Union Pacific will strengthen Missouri’s transportation infrastructure by investing $9 million in the rail line between Sedalia and Pleasant Hill, Mo. The project began May 15 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of June.
Union Pacific Railroad is in the midst of a $39.5-million track renewal project in Nebraska. The work, which began May 6, is being performed between Clarks and Schuyler and is scheduled to be completed by mid-July.
Union Pacific’s Board of Directors approved an additional $150 million in capital expenditures, bringing the railroad’s total 2014 capital spending plan to $4.1 billion.
The application period for the sixth round of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants recently ended. Once again, USDOT says the request for funds far exceeds what is available. The 797 eligible applications, compared to 585 in 2013, request $9.5 billion, 15 times the $600 million set aside for the program.
Metra officials gave U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) an up-close look at why Metra needs to replace an aging, single-track bridge that carries the Milwaukee West Line over the Fox River near Elgin, Ill.
The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) released its proposed bill text for the MAP-21 Reauthorization Act (S. 2322). The six-year legislation plans to maintain highway program funds at current levels plus inflation.
A tentative agreement has been reached between VIA Rail Canada and Canadian National, which will allow VIA Rail’s passenger rail service to continue on the Newcastle subdivision. Under the agreement, which must be ratified by their respective boards, VIA Rail will provide funding to CN for rehabilitation work on the line between Nelson Junction and Nepisiquit Junction. Work will be done on 70.8 kilometers (44 miles) of track and represents a CA$10.2-million (US$9.3-million investment for the railroad.
As a result of this agreement, VIA Rail will be able to continue to offer its Ocean passenger rail service between Bathurst and Miramichi three days per week in each direction as part of its Montreal-Halifax service. VIA Rail will hold discussions with the province and municipalities along the subdivision to explore ways they can assist in increasing train ridership.
“Our government is committed to creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. The continuity of VIA Rail’s Ocean service on this rail line in Northern New Brunswick is excellent news as it will not only benefit the users, but also each community along the route by maintaining jobs and supporting the local economy,” said Canada’s Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt.
In other news, the Canadian government has appointed Yves Desjardins-Siciliano as president and chief executive officer of VIA Rail.
Prior to his appointment, Desjardins-Siciliano was VIA Rail’s chief corporate and legal officer and corporate secretary. Prior to joining VIA Rail in 2010, he has held executive positions, in a variety of industries, in both Montréal and Toronto.
“As Directors of VIA Rail, we are delighted that the government has chosen to lead Canada’s national passenger railway, someone whose career demonstrates a breath of experiences and expertise, an intimate knowledge of our largest markets, an ability to develop new value-creation strategies and a keen understanding of public policy. He can count on our full support,” said Paul Smith, chairman of the board.
Desjardins-Siciliano takes over from VIA Rail’s Interim President and CEO, Steve Del Bosco. Steve will be resuming his previous role as VIA’s chief commercial planning officer. Del Bosco had been in the interim position since January 4, 2014.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has created a Railroad Safety and Security Taskforce, which will develop an action plan to prepare and respond to possible train derailments. The launch of the task force follows the April 30 derailment of a CSX freight train carrying crude oil shipped from the Midwest to Yorktown. The accident occurred in downtown Lynchburg adjacent to the James River.
The House Appropriations Committee released its Fiscal Year 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill. The committee proposal allocates $17.1 billion for the Department of Transportation, $727 million below FY 2014 funding levels.
Oklahoma awarded the opportunity to purchase a 97.5-mile line known as the Sooner Sub to the Stillwater Central Railroad, L.L.C. (SLWC), a subsidiary of Watco Transportation Services, L.L.C. BNSF also made an offer on the line, which runs between Del City, Okla., and Sapulpa, Okla.
In the first part of 2014, the Kansas City Southern (KCS) Engineering and Maintenance of Way team completed four major projects allowing for capacity increases and greater operational efficiency.
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has applied for six Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants, which would improve highways, ferries and freight rail.
BNSF has kicked-off its plan to invest approximately $1 billion to improve and expand rail capacity in states along its Northern Corridor, which spans the northern U.S. between the Pacific Northwest and Chicago. Some of the projects that will help expand capacity and improve traffic flow for all freight and passenger trains for current and future growth on those routes are well underway.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is sending a long-term transportation bill to Congress for consideration as the House and Senate face deadlines to avoid the economic uncertainty and job loss that would ensue if the Highway Trust Fund runs out of money this summer.
Union Pacific will strengthen Minnesota’s and Iowa’s transportation infrastructures by investing $17.5 million in the rail line between Butterfield, Minn., and near Mason City, Iowa. The project began April 8 and is scheduled to be completed by mid- July.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper government today launched Rail Safety Week with new funding to improve railway crossings.
Recently, the Kansas City Southern (KCS) Engineering Department purchased and rebuilt an on-track rail grinding machine.
Kansas City Southern (KCS) and the Joplin, Mo., Police Department hosted an Officer on a Train event on April 24 to promote public safety at railroad crossings in the city.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) issued a new report to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) updating the industry’s progress on installing Positive Train Control (PTC) and said the industry will not meet the December 2015 deadline.
The government of Canada will extend its CA$2.2-million (US$2-million) federal subsidy to Canadian National for the operation of the Algoma Central Railway (ACR) passenger rail service between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst, Ontario, until March 31, 2015.