CP plans Rogers Pass tunnel overhaul

The Canadian Pacific Railway is planning extensive work in its famed Mount Macdonald Tunnel in British Columbia, at 9.1 miles the longest railway tunnel in North America.

CSX 2018: A record OR

CSX Corp. on Jan. 16 announced 4Q2018 net earnings of $843 million, or $1.01 per share, vs. $4.14 billion, or $4.62 per share on a GAAP basis ($0.64 on an adjusted basis) in the same period last year. That’s about $.02 per a share better than what analysts expected. Of particular note is that the railroad’s full-year 2018 operating ratio dropped to 60.3%, a U.S. Class I record.

Mott MacDonald/PGH Wong Engineering lands BART Silicon Valley Phase II contract

A joint venture of of Mott McDonald and PGH Wong Engineering has won the contract to provide general engineering services for Phase II of the 16-mile, six-station Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Extension, which when completed will connect Fremont (Warm Springs) with San José and Santa Clara.

WSP blesses Cuomo’s alternative plan for “L” tunnel repairs

Engineering giant WSP USA is expected to give its support to a controversial plan to repair the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s storm-damaged Canarsie Tunnel without shutting down L Train service.

Ottawa LRT nearing much-delayed start-up

The consortium building Ottawa’s light rail transit (LRT) Confederation Line says it will finish construction work in the first quarter of 2019, and expects to turn the project over to the city by March 31.

No shutdown for NYCT L Train

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has halted plans for a complete shutdown of MTA New York City Transit “L” Train service through the storm-damaged Canarsie Tunnel. Cuomo announced his decision in a press conference during which engineering academics said that tunnel repairs can be made while trains are operating.

CN meets PTC deadline; seeks extension

The largest Canadian Class I railroad says it met its year-end deadline to install positive train control (PTC) equipment across its system, and is seeking a two-year extension “to complete deployment and interoperability.”

What the government shutdown means for rail

The effects of the partial shutdown of the federal government on the rail community appear not to be significant, at least for now.

FRA green-lights PATH PTC

The Federal Railroad Administration has certified a system-wide signals upgrade by the Port Authority Trans Hudson (PATH) transit system as meeting all the requirements for Positive Train Control (PTC). The move comes several weeks before the Dec. 31 federal deadline.

Orange County streetcar breaks ground as FTA signs for funding

Construction began Nov. 30 on the Orange County Transportation Authority’s 4.1-mile streetcar project in Santa Ana, the same day the project was fully funded.