Chicago-area commuter rail bridge move a success
A commuter rail bridge, believed to be the largest truss bridge ever moved after assembly, was rolled into place over Torrence Avenue near 130th Street in Chicago, Ill.
Class 1
KCS to expand supplier diversity program
As part of a continuing commitment to diversity and inclusion, Kansas City Southern recently expanded the scope of its U.S. Supplier Diversity Program Initiative (SDPI) for suppliers, contractors and professional service providers to include small businesses, as well as disadvantaged, minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses.
Freight Policy Council formed
U.S. Department of Transportation formed the Freight Policy Council, which it says will focus on improving the condition and performance of the national freight network to better ensure the ability of the United States to compete in today’s global economy. The council will develop a national intermodal plan for improving the efficiency of freight movement and will work with states to encourage development of a forward-looking state freight strategy.
BNSF performs maintenance and capacity improvements in Iowa and Illinois
BNSF plans to invest an estimated $154 million on maintenance and capacity improvements in both Iowa and Illinois this year.
KCS names VP Business Solutions and Marketing
Kansas City Southern appointed Carlos Velez to vice president business solutions and marketing. In this position, he leads the business development, customer solutions, market research and sales force performance functions and reports to KCS executive vice president sales and marketing Patrick Ottensmeyer.
CN, UTU reach tentative agreement
United Transportation Union-represented yardmasters employed by Canadian National’s Illinois Central Railroad have reached a new tentative agreement following mediation assistance from the National Mediation Board. A March tentative agreement was rejected by the membership, which will now vote, through September 15, on the new tentative pact.
Negotiations were led by UTU International Vice President Paul Tibbit and UTU General Chairperson Doyle Turner.
“This tentative agreement, as with others negotiated with Class 1 railroads, is intended to bring parity in wages, benefits and work rules to the thousands of employees in the railroad industry, along with the many other protections offered by union membership,” Turner said. “The seniority, scope and discipline rules these members now enjoy are what makes union membership valuable.”
Illinois Central connects Chicago with New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., and also reaches Omaha, Neb., and Sioux City, Iowa.
UP performing $7.4 million in Missouri infrastructure improvements
Union Pacific is enhancing Missouri’s transportation infrastructure by investing $7.4 million in the rail line that runs just west of Jefferson City and Pleasant Hill. The project is in progress and is scheduled to be completed by the end of October.
FRA says meeting PTC deadline unlikely, recommends extension
The Federal Railroad Administration issued a report titled Positive Train Control Implementation Status, Issues, and Impacts to Congress this month reporting on progress of the railroad carriers in implementing PTC systems.
CSX Intermodal Terminals, EMH&T win engineering excellence award
CSX Intermodal Terminals, Inc., and EMH&T have won the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Ohio “2012 Engineering Excellence Outstanding Achievement Award” for the design of CSX Intermodal Terminal’s Northwest Ohio intermodal terminal.
CN invests US$35 million in Wisconsin to serve Superior Silica Sands
Canadian National and Superior Silica Sands have entered into a multi-year agreement to move frac sand from a new processing plant now under construction in northern Wisconsin.
Feasibility study to look at proposed rail line in Quebec/Labrador iron ore range
Canadian National says that a customer group of mining companies, Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Ltd., New Millennium Iron Corp., Cap-Ex Ventures Ltd., and Alderon Iron Ore Corp.
Westmoreland discusses rail industry in Georgia
U.S. Representative Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) joined local officials and representatives from the offices of Senators Chambliss and Isakson, the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association, STX Railroad Construction, CSXT and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia to discuss the
KCS promotes Ebbrecht to EVP & COO
Kansas City Southern promoted David Ebbrecht from executive vice president operations to executive vice president and chief operating officer for KCS and its U.S. subsidiary, The Kansas City Southern Railway Company. In this position, Ebbrecht will continue to coordinate closely with the leadership of Kansas City Southern de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. Ebbrecht reports to KCS president and chief executive officer David Starling.
2012 chief enigneers’ survey: WISH LIST
Safety remains at the top of engineering department’s list of equipment guidelines.
You want to impress a railroad engineer with a piece of maintenance equipment? Make sure it’s versatile, reliable, as well as easy to maintain, to transport and to use. Above all else, it must be safe.
Maintaining ballast below the ties
Optimal track conditions rely heavily on ballast maintenance.
Ballast doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. For those outside of the industry, the flashy signals, rail and crossties are what railroad lines are made of.
CREATE program update: keeping Chicago fluid
The CREATE program continues to improve movement through the nation’s rail nucleus.
The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program marked nine years of existence in June 2012.
NS, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to begin hazard elimination project
The effort to establish Section 130 hazard-elimination at railroad crossings in Louisville, Ken., near Wilson Avenue and Woodland Avenue, has taken a major step forward with the project receiving $1.8 million in funding for improvements.
RailComm provides system to BNSF yard in New Mexico
BNSF’s Belen Yard in New Mexico has added RailComm’s Blue Flag Indicator (BFI) System to their facility. The RailComm BFI System allows a user to apply blue flag protection to the fueling tracks through the use of strategically located field control panels. These panels are outfitted with keypad security that will only allow verified personnel to operate the system. The BFIs are positioned in pairs at different locations along the track.
Union Pacific working on infrastructure in Iowa, Illinois
Union Pacific is enhancing Illinois and Iowa’s transportation infrastructure with a $24 million investment.
Ohio utility commission OKs seven crossing upgrades
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission for the installation of flashing lights and gates at seven highway-rail grade crossings in Ashtabula, Fayette, Medina, Summit and Wayne counties.