NRC honors 2017 award recipients
The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) honored the recipients of its 2017 awards at the 2018 NRC Conference in Los Angeles last week.
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CP’s planned 2018 capital program sees bump over 2017
Canadian Pacific Railway will target a capital program between CA$1.35 billion (US$1.08 billion) and CA$1.5 billion (US$1.2 billion) in 2018.
CSX’s $1.6B 2018 capital plan reflects 20% decrease over 2017
CSX plans a 2018 capital program of $1.6 billion as it continues to strive toward greater capital efficiencies as part of its implementation of precision scheduled railroading.
Infrastructure bill; preventing re-regulation top REMSA 2018 advocacy priorities
The Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) announced on Jan. 18 the three main areas of focus for its advocacy priorities in the New Year.
NCDOT’s largest rail infrastructure improvement program wraps up
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is celebrating the completion of the state’s largest program of rail infrastructure improvements after seven years.
Parsons’ House to CTF Board
Sunnie House, vice president and Western regional manager for North America Rail for Parsons, has been appointed Chair of the California Transportation Foundation (CTF) Board of Directors.
Harris new ops lead at CSX
Veteran railroader and long-time Hunter Harrison and Jim Foote colleague Edmond L. Harris has come out of retirement a second time to head operations at CSX.
Oregon DOT receives six transload facility pre-proposals
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) received six pre-proposals from firms willing to build two transload facilities in Treasure Valley and in the mid-Willamette Valley.
Sec. Chao urges swift PTC implementation among US railroads
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine Chao sent a form letter to 47 Class 1, intercity and state and local transit authorities to stress the urgency and importance of implementing positive train control (PTC) by Dec. 31, 2018.
Smart Sand completes rail expansion at frac sand facility
Smart Sand, Inc. has completed construction of its unit train capable rail facility in Byron Township, Wis., and moved its first unit train via Union Pacific on Dec. 26.
Canada, Ontario commit funds to freight rail study
Federal and provincial funding has been committed toward freight rail analysis of Ontario’s Peterborough-Toronto-Havelock-Blue Mountain corridor.
Foote firmly planted at CSX
CSX Corp. on Dec. 22 named James Foote as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. Formerly chief operating officer, Foote had been acting CEO since Dec. 14 after E. Hunter Harrison was placed on medical leave.
CP’s 19th annual holiday train celebrates successful tour
Canadian Pacific’s (CP) 19th annual holiday train made another successful tour across North America this year, spreading cheer by raising more than CA$1.5 million (US$1.18 million) and 300,000 pounds of food for local food banks.
Railway legend Hunter Harrison dies
E. Hunter Harrison, president and CEO of CSX, died Dec. 16 due to unexpectedly severe complications following a recent illness.
First trains roll over Portageville Bridge
Norfolk Southern began operating trains across its new Portageville Bridge on Dec. 11, following two years of construction.
Conrail restores NJT service in less than three days
It took Conrail maintenance-of-way forces less than three days to repair heavy damage to its Lehigh Line, a busy main line used by New Jersey Transit Raritan Valley Line (RVL) passenger trains and CSX and Norfolk Southern freights, following the derailment of a 141-car CSX mixed freight late on the afternoon of Dec. 8.
NTSB reauthorization bill aims to increase communication, transparency
A bill reauthorizing the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was introduced last week in the Senate and aims to enhance the board’s safety investigations through added transparency.
NS trains more than 3k first responders during safety tour
Norfolk Southern (NS) provided training to 3,241 first responders on the company’s safety train in 2017.
TSB says Carvel accident highlights need for signal fail-safes
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined failure to reduce speed led to a collision of two trains near Carvel, Alberta in June 2016.
AAR, GoRail honor Rep. Shuster
The Association of American Railroads and GoRail have honored House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) with the Railroad Achievement Award.