Portland to Vancouver light-rail link pushes ahead with Columbia River Crossing OK

Plans to replace the aging Interstate 5 Columbia River Crossing bridges connecting Vancouver, Wash., and Portland, Ore., and build an interstate transit link can now move forward.

The Record of Decision represents the final clearance of the project’s environmental review and allows Oregon and Washington to begin right-of-way acquisition and construction.

"We are making the long-sought after rail transit link between Portland and Vancouver possible," Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff said. "This is the type of forward-leaning project that will greatly benefit the entire region well into the future."

At a cost of approximately $3 billion for bridge, transit and highway improvements, the project is considered a long-term, comprehensive solution to address safety and congestion problems on five miles of I-5 from State Route 500 in Vancouver to Victory Boulevard in Portland and will be funded through a combination of state and federal sources.

The nearly three-mile light-rail portion of the project will extend from Portland’s Expo Center MAX station to Clark College in Vancouver. It is expected that the transit rail project will reduce the duration of daily congestion on I-5 near the Columbia River by 60 percent. By 2030, the light-rail line is expected to carry more than 22,000 daily passengers.

North Dakota rail loop project gets green light

The North Dakota Stutsman County Commission voted 4-1 to move forward with the creation of the Spiritwood Energy Park Association rail loop project.

The legal agreements still have to be completed and some details still need to be clearly determined, but the board agreed to move ahead with the process of combining 100 acres of land belonging to the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. and another 451 acres of land owned by Great River Energy into the Spiritwood Energy Park Association.

The county will also contribute $375,000 in investment capital to SEPA, which would go toward building a rail loop for tenants in the energy park, a $7.5 million project intended to attract more tenants to the energy park.

Fairfax gives final approval needed for Dulles rail agreement

The Virginia Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved changes to the funding agreement for the second phase of the Dulles Rail project, saving as much as an estimated $757 million in fees for Dulles Toll Road users.

The board’s authorization was the final step needed to adopt the changes. The project’s other partners, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Loudoun County, Commonwealth of Virginia and U.S. Department of Transportation, agreed to the deal last month.

"This strategy brings the cost of Phase 2 back down close to the original estimate and goes a long way to ensure this critical transportation project is completed," Chairman Sharon Bulova said. "Dulles Rail remains my top transportation priority and I am glad to approve this strategy."

Toll road commuters, who are paying for 75 percent of the project’s second phase, will see savings because the deal shaves the total cost by a third, from an estimated $3.8 to $2.8 billion. The most significant source for these savings results from the decision to build an above-ground station at Dulles Airport.

As was agreed, total project costs are shared as follows: 16.1 percent by Fairfax County; 4.8 percent by Loudoun County; 4.1 percent by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority; and 75 percent (less any federal and state funding) by Dulles Toll Road revenues.

To help pay for its overall share for the project, the county also plans to apply for a federal loan of up to $315 million under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. With its potentially low interest rate and option to defer repayment, this loan will save taxpayers money.

To further defray costs for toll road users, the state also agreed to seek $150 million in funding from the Virginia General Assembly.

The county’s share for the entire Dulles Rail project is estimated to be $893 to $923 million. Of this amount, $730 million, or approximately 80 percent, will be paid for by voluntary, special tax districts created by landowners.

The second phase of the rail project runs from Wiehle Avenue in Fairfax County to Route 772 in Loudoun County. The second phase of the project is estimated to be completed in 2017.The first phase of the project is currently under construction and it expected to be completed in late 2013.

Stella-Jones completes Thompson Industries acquisition

Stella-Jones Inc. has completed the acquisition of Thompson Industries, Inc.

Thompson’s sales for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, were approximately $49.0 million. The purchase price totaled approximately $39.0 million, subject to post closing adjustments. Stella-Jones financed the acquisition through existing credit facilities and an unsecured vendor note of $6.5 million.

"The acquisition of Thompson further enhances Stella-Jones’ status as a leading provider of treated wood products and services to the North American railroad industry. More importantly, we expect the transaction to be immediately accretive to earnings and to yield synergies, as our continental network will benefit from greater operating efficiencies," said Brian McManus, president and CEO of Stella-Jones.

Deutsche Plasser unveils 3D tamping simulator

On Dec.1, 2011, Deutsche Plasser presented the world’s first 3D-tamping simulator in the newly extended training center in Bingen on the Rhine, Germany.

With this new 09-3D tamping simulator, the training center now has a valuable training instrument. A completely new kind of simulation of the surroundings in the work cabin provides a realistic impression of a true working situation. This is augmented by numerous original components such as the operating panel, the work seat with operating controls installed in the armrests, a touch panel for the CWS computer working system, pedals for controlling the work units and the standard pilot lamps.

The real-time 3D simulation enables the trainee to learn how to perform normal plain line tamping and renewal tamping, but also how he or she must react when encountering obstacles such as level crossings, inductive track magnets, cable ducts, signal switching mechanisms, etc. and this improves the quality of the training.

The 09-3D tamping simulator assures
• tamping under realistic conditions
• intensive training without disruption of rail services or risk of damage to the track
• recording, analysis, evaluation and therefore a quality control of the training units attended
• better trained staff for a higher availability of the machines in operation
• no need to keep a machine specially for training purposes
• an increase in the overall machine output thanks to highly qualified and specialized machine operating staff

Due to the success in Bingen, an identical 09-3D tamping simulator is currently being prepared for installation in the Plasser & Theurer training centre in Linz, Austria.

CP refreshes locomotive fleet

Canadian Pacific has brought 61 new high horsepower GE Evolution Series AC locomotives into service and the railway has initiated a program to modernize its low and medium horsepower yard locomotives.

The new EVO locomotives, which are currently in transcontinental service on priority series trains, will increase capacity, enhance service reliability, further the company’s long train strategy, reduce emissions and contribute to the company’s one-two percent annual fuel efficiency improvement target.

CP also expects delivery of an additional 30 EVO locomotives in the first quarter of 2012.

Through Progress Rail Services’ Electro-Motive Diesel subsidiary, CP will also begin to modernize a portion of its low and medium horsepower locomotive fleet. The remanufacture of these locomotives, which will begin in 2012 and take place over the next several years, supports yard fluidity and yard dwell reduction goals and reduces fuel consumption and ongoing maintenance costs.

U.S. Development Group expands crude-by-rail network with Niobrara logistics Hub

U.S. Development Group LLC, a Houston, Texas-based developer of rail logistics and terminal facilities, has begun operations at its Niobrara Crude Terminal, the third in a nationwide network of crude oil/condensate terminals. Located near I-25 in Carr, Colo., the industry logistics hub will handle crude oil and related products from the Niobrara Shale play. USDG anticipates that the terminal will provide a growth platform for the Niobrara oil field by giving producers immediate access to refiners and blenders on the Gulf Coast.

"U.S. Development Group continues to extend its leadership position in the burgeoning crude-by-rail sector with the addition of our Niobrara Crude Terminal," said Mike Day, vice president, U.S. Development Group. "Strategically located near the developing Niobrara production area, the new terminal gives producers a safe, efficient and flexible way to transport their product to the lucrative Gulf Coast refining and distribution market."

NCT rail operations will have direct truck-to-rail loading with capacity to handle up to 35,000 barrels per day at 30 truck unloading positions. Served by Union Pacific, outbound destinations include USDG’s expanding crude terminal network as well as refiners with the capability to receive product by rail. NCT has an initial rail loading capacity of 60 railcars, with plans to double rail capacity to 120 railcars by Q1 2012. Available terminal services include unit train terminalling for up to 60 railcars, railcar fleet and freight services, truck scales and inventory management with state-of-the-art environmental controls.

The Niobrara facility joins USDG’s St. James Rail Terminal and Eagle Ford Crude Terminal as part of a nationwide network of crude oil and related products terminals.

Bridgeport, Ct., delegation expects approval of state funds for Barnum Station

The Bridgeport, Ct., legislative delegation, led by Chair Rep. Andres Ayala, anticipates $1 million in state funding to be approved by the State Bond Commission when they meet Friday December 9, to begin ground work on a second train station that Rep. Ayala says will bring significant benefits to East Side commuters and the entire city.

"The site of this second rail station will spur further economic development. Currently, the city of Bridgeport has numerous projects in this area which would be well served by the second station," Rep. Ayala said. "This could be the spark which ignites further investment opportunities and better jobs and housing for our residents. As chairman of the Bonding Subcommittee on Transportation, I am pleased to see this project move forward."

The funds will support on site remediation efforts on the seven-acre parcel on Barnum Avenue and will help with the area’s revitalization initiatives. Bridgeport was the successful recipient of a Sustainable Communities Grant Award to explore the feasibility of a second station at this site. The planned station will serve to expand transportation options for commuters that have difficulties accessing the current downtown station.

CANRAIL names new president

CANARAIL, a Quebec-based company specializing in feasibility studies, consulting and the design and implementation of projects in the rail sector, appointed Miguel Valero as its new president.

Prior to joining CANARAIL, Valero worked for various international companies in the road transport and industrial sectors.

"Leading a company such as CANARAIL represents an exciting challenge that I am very proud of," said Valero. "With the increase of rail transportation projects, particularly urban ones, there will be more opportunities for CANARAIL to promote its professionals’ expertise, such as in railway electrification and continue to grow both in Quebec and abroad."

CP to further develop long train strategy in 2012

Canadian Pacific will further develop its long train strategy in 2012. As part of CP’s previously announced 2011 capital expansion program, the company’s installation of new and extended sidings in several key regions throughout its network will allow CP to further benefit from current double digit increases in train lengths.

By the end of 2013, the railway is targeting an 11 percent increase in transcontinental train lengths by adding growing volumes into existing trains. CP currently operates intermodal trains up to 12,000 feet long, an increase of 40 percent since 2008.

"Long trains are the cornerstone of CP’s operating strategy," said CP EVP Operations Mike Franczak. "By increasing train lengths and realizing strategic long siding investments, CP is maximizing productivity and service, while reducing labor costs and increasing fuel efficiency"

CP has been designing and running long trains using locotrol technology for remote locomotive operations and TrAM, its state-of-the art train area marshaling software. TrAM’s technology ensures that in-train forces are kept within safe standards, reducing wear on track infrastructure.

The benefits of long trains include reduced fuel consumption, capital maintenance and labor savings and improved safety and efficiency. Long trains also offer important benefits to CP’s customers, as they are adaptive to traffic flows and service oriented.

NJ Transit to host open house on study to improve transit

NJ Transit will host a second public open house to discuss potential transit improvements along the congested highway corridor that connects suburban Gloucester and Camden counties with the city of Camden and Philadelphia. The first open house was conducted in April 2011.

The open house is scheduled for Monday, December 12, 2011, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Camden Technology Center (Executive Conference Room 201) at Camden County College, located at 200 North Broadway in Camden.

Members of the public are invited to attend the open house to learn about the study and to give NJ Transit their input on suggested transit improvements.

Rohal named VP of Patriot Rail

Patriot Rail Corp., a shortline and regional freight railroad holding company, hired David Rohal to its management team as vice president, reporting to Patriot Chairman, President and CEO Gary Marino.

Rohal brings more than 27 years of rail industry management experience to Patriot. Previously, he was with shortline railroad holding company RailAmerica, Inc., in Jacksonville, Fla., where he was senior vice president strategic relations. He previously held the title of senior vice president & COO at RailAmerica.

"I am pleased to welcome David, a seasoned railroad executive, manager and leader, to the Patriot team," said Marino. "He brings an abundance of industry knowledge to the operations, finance and strategic areas of our company and will assist in our continued growth both organically and through acquisitions."

FRA issues safety advisory for bridge workers and final rule on roadway worker protection

The Federal Railroad Administration issued a Safety Advisory to remind railroads, contractors and railroad bridge workers of safety practices intended to prevent accidents and casualties to employees. FRA regulations require standards related to scaffolding and for railroads and railroad contractors to provide and employees to use, fall protection and personal protective equipment, including head, foot, eye and face equipment for employees as they work on railroad bridges. The Safety Advisory focuses attention on the unsafe workplace behavior preliminarily found to be contributing factors in two incidents occurring this year during which workers fell from bridges, resulting in one fatality. In 2008, another worker fell under similar circumstances. In each of these three incidents, the bridge worker was not using a personal fall arrest system and fell when stepping on an unsecured walkway or platform grating. The responsible railroads, contractors and subcontractors had also not erected a safety net system. The Safety Advisory is available at http://www.fra.dot.gov/rrs/pages/fp_350.shtml and the Bridge Worker Safety Compliance Manual is available at http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/safety/bws_compliance_manual_110806_final.pdf .

The FRA also issued a final rule that will help protect railroad construction workers from passing trains. The rule amends existing Roadway Worker Protection regulations to require that railroads adopt safety procedures to protect workers from the movement of trains or other rail equipment from nearby adjacent tracks. The new safety procedures generally require all affected work and equipment movements to stop and for each roadway worker to occupy a predetermined safe place upon receiving a notification or warning when there is an approaching train or other on-track equipment movement on an adjacent track. Track safety job briefings will be expanded to include information about the new rule. The final rule is available at http://www.fra.dot.gov/rcc/downloads/RWP_Adjacent_Track_Final_Rule_11-30-11.pdf.

Denver

A federal loan of up to $280 million was awarded to advance construction on the 30-mile Eagle P3 commuter rail project, which will significantly expand transportation choices in the greater Denver area.

"This loan brings Denver a step closer to completing this ambitious and far-reaching project that offers better transportation choices in one of the most densely populated regions of the country," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. "We’re proud to promote a solid foundation for the region’s economic growth, while creating thousands of good jobs in Colorado."

The project is a two-pronged effort. The western segment of Eagle P3, known as the Gold Line, will serve the suburbs of Arvada and Wheat Ridge. The East Line will run from Denver’s historic Union Station nearly 23 miles east to Denver International Airport and will connect to existing light rail and bus service. Both lines are under construction and roughly 4,700 construction-related jobs are expected to be generated by the work.

The Department’s Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program, which provides credit assistance for infrastructure projects, is the source of the loan to the Denver Regional Transportation District. This funding boost is in addition to a $1 billion federal funding agreement for the project signed in August by Secretary LaHood and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff.

RTD will use the TIFIA loan to fund a portion of its contribution to the project and will begin drawing on the funds in 2013. In addition to FTA’s contribution to the project, a consortium of private companies, known as the Denver Transit Partners, is responsible for financing around 24 percent of the project through tax-exempt private-activity bonds issued by RTD, equity contributions and other means. The entire project should be completed in 2016.

Atlantic Track & Turnout acquires patterns, patent rights from Conley Frog and Switch

Atlantic Track and Turnout Co. has added additional capacity for the supply of bridge, sliding and expansion joints for fixed and movable railroad bridges. With the purchase of certain inventory, patterns and patent rights, the acquisition will expand Atlantic Track’s range of bridge products to include an all-rail design expansion joint for CWR installation; Conley-design two and three piece manganese joints for movable bridges and easer rail arrangements for both vertical lift and swing-type bridges. The purchase also expands Atlantic’s range of products for use in track scales.

Atlantic Track offers a complete line of Conley manganese bridge and sliding joints, as well as a newly-patented easer rail arrangement that carries the train wheel over the gap between the rails on the land and bridge.

Amtrak dedicates Lawrence, Kan., station improvements

Amtrak joined state and local officials to celebrate more than $1.5 million in improvements to the Lawrence, Kan., station, including a 500-foot passenger boarding platform and access to parking with designations compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Repairs to the platform canopy and new exterior lighting designed to both improve safety and blend with the former Santa Fe Railway ATSF station have also installed.

The depot was built in 1955 and designed by Warren Corman and Warren Jones, both graduates of the University of Kansas in Lawrence. The exterior has changed little since then and the interior retains almost of all its original appointments, furniture and materials.
As was common with ATSF stations, neon signs at the platform canopies identified the name of the city. Amtrak restored those signs and installed an Amtrak sign in neon that echoes the previous "Santa Fe" neon sign atop the building.

Amtrak worked closely with the City of Lawrence on the historic elements of the building, along with the state’s historic preservation office, the Federal Railroad Administration and the station’s current owner, BNSF, the successor to the ATSF.

The Lawrence station, at 413 East 7th, is served by the daily Amtrak Southwest Chief train operating between Chicago and Los Angeles, with 6,410 passengers using the station in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2011. The improvements at Lawrence also make the station more able to accommodate service expansions envisioned by Kansas and other states.

VIA Rail Canada gets ready to start Cobourg station work

VIA Rail Canada will begin construction work for its new Cobourg train station overpass, island platform and related structures. Located slightly west of the current station, the new structures are scheduled to open in fall 2012. The new island platform and overhead walkway will service tracks north of the current station platform.

Some preparatory work must be carried out during nighttime hours due to access and train operations issues. Efforts will be made to keep noise to a minimum. The nighttime work, scheduled to begin by around December 8, should last about six to eight weeks.

Cobourg is the 13th busiest station in VIA’s national network. The new overhead walkway and connecting buildings will be fully accessible and aesthetically pleasing structures. Their construction will allow VIA to respond to anticipated future growth, as the region continues to expand and prosper. This project is linked with other work VIA is undertaking throughout its Ontario – Quebec Corridor with the overall result being improvements in train safety, better on-time performance, increased capacity for potential future growth, as well as reductions in travel time. All of this work, including construction of the new station structures, adds up to better passenger rail service for the citizens of Cobourg and area.

Agreement reached between railroads and unions

The nation’s major freight railroads reached tentative agreements with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the American Train Dispatchers Association, which together represent about 26,500 employees in collective bargaining. The last remaining union without a settlement, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, has agreed with the railroads to extend the "cooling off" period until Feb. 8, 2012, eliminating the immediate threat of a national rail strike.

"We’re pleased that we have now settled with 12 of the 13 unions in this bargaining round. Everyone wins when we reach voluntary agreements," said A. Kenneth Gradia, chairman of the National Carriers’ Conference Committee, the railroads’ bargaining representative. "In a tough economy, these agreements offer a terrific deal for rail employees. They lock in well-above market wage increases of more than 20 percent over six years, far exceeding recent union settlements in other industries."

A statement was issued by Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward Hamberger in response :

"The goal of the nation’s freight railroads, from the start of bargaining almost two years ago, has been to reach voluntary settlements with all of its rail unions. These agreements bring the industry closer to achieving that goal. Freight rail touches nearly every sector of our economy and we are committed to finalizing the remaining agreement so that we can continue to deliver for the tens of thousands of American businesses that rely on rail and the hundreds of thousands of Americans who use passenger rail to commute to work every day."

Alaska Railroad joins AAR

Alaska Railroad has become the newest member of the Association of American Railroads.

Established in 1914, the Alaska Railroad Corporation is a full-service railroad, serving ports and communities from the Gulf of Alaska to the interior of Alaska and connecting them to the lower 48 states and Canada through roll on-roll off barge services. ARRC manages 651 miles of track, carries more than 400,000 passengers and hauls in excess of 6 million tons of freight annually. Though it is owned by the State of Alaska, the ARRC is run as a private business and generates revenue through its year-round freight and passenger operations.

"The Alaska Railroad is a major freight hauler with an interline barge service, which allows us to be an interstate and international rail carrier," said ARRC President and CEO Chris Aadnesen. "Our membership in AAR and on AAR committees will allow the Alaska Railroad to carry that message to policy makers and gives us a great opportunity to work with the leaders in the American freight rail industry on common legislative, regulatory and operational issues."

Alaska Railroad joins the AAR as a full member, which includes holding a rotating seat on the AAR Board of Directors and a seat on AAR’s two governing committees, the Safety and Operations Management Committee and the Policy and Advocacy Management Committee.

CP reaches into Iowa with IANR trackage rights agreement

Canadian Pacific and Iowa Northern Railway have entered into a trackage rights agreement, which will enhance shipping alternatives for local customers and provide benefits for both railroads.

The agreement expands CP’s market reach in Iowa and increases rail business options for customers’ agricultural commodities via CP and IANR track. The agreement also provides Iowa Northern rights to operate over CP’s line between Garner, Iowa, and Nora Springs, Iowa.

"The acquisition of the Forest City-Belmond line with access over CP from Garner to Nora Springs restores good service and competitive rates to customers who have not enjoyed rail service for several years," said IANR President Dan Sabin. "In our first three weeks, we have handled more loads off of the line than had been handled over the past five years."

As a result of the agreement, CP can now market transportation services directly to existing and future customers served by the IANR.

"The agreement with Iowa Northern promotes economic growth within the state of Iowa and builds on CP’s commitment to the shippers and communities in this region," said Jane O’Hagan, CP’s executive vice-president, marketing & sales and chief marketing officer. "It is a good example of CP working closely with short line railroad connections to extend our franchise and develop mutually beneficial growth opportunities."

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