aug
17

Watermill Group acquires Cooper & Turner

Watermill Group has acquired track fastener manufacturer and distributor Cooper & Turner.

The company says that Cooper & Turner senior management, including Watermill CEO Tony Brown and Head of Watermill Production David Brown, will remain in their current positions and retain a significant shareholding in the company.

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