The past two decades have been a time of steady growth for Union Pacific’s only route to the Canadian border, running from Hinkle, Ore., north through Spokane, Wash., to Eastport, Idaho. Capacity improvements performed over the past several years, and more scheduled for 2019, are evidence of UP’s commitment to accommodate new business through this seldom-mentioned international gateway.
Chicago’s Metra has awarded a $70.9 million contract to Progress Rail for 15 remanufactured and repurposed diesel-electric locomotives to modernize its ageing fleet. The contract includes options for up to 27 additional units, which will be purchased if funding becomes available.
R. J. Corman Railroad Group has joined the Association of American Railroads as a full member.
Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) has named Karalyn Moreira as Executive Director of Business Development. She joins TTCI after spending the past 17 years in Brazil as Commercial Director for Scomi Engineering, Bhd., and as Director of Business Development Operations for HKM Solucoes Tecnologicas.
Wabtec Corporation has completed its merger with GE Transportation. The combined company, which is expected to boast revenues greater than $8 billion in 2019, has a compelling growth profile—especially as market conditions improve in its industries. Wabtec announced the transaction completion at the same time as its 4Q18 and full-year 2018 financials.
Railway Interchange, the largest exhibition and technical conference in North America, on Feb. 20 announced that Simmons-Boardman Rail Group, publisher of Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures (RT&S) and International Railway Journal (IRJ), is the official media partner for 2019. Railway Interchange is scheduled on Sunday, Sept. 22 through Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, Minn.
BNSF Railway will invest $3.57 billion in capital in 2019—a 5% increase from 2018—toward “maintaining and expanding its network with an unwavering focus on operating a safe railroad that meets customers’ demands.”
Wabtec Corp. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Stéphane Rambaud-Measson has resigned from his position and as a Director of the company “to pursue other interests,” Wabtec announced on Feb. 12.
The Center for Railway Research and Education in the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University has completed the inaugural session of a new continuing education program focused on sustainability: “Railway Motive Power and Alternative Propulsion.”
Norfolk Southern, at its Feb. 11 Investor and Financial Analyst Conference in Atlanta, said it plans to hold capital expenditures to between 16% and 18% of revenues through 2021, as the railroad targets a 60% operating ratio by that year.