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Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends 5/25/2017 Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
U.S. railroads' traffic increased 5.5 percent to 534,922 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending May 20 compared with the same period a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads' (AAR) data.Total carloads for the week rose 6.4 percent to 260,115 units, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume climbed 4.6 percent to 274,807 containers and trailers compared with the same week in 2016, according to an AAR press release.Five of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked by AAR on a weekly basis posted increases compared with the 20th week of 2016. Those included grain, up 24.5 percent to 23,997 carloads; coal, up 18.6 percent to 78,990 carloads; and nonmetallic minerals, up 6.4 percent to 39,693 carloads.Commodity groups that logged decreases compared with a year ago included petroleum and petroleum products, down 16.8 percent to 9,670 carloads; motor vehicles and parts, down 6.8 percent to 17,782 carloads; and forest products, down 1.9 percent to 10,155 carloads.Canadian railroads moved 77,163 carloads during the week, an increase of 14.4 percent compared with a year ago. Railroads in Canada also reported intermodal volume for the week rose 10.5 percent to 68,175 units, compared with the 2016 period.In Mexico, railroads logged 16,661 carloads for the week, down 7.9 percent compared with the same week last year, and 11,489 intermodal units, up 3.1 percent.For the first 20 weeks of 2017, U.S. railroads' cumulative carload and intermodal volume increased 4.1 percent to 10,364,280 units; Canadian railroads' cumulative volume rose 10.8 percent to 2,843,485 units; and Mexican railroads' cumulative volume declined 2.3 percent to 526,710 units compared with the same period in 2016. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 5/25/2017

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 5/25/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad yesterday outlined a plan to invest $49 million in its Missouri infrastructure this year. The Class I expects to spend $43 million for track maintenance and $3 million for bridge maintenance in the state, UP officials said in a press release. One key project involves replacing 92,174 ties and installing 34,481 tons of ballast on the rail line between Labadie and Chamois. That work is slated to cost $12 million.Another critical project calls for replacing 57,489 ties and installing 42,462 tons of ballast on track between Mineral Point and Annapolis. The planned projects in Missouri are the latest to be unveiled as part of UP's state-by-state capex announcements. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 5/25/2017

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 5/25/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad yesterday outlined a plan to invest $49 million in its Missouri infrastructure this year. The Class I expects to spend $43 million for track maintenance and $3 million for bridge maintenance in the state, UP officials said in a press release. One key project involves replacing 92,174 ties and installing 34,481 tons of ballast on the rail line between Labadie and Chamois. That work is slated to cost $12 million.Another critical project calls for replacing 57,489 ties and installing 42,462 tons of ballast on track between Mineral Point and Annapolis. The planned projects in Missouri are the latest to be unveiled as part of UP's state-by-state capex announcements. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 5/25/2017

Amtrak designated a team lead by Riverside Investment & Development Co. as the Master Developer for commercial elements of Chicago Union Station (CUS) and neighboring Amtrak-owned properties.

Amtrak President and CEO Wick Moorman made the announcement this morning at CUS with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, other stakeholders and civic leaders.

Amtrak designated a team lead by Riverside Investment & Development Co. as the Master Developer for commercial elements of Chicago Union Station (CUS) and neighboring Amtrak-owned properties.

Amtrak President and CEO Wick Moorman made the announcement this morning at CUS with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, other stakeholders and civic leaders.

Amtrak designated a team lead by Riverside Investment & Development Co. as the Master Developer for commercial elements of Chicago Union Station (CUS) and neighboring Amtrak-owned properties.

Amtrak President and CEO Wick Moorman made the announcement this morning at CUS with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, other stakeholders and civic leaders.

Union Pacific plans to invest $49 million into its Missouri infrastructure in 2017. The investment is part of the Class 1's $3.1-billion capital plan for the year.

UP says the investment will fund $43 million in track maintenance and $3 million in bridge projects. Additional projects to see significant work include $12 million investment in the rail line between Labadie and Chamois to replace 92,174 crossties and install 34,481 tons of ballast. The line between Mineral Point and Annapolis will see $7 million in work to replace 57,489 crossties and install 42,462 tons of ballast.

Union Pacific plans to invest $49 million into its Missouri infrastructure in 2017. The investment is part of the Class 1's $3.1-billion capital plan for the year.

UP says the investment will fund $43 million in track maintenance and $3 million in bridge projects. Additional projects to see significant work include $12 million investment in the rail line between Labadie and Chamois to replace 92,174 crossties and install 34,481 tons of ballast. The line between Mineral Point and Annapolis will see $7 million in work to replace 57,489 crossties and install 42,462 tons of ballast.

Union Pacific plans to invest $49 million into its Missouri infrastructure in 2017. The investment is part of the Class 1's $3.1-billion capital plan for the year.

UP says the investment will fund $43 million in track maintenance and $3 million in bridge projects. Additional projects to see significant work include $12 million investment in the rail line between Labadie and Chamois to replace 92,174 crossties and install 34,481 tons of ballast. The line between Mineral Point and Annapolis will see $7 million in work to replace 57,489 crossties and install 42,462 tons of ballast.

Rail News Home Safety 5/25/2017 Rail News: Safety
The cameras will be installed on 150 locomotives, 187 cab cars and 186 self-propelled Highliner cars.Photo – Metra

Rail News Home Railroading People 5/25/2017 Rail News: Railroading People
Anamaria Bonilla was LRIW's 2016 Outstanding Woman of the Year.Photo –

Rail News Home Safety 5/25/2017 Rail News: Safety
Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) yesterday announced $219,000 in grants awarded to Operation Lifesaver programs in 15 states to fund grade-crossing safety education projects. Funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the grants will go to Operation Lifesaver organizations in California, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington and Wisconsin.The state programs will use the grants for public awareness campaigns and community events that deliver safety tips to target audiences, including motorists of all ages and professional drivers, OLI officials said in a press release.The safety awareness projects will be presented in conjunction with OLI's U.S. Rail Safety Week, Sept. 24-30."It is our hope that the grant projects in these states, as part of our U.S. Rail Safety Week efforts, will raise awareness of the need for caution near highway-rail grade crossings and help prevent families and communities from enduring the tragic crossing collisions that are far too frequent throughout the country," said OLI President and Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Murphy.The grants were awarded through a competitive process. Selection was based on how the organizations would leverage the federal funds with private partnerships, targeted messaging and the frequency of highway-rail collisions in the organizations' states."These grant projects provide important safety information that align with our ongoing commitment to highway safety," said FHWA Acting Deputy Administrator Butch Waidelich. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 5/25/2017

Rail News Home Intermodal 5/25/2017 Rail News: Intermodal
Kurt Nagle, AAPA's president and CEOPhoto – American Association of Port Authorities

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has asked for final proposals for the revived Green Line extension project from three design-build contractor teams shortlisted in February.

 

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has asked for final proposals for the revived Green Line extension project from three design-build contractor teams shortlisted in February.

 

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has asked for final proposals for the revived Green Line extension project from three design-build contractor teams shortlisted in February.

 

Twin Eagle Sand Logistics, LLC (Twin Eagle), a subsidiary of Twin Eagle Resource Management, LLC, outlined plans to expand the Permian Rail Park near Big Springs, Texas.

Twin Eagle said the expansion of the Union Pacific-served park is to meet the strong demand of the Midland Basin. Phase 1 of the unit train capable rail park was completed in February of 2016 and comprised 33,000 feet of track for rail-to-truck frac sand trans-loading services. Phase 2 of the park includes 15,000 tons of flat storage, 7,800 feet of additional rail track and a 50-percent expansion of the transload road. Phase 3 will include the development of the rail park's 150-acre Lot 2 parcel. The new development of Lot 2 will feature 30,000 tons of rail-accessible vertical silo storage. Phase 3 of the park will break ground next month and will be completed by the first quarter of 2018.

The Metra Board of Directors approved a trio of contracts May 24 that will see inward-facing cameras installed on its system, renovations made to its Hazel Crest Station and work performed on several bridges.

 

Twin Eagle Sand Logistics, LLC (Twin Eagle), a subsidiary of Twin Eagle Resource Management, LLC, outlined plans to expand the Permian Rail Park near Big Springs, Texas.

Twin Eagle said the expansion of the Union Pacific-served park is to meet the strong demand of the Midland Basin. Phase 1 of the unit train capable rail park was completed in February of 2016 and comprised 33,000 feet of track for rail-to-truck frac sand trans-loading services. Phase 2 of the park includes 15,000 tons of flat storage, 7,800 feet of additional rail track and a 50-percent expansion of the transload road. Phase 3 will include the development of the rail park's 150-acre Lot 2 parcel. The new development of Lot 2 will feature 30,000 tons of rail-accessible vertical silo storage. Phase 3 of the park will break ground next month and will be completed by the first quarter of 2018.

The Metra Board of Directors approved a trio of contracts May 24 that will see inward-facing cameras installed on its system, renovations made to its Hazel Crest Station and work performed on several bridges.