L.B. Foster supplying 28,500 tons of cwr for NECR Vermont upgrade

Written by jrood

L.B. Foster Company has begun delivering 28,500 tons of 115-pound standard continuous welded rail to New England Central Railroad (NECR), an operating subsidiary of RailAmerica, Inc., for upgrading approximately 140 miles of  track. L.B. Foster's specially-equipped cwr trains will complete 18 shipments of welded rail by mid-2011 for installation at various locations throughout Vermont.

The track improvements are included in the Federal
Railroad Administration’s High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program award to
the State of Vermont and funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The 115-pound rail is being manufactured in 240-foot
lengths by L.B. Foster’s strategic partner, Steel Dynamics, Inc. (SDI), and
then welded into 1600-foot strings at SDI’s Columbia City, Indiana facility.
 

"We provide the highest quality standard rail
possible, in the longest lengths possible, and welded with the best equipment
and control procedures in the western hemisphere," comments Paul Kotsenas,
manager – rail and special products, Steel Dynamics.  

The new rail will improve the speed of the State of
Vermont sponsored Amtrak Vermonter intercity passenger service and add capacity
for freight carloads. L.B. Foster’s personnel are managing trackside
off-loading in Vermont.

"The convenience of
our own weld train and jobsite management helps to expedite deliveries and
minimize off-loading along this busy track," said Greg Lippard, Vice
President, L.B. Foster Rail Sales. To view a video of NECR’s project ribbon
cutting ceremony click here.

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