Canada will fund 60% of Lac-Megantic rail bypass project
A 12.8-km (7.9-mile) route will allow trains to bypass the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, were a fiery train derailment left 47 people dead in July 2013.
Freight
Cargill begins rail expansion at Alberta facility
Cargill is investing CA$20 million (US$15.7 million) to build a rail expansion at its Lethbridge, Alberta, facility.
OmniTRAX joins Blockchain in Transport Alliance
An increasing number of rail-related companies are joining an initiative to develop secure digital transactions.
Planning grant will advance Mississippi port rail project
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has been awarded a $574,000 grant to fund planning, surveying and permitting for a 4,300-foot rail connection in Jackson County.
AAR, NS want clear, supportive regulatory approach to automation
The Association of American Railroads and Norfolk Southern filed comments with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on May 7 asking for a level regulatory playing field regarding automation.
New consortium expresses interest in purchasing Hudson Bay Rail line
On May 3, a consortium of Manitoba First Nations, led by Chief Glenn Hudson, and in partnership with iChurchill Inc., a private Canadian company, said it entered into an agreement to purchase the Hudson Bay Railway (HBR), the Port of Churchill and associated assets.
NECR kicks off track upgrades in Connecticut
Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) joined officials May 3 from the New England Central Railroad (NECR), a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc., for the ceremonial unloading of steel rails that will be used to upgrade the freight rail line running through Willimantic.
CHSRA, LACMTA reach funding agreement for grade separation project
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) have reached a joint funding agreement for a grade separation project in Santa Fe Springs, Calif.
FRA extends Part 243 implementation dates by another full year
Railroads and rail contractors will have an additional year to comply with the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Part 243 Minimum Training Standards rule, which was originally issued in 2014.
Union Pacific three-peats as top railroad in employee safety
Union Pacific remains the safest U.S. Class 1 railroad in employee safety for the third consecutive year.
KCS, CloudMoyo partner to modernize railroad operating system
Kansas City Southern (KCS) and CloudMoyo (CM), an information technology and services company, announced a partnership April 30 to modernize KCS’ railroad operating system.
Bailey of CSX wins AAR’s Chafee award for environmental excellence
Charles Bailey, director of design and construction Engineering for CSX Transportation, has been awarded the 2017 John H. Chafee Environmental Excellence Award by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Union Pacific reports PTC progress
Union Pacific (UP) has shared recent strides it has made toward the required implementation of positive train control (PTC) as federal deadlines loom ahead.
Changing of the guard at BRC
Belt Railway Company of Chicago (BRC) President Pat O’Brien will be retiring this summer after 32 years with the railroad, the past 16 years as president. Norfolk Southern veteran Mike Grace will replace him.
KCS re-launches intermodal service between New Orleans, Dallas
Kansas City Southern (KCS) has announced a new weekly intermodal service between the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) and Wylie, Texas, beginning in May.
FRA seminars to help communicate training and drug testing rules
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) plans to hold three seminars across the country to discuss regulations pertaining to drug testing and safety-related employee training.
Montana to see $2.1 million investment from Union Pacific
Union Pacific (UP) plans to invest $2.1 million to strengthen Montana’s transportation infrastructure in 2018.
Move over TIGER, USDOT ready to BUILD
The U.S. Department of Transportation is retiring the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program name and will award the $1.5 billion available in discretionary grant funding as Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants.
Union Pacific to invest $6 million in Minnesota network as part of 2018 capex program
Union Pacific (UP) has announced it will invest $6 million to enhance Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure this year.
Watco names McNichol SVP government relations
Laura McNichol has been named senior vice president of government and industry relations at Watco Companies.