2012 PASSENGER RAIL OUTLOOK: In troubled times, still growing
In long-range perspective, the story of North American passenger rail is one of extraordinary growth. The story isn’t over.
news
Will Hunter Harrison reemerge—at CP?
Hunter Harrison, CN’s iconic former chief executive and a Railway AgeRailroader of the Year recipient who is now retired in Florida raising show horses, has been approached to run Canadian Pacific Railway.
RSI: Help address truck weight/size threat
On Jan. 3 the Railway Supply Institute noted a lobbying effort by the trucking industry could encourage Congress to increase truck sizes and/or truck weight on the nation’s roadways in the next surface transportation bill, now being considered; in both the House and the Senate.RSI calls this effort “the biggest threat we have seen in more than 20 years.”
Ferromex grows EMD locomotive fleet
Ferrocarril Mexicano, S.A. de C.V. (Ferromex) said Friday it took delivery last month of an additional 38 SD70Ace locomotives from Electro-Motive Diesel. Ferromex noted it had placed 44 other new SD70ACe locomotives into service earlier in 2011.
At CHSRA, CEO resigns, chair steps down
California High-Speed Rail Authority Chairman Thomas J. Umberg announced Thursday that CEO Roelof van Ark had resigned from the authority, effective in two months.
CF Rail Services adds facility
CF Rail Services, said Thursday that as of the New Year, it has assumed the operations of the railcar repair facility located at 205 Douglas Street in Longview, Wash.
U.S. freight traffic slips as 2012 begins
U.S. freight carload traffic fell 3.7% for the week ending Jan. 7, 2012, while U.S. intermodal volume plummeted 9.3%, both compared with the comparable week in 2011, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday.
MUNI track switch replacement project continues
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, whose multimodal responsibilities include oversight of the city’s Municipal Railway (MUNI), said Thursday continuation of track improvement work MUNI will resume beginning Sunday, Jan. 15.
D.C. streetcar order in flux as suppliers spar
Washington, D.C.’s District Department of Transportation has canceled its two-car streetcar order from Clackamas, Ore.-based United Streetcar, LLC, following a court challenge from Ostrava, Czech Republic-based Inekon Group a.s.
STB adds to rail/shipper advisory council
From a flood of nominations, the Surface Transportation Board has selected seven new appointees to serve on the Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council. RSTAC, which consists of 15 senior officers from shippers and railroads, provides advice on regulatory, policy, and legislative matters.
Amtrak president recaps FY12 plans
Covering little if any new ground for regular rail industry observers, Amtrak President Joseph Boardman on Jan. 12 highlighted the company’s plan to begin acquiring 70 electric locomotives and 130 single-level long-distance cars as part of Amtrak’s long-range plan to rehabilitate its rolling stock.
At Norfolk, NS breaks coal transload mark
Norfolk Southern said it has loaded the largest volume cargo in the history of its Pier 6 coal transloading facility at Lamberts Point in Norfolk, Va. Early on Jan. 12, NS finished loading 159,941.45 net tons (145,097.931 metric tons) of metallurgical coal into the M/V Cape Dover,
Amtrak at 40: Here to stay — and grow
Suppliers have played a key role in helping Amtrak survive, and even prosper, despite repeated attempts to kill the intercity passenger railroad. Their role remains key, and the industry remains optimistic.
NS IDs $9.5B in industrial investment
Norfolk Southern Corp. said Monday it participated in the location of 73 new industries and the expansion of 27 existing industries along its rail lines during 2011, totaling an investment of about $9.5 billion.
MBTA rejects direct control of rail operations
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will continue contracting out its regional rail passenger services, rejecting the option to operate trains itself. MBTA instead may opt for longer-term contracts with any operator involved.
Private sector revives Detroit LRT effort
Though a joint public/private effort to initiate light rail transit in Detroit has faltered, with public money now targeted to launch a 110-mile Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network, state and local elected
Cooley named VP at Colo Railroad Builders
Colo Railroad Builders, a provider of railroad construction and maintenance services to industrial, Class I, and short line railroads, says it has appointed Cene Cooley vice president of Operations in Texas.
New customers will swell CSX revenue
Shippers representing manufacturing, consumer goods, energy, and other markets made commitments in 2011 to develop new or expanded facilities on CSX and its connecting short lines. A total investment of $1.4 billion will ultimately yield more than $230 million in annual freight revenue, said Clark Robertson, assistant vice president-regional development.
SMART picks contractors for Phase 1 rail start
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) said Thursday it had “completed final negotiations” to build phase 1 of an eventual 70-mile rail line in Sonoma and Marin counties, north of San Francisco. Phase 1 will link Santa Rosa and San Rafael, Calif., a distance of roughly 37 miles.
Calif. governor hailed for HSR support
The chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors, Thomas J. Umberg, on Thursday released a statement praising Gov. Jerrry Brown, following the unveiling of the governors’ 2012-13 State Budget: