Norfolk Southern Corporation on March 31, 2016 posted its 2015 Annual Report online, highlighting early accomplishments of a recently announced five-year strategic plan to drive growth, streamline operations, improve network performance and deliver enhanced shareholder value.
Watco Companies has reached a definitive agreement with WTC Industrial to design, build and operate a new public, unit train liquid fuels terminal and general cargo facility at WTC Industrial Park in San Luis Potosi (SLP), Mexico.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded a $1.5 million grant to California to fund the design of a bridge which will carry vehicular traffic on Rice Avenue over railroad tracks in Oxnard. Currently, the Union Pacific tracks, which Metrolink, Amtrak and freight trains utilize, intersect with Rice Avenue.
The Short Line Safety Institute on March 24, 2016 announced the onboarding of two key staff members—Mike Long, Senior Safety and Operations Manager, and Michele Malski, Safety Programs Manager. These two new positions will be instrumental in driving the Institute’s key initiatives forward.
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) ratified their first-ever union contract with the Illinois Railway (IR) on March 21, 2016. More than 80 percent of members who cast a valid ballot voted in favor of the agreement.
Union Pacific‘s Twin Cities Service Unit, which includes about 1,700 miles of track across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, improved community and employee safety in 2015 with a reported 21 percent fewer railroad crossing incidents versus 2014.
CN has launched its third year of the Safety Innovation Program, which is part of the railroad’s broader safety agenda that is focused on enhancing the safety of operations and making the company the safest railway in North America.
Union Pacific‘s North Platte Service Unit, which includes about 900 miles of track across Nebraska and parts of Wyoming, Colorado and Kansas, improved employee safety in 2015. The service unit’s reportable employee injury rate improved 32 percent from 1.33 in 2014 to 0.91 in 2015, demonstrating progress toward achieving zero employee injuries.
Norfolk Southern has named Ann Adams vice president human resources, succeeding Juan Cunningham, who retired earlier this year. Her appointment becomes effective April 1, 2016.
The Rail Revitalization Project begun by the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) in 2011 will mark a major milestone March 23, when Frontier Railroad Services, LLC, begins removing brush and other obstacles along the 45.5 miles of New York Susquehanna and Western (NYS&W) rail right-of-way in Chenango County, N.Y.
Norfolk Southern is investing $8.2 million to expand its corporate headquarters in Norfolk, Va., to accommodate 165 new employees. The expansion and new jobs are the result of the consolidation of the company’s corporate offices in Norfolk and Atlanta, Ga., and the closure of its Roanoke, Va., office building.
OmniTRAX Logistics Services, LLC (OLS) is rapidly expanding its service territory throughout the United States in 2016. OmniTRAX, Inc., is promoting the unit’s growth with the launch of a new website at www.myshippingmadeeasy.com . OLS, which provides a full range of transportation and handling services, built the website to accentuate the company’s “We Make Shipping Easy” slogan.
GE selected Chicago to be a core hub of its growing digital ecosystem and the company says it will provide deep investments to further advance its digital strategy.
BNSF’s 2016 capital expenditure program in Kansas will be about $100 million and focus on maintenance projects that help ensure BNSF continues to operate a safe and reliable network. The largest component of this year’s capital plan in the state will be for replacing and upgrading rail, ties and ballast.
Kansas City Southern has promoted Jeffrey Songer from senior vice president engineering and chief transportation officer to executive vice president and chief operating officer. In addition to his responsibilities for transportation and engineering, he is now also responsible for the mechanical function. Songer reports to KCS president Patrick Ottensmeyer.
BNSF’s 2016 capital expenditure program in Illinois will be about $180 million, which will focus on maintenance projects and improvements to BNSF facilities. The railroad says this year’s plan in Illinois brings capital investments more in line with forecasted customer freight service demand.
The industry’s annual single day blitz of congressional officials brought more than 400 industry representatives to Washington, D.C., on March 3.
Union Pacific employees set an all-time reportable personal injury rate record in 2015, improving 11 percent from 2014 to 0.87, making Union Pacific the safest Class 1 railroad in the United States, according to data reported by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Canadian Pacific Railway and the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada have agreed to terms for the sale by CP of the Arbutus Corridor to the city for CA$55 million (US$41.4 million).
BNSF’s 2016 capital expenditure program in California will be about $180 million, which will focus on maintenance projects that help ensure BNSF continues to operate a safe and reliable network. The largest component of this year’s capital plan in the state will be for replacing and upgrading rail, ties and ballast.