O’Malley assumes RSI throttle
Mike O’Malley began his tenure as President of the Railway Supply Institute (RSI) on Feb. 1, 2018 taking over for Tom Simpson, who has retired.
Switching
OmniTRAX Savannah hub certified GRAD
OmniTRAX Inc.’s Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub has been certified a GRAD (Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development) site by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), the state’s marketing and sales arm. OmniTRAX is developing the 2,700-acre tract in Effingham County, Ga., in partnership with the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority (ECIDA).
Nominations sought for RAILWAY AGE 2018 Short Line/Regional Railroad of the Year
Railway Age is now accepting entries for its annual Short Line/Regional Railroad of the Year competition. Short lines and regionals—and there are more than 600 of them—are invited to submit entries describing outstanding achievement in one or a combination of areas.
Railroads and government shutdowns
Whether a federal government shutdown lasts one day or for weeks or months, safety-critical functions affecting railroads are undisturbed.
Commentary
Stark raving mad, certifiable—and no whimpering
Conrail’s Oak Island Yard in Newark, N.J., blew up at 12:14 AM on Jan. 7, 1983, some 35 years ago.
Harris departs OmniTRAX Board
OmniTRAX, Inc., Board Chairman Edmond Harris is resigning after being named executive vice president of operations at CSX Corp.(CSX).
New leadership at RRVW
The Red River Valley & Western Railroad (RRVW) on Jan. 1 began 2018 with the new executive leadership team of Victor Meyers as President and Mark Wegner as Chief Executive Officer.
AAR: 2017 intermodal record
Total U.S. rail traffic was 397,032 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Dec. 30, down 6.8% compared with the same week in 2016, according to the Association of American Railroads.
600-plus (so far) headed to MARS
More than 600 people have registered for the 250th meeting of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) that will be held January 16–18, 2018 in Lombard, Ill. The theme for the meeting is “Can Rail Pick Up Transportation Capacity Shortfall?”
Shuster: This Congress is my last
Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, will not seek re-election in November 2018, the mid-term elections.