Author: Marybeth Luczak

Intermodal: ‘On the Decline in 2023’

“Roughly half of U.S. intermodal shipments are related to international trade, so what happens at ports is extremely important to railroads,” said John T. Gray, Senior Vice President of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), which on June 7 released a report on U.S. rail traffic for May 2023 and for the week ending June 3, 2023. “U.S. port volumes, especially on the West Coast, have already been trending down for months and are a major reason why rail intermodal volumes have been on the decline in 2023.”

According to Intramotev, its ReVolt cars remain in the train consist “to capture energy via regenerative braking and reduce locomotives’ diesel consumption,” while its TugVolt cars (pictured)—supplied as a “proprietary kit that can retrofit/upfit existing railcars to become battery-electric”—can decouple from the consist to independently provide first- and last-mile service.
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Supply Side: FourKites, Intramotev, Medha/Leclanché

FourKites, a real-time supply chain visibility company, earns a 2023 Gartner Marketing and Communications Award. Also, Intramotev will supply three battery-electric railcars to Iron Senergy for its mining operation in Waynesburg, Pa.; and Medha Group and Leclanché SA agree to jointly market their technologies in the railroad and commercial truck markets.

Maryland DOT MTA has reached an agreement with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1300 to decrease the amount of time it takes for rail and bus operators to achieve higher pay rates and ultimately advance to the top rate for their jobs.

Transit Briefs: Maryland DOT MTA, MBTA, NYMTA, OCTA, WMATA

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (Maryland DOT MTA) updates its rail and bus operator pay structure to boost recruitment. Also, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) submits a revised track worker safety plan to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA); New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will test safety doors on subway platforms; Orange County (Calif.) Transportation Authority (OCTA) unveils a $57.3 billion long-range transportation plan; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) launches income-qualified reduced fare program.

Genesis Electronics Group, Inc.’s autonomous battery-electric Glīd road/rail vehicles (pictured) will now include a rail inspection system.
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Supply Side: Harsco Corporation, GEGI

Harsco Corporation changes its legal name to Enviri Corporation. Also, Genesis Electronics Group, Inc. (GEGI) is adding rail testing and safety inspection capabilities to its experimental autonomous battery-electric Glīd road/rail vehicles.

Watco SVP of Sales for Terminals and Port Services Marc Massoglia (fourth from left) on April 11 attended with other stakeholders the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Port 10 Watco Rail Logistics’s new SIT yard in Texas. (Watco Photograph)

Port 10 Watco Rail Logistics Opens SIT Yard

Port 10 Watco Rail Logistics—a joint venture of transportation service and logistics company Watco, Pontikes Development and McNair Interests—has opened a new 420-car storage-in-transit (SIT) yard in Baytown, Tex. The joint venture in January 2022

(CN Screen Capture from the UN Vision 2045 Documentary Film Series)

Watch: CN in UN Vision 2045 Documentary Series

CN is part of a documentary film series that recognizes the United Nation’s 100th anniversary in 2045 and aims “to inspire businesses and people to take collective action to ensure a better future for all.”

Pictured, left to right: Dana Salloum, Alstom; Lee Caragiale and Mike Washington, HDR; and Michael Coleman, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers.
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People News: Alstom, HDR, SMART

Alstom elevates Dana Salloum to Chief Communications Officer. Also, HDR adds Lee Caragiale and Mike Washington to its Transportation Equity and Environmental Justice team; and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) elects Michael Coleman as General President.