Railroad News

The Metropolitan Council has awarded $4.6 million to four transit-oriented development (TOD) projects along Metro Transit's Green and Blue light-rail lines.

The grants support development aimed at improving mobility via mass transit and generating economic investment and jobs.The council's investment leverages almost $216 million in private funds and nearly $26 million from other public sources, Met Council officials said in a press release.

Rail-car orders in the third quarter totaled 8,671 units compared with 17,665 units in the second quarter and 5,526 units in third-quarter 2016, according to statistics compiled by the Railway Supply Institute's American Railway Car Institute Committee (ARCI).

Car deliveries in Q3 rose to 11,015 units from 10,625 units in Q2, but were down from 15,375 units in Q3 2016.

The Merced County, California, Board of Supervisors earlier this week authorized a memorandum of agreement with the the Port of Los Angeles that calls for a joint business development plan.

The agreement will help open the door to "significant investment and development" in the Mid-California International Trade District located at Castle Commerce Center and Castle Airport in Atwater, California, county officials said in a press release.

The Merced County, California, Board of Supervisors earlier this week authorized a memorandum of agreement with the the Port of Los Angeles that calls for a joint business development plan.

The agreement will help open the door to "significant investment and development" in the Mid-California International Trade District located at Castle Commerce Center and Castle Airport in Atwater, California, county officials said in a press release.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (Metro) board has approved a staff recommendation to study proposed safety improvements that could lead to converting the Orange bus-rapid-transit (BRT) line to a light-rail line.

The study will examine the possible installation of railroad-style crossing gates at intersections along the Orange Line BRT route. The agency also will examine other possible grade separations at key locations along the 18-mile bus line, which has its own right of way.

Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) President Bonnie Murphy will complete her term and leave the organization Nov. 1 to become a vice president of rail and railroad management at Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).

Murphy, who joined OLI in January 2016, has more than 30 years of rail experience and 10 years of executive-level government experience.

Union Pacific Railroad and logistics service provider Katoen Natie this week broke ground on a new plastic packaging facility in south Dallas County, Texas.

The plant will be located at the 3,000-acre Prime Pointe Industrial Park, which is adjacent to UP's Dallas Intermodal Terminal.

Union Pacific Railroad and logistics service provider Katoen Natie this week broke ground on a new plastic packaging facility in south Dallas County, Texas.

The plant will be located at the 3,000-acre Prime Pointe Industrial Park, which is adjacent to UP's Dallas Intermodal Terminal.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is utilizing a fleet of specialized equipment and increased vegetation control methods to help combat a potentially hazardous by-product of autumn: leaf slime.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is utilizing a fleet of specialized equipment and increased vegetation control methods to help combat a potentially hazardous by-product of autumn: leaf slime.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is utilizing a fleet of specialized equipment and increased vegetation control methods to help combat a potentially hazardous by-product of autumn: leaf slime.

Bonnie Murphy will conclude her term as president of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), on November 1; she has been with OLI since January 2016.

Murphy, who has more than 30 years of rail industry experience and 10 years of executive-level government experience, will join Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) as vice president commuter rail and railroad management.

Bonnie Murphy will conclude her term as president of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), on November 1; she has been with OLI since January 2016.

Murphy, who has more than 30 years of rail industry experience and 10 years of executive-level government experience, will join Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) as vice president commuter rail and railroad management.

Bonnie Murphy will conclude her term as president of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), on November 1; she has been with OLI since January 2016.

Murphy, who has more than 30 years of rail industry experience and 10 years of executive-level government experience, will join Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) as vice president commuter rail and railroad management.

U.S. railroads moved 559,989 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Oct. 21, a 3 percent increase over the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Total carloads for the week ticked up 0.2 percent to 268,943 units, while intermodal volume surged 5.6 percent to 291,046 containers and trailers compared with year-ago traffic results.