L.B. Foster awarded rail contract for CRANDIC track upgrade

L.B. Foster Company was awarded a contract by Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway to provide approximately 1,000 tons of 115# standard rail for the upgrade of aging track and for the construction of a new 10,000-ft. siding for a unit train interchange. An L.B. Foster weld train will deliver 54,450 linear feet of continuous welded rail in February 2011 for track rehabilitation as required for the upkeep of 60 miles of mainline rail and 40 miles of yard track. L.B. Foster Company has also provided 82,000-ft of CWR to the CRANDIC in 2009. The new rail was manufactured in lengths of 240 feet by L.B. Foster's strategic partner, Steel Dynamics, Inc., and then welded into 1,650-foot sections at their rail welding facility. The welding of rail strings began on January 24 and proceeded quickly to accommodate an expedited shipping schedule in early February. L.B. Foster personnel will coordinate the transport and unloading of the train to meet the ambitious delivery date. "Managing a CWR shipment with our own company weld train allows L.B. Foster to expedite delivery and meet critical project deadlines," said Joe Mahoney, L.B. Foster regional sales manager.