Ground breaks on Permian Rail Park in Texas

Twin Eagle Sand Logistics, LLC, a subsidiary of Twin Eagle Resource Management, LLC, has broken ground on the Permian Rail Park located on the Union Pacific, approximately eight miles west of the city of Big Spring, Texas. The 530-acre rail park is Twin Eagle’s fifth terminal development and is centrally located to serve the Eastern side of the Permian Basin.

Grade crossing safety improvements made in North Carolina

The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Rail Division recently made crossing safety improvements at an intersection near Kernersville, N.C.

USDOT awards grants to promote transit careers

The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $9.5 million in grants to 19 projects in 13 states selected to help train a new generation of skilled workers and support long-term careers in the public transportation industry.

AREMA names new executive director and CEO

The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) Board of Governors has appointed Elizabeth Caruso, CAE, as AREMA’s executive director and chief executive officer, effective September 1, 2015.

UP’s California vegetation management efforts aimed at mitigating fire risk

Union Pacific is working with hundreds of local, municipal and volunteer fire departments in California to prevent fires along its right-of-way following four years of drought.

UIUC opens RAIL to advance better track designs

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for its Research and Innovation Laboratory (RAIL) located at the Harry Schnabel, Jr., Lab.

SEPTA West Trenton passenger service to separate from CSX freight operations

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) will finalize separation of its West Trenton Regional Rail Line from a CSX freight line.

WSDOT resumes landslide mitigation work along Everett and Mukilteo rail lines

This week in Washington state, crews will start landslide mitigation work near Mukilteo and Everett to help limit landslides that disrupt passenger train service north of Seattle.

Pennsylvania oil train safety report makes 27 recommendations

A report commissioned by Pennsylvania and written by Dr. Allan Zarembski evaluates the commonwealth’s freight rail system and makes 27 recommendations to improve the safety of oil by train.

CN’s Luc Jobin to steer railroad so Mongeau can focus on health

Canadian National‘s Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer, will soon undergo surgery to remove a rare type of precancerous soft-tissue tumour located in the upper left part of his larynx.

FRA report on PTC: Most railroads will miss deadline; enforcement will happen

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) sent its Status of Positive Train Control Implementation report to Congress Aug. 7.

Engineers share views on 2015 trends

For North American railroad engineering departments, safety is the top feature required in a piece of equipment, while dealing with tight work windows is a shared issue across both freight and passenger operations.

First U.S.-Mexico rail bridge in more than a century is now operational

The West Rail Bridge, the first rail bridge connecting U.S. and Mexico in more than 100 years, became operational August 7.

ACE provides grade separation updates

Legislators voiced support for the Alameda Corridor-East (ACE) rail-roadway grade-separation projects during a progress update briefing, which focused on six projects in construction or final design and located in the cities of San Gabriel, Industry and Pico Rivera and unincorporated Los Angeles County, including Rowland Heights.

One of nation’s “most dangerous” crossings gets safer

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ-9), New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner Jamie Fox and New Jersey Transit Executive Director Ronnie Hakim unveiled safety improvements made to Midland Avenue railroad crossing in Elmwood Park Aug 3. The crossing was labeled as one of the nation’s most dangerous in a New York Times article in February.

Norfolk Southern EVP and CIO Deb Butler to retire

Deborah H. Butler, executive vice president planning and chief information officer of Norfolk Southern, will retire Oct. 1, 2015.

UP to complete $13.5 million in Wyoming trackwork by mid-September

Union Pacific plans to strengthen its infrastructure in Wyoming by investing $13.5 million in its line between Laramie and near Hanna. The project began July 16 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-September.

USDOT: Substantial demand underscores need for TIGER grants

Applications to the U.S. Department of Transportation‘s seventh round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants totaled $9.8 billion, almost 20 times the $500 million set aside for the program, demonstrating the continued need for transportation investment nationwide.

Union Pacific elects Lance Fritz chairman of the board; places executives in new roles

Union Pacific‘s board of directors elected Lance Fritz chairman, president and chief executive officer, effective October 1.

KCS opens new terminal in Texas

Kansas City Southern (KCS) celebrated the dedication of its new intermodal terminal in Wylie, Texas, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with local public officials July 30. After 12 months of construction, the more than $64 million terminal opened for operations on July 13.

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