Railroad News

A newly signed presidential Executive Order aims to reduce the time it takes projects to move through the federal permitting and review processes.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) says the Executive Order (EO), "Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects," streamlines the environmental review system and removes current roadblocks in order to ensure a faster and more efficient permitting process for America's major infrastructure projects.

A newly signed presidential Executive Order aims to reduce the time it takes projects to move through the federal permitting and review processes.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) says the Executive Order (EO), "Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects," streamlines the environmental review system and removes current roadblocks in order to ensure a faster and more efficient permitting process for America's major infrastructure projects.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has named Luis Manuel Ramírez as its next General Manager/CEO, effective Sept. 12.

Ramírez, who will succeed Interim GM Steve Poftak, is credited with successful division turnarounds at some of the nation's largest corporations through his 30-year business career.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has named Luis Manuel Ramírez as its next General Manager/CEO, effective Sept. 12.

Ramírez, who will succeed Interim GM Steve Poftak, is credited with successful division turnarounds at some of the nation's largest corporations through his 30-year business career.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has named Luis Manuel Ramírez as its next General Manager/CEO, effective Sept. 12.

Ramírez, who will succeed Interim GM Steve Poftak, is credited with successful division turnarounds at some of the nation's largest corporations through his 30-year business career.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Monday wrote its second letter to CSX President and Chief Executive Officer E. Hunter Harrison to express the agency's continued concern over the "widespread degradation of rail service" across the Class I's network.

Late last month, the STB wrote to Harrison about reported disruptions in rail service that resulted from changes to CSX's operating plan. Harrison began implementing the plan after taking over as CSX's leader earlier this year.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Monday wrote its second letter to CSX President and Chief Executive Officer E. Hunter Harrison to express the agency's continued concern over the "widespread degradation of rail service" across the Class I's network.

Late last month, the STB wrote to Harrison about reported disruptions in rail service that resulted from changes to CSX's operating plan. Harrison began implementing the plan after taking over as CSX's leader earlier this year.

Union Pacific is encouraging safety at railroad tracks with its interactive public safety campaign. The Class 1 released the campaign on Facebook, YouTube, Hulu and other online news sites so it could be easily shared.

"Trains cannot swerve or stop quickly, unfortunately for drivers and pedestrians, trains follow the rails forward hitting anyone or anything in their paths," said Cameron Scott, Union Pacific executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Train accidents are preventable if people actively think about their safety at railroad crossings and choose to stop and patiently wait for approaching trains."

Union Pacific is encouraging safety at railroad tracks with its interactive public safety campaign. The Class 1 released the campaign on Facebook, YouTube, Hulu and other online news sites so it could be easily shared.

"Trains cannot swerve or stop quickly, unfortunately for drivers and pedestrians, trains follow the rails forward hitting anyone or anything in their paths," said Cameron Scott, Union Pacific executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Train accidents are preventable if people actively think about their safety at railroad crossings and choose to stop and patiently wait for approaching trains."

Union Pacific is encouraging safety at railroad tracks with its interactive public safety campaign. The Class 1 released the campaign on Facebook, YouTube, Hulu and other online news sites so it could be easily shared.

"Trains cannot swerve or stop quickly, unfortunately for drivers and pedestrians, trains follow the rails forward hitting anyone or anything in their paths," said Cameron Scott, Union Pacific executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Train accidents are preventable if people actively think about their safety at railroad crossings and choose to stop and patiently wait for approaching trains."

Matthew Walicki, 34

Job description: As practice lead for freight-rail facilities, Walicki oversees and manages the design of railroad buildings and support facilities, including administration offices, car repair shops, locomotive service buildings and secondary containment. Walicki also oversees all transportation work for AECOM's Norfolk Southern Railway account, including the railroad’s pipe and wire program. Walicki also performs design-related work for NS' bridges and structures.

Education: Bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and architectural engineering from Drexel University

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Associate Editor

Bombardier Transportation has obtained two contracts to provide its driverless Innovia Monorail 300 system to two new rapid transit lines in Bangkok. The company will design and supply the mechanical and electrical elements for the lines and deliver a combined total of 72, four-car Innovia trains, which are equipped with the Cityflo 650 automatic train control technology for driverless operations. The new trains are expected to serve more than 400,000 daily passengers, according to a Bombardier press release. A Bombardier-Puzhen joint venture will manufacture the units in China.

Linfox Logistics has formed a consortium with Australian freight-rail operator Pacific National to purchase Aurizon's freight haulage and end-to-end freight forwarding assets on Queensland's northern line. The acquisition is aimed at enabling Linfox to improve the scale and scope of its own freight forwarding services, Linfox officials said in a press release. Pacific National will work with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to gain clearance for the acquisition of other assets of Aurizon Queensland Intermodal.

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) over the weekend closed a portion of its Line 1 Yonge-University subway route to continue testing and emergency response training for a new automatic train control (ATC) system.

During the closure, crews tested the new ATC system between the Spadina and Wilson stations and performed other essential work for the opening of the Line 1 extension to Vaughan, Ontario, later this year.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) on Sept. 2 will begin installing positive train control (PTC) on the Needham commuter-rail line.

To facilitate the work, the agency will shut down the lines on weekends through Nov. 18. A public information meeting about the construction will be held Aug. 24.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR), in partnership with grassroots advocacy organization GoRail, yesterday honored U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) with the Railroad Achievement Award.

DeFazio was recognized for his longstanding, bipartisan leadership on issues that affect freight and passenger railroads, AAR officials said in a press release.

The Gateway Program Development Corp. (GDC) has issued a request for information (RFI) from private-sector leaders who have planning ideas for the Hudson Tunnel and the final section of the Hudson Yards concrete casing projects.

Specifically, the RFI is seeking ideas that will help inform the planning for procurement and delivery — including potential design, construction and solutions — of the projects, GDC officials said in a press release.

The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) will present the 2017 Silver Kingpin Award to Robert Huffman at this year's Intermodal EXPO in California next month.

The Silver Kingpin recognizes an individual's long-term contributions to intermodalism. Huffman will be honored for a 41-year career that began in 1972 at Conrail and ended at Norfolk Southern Railway in 2013, when he retired as vice president of intermodal.

The Metropolitan Council will work toward a 2018 construction start on the $1.9 billion Southwest light-rail in the Minneapolis area, local media reported late last week.

In an interview with Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), Met Council chair Alene Tchourumoff said she hopes that construction will have started by the time Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton's term ends in early 2019.

The latest issue of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's (AQAP) magazine, Inspire, calls for attacks on U.S. railways and transit systems and goes as far as including many steps to help carry out acts of terror.

A summary of the 100-page issue was provided by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a non-profit which translates many publications originating in the Middle East to English. MEMRI says the issue was published on Aug. 13 and was distributed by the Telegram channel of AQAP and other pro-Al-Qaeda channels.