Union Pacific estimates $3.75B capital program in 2016

Union Pacific is planning for a $3.75 billion capital program in 2016, pending approval from its board the railroad said in an earning release.

HDR names Goehri director of professional services – transportation

Scott Goehri has been named director of professional services for HDR’s transportation business group.

CSX to consolidate operating divisions

CSX is consolidating its operations administration from 10 divisions to nine and closing administrative offices at Huntington, W.Va. Huntington Division administrative responsibilities will be reassigned to five adjoining divisions: Atlanta, Baltimore, Florence, Great Lakes and Louisville.

Battling brush with smart vegetation management programs

Suppliers of intelligent herbicides and technologically- advanced machines update their offerings to help wage the war on unwelcome vegetation.

CSX proposes intermodal terminal for Johnston County, N.C.

CSX has plans to develop a major freight rail infrastructure project in Johnston County, N.C., that will spur economic development in the region and help position eastern North Carolina as a major transportation logistics hub.

RSI promotes Amanda Patrick

The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) promoted Amanda Patrick to the vice president of trade shows and member relations.

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.

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