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  • News

CP expands Bakken crude-by-rail operations 



Canadian Pacific will be moving additional Bakken crude oil by unit train from a planned industry logistics hub served by its North Dakota network.

 The Van Hook, N.D., facility, to be developed by U.S. Development Group (USD), will handle crude oil and related products from the Bakken formation and will have initial capacity of up to 35,000 barrels per day at eight automated truck unloading positions.

Toronto City Council revamps transit agency

In a remarkable and continuing visible display of modal political strife, Toronto’s City Council Monday removed five allies of Mayor Rob Ford from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), replacing them with new members likely to vote to reinstate a rail capital program largely driven by light rail transit.

Thales awarded Korean signaling contract

Thales announced Tuesday that it has been awarded a contract from Hyundai Rotem for communications-based train control (CBTC) signaling on the Sin Bundang Line, linking Seongnam, South Korea, with Seoul, the capital.

  • M/W

Harsco lands more maintenance equipment orders

Camp Hill, Pa.-based Harsco Corp. late Monday announced new U.S. and international orders in its Harsco Rail track maintenance services, equipment, and parts business totaling more than $25 million.

Maersk Line, BNSF team for “Flagship Service”

Madison, N.J.-based Maersk Line announced on Monday its new “Flagship import service direct from Asia to five key markets in North America—Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Memphis, and northwest Ohio”—in conjunction with Class I railroad BNSF Railway.

New York subway ridership continues climbing

MTA New York City Transit says annual ridership on New York’s subway system continued advancing in 2011, up 2.3% from 2010. That translates into about 1.640 billion riders for the year; the exact annual figure was not released immediately by MTA. Annual ridership in 2010 was 1.604 billion, itself the second-highest amount since 1950.

URS lands MARTA streetcar contract

Atlanta’s Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority said Monday it expected to award URS Energy and Construction a contract to design and build the 2.6-mile Atlanta Streetcar Project.

Supreme Court rules for rail suppliers in asbestos case

In a case involving asbestos exposure in railroad repair work, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that the Locomotive Inspection Act, as interpreted in 1923, preempts subsequent state laws with respect to worker exposure to brake shoes and insulation containing asbestos.

UP CEO Jim Young to take medical leave

Union Pacific announced Friday that James R. Young , its chairman, president, and CEO, will take a medical leave of absence from his responsibilities as president and CEO while he is being treated for recently diagnosed pancreatic cancer. He will remain chairman of the board during his treatment.

Industry readies for Railroad Day on Capitol Hill

Railroad Day on Capitol Hill is Thursday, March 8, and the Railway Supply Institute is urging RSI members, and indeed all pro-rail interests, to “help educate policymakers on the positive impact our job-producing industry has on the U.S. economy.”

Speed a factor in VIA Rail accident

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is continuing its investigation of the VIA Rail accident in Burlington, Ontario Feb. 26 that killed three crewmembers and injured at least 35 passengers. But TSB said it already has determined that excessive speed on a crossover was a contributing factor to the incident.

AAR: U.S. freight traffic falls in latest week

U.S. carload freight traffic for the week ending Feb. 25, 2012 fell 5%, measured against the comparable week in 2011, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday. U.S. intermodal volume also fell, though less sharply, down 2.8% compared with the same week a year ago.

NS heritage themes

Paint schemes highlight NS historical heritage

Norfolk Southern said Thursday it is honoring its predecessor railroads during 2012, its 30th anniversary year, by painting 18 new locomotives in commemorative schemes that reflect the heritage of those predecessors.

CSX recognizes Wheeling Development Partnership

CSX Transportation has presented its Partnershipping Award to the Regional 
Economic Development Partnership (RED) in Wheeling, W.Va., for its efforts 
in locating three energy-related projects that will be served by CSX.



Seattle First Hill streetcar gets go-ahead

The Seattle City Council’s transportation committee Tuesday approved a contract to move forward with construction of the First Hill Streetcar, to run between First Hill and Pioneer Square.