Rep. Blum tours HiRAIL Corp.
More than 20 Class 1 and shortline railroad representatives, local officials and other industry stakeholders joined HiRAIL Corporation Aug. 18 for a tour of its facility and discussion with Rep. Rod Blum (R-IA).
Class 1
Wick Moorman to take helm of Amtrak
Charles “Wick” Moorman, retired chairman, CEO and president of Norfolk Southern will take the lead of Amtrak beginning Sept. 1.
LIRC, CSX prepare for longer, faster trains
CSX Transportation (CSX) and the Louisville and Indiana Railroad (LIRC) have announced that train traffic on LIRC between Louisville, Ky., and Seymour, Ind., is set to increase within the next few weeks.
Pennsylvania to allocate $61.9 billion to statewide transportation improvements
Pennsylvania’s State Transportation Commission (STC) has announced updates to the state’s 12-Year Transportation program, effective Oct. 1.
Kansas City Southern plans $13 million in improvements along Greenville Sub
Kansas City Southern (KCS) Railway is performing approximately $13 million of construction and improvement projects in 2016 on its Greenville Subdivision, which runs between Louisiana and Texas.
Safety, diversity and energy efficiency outlined in NS sustainability report
Norfolk Southern believes it has the answer to what efficiency looks like: Cleaner-running locomotives; greater energy efficiency; support for safer communities; fewer workplace injuries and a more diverse workforce.
Three states see Southwest Chief renovations
Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman visited Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico last week, along the Southwest Chief route, showing his appreciation of local, state and federal partners for their support of Amtrak and BNSF Railway efforts that began last October to improve passengers’ experiences.
New Union Pacific bridge to boost freshwater flow into Bayou Lafourche
Union Pacific Railroad broke ground this week with the construction of a new bridge over Bayou Lafourche in Donaldsonville, La., a popular travel destination just 45 minutes from New Orleans. Towering 102 feet, the bridge will replace the current crossing in its place constructed from box culverts.
Union Pacific makes marketing and sales leadership appointments
Union Pacific made four appointments in marketing and sales leadership roles, effective Sept. 1.
Central Texas & Colorado River begins operations
A new rail operation looks to convince potential customers it still brings heart to Texas railroading.
PennDOT opens application process for freight grant program
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports and Waterways opened the application period for the 2016 Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and the 2016 Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP).
Union Pacific achieves safest first half of year in history
Union Pacific’s employee reportable injury rate from January through June was .70, the lowest in its 154-year history.
Feinberg calls for greater action to enhance crossing safety
Federal Railroad Administrator Sarah E. Feinberg is calling for additional action to remedy a “solvable problem” by preventing fatalities at grade crossings.
HDR names Hjelholt director of freight rail
Bill Hjelholt joined HDR as director of freight rail. His responsibilities include developing HDR’s vision and initiatives for continued growth and expansion of the freight rail sector across North America and globally.
KCS and Odessa Police promote safety with Officer on a Train event
Kansas City Southern and the Odessa Police Department hosted an Officer on a Train event July 20 to promote public safety at railroad crossings in Odessa, Mo. The Missouri State Highway Patrol also participated in the safety event.
USDOT creates Build America Bureau
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has established the Build America Bureau, which will drive transportation infrastructure development projects in the United States by streamlining credit and grant opportunities while providing technical assistance and encouraging innovative best practices in project planning, financing, delivery and monitoring.
Hunter Harrison readies for a transition
E. Hunter Harrison came out of retirement in 2012 to lead Canadian Pacific out of the Class I basement, where it had languished for several years. The following year, his protégé, Keith Creel, left CN to join his mentor. Next July, Creel will officially fill Harrison’s shoes upon Harrison’s retirement after more than a half-century in railroading.
CSX moves Carolina Connector; debuts new intermodal service
CSX put a stop to the controversy surrounding its planned Carolina Connector (CCX) intermodal facility in Johnson County, N.C., by moving the project to Rocky Mount in Edgecombe County.
Minnesota establishes council on freight rail
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton issued an executive order, establishing the Governor’s Council on Freight Rail, which will bring together state officials and railroads in a public-private working group to improve communication and enhance safety and economic development in communities.
Two arguments on two-person crews
As reported by Railway Age, the Federal Railroad Administration, at a June 15, 2016 hearing regarding the agency’s proposed rule mandating two-person crews, heard two sharply contrasting arguments, one from freight rail management, the other from labor.