NS’ Seale to retire in March
Donald Seale, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Norfolk Southern Corp., plans to retire, effective March 1, 2015.
Class 1
NTSB Most Wanted 2015: PTC implementation; improved tank car and mass transit safety
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says rail tank cars that carry crude oil, ethanol and other hazardous materials across the country must do it more safely, which is why it is one of four new issues on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List for 2015.
House T&I vice chairman, subcommittee chairmen named
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) has made selections for the committee’s six subcommittee chairmen and the full committee vice chairman for the 114th Congress.
KCS PTC update: Data surveying and training underway
Kansas City Southern says it has begun training on Positive Train Control (PTC) track and wayside data management at the TEaM Training Center in Shreveport, La. Approximately 160 people were trained last week and another group will start this week.
NCRR completes work on siding and bridge at Lenoir-Wayne County Line
Construction has been completed on a new passing siding and bridge on the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) corridor near the Lenoir-Wayne County line.
KCS leaders visit PCRC, expansion projects
In December 2014, several Kansas City Southern officers and Chairman of the Board of Directors Bob Druten traveled to Panama to visit the Panama Canal Railway Company (PCRC) to see the railroad and review its maintenance and expansion projects.
BNSF adds director of tribal relations
BNSF‘s new director of tribal relations, Chris Howell, will focus on strengthening and reinforcing BNSF relationships with Native American tribes. That focus will include a lot of “windshield” time as Howell travels the system making connections with the 86 tribes that BNSF touches every day – and more than 150 within close driving range of the BNSF rail network.
NS worked on 94 industrial development projects in 2014
Norfolk Southern assisted 94 industries in locating or expanding their businesses along its rail lines in 2014.
CSX worked on 107 industrial infrastructure projects in 2014
In 2014, CSX and its customers worked together on 107 projects to build or expand facilities on CSX’s network and shortline partners.
MnDOT study prioritizes rail safety improvements
Safety improvements at grade crossings along crude-by-rail corridors are the focus of a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) study that identifies locations where improvements will make the transport of oil safer for residents, workers and emergency responders.
New York gets federal approval for new Portageville Bridge
New York state has received federal approval for the plan to build a new arch bridge to replace the historic Portageville Bridge carrying the Norfolk Southern’s Southern Tier Line over the Genesee River in Letchworth State Park.
BNSF wye project partners sign MOU to apply for federal funds
BNSF, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), the city of Willmar, Kandiyohi County and the Kandiyohi/Willmar Economic Development Commission have entered into a revised Memorandum of Understanding allowing the partners to apply for federal funds to help pay for a wye project.
CP’s Hunter Harrison is 2015 Railroader of the Year
Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Pacific E. Hunter Harrison has been named 2015 Railroader of the Year by Railway Age.
KCS’ Starling issues annual “State of the Railroad” memo
“This year, the Kansas City Southern management team refined the company’s vision, restating it to be the leading transportation provider both within and between the U.S. and Mexico by consistently providing superior value to our customers, offering challenging careers to our employees and increasing value to our shareholders,” stated KCS’s President and Chief Executive Officer David Starling in his annual “State of the Railroad” memo.
NCDOT issues state rail plan executive summary
In anticipation of the January 2015 release of the Draft North Carolina Comprehensive State Rail Plan, the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has issued the Plan’s Executive Summary.
President Obama signs legislation extending shortline tax credit extension and enacting omnibus spending bill
President Obama signed two key pieces of legislation last week that will impact the rail industry.
Meeting held to discuss Connell Rail Interchange
Approximately 30 people attended a meeting December 15 in Moses Lake, Wash., to discuss the Connell Rail Interchange, a key rail interchange in Eastern Washington where the Columbia Basin Railroad line intersects with BNSF’s Lakeside Subdivision line, which runs between Spokane and Pasco, Wash.
Boxhold appointed FDOT secretary
Jim Boxold has been named Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, (FDOT) effective January 3, 2015.
New York awards funding to 12 rail projects
New York State awarded $17.8 million in funding from the State’s Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program to 12 rail projects that will repair and replace 65 miles of track and ties, rehabilitate grade crossings and bridges and construct new connections to improve safety and operations.
CSX opens Montreal intermodal terminal
CSX opened a new intermodal terminal in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield near Montreal, QC.