Railroad News

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) unveiled recommendations that would enhance the Northeast Corridor (NEC) over the next three decades; focusing on a state-of-good-repair before projects could be executed to enhance and improve service.

The FRA's vision to build a better and stronger NEC is the result of four years of working with the Northeast states, federal and state partner agencies and "dozens and dozens" of public meetings.

Valley Metro Rail’s board of directors approved a contract with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., for Tempe Streetcar design services on Dec. 12.

The board of Sound Transit, the regional transit system serving the greater Seattle area, has approved a $1.6 billion budget for 2017.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced Dec. 15 a $499.39 million federal grant agreement with the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA) to build TEX Rail, a commuter rail line between downtown Fort Worth and the Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport.

Union Pacific (UP) recently received its 20th American Chemistry Council's Responsible Care® Management System (RCMS) certification, which recognizes the railroad’s safe handling of hazardous materials during customer shipments.

OmniTRAX, Inc. and the Port of Brownsville have teamed up to facilitate the lease of a large grain-handling facility to West Plains LLC at the port.

Representatives from Cambro Manufacturing, the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) the Alamance Chamber of Commerce celebrated Dec. 15 the completion of a lead track at the North Carolina Industrial Center (NCIC) and the first freight rail shipment received by the manufacturer of food service equipment.

Luis Casado, PE, has joined global infrastructure firm Gannett Fleming as its new southeast region director and senior vice president.

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) board of directors has adopted the 2017 operating budgets for the RTA, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace, totaling $3 billion. 

Metra joined the likes of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Dec. 14 when the commuter railroad announced a three-year agreement with Uber, which will be the agency’s “official rideshare partner.”

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced Dec. 14 its adoption of a final rule to establish procedures for board-initiated investigations regarding railroad issues of national or regional influence pursuant to Section 12 of the STB’s Reauthorization Act of 2015 (Reauthorization Act), Pub. L. No. 114-110, 129 Stat. 2228 (2015).

Art Lloyd, a long-time board member of the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) and the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) that oversees Caltrain, died Dec. 4 in his California home at 91 years old.

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP) has appointed Jane L. Peverett to its board of directors, effective Dec. 13, 2016. 

Union Pacific Railroad (UP) will soon replace the electrical system on its Portland-based Steel Bridge to improve lift bridge redundancies and enhance electrical system access for bridge maintenance staff.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) eTix mobile ticketing smartphone application has seen a successful launch period since its August launch.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), SMART United Transportation Union-Local 61 (SMART-UTU) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) signed an Implementing Memorandum of Understanding (IMOU) on Dec. 12 to join the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS).

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Dec. 12 to celebrate improvements along a 52-mile rail corridor that will allow for the transport of 286,000-pound cars.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) hosted the groundbreaking for the North Carolina & Virginia Railroad (NCVA) project. The NCVA is a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., and runs between Boykins, Va., where it interchanges with CSX to east of Tunis, N.C. It's largest customer is Nucor Steel plate mill at Cofield, N.C.

GWI UK Acquisition Company Limited, a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI), has entered an agreement with a subsidiary of APM Terminals (A P Møller-Maersk A/S) to acquire Pentalver Transport Limited for approximately £87 million (approximately US$110 million).

The expansion of the Fairview Container Terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia has reached 75 percent complete and is on schedule to open in 2017.

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will begin the next round of Superstorm Sandy-related repairs in spring 2017 with weekend closures of the Clark St. Tube to fix integral components.