3/1/2017
Rail News: People
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Railroad News
Mar
01
Mar
01
3/1/2017
Rail News: Mechanical
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Mar
01
3/1/2017
Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
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Mar
01
Thomas Prendergast, former chairman and and CEO of Metropolitan Transportation Authority, has joined STV Incorporated as executive vice president and chief strategic officer.
STV says he will work on strategic projects throughout the firm. He will also be responsible for forging and maintaining relationships with transit agencies across the country and in Canada and serve as principal on major transportation projects undertaken by the firm. He will report directly to Milo Riverso, president and CEO of STV.
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Mar
01
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Feb. 28 for the Paoli Station Accessibility Improvements Project, a $36 million initiative to improve accessibility, safety and provide operational flexibility at the Paoli Train Station.
In fiscal year 2016, 201,572 Amtrak passengers and approximately 740,000 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) passengers passed through the station. The current station facilities built in 1953 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, including the one-story brick station building, are not fully accessible and are in need of improvement. SEPTA and Amtrak have partnered to make modifications to the station and infrastructure at the station to bring into compliance with 2006 U.S. Department of Transportation Accessibility Standards.
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Feb
28
2/28/2017
Rail News: Passenger Rail
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Feb
28
2/28/2017
Rail News: Labor
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Feb
28
2/28/2017
Rail News: Amtrak
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Feb
28
2/28/2017
Rail News: Shippers
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Feb
28
2/28/2017
Rail News: Passenger Rail
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Feb
28
2/28/2017
Rail News: BNSF Railway
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Feb
28
2/28/2017
Rail News: BNSF Railway
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Feb
28
Rail News Home BNSF Railway 2/28/2017 Rail News: BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway Co. reported fourth-quarter 2016 revenue, operating income and net income all declined compared with the same quarter in 2015.In 2016, total revenue slipped 2 percent to $5.3 billion, operating income fell 8 percent to $1.8 billion and net income decreased 8 percent to $993 million compared with the previous year's quarter, BNSF said in a financial performance statement.For the full year, the Class I's total revenue dipped 10 percent to $19.8 billion, operating income tumbled 13 percent to $6.7 billion, and net income plummeted 16 percent to $3.6 billion compared with 2015's results.BNSF attributed the decrease in earnings for the quarter and full year to "continued decline in demand, in particular in coal and crude oil businesses."The drop in total revenue for the quarter and full year was due to "a flat unit volume for the fourth quarter and a decrease in full year 2016 unit volume of 5 percent, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2015, as well as business mix changes and the impact of lower fuel prices on our fuel surcharge revenues."The railroad also reported an operating ratio of 65.1 percent for Q4 2016 compared with 62.6 percent for Q4 2015, and 65.5 percent for full-year 2016 compared with 64 percent in 2015.Among the business unit highlights for fourth-quarter and full-year 2016:
• Higher domestic intermodal volumes and the addition of a new automotive customer helped boost consumer product volumes 3 percent and 1 percent for Q4 and full year, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2015.
• Industrial products volumes fell 9 percent and 8 percent for Q4 and full year, respectively, compared with the same results in 2015. The primary cause was lower petroleum products, reflecting pipeline displacement of U.S. crude rail traffic and lower U.S. oil production. In addition, there was lower demand for steel and taconite. The full year volume decrease was partially offset by increased plastics products volume.
• Higher corn, soybean and wheat exports helped lift agricultural products volumes, which rose 5 percent and 6 percent for Q4 and full year, respectively, compared with 2015's volumes.
• Coal volumes were down 4 percent for Q4 and 21 percent for the full year compared with 2015 levels. The Q4 decline was primarily due to coal retirement and high coal stockpiles, while the full year decline was due to those factors as well as lower demand driven by reduced energy consumption and low natural gas prices during the first half of 2016.BNSF's operating expenses rose 2 percent in Q4 2016, but fell 8 percent for the full year compared with expenses in the previous year.The railroad spent $3.9 billion on capital expenditures in 2016, the largest component of which supported maintenance and replacement of BNSF's core network and related assets.BNSF has committed $3.4 billion for its 2017 capital expenditures. The capex program will continue to focus on maintenance and replacement of the network and related assets to ensure a safe and reliable network. In 2017, that component is expected to cost $2.4 billion. Those funds will primarily go toward replacing and upgrading rail, rail ties and ballast, as well as maintaining rolling stock.The company plans to spend $400 million on expansion projects, $100 million for continued implementation of positive train control and $400 million for locomotives, freight cars and other equipment acquisitions. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 2/28/2017
BNSF Railway Co. reported fourth-quarter 2016 revenue, operating income and net income all declined compared with the same quarter in 2015.In 2016, total revenue slipped 2 percent to $5.3 billion, operating income fell 8 percent to $1.8 billion and net income decreased 8 percent to $993 million compared with the previous year's quarter, BNSF said in a financial performance statement.For the full year, the Class I's total revenue dipped 10 percent to $19.8 billion, operating income tumbled 13 percent to $6.7 billion, and net income plummeted 16 percent to $3.6 billion compared with 2015's results.BNSF attributed the decrease in earnings for the quarter and full year to "continued decline in demand, in particular in coal and crude oil businesses."The drop in total revenue for the quarter and full year was due to "a flat unit volume for the fourth quarter and a decrease in full year 2016 unit volume of 5 percent, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2015, as well as business mix changes and the impact of lower fuel prices on our fuel surcharge revenues."The railroad also reported an operating ratio of 65.1 percent for Q4 2016 compared with 62.6 percent for Q4 2015, and 65.5 percent for full-year 2016 compared with 64 percent in 2015.Among the business unit highlights for fourth-quarter and full-year 2016:
• Higher domestic intermodal volumes and the addition of a new automotive customer helped boost consumer product volumes 3 percent and 1 percent for Q4 and full year, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2015.
• Industrial products volumes fell 9 percent and 8 percent for Q4 and full year, respectively, compared with the same results in 2015. The primary cause was lower petroleum products, reflecting pipeline displacement of U.S. crude rail traffic and lower U.S. oil production. In addition, there was lower demand for steel and taconite. The full year volume decrease was partially offset by increased plastics products volume.
• Higher corn, soybean and wheat exports helped lift agricultural products volumes, which rose 5 percent and 6 percent for Q4 and full year, respectively, compared with 2015's volumes.
• Coal volumes were down 4 percent for Q4 and 21 percent for the full year compared with 2015 levels. The Q4 decline was primarily due to coal retirement and high coal stockpiles, while the full year decline was due to those factors as well as lower demand driven by reduced energy consumption and low natural gas prices during the first half of 2016.BNSF's operating expenses rose 2 percent in Q4 2016, but fell 8 percent for the full year compared with expenses in the previous year.The railroad spent $3.9 billion on capital expenditures in 2016, the largest component of which supported maintenance and replacement of BNSF's core network and related assets.BNSF has committed $3.4 billion for its 2017 capital expenditures. The capex program will continue to focus on maintenance and replacement of the network and related assets to ensure a safe and reliable network. In 2017, that component is expected to cost $2.4 billion. Those funds will primarily go toward replacing and upgrading rail, rail ties and ballast, as well as maintaining rolling stock.The company plans to spend $400 million on expansion projects, $100 million for continued implementation of positive train control and $400 million for locomotives, freight cars and other equipment acquisitions. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 2/28/2017
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Feb
28
A rail worker notification system that notifies maintenance workers, as well as train operators has been awarded a U.S. patent.
STC, Inc., says its now patented EMTRAC Rail Worker Notification is comprised of two main components, the onboard Vehicle Computer Units and the Personal Notification Units carried by rail workers. Optional detection units may also be installed in wayside cabinets along the railway to extend communications or to enable real-time monitoring of vehicle and worker activity. The EMTRAC system also includes setup software so administrative personnel can configure the system according to specific agency requirements.
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Feb
28
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE) will open in March 2018, seven months later than the previously scheduled opening of August 2017.
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Feb
28
Caltrain has terminated a contract with Parsons Transportation Group (PTG), the firm responsible for designing and implementing a Positive Control System or CBOSS, after the agency said lack of the contractor's progress threated to delay implementation of the technology.
The federally-mandated system must be installed by the end of 2018 and Caltrain took steps to end the contract after "continued delays in delivering the project and an utter lack of progress in moving the project forward consistent with PTG's contractual obligations."
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Feb
28
Washington's Metropolitan Area Transit Authority on Monday threatened to bring in contractors and pursue further legal action if unionized employees refuse to work overtime.
The authority said in a release that union leadership was encouraging members to turn down extra shifts.
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Feb
27
2/27/2017
Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
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Feb
27
2/27/2017
Rail News: PTC
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Feb
27
2/27/2017
Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
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