Milwaukee doggedly pursues streetcar plan
Intermodal spurs J. B. Hunt to record earnings
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., has announced record second-quarter 2011 net earnings of $65.7 million, and a solid performance by its Intermodal segment gets much of the credit. Total operating revenue was
FTA FONZI clears Phoenix Central Mesa LRT add-on
Phoenix’s Valley Metro said Thursday it has received a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) from the Federal Transit Administration for the 3.1-mile Central Mesa light rail transit extension. FTA’s approval follows
RailAmerica: Revenue up as carloads lag
RailAmerica, Inc., which operates 43 short line and regional railroads in 27 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces, reports that it achieved double-digit revenue growth in this year’s first quarter, although freight
Ottawa City Council OKs revised LRT plan
Ottawa’s City Council Thursday unanimously approved a revised C$2.1 billion light rail transit plan for a 12.5-kilometer (7.7-mile) route between Tunney’s Pasture and Blair Road via a downtown tunnel along Queen Street.
CSX boosts 2011 capex to $2.2 billion
CSX Corp. says it will increase its capital investment for 2011 to $2.2 billion, up from the previously announced $2 billion. CSX said Wednesday the increase is consistent with its previously announced
U.S. freight carload traffic slips
U.S. freight carload traffic fell 3.2% in the week ending July 9, measured against the comparable week in 2010, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday. U.S. intermodal volume also fell, though
Freight rail vital to nation, industry asserts
As Railroad Day on Capitol Hill unfolded Thursday, business and labor leaders, government officials, and rail industry employees representing more than 350,000 American workers from around the country canvassed Capitol Hill in
LaHood to attend SunRail groundbreaking
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is scheduled to attend a groundbreaking ceremony next Monday, July 18, in Orlando to initiate construction of central Florida’s SunRail commuter train project. LaHood also is expected to
Report: Amtrak privatization plan is unconstitutional
This summer’s proposal by Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) to privatize Amtrak would violate the Takings Clause of the U.S. Constitution, the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service says. Though Mica’s proposal has seemed unlikely
Blog report: Seattle streetcar ridership up
Seattle Transit Blog reports ridership on the 1.3-mile Seattle South Lake Union Streetcar (SLUS) continues to grow, despite criticism that the initial segment is too short and was doomed to struggle. The blog says ridership so far this month (July 1 through 9) has topped 3,000 per weekday.
NJT advances Pennsauken Transit Center project
New Jersey Transit’s Board of Directors Wednesday approved a “second and final phase” of construction for its Pennsauken Transit Center, establishing a transfer point between the company’s Atlantic City Line passenger rail
MPL Technology introduces SpillX
MPL Technology, Inc. Wednesday introduced SpillX®, a new locomotive fueling system, to North American railroads that meets many of the 2000 AAR fueling committee’s goals for improved locomotive fueling processes. The company
Amtrak safety video wins awards
Amtrak said Wednesday a video depicting the importance of railroad safety has been recognized by two independent awards programs for creative excellence. The Amtrak film, “Cheating Death,” received two Silver Communicator Awards
KCS settles hurricane insurance claim
When Hurricane Alex made landfall in central Mexico on June 30, 2010, Kansas City Southern de Mexico experienced severe flooding and loss of revenue. Parent Kansas City Southern announced Wednesday that it
Miami port rail link construction set
Construction will begin this Friday to restore Port of Miami on-dock rail capability courtesy of the Florida East Coast Railway. The $50 million project will rehabilitate a bridge damaged and by Hurricane
Tax credit boosts crosstie market
The short line tax credit will drive small railroad crosstie purchases to an estimated 4,063,0009 in 2011 compared to 2,878,000 in 2010, according to an updated forecast by the Railway Tie Association.
Likely FY11 feat: 30 million Amtrak riders
Amtrak Tuesday said it projects 30 million riders for fiscal year 2011, ending Sept. 30, the first time it has carried such a number in its 40-year history. The national passenger railroad
William D. Middleton, 1928-2011
Noted railroad author, photographer, and historian William D. Middleton, a contributing editor to the Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp. Rail Group publications Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures, and International Railway Journal for many
Virginia, North Carolina ponder SEHSR route
In response to public comment collected last summer, new rail alignments have been developed in two sections in Virginia of the Southeast High Speed Rail project (SEHSR). The two areas affected are