Railroad News

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) earlier this week approved construction authorization from the the Ohio Rail Development Commission directing Norfolk Southern Railway, Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway Co. and CSX to upgrade six rail crossings.

By July 17, 2020, NS will install lights and gates and expand the crossing surface at the Jefferson Street/State Route 103 grade crossing in the village of Bluffton, Ohio. NS also will install flashing lights, bells, sidelights and curbing at the Penn Street/Township Road 1383 crossing in Wells Township, PUCO officials said in a press release.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation (AASHTO) officials announced yesterday that Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Deputy Administrator Brandye Hendrickson is joining the organization as its new deputy director.

Hendrickson, who was appointed to FHWA's deputy administrator position in July 2017, also served as its acting administrator in 2017 and 2018.

CSX has been recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" by Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).

The Class I scored 100 percent on the 2019 Disability Equality Index (DEI), which serves as the nation's most comprehensive annual benchmarking tool on disability inclusion efforts in the areas of culture, leadership, enterprise-wide access, employment practices and community engagement, according to the Disability:IN website.

Sound Transit yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of Link light-rail service that connects Seattle to SeaTac, Washington. 

Over the past decade, the Link has logged more than 134 million total boardings, Sound Transit officials said in a press release. 

CSX has been recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" by Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).

The Class I scored 100 percent on the 2019 Disability Equality Index (DEI), which serves as the nation's most comprehensive annual benchmarking tool on disability inclusion efforts in the areas of culture, leadership, enterprise-wide access, employment practices and community engagement, according to the Disability:IN website.

Wisconsin's new 2019-21 budget includes $75 million in one-time funding for local transportation projects, the state's Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced yesterday.

The new program will enable local communities to prioritize their most immediate transportation needs, said Craig Thompson, WisDOT secretary-designee, in a press release.

Kansas City Southern today reported record second-quarter revenue of $714 million, a 5 percent increase on flat volumes compared with the previous year's same quarter.

Year-over-year revenue growth for the quarter was led by a 19 percent increase in chemicals and petroleum shipments, particularly to Mexico, as well as a 5 percent increase in automotive, KCS officials said in a press release.

Kansas City Southern today reported record second-quarter revenue of $714 million, a 5 percent increase on flat volumes compared with the previous year's same quarter.

Year-over-year revenue growth for the quarter was led by a 19 percent increase in chemicals and petroleum shipments, particularly to Mexico, as well as a 5 percent increase in automotive, KCS officials said in a press release.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's (SFMTA) board earlier this week named Tom Maguire interim director of transportation to succeed Ed Reiskin, who will leave the agency next month.

Maguire will start his new duties Aug. 14 and serve until a new transportation director is appointed, SFMTA officials said in a press release.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) yesterday issued a request for proposals (RFP) to develop and operate solar panels on the rooftops of parking garages at Anacostia, Cheverly, Naylor Road and Southern Avenue stations.

WMATA is offering a 15-year solar ground lease to develop, install, operate and maintain solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems on garage rooftops and on surface parking lots.

The New Jersey Transit's board yesterday adopted a fiscal-year 2020 $2.39 billion operating budget and a $1.42 billion capital program. 

The capital program funds continue state-of-good-repair investments in transit stations and infrastructure, investments in the Northeast Corridor, fare modernization, safety initiatives, rail car purchases, positive train control installation, system expansion and support for local mobility programs, NJ Transit officials said in a press release.

Union Pacific Railroad reported today that 2019 second-quarter net income rose 4 percent to $1.6 billion, or $2.22 per diluted share, compared with $1.5 billion, or $1.98 per diluted share, in the same quarter a year ago.

UP's operating income rose 8 percent to $2.3 billion and the company's operating ratio (OR) improved to 59.6 percent from 63.0 percent compared with second-quarter 2018.

Union Pacific Railroad reported today that 2019 second-quarter net income rose 4 percent to $1.6 billion, or $2.22 per diluted share, compared with $1.5 billion, or $1.98 per diluted share, in the same quarter a year ago.

UP's operating income rose 8 percent to $2.3 billion and the company's operating ratio (OR) improved to 59.6 percent from 63.0 percent compared with second-quarter 2018.

U.S. rail traffic has continued its downward trend so far this month, with railroads posting a combined 5.6 percent decline to 527,908 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending July 13 compared with the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Total carloads for the week fell 4 percent to 260,762 units, while intermodal volume plummeted 7.2 percent to 267,146 containers and trailers.

McMillen Jacobs Associates appointed Victor Romero as executive vice president of its underground division. Romero has been with McMillen Jacobs for 28 years, providing underground engineering in the rail-transit, highway, water and wastewater sectors, company officials said in a press release. Isabelle Lamb will succeed Romero as managing director of the Australia and New Zealand region. Lamb has over 25 years of experience in the design and management of teams for the construction of tunnels, underground structures and associated surface facilities for transit, water and roadway projects.

ABB signed a five-year contract to provide the Swiss Federal Railway (SBB) with its RER670 intelligent electronic device for transformer and line distance protection, ABB officials said in a press release. ABB has also supplied SBB with its REB500 busbar protection.

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) crews will begin switch replacement work at the 96th Street interlocking in Manhattan starting later this week and stretching into August.

The project will take place in phases, ultimately leading to the installation of entirely new switches between the northbound express and local tracks at the 96 Street interlocking on the Seventh Avenue Line, NYCT officials said in a press release.

TNW Corp. this week announced two appointments: Andy Scheriger to director of sales and business development for TNW, and Eric Chavez to general manager at the Texas Rock Crusher Railway (TXR).

Prior to his appointment, Scheriger served as GM at TXR. In his new role, he will contribute to TNW's strategic planing and managing sales initiatives and programs. He will oversee customer account coordination; interaction with customers, prospects and customers; and new prospect initiatives.