Railroad News

Caltrain will receive a grant for $21.68 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

The grant will be used to dual equip seven Caltrain trains with Positive Train Control (PTC) systems in order to help commuter and intercity passenger railroads meet the December 31, 2018 deadline to implement PTC systems in order to improve safety.

AECOM has released its first television commercial to show "infrastructure's power to connect communities," company officials said in a press release. Filmed by director John Singleton and created by Los Angeles advertising agency Battery, the ad is part of a new AECOM campaign that focuses on the human impacts of its clients' projects. The campaign is dubbed "Imagine it. Delivered." The commercial, which began airing yesterday, depicts a young surfer traveling on a Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) light-rail train from South Los Angeles to a beach in Santa Monica. AECOM has worked on rail projects with L.A. Metro, along with other major infrastructure projects throughout the world.

ZTR Control Systems announced a new partnership with Surtees Rail Group in South Africa. ZTR's products will be used to upgrade Surtees' fleet and eventually locomotive fleets throughout South Africa and beyond, said Surtees Director Tony Wood in a press release. ZTR offers the NEXSYS™III-i control system, which is designed to increase locomotive adhesion and integrate with automatic engine start-stop technology. Along with NEXSYS, ZTR and Surtees will offer a products and services aimed at extending the life of a locomotive by 15 to 20 years, according to the press release.

Metra police have charged with felony theft a suspect who was trespassing in one of the railroad's yards.

The suspect, Orlando Dampier, entered the yard Tuesday and stole $1,500 worth of copper wire, Metra officials said in a press release. He also is a suspect in multiple thefts from Metra property, and additional Metra Police charges are pending.

U.S. railroads moved 548,103 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending May 27, a 6.7 percent increase compared with the same week in 2016, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

The railroads logged 266,564 carloads, up 8 percent, and 281,539 intermodal containers and trailers, up 5.4 percent, compared with the same week a year ago.

Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) S-Line streetcar ridership grew 8 percent in 2017's first quarter compared with the same period last year.

Additionally, ridership in 2016 was up 15 percent year over year, UTA officials said in a press release.

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) announced yesterday it has completed its acquisition of Atlantic Western Transportation Inc., the parent of Heart of Georgia Railroad Inc. (HOG).

Founded in 1999, HOG operates across Georgia on 219 miles of track leased from the Georgia Department of Transportation. The railroad connects with G&W's Georgia Southwestern Railroad at Americus, Ga., and with G&W's Georgia Central Railway at Vidalia, Ga., according to a G&W press release.

Officials from the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), along with community leaders, broke ground on a new $7.5-million station.

The new station will be built on the same site of the current station at 2820 East 34th St. Called Campus Station due to its location nea the Tri-C Metro Campus, the station will serve the red, green and blue train lines as well as bus routes 15, 19 and 76.

Officials from the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), along with community leaders, broke ground on a new $7.5-million station.

The new station will be built on the same site of the current station at 2820 East 34th St. Called Campus Station due to its location nea the Tri-C Metro Campus, the station will serve the red, green and blue train lines as well as bus routes 15, 19 and 76.

Officials from the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), along with community leaders, broke ground on a new $7.5-million station.

The new station will be built on the same site of the current station at 2820 East 34th St. Called Campus Station due to its location nea the Tri-C Metro Campus, the station will serve the red, green and blue train lines as well as bus routes 15, 19 and 76.

The board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has approved the agency's $6.1 billion budget for fiscal 2018.
The balanced budget increases spending by 1.4 percent over fiscal 2017.

The agency expects delivery of 48 new light rail vehicles in fiscal 2018 to meet demand for services on the Expo and Gold Lines, with a projected revenue increase of 11.6 percent from 2017. The budget also ramps up procurement of heavy rail vehicles for the Purple Line Extension, and replacement of aging rolling stock there. Talgo in 2016 was awarded a $55-million contract to refurbish up to 74 A650 rapid transit cars.

The board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has approved the agency's $6.1 billion budget for fiscal 2018.
The balanced budget increases spending by 1.4 percent over fiscal 2017.

The agency expects delivery of 48 new light rail vehicles in fiscal 2018 to meet demand for services on the Expo and Gold Lines, with a projected revenue increase of 11.6 percent from 2017. The budget also ramps up procurement of heavy rail vehicles for the Purple Line Extension, and replacement of aging rolling stock there. Talgo in 2016 was awarded a $55-million contract to refurbish up to 74 A650 rapid transit cars.

The board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has approved the agency's $6.1 billion budget for fiscal 2018.
The balanced budget increases spending by 1.4 percent over fiscal 2017.

The agency expects delivery of 48 new light rail vehicles in fiscal 2018 to meet demand for services on the Expo and Gold Lines, with a projected revenue increase of 11.6 percent from 2017. The budget also ramps up procurement of heavy rail vehicles for the Purple Line Extension, and replacement of aging rolling stock there. Talgo in 2016 was awarded a $55-million contract to refurbish up to 74 A650 rapid transit cars.

Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., completed its acquisition of the shares of Atlantic Western Transportation, Inc., parent company of Heart of Georgia Railroad, Inc. (HOG).

Founded in 1999, HOG operates across the state of Georgia on 219 miles of track leased from the Georgia Department of Transportation. It connects with GWI's Georgia Southwestern Railroad at Americus, Ga., and with GWI's Georgia Central Railway at Vidalia, Ga. HOG serves an inland intermodal terminal at Cordele, Ga., providing direct rail service five days a week via the Georgia Central Railway to the Port of Savannah for auto, agricultural products and other merchandise customers. HOG has Class 1 railroad connections with CSX at Cordele and with Norfolk Southern at Americus and Helena, Ga.

Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., completed its acquisition of the shares of Atlantic Western Transportation, Inc., parent company of Heart of Georgia Railroad, Inc. (HOG).

Founded in 1999, HOG operates across the state of Georgia on 219 miles of track leased from the Georgia Department of Transportation. It connects with GWI's Georgia Southwestern Railroad at Americus, Ga., and with GWI's Georgia Central Railway at Vidalia, Ga. HOG serves an inland intermodal terminal at Cordele, Ga., providing direct rail service five days a week via the Georgia Central Railway to the Port of Savannah for auto, agricultural products and other merchandise customers. HOG has Class 1 railroad connections with CSX at Cordele and with Norfolk Southern at Americus and Helena, Ga.

Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., completed its acquisition of the shares of Atlantic Western Transportation, Inc., parent company of Heart of Georgia Railroad, Inc. (HOG).

Founded in 1999, HOG operates across the state of Georgia on 219 miles of track leased from the Georgia Department of Transportation. It connects with GWI's Georgia Southwestern Railroad at Americus, Ga., and with GWI's Georgia Central Railway at Vidalia, Ga. HOG serves an inland intermodal terminal at Cordele, Ga., providing direct rail service five days a week via the Georgia Central Railway to the Port of Savannah for auto, agricultural products and other merchandise customers. HOG has Class 1 railroad connections with CSX at Cordele and with Norfolk Southern at Americus and Helena, Ga.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) yesterday announced the recipients of $197 million in grants to help commuter and intercity passenger railroads meet the Dec. 31, 2018, deadline to implement positive train control (PTC).

The federal dollars will be awarded to 17 projects in 13 states. The FRA and FTA received 27 eligible applications requesting $455 million, more than double the funds authorized by Congress, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Progressive Railroading and RailTrends® have named Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John "Jack" Hellmann the 2017 recipient of the Railroad Innovator Award, which recognizes an individual's outstanding achievement in the rail industry.


Hellmann joined G&W in 2000 as the short-line holding company's chief financial officer. In 2005, he was promoted to president; in 2007, G&W added "CEO" to his title. On May 24, Hellmann was named chairman of the board, succeeding Mortimer Fuller III, who retired. Fuller had been G&W's CEO for 30 years and chairman for 40.

GO Transit last week marked its 50th anniversary.

The agency, which provides public transportation in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, began operating on May 23, 1967, as a 14-stop commuter-rail line from Hamilton to Pickering, Ontario.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will announce some of its 2017 round of FASTLANE grants "soon," while other project applications will be re-solicited before more grants are issued, according to a report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

The AASHTO Journal cited comments by James Ray, the USDOT special adviser on infrastructure, who spoke last week at the association's spring meeting in Portland, Maine.