MTA Long Island Rail Road on Feb. 6 launched a beta test of myLIRR, an online tool designed for mobile devices that allows customers to see real-time train position. It also shows information about train lengths and locations of any trouble spots affecting service. The map is refreshed with new data every three to five seconds and “benefits from the enhanced accuracy of GPS data.”
Bombardier Aerostructures and Engineering Services President Danny Di Perna, who joined the company in mid-2018, has replaced Laurent Troger as President of Bombardier Transportation. The change is part of an overall leadership restructuring at Bombardier Inc.
Global design and engineering firm Stantec recently added two senior executives to its Transportation Business Line: Barbara Moffat, Vice President Transportation-U.S. West; and Dr. Suhail Albhaisi, Regional Bridge Leader and Senior Principal-U.S. Northeast.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has awarded Fullerton, Calif.-based Rail Propulsion Systems (RPS) a contract for a second Blended After Treatment System (BATS) to retrofit its fleet of EMD F59PH diesel-electric passenger locomotives.
A proposal to build the Brooklyn Queens Connector, a streetcar line linking the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, took a step toward reality Feb. 6 as the city’s Economic Development Corporation approved a key contract.
RailcarRx, Inc., an IT product and service provider to the North American rail industry, has earned SOC 1 (Service Organization Controls) Audit Certification. The audit of RailcarRx’s controls included examination of the company’s data security policy, overall availability of data, monitoring of data processing, business continuity plans and operating environments.
Kansas City Southern, joining Class I contemporaries Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, CSX, CN and Canadian Pacific in adopting one form or another of Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), has appointed Sameh Fahmy as Executive Vice President PSR, reporting to KCS President and CEO Patrick J. Ottensmeyer.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR), in reporting U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 2, 2019, as well as volumes for January 2019, noted that gains in intermodal, chemicals and petroleum-related shipments offset losses in coal, grain and motor vehicles—fluctuations that “don’t reflect weakness in the economy.”
Strong financials in Genesee & Wyoming’s North American Operations unit a more than offset weaker performance in the company’s Australian and U.K./European Operations. As well, the company expects to increase its capital program this year.
The European Commission (EC) announced Feb. 6 that it has blocked the merger of Siemens Mobility and Alstom on the grounds that the two companies have failed to address its concerns over competition on the markets for signaling and high-speed rolling stock.
