By
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) in January named Chuck Baker president. He assumed the post Feb. 4.
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
By
Passing a permanent extension of the 45G short-line tax credit. Maintaining existing truck size and weight restrictions. Introducing a comprehensive infrastructure package that includes funding priority for freight and passenger rail. Shoring up the federal Highway Trust Fund. Continuing existing "balanced" regulations for freight railroads.
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
For the U.S. rail realm, this year’s legislative priorities — passing a permanent extension of the 45G short-line tax credit, maintaining existing truck size and weight restrictions, keeping the regulatory playing field “balanced” for freight railroads — are, for the most part, of the usual-suspect variety, as Senior Associate Editor Julie Sneider reports in this month’s cover story. But rail advocates have a few other concerns they’ll be talking about with lawmakers and their staffers — including the potential monitoring of railroads that implement precision scheduled railroading (PSR).
Last month, Railway Supply Institute Vice President of Government Affairs Nicole Brewin told Sneider she’d heard rumblings that congressional hearings could be in the offing on such topics as PSR. We heard similar comments about oversight interest in PSR late last fall during our annual RailTrends summit.
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
Big Data enables railroads to get "actionable information" — the kind they can "actually use day to day, month to month and year to year in short-, medium- and long-term capital programs,” says Allan Zarembski, a professor in the University of Delaware’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.Photo – University of Delaware
By Michael Popke
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
By
Will business be better this year than it was last year? Will it be about the same? Worse? What are the key issues facing the rail finance and leasing sector in 2019?
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
The initial 75 Charger units will be used primarily on Amtrak’s long-distance service routes.Photo – Amtrak
Late last month, Amtrak awarded an $850 million contract to Siemens Mobility for 75 diesel locomotives as part of the railroad’s plan to replace its aging national network fleet.
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
Offered by nVent, the ERIFLEX Flexibar Advanced flexible busbar, shown here, is installed in an electrical panel.Photo – nVent
nVent offers an array of products, including nVent ERICO Cadweld, which is used for making exothermic welded connections on track. The company also offers the nVent ERIFLEX product line for electrical conduction and low voltage power distribution (AC/DC power conversion). Used across a range of industries, ERIFLEX products provide "unique advantages that are ideal for railways electrical systems, both onboard and trackside," the company said in an email.
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
A grant will be used to help fund the Coos Bay Rail Line rehab project.Photo – Port of Coos Bay
By
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
By
In our January 2018 issue, I wrote a column about E. Hunter Harrison’s passing — a big news story at the time since he had died Dec. 16, 2017. But by doing so, I didn’t get to share what had been the top news stories of 2017, at least according to our Daily News readers. So, I’ll get back to what I hope will become an annual tradition by relaying what I’ll call the Top 18 from ’18. These are the 18 Daily News stories that our ProgressiveRailroading.com readers clicked on the most often last year, ranked in order of total page views. It shouldn’t be surprising that items on Amtrak, CSX, Union Pacific Railroad, precision scheduled railroading (PSR) — or even Canadian Pacific’s holiday train — proved to be popular. Without further ado, here are the Top 18 from ’18, including the dates they ran:
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
Part 1 : Locomotive makers expect relatively strong demand in 2019 for both new, rebuilt units
Shown: Tier IV locomotives in production at GE’s plant in Fort Worth, Texas.Photo – GE Transportation
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
Amtrak is planning a $1.5 billion, six-span bridge to replace the Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River in New Jersey.Photo – Amtrak
By
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
A rail bridge overpass (shown) in Landis/China Grove, North Carolina, was completed in 2017 to eliminate a crossing.Photo – North Carolina DOT
By
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
Yesterday in Madrid, Texas Central Railway and Renfe officials signed an agreement that formalizes the Spanish rail operator as the Texas bullet train's strategic operating partner.
With its decades of experience, Spain-based Renfe was a "natural fit" to join Texas Central’s other partners, Texas Central officials said in a press release.
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) has opened newly renovated Farmingdale and Wantagh stations.
Although work on the Farmingdale Station is ongoing, doors to the building were opened yesterday. The facility's upgrade is part of an $84 million, eight-station renovation package awarded earlier this year.
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
Metra recently launched revenue service demonstrations (RSDs) of its positive train control (PTC) system on the Rock Island District Line, which runs southwest from Chicago to Joliet, Illinois.
The RSDs are the final stage before PTC is fully implemented along the route. The demonstrations involve operating some trains in regular service with PTC engaged to determine if the system is working as intended.
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
Metropolitan Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff yesterday announced she will be stepping down at November’s end to pursue a new professional opportunity.
Per council bylaws, Vice Chair Harry Melander will assume her duties until the Minnesota governor-elect appoints a new chair.
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) this week released its Watchlist 2018 to highlight seven safety hazards in the industry.
This year's list cites the TSB's call to action on safety management and employee fatigue issues across transportation modes, board officials said in a press release.
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) yesterday announced it chose L'Enfant Plaza as the site for a new centrally located headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The agency now will seek final board approval to purchase a vacant office building at the plaza as the replacement for its current headquarters, the Jackson Graham Building. WMATA plans to strip the acquired building’s exterior and completely renovate the facility, including new commercial amenities on the ground floor. In addition, the agency might add three floors to create lease space and generate additional revenue, WMATA officials said in a press release.
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.
The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay yesterday announced its new subsidiary Coos Bay Rail Line Inc. (CBRL) will begin operating the 134-mile port-owned rail line between Danebo and Coquille, Oregon, Nov. 1.
The previous operator Coos Bay Rail Link (CBR) notified the port of its intention to divest its relationship with the port and cease operations on the line by October’s end. CBR owner ARG Transportation Services continues to pursue legal recourse because the company believes the port breached its contract with the short line, ARG President Scott Parkinson said in an email.
© © TradePress Media Group, Inc.