Railroad News

Metra is moving forward with its plan to develop and install suicide prevention signs on station platforms along each of its 11 lines.

In a presentation given at the agency's monthly Board of Directors meeting, Metra's Chief Safety and Environmental Officer Hilary Konczal unveiled plans to initially partner with the DuPage Railroad Safety Council, the McHenry County Mental Health Board, the Lake County Health Department and other members of the mental health community to develop signs featuring a suicide prevention hotline phone number that an individual who may be depressed, feeling hopeless or suicidal can call for help. This is the first time the agency has committed to installing signs as part of a more comprehensive suicide prevention initiative launched earlier this year.

Metra is moving forward with its plan to develop and install suicide prevention signs on station platforms along each of its 11 lines.

In a presentation given at the agency's monthly Board of Directors meeting, Metra's Chief Safety and Environmental Officer Hilary Konczal unveiled plans to initially partner with the DuPage Railroad Safety Council, the McHenry County Mental Health Board, the Lake County Health Department and other members of the mental health community to develop signs featuring a suicide prevention hotline phone number that an individual who may be depressed, feeling hopeless or suicidal can call for help. This is the first time the agency has committed to installing signs as part of a more comprehensive suicide prevention initiative launched earlier this year.

Metra is moving forward with its plan to develop and install suicide prevention signs on station platforms along each of its 11 lines.

In a presentation given at the agency's monthly Board of Directors meeting, Metra's Chief Safety and Environmental Officer Hilary Konczal unveiled plans to initially partner with the DuPage Railroad Safety Council, the McHenry County Mental Health Board, the Lake County Health Department and other members of the mental health community to develop signs featuring a suicide prevention hotline phone number that an individual who may be depressed, feeling hopeless or suicidal can call for help. This is the first time the agency has committed to installing signs as part of a more comprehensive suicide prevention initiative launched earlier this year.

Stephen Hoye has been appointed vice president of Anacostia Rail Holdings's Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) subsidiary. The position is effective in early August.

Hoye joins PHL from the Belt Railway Company of Chicago, where he served as superintendent since 2011. Hoye also served as director of the ten-person Chicago Transportation Coordination Office (CTCO) team since 2014. CTCO has responsibility for overseeing day-to-day performance and planning affecting 14 different carrier traffic flows operating in and out of the nation's largest rail hub. He helped execute infrastructure improvements needed to complete Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program projects.

Stephen Hoye has been appointed vice president of Anacostia Rail Holdings's Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) subsidiary. The position is effective in early August.

Hoye joins PHL from the Belt Railway Company of Chicago, where he served as superintendent since 2011. Hoye also served as director of the ten-person Chicago Transportation Coordination Office (CTCO) team since 2014. CTCO has responsibility for overseeing day-to-day performance and planning affecting 14 different carrier traffic flows operating in and out of the nation's largest rail hub. He helped execute infrastructure improvements needed to complete Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program projects.

Stephen Hoye has been appointed vice president of Anacostia Rail Holdings's Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) subsidiary. The position is effective in early August.

Hoye joins PHL from the Belt Railway Company of Chicago, where he served as superintendent since 2011. Hoye also served as director of the ten-person Chicago Transportation Coordination Office (CTCO) team since 2014. CTCO has responsibility for overseeing day-to-day performance and planning affecting 14 different carrier traffic flows operating in and out of the nation's largest rail hub. He helped execute infrastructure improvements needed to complete Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program projects.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo yesterday unveiled a $5.6 billion initiative to improve MTA Long Island Rail Road's (LIRR) infrastructure. 

Under Cuomo's plan, LIRR will be able to advance 100 "transformative" capital projects, including adding a third track to the railroad's Main Line, according to a press release issued by the governor's office.

Canadian Pacific yesterday reported second-quarter net income soared 46 percent to CA$480 million, or CA$3.27 per diluted share, and revenue increased 13 percent to CA$1.64 billion compared with the same quarter last year.

The Class I's record-setting second-quarter earnings were driven in part by increased shipments of grain, coal, potash, energy products and metals.

Canadian Pacific yesterday reported second-quarter net income soared 46 percent to CA$480 million, or CA$3.27 per diluted share, and revenue increased 13 percent to CA$1.64 billion compared with the same quarter last year.

The Class I's record-setting second-quarter earnings were driven in part by increased shipments of grain, coal, potash, energy products and metals.

Union Pacific Railroad reported second-quarter net income jumped 19 percent to nearly $1.2 billion, or a Q2 record of $1.45 per share, from $979 million, or $1.17 per share, in the same quarter last year.

Total operating revenue for the quarter climbed 10 percent to $5.25 billion from $4.77 billion, while freight revenue increased 11 percent to $4.9 billion from $4.4 billion a year ago, the Class I announced today in a press release.

Union Pacific Railroad reported second-quarter net income jumped 19 percent to nearly $1.2 billion, or a Q2 record of $1.45 per share, from $979 million, or $1.17 per share, in the same quarter last year.

Total operating revenue for the quarter climbed 10 percent to $5.25 billion from $4.77 billion, while freight revenue increased 11 percent to $4.9 billion from $4.4 billion a year ago, the Class I announced today in a press release.

Arthur Adams Jr., 39

Job description: Adams began his railroad career when he joined CSX in 2007. In his current position, he’s responsible for TRANSFLO (the railroad’s bulk transloading terminal network), international sales, short-line and service startup, Voice of the Customer programs, the Leadership Development Program, and the customer relationship management process (CRM) analytics tools.

Education: Jacksonville University, B.S. in marketing, finance; Denver University, M.S. in intermodal transportation; post-graduate studies at Harvard University, University of Virginia

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) next week will partially shut down its light-rail system to perform critical maintenance work.

The agency will close a section of the system between the North Avenue and Camden Yards stations in both directions. Light-rail service to Baltimore's Penn Station also will be halted.

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) on Monday held a groundbreaking ceremony for improvements to a train station in Newark, Delaware.

The renovated facility will feature a high-level platform that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, along with expanded parking and improved passenger amenities, DelDOT officials said in a press release.

Metra next month will close the ticket office at its Stone Avenue Station in LaGrange, Illinois, due to declining on-site sales.

BNSF Railway Co. will stop providing a ticket agent at the office at the close of business on Aug. 4.

The Executive Committee of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, (TTD) yesterday elected Larry Willis president and Gary Regan secretary-treasurer.

Willis succeeds Edward Wytkind, who stepped down from the post after more than two decades of service. During his tenure, Wytkind increased the number of member unions to 32 from 18, TTD officials said in a press release.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) earlier this week presented to Congress a final report on restoring Amtrak service along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Prepared by the Gulf Coast Working Group, the report estimates that the capital costs for restoring the service would be $118 million.

James R. Push, James LeVan and Dean Smith have joined Quandel Consultants. The company says it's added the three veteran engineers to its team this spring in order to "further enhance the firm's expertise and client offerings."

"We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Push, Mr. LeVan and Mr. Smith to our team," said Quandel Consultants CEO Charlie Quandel. "Their combined 68 years of experience and their status as professionally licensed engineers will enable us to pursue new clients and move our firm forward. The entire office benefits greatly from their unique expertise, as well."

James R. Push, James LeVan and Dean Smith have joined Quandel Consultants. The company says it's added the three veteran engineers to its team this spring in order to "further enhance the firm's expertise and client offerings."

"We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Push, Mr. LeVan and Mr. Smith to our team," said Quandel Consultants CEO Charlie Quandel. "Their combined 68 years of experience and their status as professionally licensed engineers will enable us to pursue new clients and move our firm forward. The entire office benefits greatly from their unique expertise, as well."