Railroad News

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has released a request for proposals (RFP) to purchase electricity generated by wind, solar or other renewable resources.

The agency wants to transition 10 percent to 20 percent of its annual electricity requirement to zero-carbon sources from its current mix of grid-based sources, SEPTA officials said in a press release.

Federal Railroad Administrator Ronald Batory yesterday completed a second series of meetings with positive train control (PTC) system suppliers as part of the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) oversight of the rail industry's implementation of the safety technology.

Batory met with senior leaders of suppliers that are directly associated with the eight railroads most at risk of not meeting the federal mandate that calls for railroads to implement PTC by Dec. 31 or meet certain criteria that would allow for a deadline extension.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) yesterday announced the 2018 recipients of the Holden-Proefrock Award and the 2017 Non-Accident Release (NAR) Grand Slam Awards, which recognize people, shippers and railroads that operate in hazardous materials fields.

The AAR selected David Schoendorfer, system manager of hazardous materials at Norfolk Southern Railway, to receive the Holden-Proefrock Award. With 33 years of rail experience, Schoendorfer has played a key role in the safe transportation of hazardous materials and community outreach for both his railroad and the industry, AAR officials said in a press release.

Now that recreational use of cannabis is legal in Canada, the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) yesterday called on the Canadian government to establish rules that would permit transit agencies to randomly drug test subway operators and other employees working in safety-sensitive positions.

The random tests would be an "additional tool for transit systems to reinforce safety in public transport and urban mobility across the country," CUTA officials said in a news release.

Compiled by Michael Popke

AllTranstek LLC has begun offering tax and audit services in response to the demand for assistance in monitoring tax code changes, ad valorem tax compliance and assessment reviews. The company's new tax and audit services division helps clients manage the financial reporting process for state and local taxing jurisdictions, AllTranstek officials said in a news release. To lead the new service offering, the firm appointed John Hoyt manager of tax and audit services. Hoyt began his rail career with TTX Co. in 1979.

Indian Railways has placed an $18 million order with ABB for traction transformers. The units will be customized for the WAP-7 type electric locomotive, which can haul 24 coaches at speeds up to 87 mph. The project is part of Indian Railways' "Mission Electrification" initiative, which aims to electrify nearly 15,000 miles of track. The transformers will be built at BB's facility in Gujurat, India.

North Carolina Railroad Co. Vice President of Engineering James Kessler has been named president of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-Of-Way Association (AREMA) for the 2018-2019 term.

Kessler was installed as AREMA president last month during the association's annual Presidents Dinner, according to a press release issued by the North Carolina Railroad (NCRR).

Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad (CSS) has been awarded the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association's (ASLRRA) President's Award for "outstanding safety achievements" in 2017.

The award was presented at the 2018 ASLRRA Eastern Region meeting in Vermont earlier this month. Presented annually, the award recognizes short lines and regionals that post the best safety rate as reported by the Federal Railroad Administration.

Amtrak has partnered with People for Urban Progress (PUP) to repurpose Acela Express seat covers into luxury leather bags.

An Indianapolis-based nonprofit, PUP expects to roll out about 2,500 bags over the next 10 to 12 months as the seat coverings are repurposed. The first products will include tote bags, backpacks and "dopp kits" or toiletry bags. PUP designers are hand-crafting all the bags.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) this week called on Canadian Pacific, CSX and other freight railroads to provide more information to county emergency management authorities and first responders when trains are transporting hazardous materials through local communities in New York.

Specifically, Schumer urged better state-local coordination and "proactive" and detailed information sharing when trains loaded with hazmat operate through their areas.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) on Monday began subway tunneling under Wilshire Boulevard for the Purple Line Extension.

The agency has launched two tunnel boring machines that will dig the twin tunnels, Metro officials said in a blog post yesterday.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority's (CHSRA) board yesterday certified the final supplemental environmental impact report (EIR) for the Fresno-to-Bakersfield section of the state's plan to build a high-speed rail line between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The board also approved a high-speed rail alignment between Poplar Avenue in Kern County and the F Street station in downtown Bakersfield. The moves enable CHSRA to take additional steps toward advancing major work on the overall project, agency officials said in a news release.

CSX Corp. yesterday reported third-quarter net earnings jumped 95 percent to $894 million, or $1.05 per share, from $459 million, or 51 cents per share, in the same period a year ago. The per-share earnings beat analysts' estimates for the quarter.

CSX's operating ratio of 58.7 percent set a company third-quarter record. A year ago, CSX posted a third-quarter operating ratio of 68.4 percent.

CSX Corp. yesterday reported third-quarter net earnings jumped 95 percent to $894 million, or $1.05 per share, from $459 million, or 51 cents per share, in the same period a year ago. The per-share earnings beat analysts' estimates for the quarter.

CSX's operating ratio of 58.7 percent set a company third-quarter record. A year ago, CSX posted a third-quarter operating ratio of 68.4 percent.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Associate Editor

Metra yesterday released a proposed revision of its Rock Island Line schedule to accommodate service changes related to positive train control (PTC) implementation.

With PTC in place, train crews must initialize the system before each individual run. The process includes compiling information about the size and makeup of the train, along with any other details about route conditions that could affect train operations.

The Minneapolis-area Metropolitan Council this month is launching a survey to gauge how locals travel across the greater Twin Cities region.

Working in partnership with the Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation, the council will survey 7,500 households across 19 counties starting this month through October 2019.

Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) has hired Jessica Puchala as director of communications and marketing.

She has more than 20 years of experience in communications and project management in the corporate, nonprofit, state government and media sectors.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is 60 percent finished with design plans for the new Airport Metro Connector station, agency officials reported in a blog post yesterday.

The station will provide transfers from the Green Line and the future Crenshaw/LAX light-rail line to Los Angeles International Airport's new $4.9 billion automated people mover system.