RSI promotes Amanda Patrick
The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) promoted Amanda Patrick to the vice president of trade shows and member relations.
Class 1
Two rail issues make NTSB’s Most Wanted list for 2016
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its 2016 Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements on January 13 at the 95th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
CSX targets $2.4 billion capex in 2016
CSX is aiming for a $2.4 billion capital expenditure program in 2016, which reflects a $100 million reduction over 2015 numbers.
NS combines Virginia, Pocahontas divisions to streamline operations
Norfolk Southern is consolidating its Virginia and Pocahontas divisions to form the new Pocahontas Division, with headquarters in Roanoke, Va., effective Feb. 1.
Hamberger shares the industry’s 2016 goals, sums up 2015 achievements
Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Hamberger says that the industry will be targeting several key issues in 2016, such as maintaining balanced economic regulation at the Surface Transportation Board (STB), extending the shortline tax credit while laying the groundwork for overall tax reform and advancing security-safety legislation or regulation.
Morsches named CEO of TranSystems
Richard Morsches, PE, has been promoted to chief executive officer of TranSystems Corp. He brings to this role more than 30 years of experience and progressive leadership from serving clients locally in the Chicago area, to managing offices throughout the region, to leading the firm’s strategy and sales efforts nationally.
KCS plans rail, bridge projects in Louisiana
Kansas City Southern (KCS) will invest approximately $15 million in 2016 on rail and bridge improvement projects on its Beaumont Subdivision between DeQuincy and DeRidder, La. These projects will help grow capacity, as well as maintain and enhance safety on KCS’ cross-border network.
CSX names new sales and marketing leads
CSX appointed key leaders in sales and marketing as the company continues to focus on enhancing customer relationships and encouraging profitable growth.
RailComm to provide Class 1 yard with DOC system
RailComm has been selected to replace an obsolete control system with its DOC® system at a Class 1 yard in Buffalo, N.Y. The system will be an upgrade to a modern computer-based operation of the receiving sections of the facility.
CN submits Environmental Impact Statement for proposed Milton Logistics Hub
Canadian National has submitted a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) for its proposed logistics hub to be built in Milton, Ontario.
CSX customers invest in excess off $2 billion in 2015
In 2015, CSX worked with its customers to locate 107 new plants or expanded facilities on the company’s rail network or its connecting shortline partners. These new projects comprise $2.2 billion in customer investments and are expected to generate approximately 1,500 new jobs in areas served by CSX.
“Strong customer investment activity in 2015 was driven by downstream energy projects spurred by low oil and gas prices, as well as a significant number of industrial and agricultural projects, which highlights the strength of CSX’s diverse business mix,” said Clark Robertson, assistant vice president, regional development. “In addition to our own efforts to generate new business, our network touches some of the most competitive economic development areas in the United States and we are grateful for the pivotal role that state and local economic development agencies play in aggressively competing for new industry. We appreciate and applaud their work to create new opportunities for their citizens.”
Once these facilities are fully operational, they are projected to generate more than 143,000 new annual carloads of business for CSX. In addition to these projects that will be built over the next several years, in 2015 more than 75 customer facilities located on CSX began operations.
Since 2000, CSX customers have invested more than $42 billion in rail-served facilities, creating more than 62,000 jobs across the company’s 23-state network. To support rail-oriented industrial development, CSX’s Select Site program pre-certifies properties that are suitable for manufacturing use. These sites meet rigorous criteria to increase development probability and reduce time and costs for CSX customers.
BNSF’S Carl Ice named Railroader of the Year
Carl R. Ice, president and chief executive officer of BNSF Railway, has been named 2016 Railroader of the Year by railroad industry trade journal Railway Age. Ice is Railway Age‘s 53rd Railroader of the Year.
KCS releases annual ‘state of the railroad’ report
In its 2015 state of the railroad report, released to employees on Jan. 4, 2015, Kansas City Southern (KCS) said the company will see many of the same challenges in 2016 that it faced in 2015, creating a “cautious” outlook for the year ahead.
WisDOT awards more than $31 million for freight rail projects
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) awarded more than $31 million in grants and loans for seven freight rail projects in the state. The goal of Wisconsin’s freight railroad assistance program is to increase the use of rail transportation and support economic development and job creation.
USDOT reflects on 2015 research efforts
In a Fastlane blog post Dec. 31, Greg Winfree, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) assistant secretary for research and technology, recapped 2015’s research endeavors.
TranSystems welcomes Alex Houseal, PE
TranSystems has named Alex Houseal regional vice president for the Pennsylvania and New Jersey operations.
Union Pacific named to Victory Media’s 2016 Military Friendly Employers List
Union Pacific earned the Military Friendly Employer designation from Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs, ranking sixth among the top 100.
BNSF moves cargo from one of the world’s largest container ships
The largest container ship ever to call at a North American port, CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Saturday, December 26.
TSB points to inadequate track conditions as reason for Faust, Alberta derailment
In its investigation report, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) found that inadequate track conditions led to the June 2014 derailment of a Canadian National freight train near Faust, Alberta, Canada.
NS to idle Ashtabula coal pier
Norfolk Southern plans to consolidate operations of its coal docks located on Lake Erie in Northern Ohio, which will streamline operations for customers while improving network efficiency and reducing operating costs for NS.