BNSF, LA/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council sign $255 million labor agreement

BNSF and the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council have finalized a Project Labor Agreement worth more than $255 million for the construction of the proposed Southern California International Gateway, representing more than half of BNSF’s $500 million private investment in the new facility. The agreement governs safety, quality and the timely construction of SCIG and will provide job and apprentice opportunities. The construction jobs created during the three-year construction phase will also contribute more than $85 million in federal, state and local taxes.

"SCIG will be the greenest intermodal facility in the U.S. We look forward to working with the council and affiliated trades to build SCIG and to bring its traffic, air quality and economic benefits to Southern California," said Matthew Rose, chairman and chief executive officer of BNSF.

"We’re proud to provide BNSF with a skilled local union workforce to build SCIG," added Robbie Hunter, executive secretary of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. "We need to build this new environmentally friendly rail yard. This has been a long process and the time to build it is now."

SCIG is designed to be the greenest intermodal facility in the United States. SCIG will allow containers to be loaded onto rail just four miles from the docks, rather than traveling 24 miles on local roads and the 710 freeway to downtown rail facilities. SCIG will allow 1.5 million more containers to move by more efficient and environmentally preferred rail through the Alameda Corridor each year, greatly reducing truck traffic congestion in Southern California.

Upon completion, SCIG will create up to 22,000 new direct and indirect jobs in Southern California, including 14,000 new and indirect jobs in Los Angeles by 2036, according to a study by IHS Global Insight. BNSF has also committed to create a local jobs training program and offer priority hiring for new jobs to qualified local job applicants.

DesertXpress gets OK from STB

The Surface Transportation Board approved the building of a 190-mile high-speed passenger rail link between Las Vegas and Southern California. The line would allow DesertXpress Enterprises, LLC, to provide a rail alternative to driving and flying.

The approval is conditioned on DesertXpress implementing 146 environmental mitigation measures recommended by an Environmental Impact Statement approved by the Federal Railroad Administration with input and expertise provided by the STB.

The proposed passenger line would run along the Interstate 15 freeway, with stations at Victorville, Calif., and Las Vegas. There are no planned at-grade vehicle or pedestrian crossings. The project would reduce air pollution, fuel consumption and congestion along the busy I-15 corridor.

UP to perform $6.6 million in track improvements on central Iowa line

Union Pacific will improve the transportation infrastructure in Iowa by investing $6.6 million in the rail line that runs from Tama, Iowa to Ames, Iowa. Various projects on nearly 50 miles of this line include removing and installing 45,500 ties, as well as renewing the surfaces at 40 road crossings. Crews will also spread about 21,800 tons of ballast to help provide a more stable roadbed and replace more than a half mile of rail in various curves.

The project began October 16 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-December.

MBTA, BART to tap alternative energy sources to power stations

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Bay Area Rapid Transit are both introducing energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly ways to provide power to its train stations.

Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary Richard Davey joined state and local officials on Oct. 25, to break ground on the Kingston Wind Turbine Program at the Kingston Layover Facility, a 100-kilowatt wind turbine that will power 65 percent of the Kingston commuter rail station’s energy supply. The $2.5 million project is funded through President Obama’s 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and builds on the Patrick-Murray Administration’s efforts to invest in transportation infrastructure and create a more energy efficient Commonwealth.

"We have made strategic investments in our clean energy infrastructure to create jobs and build a healthier commonwealth for generations to come," said Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. "Massachusetts is the national leader in energy efficiency and projects like the Kingston Wind Turbine will help us carry that torch well into the future."

The station’s energy supply to the parking lot, station platforms and plug–ins for locomotives will be supplied by the turbine. Also funded under the grant is a second 300-kilowatt turbine to be installed along the commuter rail tracks in Bridgewater this spring.

Due to recent advances in technology, as well as changes in the financial structure of renewable energy, wind energy is quickly becoming a more cost competitive energy source when compared to fossil fuel sources of energy. Once installed, the two wind turbines will save MBTA approximately $100,000 annually in electricity costs.

Awarded to SPS New England, the wind turbine will be constructed on a parcel of land on the north side of the commuter rail tracks between the maintenance and substation structures. Construction will begin immediately and includes, structural and mechanical support for the site preparation and foundation installation; electrical and communications support for the installation of the transformer and interconnections and the erection and commissioning of the turbine.

As for San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit, a solar energy project is taking shape at the sun-drenched Lafayette Station, the latest example of BART’s commitment to sustainability.

The BART system already has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per passenger of any large transit system in the nation, said BART Energy Division Manager Frank Schultz.
Now, a new solar canopy system over part of Lafayette Station’s parking lot will capture the sun’s rays to help power the lights, escalators and other electrical needs inside the station.

Schultz said that other solar projects at BART’s maintenance shops in Richmond and Hayward have been successful, so it was time to move on to a project at a station.

"The solar panels will reside on the top of the canopies and provide shade for the customers when they park their cars and in addition, will generate solar power all day long," said James Lavelle, CEO of LightBeam Energy, the company managing the project. "Renewable energy provides a way for us to use the sun and wind and steam from the earth and other naturally generated electricity sources so that we don’t have to use fossil fuels and damage the environment."

 

Consortium wins contract for rail link to Toronto airport

AirLINX Transit Partners was awarded the contract to design, build and finance a three-kilometer (1.9 mile) rail line for the Air Rail Link and an ARL passenger station at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Toronto, ON, Canada.

Metrolinx will own and operate the ARL, providing an express rail service between Canada’s two busiest transportation hubs, Toronto Union Station and Toronto Pearson International Airport. The ARL will be in service in time for the TO2015 Pan / Parapan American Games and the service is expected to eliminate 1.2 million car trips in the first year of operation alone.

The selection of AirLINX Transit Partners as the preferred bidder is the result of an open, fair and competitive procurement process, which was overseen by a fairness advisor. AirLINX Transit Partners consortium’s key team members include:

• Aecon Construction and Materials Ltd.
• Dufferin Construction Company

Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx will begin negotiating contract details with the preferred bidder. The project cost will be announced publicly following completion of negotiations and financial close, which are both expected in early 2012. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2012.

The line will branch off the Weston Subdivision (GO Georgetown corridor) and connect to Toronto Pearson with a new passenger station at Terminal 1.

This section of the ARL project will be delivered using the Province’s alternative financing and procurement delivery method, which is managed by Infrastructure Ontario.

"The government of Ontario is making it more convenient for residents, businesses and travelers by creating a transit link between Pearson International Airport and Toronto’s downtown core," said Bob Chiarelli, minister of infrastructure, minister of transportation. "The Air Rail Link project is part of our government’s long-term infrastructure plan, Building Together, which builds on the government’s unprecedented infrastructure investments to date and will improve our economy, our environment and our quality of life."

Al Shoula consortium wins contract for Saudi high-speed line, Invensys to provide C&S systems

The Saudi Railways Organization selected Al Shoula consortium to provide the superstructure, systems, rolling stock, signalling, operation and maintenance for the Haramain high-speed line in Saudi Arabia, linking the two cities of Makkah and Madinah. This consortium is a Saudi-Spanish group, which will implement the successful high-speed line model and technology applied in Spain to this new line.

As a member of the Al Shoula consortium, Invensys Rail will provide the full turn-key signaling and train control systems, including its FUTUR 3000 and FUTUR 2500 Level 2 ERTMS solution and also includes centralized traffic control, electronic interlockings, LED wayside signals, train detection systems and on board ETCS equipment for the 34-strong train fleet. The contract includes a 12-year maintenance period.

Invensys Rail’s share of the three-year construction phase is valued at €298 million US$413 million). Its share of the 12-year maintenance phase is €185 million (US$256 million).

Wayne Edmunds, chief executive of Invensys, said, "This is a major breakthrough for Invensys Rail. We are particularly delighted to be part of this team and we look forward to continuing to grow our presence in the global railway signaling and train control market."

Massachusetts commuter line gets $75 million federal grant

The Federal Transit Administration has sealed a $75 million agreement that will put an estimated 260 people to work making long-overdue improvements to the 50-mile Fitchburg commuter rail line in Massachusetts, one of the state’s oldest passenger rail lines still in service.

The investment will increase the train line’s maximum speed by nearly 20 miles per hour, while greatly improving safety and on-time performance to 17 communities and 18 stations. If passed by congress, President Obama’s American Jobs Act could make more projects like this possible throughout the country.

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff signed the agreement with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to provide the federal share of the $159 million project, which will significantly reduce travel times and improve connections between suburban Fitchburg and the MBTA’s Red Line at Porter Square just outside Boston.

Nearly 20 percent of the current line, 9.6 miles, travels on a single track. Maximum train speed is 60 miles per hour and significantly slower in many sections along the Fitchburg line, which is now the oldest, longest and slowest running rail branch within the MBTA system. It also has the worst on-time performance in all of MBTA.
Planned improvements include:

• Track upgrades that will allow trains to travel at speeds of up to 79 miles per hour
• Construction of high-level platforms for better accessibility
• Replacement and updating of grade crossing warning systems
• Construction of new and modified interlocking
• Transfer of the Waltham Tower to MBTA Control Center
• Bridge repair and replacement

The $75 million in FTA Small Starts funds has already been appropriated and to date FTA has awarded $7.8 million for the engineering and design of the project. The Fitchburg Line will continue to operate during the modernization project, which is expected to be completed before 2015.

The Fitchburg Line is also the recipient of $59.2 million from the department’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER I) program. The TIGER grants will fund a 4.5-mile extension of the line and construction of a new Wachusett Station.

CSX, local officials celebrate Columbus Terminal Expansion project

The city of Columbus, Ohio, recently hosted industry leaders and local officials, including Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman and Councilmember Zachary Klein at a celebration for the Columbus Intermodal Terminal Expansion Project.

This multi-million dollar expansion will ready the region with the capacity needed for anticipated growth in business. When complete, this expansion will continue to enhance the economical and environmentally friendly rail intermodal service offered to customers. This terminal expansion is part of the National Gateway, linking deep water east coast ports with Midwestern markets.

"I am very pleased that CSX is expanding and investing in Ohio, a decision that will strengthen our infrastructure, spur job growth and provide the local economies in Central Ohio with a much needed boost," said Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). "These investments, along with CSX’s new intermodal facility in Northwest Ohio, will provide greater opportunities for workers and employers throughout our state."

Rae to depart FRA Nov. 1

Deputy Federal Railroad Administrator Karen Rae is leaving the agency Nov. 3 to rejoin the New York state government as deputy secretary of transportation in the office of New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Rae has been the number two to Administrator Joseph Szabo since March 2009. No successor, who will require Senate confirmation, has been nominated.

Before her appointment as deputy FRA administrator, Rae was deputy commissioner of policy and planning for the New York Department of Transportation.

UP

Union Pacific will improve the transportation infrastructure in Missouri by investing $4 million in the rail line that runs from Jefferson City, Mo., to west of Marshall, Mo. Various projects on nearly 80-miles of this line include removing and installing more than 24,500 ties and replacing more than a quarter of a mile of rail in various curves.

The projects began Oct. 7 and are scheduled to be completed by mid-December.

Metro-North to resume full Port Jervis service Nov. 28

An ongoing rebuilding effort on the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro-North Port Jervis Line has expedited the resumption of full service by an entire month with through trains now set to begin on November 28.

Since the end of August, when flooding associated with tropical storm Irene devastated 14 miles of the Port Jervis Line, track repairs have been underway by Metro-North’s own workforce. The progress of this effort has been so great that the amount of work that still needs to be done by a third party contractor has been significantly reduced.

In addition, the cost of repairs, substitute bus service and lost revenue currently is estimated between $30 million and $40 million, less than the original $60 million estimate.

On November 28, Metro-North trains will return to the full pre-storm schedule of 26 daily trains and 14 trains each weekend day and the interim train-bus-train service will cease.
Until then, Metro-North will continue to operate 17 trains daily between Port Jervis and Harriman, representing 65 percent of regular weekday train service. This train shuttle service began September 19. Trains from Port Jervis connect at Harriman with express bus service to NJ Transit’s Ramsey/Route 17 for trains to Hoboken, Secaucus and Penn Station. The schedule provides some peak period train service only. Buses continue to provide service for the remaining trains and on weekends.

A number of factors contributed to the accelerated timetable.

A declaration of emergency by the MTA Chairman authorized Metro-North President, Howard Permut to initiate expenditures, procurements and repairs in the most expedited manner possible, including negotiating property easements to gain access to the right-of-way.

The railroad cited excellent cooperation from the Village of Sloatsburg, which provided land that allowed the railroad to accept delivery of stone and enabled track workers to build an access road to bring stone and heavy equipment to the damaged right-of-way.
Several other property owners also cooperated with the railroad to provide property easements so that workers and heavy machinery were able to reach the tracks.

Because of the expedited engineering report, the railroad was able to solicit competitive bids for the work not done by railroad employees and an expedited award was made October 12 to Halmar, of Pearl River, for $10.5 million to cover the remaining work.

Halmar currently is working in the Sloatsburg area to repair Track 2, the first track that will be put back into service. This means continuing to fill in wash outs, finishing culvert installations and completing critical bridge repairs.

Although full train service will resume November 28, much work still needs to be done, including stabilizing the river bank along the right-of-way, building retaining walls and other flood mitigations.

Given the tremendous progress made to date, the original estimate for completion of all Port Jervis line repairs has been moved forward from fall 2012 to June 2012.

Harsco receives $13 million in orders for North America, New Zealand

Harsco Corporation received new orders for railway track maintenance equipment from New Zealand and North America that are expected to generate new revenues of more than $13 million and add to Harsco Rail’s production and delivery order book for 2012.

The New Zealand order comes from KiwiRail, that country’s national rail operator, and calls for three consists, each made up of a Harsco tamper and ballast regulator. The tampers are Harsco Mark VI machines, designed for mainline and switch tamping. The Mark VI for KiwiRail includes such features as four driving axles, front and rear operator cabins and the ability to travel while coupled to the ballast regulator. This allows the two machines to be operated as a train, thereby improving mobility throughout the system and greatly improving safety. Ballast regulators follow the tamping process to restore the correct ballast profile, which is important for the lateral and longitudinal stability of the newly tamped track.

According to Harsco Rail’s surfacing product manager, Allen Branham, the KiwiRail order marks the first tamper/ballast regulator pairing to utilize Harsco’s proprietary Jupiter Control System in both units.

Designed and developed by Harsco Rail, the Jupiter system uses a network of input/output modules positioned throughout the machine to provide the operator with real-time display screen control and monitoring of key operating systems along with onboard diagnostics to minimize maintenance and downtime.

Jupiter will also enable the two-unit consist to be driven from either machine. The KiwiRail ballast regulators will be produced at Harsco Rail’s Queensland, Australia plant, continuing a relationship of more than 30 years between the Australian operation and this customer, while the Mark VI Tampers will be produced at Harsco Rail’s Columbia, South Carolina headquarters plant.

Deliveries are scheduled for the second half of 2012.

Harsco has also received orders from North America that include several tamper configurations for use by customers in a range of shortline, metro and industrial railroad applications. These units, which will also be produced at the Columbia, S.C., plant, are scheduled for delivery principally in the first half of 2012, with one unit scheduled for delivery in the last quarter of 2012.
Harsco Rail President Scott Jacoby said, "Our production pipeline continues to be built across a broad cross-section of market geographies and customers, which is a direct reflection of Harsco Rail’s increasing global breadth and scope. These orders also underscore the success of our product line management approach to understanding global customer needs to drive our product development. The pairing of tampers and ballast regulators into a single consist underpinned by our Jupiter system is a perfect example of our ability to leverage our technology to our customers’ advantage."

 

Massachusetts to revitalize “Knowledge Corridor”

Massachusetts state officials and transportation leaders unveiled plans for the revitalization of the "Knowledge Corridor" along the Connecticut River rail line in western Massachusetts. The project, funded by $73 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants, will create more than 360 construction jobs in the region.

"The Knowledge Corridor project is a signature investment in Massachusetts, creating hundreds of jobs while making historic improvements in rail access across the Pioneer Valley," said Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.

On June 30, 2011, MassDOT signed the agreements with the Federal Railroad Administration to proceed with the Knowledge Corridor project to revitalize the existing Connecticut River rail line, which runs from Connecticut through Massachusetts to Vermont. The project will restore Amtrak’s Vermonter train service to the line, providing a more direct route, faster service and restored access to the cities of Greenfield and Northampton. Revitalization of the Knowledge Corridor route will restore the original route of the Vermonter traveling between St. Albans, Vermont and Washington, DC. The project is expected to begin in 2012 and be completed in approximately two years.

"Thanks to the support of our state and federal partners, work is now underway on this critical rail project, delivering much-needed improvements to passenger rail service, while providing new transportation options and economic opportunities for the region," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo.

The improvements to the Knowledge Corridor will occur on the Connecticut River mainline of the Pan Am Southern railroad, a joint venture between Pan Am Railways and Norfolk Southern to improve freight service for customers along the line and within western Massachusetts. MassDOT has designated the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Design and Construction Department to oversee the implementation of the project through final design and construction and entered into a Construction Agreement with Pan Am Southern, LLC, to construct the project.

 

Work on MBTA’s Ashmont Station complete

Reconstruction of Ashmont Station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Red Line in Dorchester is complete. The $84 million Ashmont Station reconstruction is the last of four Dorchester stations to be modernized as part of the Red Line Rehabilitation Project, an overall $158 million investment.

"Accessible, reliable public transportation is critical for our neighborhoods and our economy," said Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. "I am proud to celebrate the completion of Ashmont Station, which will provide commuters with a state-of-the-art transit facility at one of the city’s busiest transportation hubs."

Originally built in 1928, Ashmont Station was first modernized in 1976. The newly reconstructed Ashmont Station makes it a state-of-the-art, fully accessible transit facility with two entrances, a new lobby with Charlie Card access to the system, new platforms to accommodate six-car trains, new communications and security systems and a reconfigured busway.

Additional improvements to Ashmont station include new lighting, new floors and glass curtain walls and canopies, along with site improvements to the path of travel, landscaping and the construction of Peabody Square Park.

In 1999, the state legislature appropriated $67 million for the Dorchester Red Line Rehabilitation Project. The Savin Hill, Fields Corner, Shawmut and Ashmont stations were redesigned with active support from Dorchester legislators and the community to address the needs of each neighborhood location. The project was awarded to Barletta Construction in September 2003. Savin Hill station reopened in 2005 and Fields Corner and Shawmut stations opened in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

 

VIA Rail officially opens Smiths Falls station

VIA Rail Canada opened a new train station in Smiths Falls, ON, Canada. Funding for the $750,000 project came from the government of Canada’s $923 million investment in VIA Rail for improvements to its facilities, equipment and infrastructure, including $407 million through Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

"The completion of projects like Smiths Falls’ new station shows the positive results being achieved for both rail passengers and the community of Smiths Falls through government of Canada funding to VIA", said Steven Fletcher, minister of state for transport. "It also underlines this government’s commitment to revitalize passenger rail service and support economic development in the region."

VIA Rail’s new Smiths Falls station, which began serving passengers in early August, is fully accessible and located just north of downtown. With its distinctive tower, the new station has been designed to blend in with the historic character of Smiths Falls. Its new location will also lead to smoother and improved rail service at this important stop on VIA’s busy Ottawa to Toronto route.

"Trains in Smiths Falls have a long and proud history, connecting people and businesses here with the rest of Canada since the first train arrived in 1859", said Smiths Falls Mayor Dennis Staples. "On behalf of all the citizens of this great town, I am proud to be able to play a part in this new station’s official inauguration and want to thank the government and VIA Rail for this important contribution to our town’s continuing prosperity."

FTA awards cooperative agreement to Delcan

Delcan, a multi-disciplinary engineering, planning, management and technology firm, has been awarded a cooperative agreement from the Federal Transit Administration to evaluate the implementation of Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) on heavy and light-rail transit systems.

This study is part of the FTA’s efforts to promote the research and development of new technologies that will improve the safety and efficiency of rail transit system operation in the United States. The primary objective of this research study is to assess the benefits of CBTC technology and determine the ability of CBTC to replace the functionality provided by track circuits in conventional rail signaling systems.

CBTC is the latest development of train control technology and can be implemented in a variety of forms, across various transit modes. CBTC technology can automate train protection, operation and supervision by determining the location of trains, safely separating trains and performing a range of train control and train management functions.

"We are excited to collaborate with the FTA on this important study and look forward to increasing the benefits for heavy and light rail systems by investing in CBTC," said Dr. Alan Rumsey, P.Eng., Delcan’s vice president rail and transit systems.

RailComm

RailComm has provided an expansive yard automation system at Amtrak’s Chicago Union Station through a contract with HNTB and Kiewit-Western. RailComm designed its solution to meet the challenging requirements that were presented within the existing rail infrastructure.

The automation system is commanded by RailComm’s DOC® (Domain
Operations Controller) server-based central control platform. The system operator is in control of over 100 GETS Hydra-Switches and dozens of power derail devices, blue flag indicators, switch heater locations and two diesel generators. Additionally, the system uses RailComm’s RADiANTTM data radios to communicate between the office system and the network of controlled devices. Amtrak personnel operate the automation system from two tower locations.

CN conductors and brakemen ratify workplace consolidation agreement

Canadian National conductors and brakemen represented by the United Transportation Union have ratified a new labor contract that will consolidate work activities in the company’s upper Midwest region under a single collective bargaining agreement.

The single agreement, covering more than 430 employees, will generate greater labor flexibility and operational efficiencies in CN’s important freight corridor between the Canadian and United States border at International Falls, Minn., and Chicago.

The new contract, which is effective Jan. 1, 2012, and includes general wage increases, was negotiated in anticipation of the intra-corporate family merger of CN’s Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway Company and Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway Company subsidiaries into its Wisconsin Central Ltd. unit. The Surface Transportation Board approved the merger in June 2011, subject only to labor implementing agreements. UTU members on all three properties ratified the contract.

Jim Vena, CN senior vice president, southern region, said, "CN is pleased to have reached this milestone labor agreement with the UTU. This single collective agreement for all conductors and brakemen in the upper Midwest is an important step to allow CN to run its trains seamlessly across the upper Midwest and to make greater use of our employee base. This, in turn, will help us deliver better service to our customers."

UP to perform $17 million in track improvements in Wyoming and Nebraska

Union Pacific will improve the transportation infrastructure in Wyoming and Nebraska by investing $17 million in the rail line that runs from Egbert, Wyo. to Hershey, Neb. Various projects on the 161 miles of this line include removing and installing more than 124,000 ties, as well as renewing the surfaces at 113 road crossings. Crews will also spread nearly 72,000 tons of ballast to help provide a more stable roadbed and replace more than a half mile of rail in various curves.

The curve rail project began in late July, the crossing surface projects began in August and the tie projects began Oct. 12. All projects are scheduled to be completed by mid-December.

 

Encore Rail Systems taps Holberg to lead North American sales effort

Encore Rail Systems, Inc. hired Bill Holberg as its vice president of sales.

Holberg has a breadth of experience in transportation sales and marketing as well as financial management.

"Bill brings a considerable amount of leadership to our organization. With his direction, we plan to build on our momentum and expand our reach within North America, Mexico and Canada," said Jack Hollender, CEO of Encore.

Holberg was previously with Auto Truck Group as director of railroad sales.

 

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