news

St. Paul Central Corridor enters final design stage

St. Paul, Minn.’s Central Corridor light rail transit project Tuesday “received permission today to enter final design, the last step before award of a federal Full Funding Grant Agreement for the biggest

AAR: Coal’s importance is critical

Affordable coal-based electricity has helped ensure America’s position as a global economic superpower, and freight railroads are a big reason for that, Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and CEO Edward R.

WMATA taps Cubic for service center

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has selected Cubic Transportation Systems to manage and operate WMATA’s SmarTrip®Regional Customer Service Center (RCSC), a smart card-based fare collection system, designed and integrated by Cubic

Texas county acquires short line from UP

The Rusk County (Tex.) Rural Rail District has acquired the Henderson-Overton rail spur from Union Pacific, and expects to begin work to reactivate the route. The district expects to designate Sulphur Springs,

CSX reopens flood-damaged Tennessee line

Calling it “a terrific accomplishment,” CSX Transportation said Tuesday that its maintenance and repair teams worked ahead of schedule to reopen the railroad’s 200-mile Memphis-Nashville line in Tennessee, which was heavily damaged by severe flooding

NS: PTC mandate accelerates track spending

Meeting the federal government’s mandate for installing positive train control by the end of 2015 requires spending that goes far beyond implementation of the technology itself. In a form 10K filed with the Securities

TCS completes program for Cargill employees

Transportation Certification Services recently completed training Cargill employees at Cargill’s Channelview, Tex., facility. TCS trained employees in basic rail safety and operations to safely and expeditiously handle grain trains delivered to the

Florida Coalition fights heavier-truck bill

The Florida Coalition for Safe Highways asked Gov. Charlie Crist Monday to veto a bill that it said would make highways less safe as well as “subsidize the trucking industry and require local and

Amtrak to delay departure from VRE

Amtrak said Thursday that officials from Virginia Railway Express have asked it to continue operating VRE trains beyond June 28, when Amtrak’s contract was to expire. VRE acknowledged the request, while also

William Clement to head CSX Intermodal

CSX Corp. on Thursday announced the appointment of William Clement to succeed Jim Hertwig as president of CSX Intermodal when Hertwig retires at the end of June. CSX said that Clement, currently assistant vice

CP increases capital spending for 2010

The board of directors of Canadian Pacific Railway on Thursday approved a C$70 million (US$66 million) increase in capital spending in 2010. CP now plans to invest between C$750 million and C$800 million (US$710

UP, GATX offer ethanol rail safety conference

Union Pacific and GATX Corp. recently completed an ethanol rail safety conference, instructing about 85 attendees representing more than 30 ethanol shippers. UP and GATX educated customers on the railroad’s safety and

Former B&O and AAR officer Bill Johnston dies

A.W. (Bill) Johnston, who retired as vice president of operations and maintenance for the Association of American Railroads in 1988 and served before that as a Baltimore & Ohio operating officer, died May 16

U.S. carload, intermodal freight continue to gain

Intermodal traffic on U.S.railroads reached its highest level since late 2008, and carload freight traffic also rose, in the week ended May 15, 2010, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday. Eighteen

Commentary

COMMENTARY: “Quote me as saying I was misquoted.”

Have you seen the headline on the latest press release from CURE (Consumers United for Rail Equity), written in bold capital letters? It‘s rather shocking: “BNSF CEO REFUTES CRITICISM OF RAIL REFORM”

Virginia plan IDs rail, public transport funds

Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board has unveiled a proposed new six-year transportation plan that contains earmarks $2.1 billionfor rail and public transportation, and $5.6 billion for highways. The board posted the $$7.7 billion Working Draft

Robert Pattison, former PB VP, passes away at 88

Robert Pattison, a former vice president at Parsons Brinckerhoff and also a former president of the Long Island Rail Road, died May 12 at age 88. Pattison’s railroad career spanned four decades

Streetcar in Brooklyn? Study to take place

In an apparent about-face, New York City’s Department of Transportation, long known for being averse to light rail and streetcar options and opportunities, seeks to choose a consultant this summer to studyrestoration

UP’s Willie Sandoval, a boilermaker, wins Hammond Award

Union Pacific’s employee records show Willie Sandoval to be a boilermaker in a locomotive shop in Fort Worth, Texas. UP Chairman, President and CEO Jim Young knows Sandoval to be also “a teacher, coach and mentor who consistently demonstrates outstanding safety practices and a willingness to share his knowledge with others.”