• September 30, 2015
• Safety

PHMSA provides grants to train rural responders on hazmat rail incidents

The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is awarding grants totaling $5.9 million to provide hazardous materials training for volunteer or remote emergency responders. The Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) grants will go to three non-profit organizations that will provide training for incidents involving shipments of crude oil, ethanol and other flammable liquids by rail.

• September 30, 2015
• Class 1

House T&I Committee introduces legislation for three-year PTC deadline extension

The U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leadership introduced legislation to extend the deadline for U.S. railroads to implement Positive Train Control (PTC).

• September 29, 2015
• Shortline/Regional

NCRR, Morrisville to replace Crabtree Creek bridge

The North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) is partnering with the town of Morrisville and will invest $6.9 million to construct a new railroad bridge over Crabtree Creek in Morrisville, N.C., replacing a structure built in 1927.

• September 29, 2015
• Yards & Terminals

NS renames Memphis yard in honor of Deb Butler

Norfolk Southern‘s yard in Memphis, Tenn., has a new name and it is “Harris Yard,” in honor of Deborah Harris Butler, the railroad’s executive vice president planning and chief information officer, who is retiring Oct. 1, 2015.

• September 23, 2015
• Class 1

Moorman steps down as executive chairman, NS shifts executive management

Charles Moorman is completing his service as executive chairman of the Board of Directors of Norfolk Southern. Effective Oct. 1, 2015, Moorman will continue to serve as a director and senior advisor to the President and Chief Executive Officer James Squires until Dec. 31, 2015, when he will retire from both roles.

• September 23, 2015
• OFF Track Maintenance

NCDOT awards contract for grade separation project in Charlotte

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has awarded a contract for the Sugar Creek Road grade separation project, which is designed to improve railroad capacity, efficiency and safety along Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte, N.C.

• September 23, 2015
• OFF Track Maintenance

Steps taken at federal level to speed up infrastructure projects

The White House Office of Management and Budget, Council on Environmental Quality and U.S. Department of Transportation says the Obama Administration will take steps to accelerate critical infrastructure projects, including an enhanced Federal Infrastructure Permitting Dashboard, new guidance to federal agencies establishing metrics for the permitting and environmental review of infrastructure projects.

• September 21, 2015
• Class 1

CP, NS complete Delaware & Hudson South sale

Canadian Pacific completed the sale of more than 280 miles of track from Schenectady, N.Y., to Sunbury, Pa., to Norfolk Southern.

• September 21, 2015
• Yards & Terminals

Port Miami celebrates completion of dredge and on-dock intermodal project

PortMiami heralded in the “big ship” era with the completion of its -50/-52 ft. Deep Dredge and On-dock Intermodal Rail project.

• September 17, 2015
• Class 1

Laura Mohr joins HNTB as rail and transit group director for southern California

Laura Mohr joined HNTB Corporation as vice president and rail and transit group director in one of the firm’s Los Angeles offices.

• September 16, 2015
• Class 1

SNC-Lavalin names Bruce as president, CEO; Card to retire

SNC-Lavalin has named Neil Bruce president and chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors, succeeding Robert Card, who will retire. Bruce will begin in his new role October 5, 2015.

• September 16, 2015
• Class 1

GAO calls for additional oversight; AAR calls for deadline extension regarding PTC

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report reviewing the process of Positive Train Control implementation. Bottom line: Most railroads will not meet the deadline.

• September 10, 2015
• Class 1

Toronto area’s “missing link” rail bypass proposal moves forward

A study regarding a freight bypass rail line between the Canadian Pacific Line (Milton GO Rail corridor) west of Trafalgar Road in Milton and the Canadian National bypass Line at Bramalea has been endorsed by the Mississauga City Council.

• September 10, 2015
• Class 1

NCDOT awards contract for rail connection

The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) awarded a $10.2-million grading contract to C.M. Lindsay & Sons, Inc., to create a new 2.4-mile single-track railroad connection in Robeson County.

• September 10, 2015
• Ballast, Ties, Rail

Rocla to build Florida facility to serve FEC, All Aboard Florida

Rocla Concrete Tie, Inc., supplier of pre-stressed concrete ties, has entered in to a long-term supply agreement with All Aboard Florida and Florida East Coast Railway (FEC), which will require the construction of a new facility in Ft. Pierce, Fla.

• September 10, 2015
• Shortline/Regional

INRD joins BMWED

The Indiana Rail Road Company‘s 24 maintenance-of-way employees voted to join the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) on Sept. 2.

• September 09, 2015
• Class 1

CSX shifts leadership roles as Munoz leaves for United

CSX made a number of senior management changes, effective immediately, including the resignation of Oscar Munoz, who has been named president and chief executive of United Continental Holdings, Inc.

• September 08, 2015
• Class 1

NC Board of Transportation adopts state rail plan

The North Carolina Board of Transportation adopted the 2015 Comprehensive State Rail Plan at its meeting on August 5, 2015. The Rail Plan was created to identify near- and long-term freight, passenger and safety projects, in addition to other rail initiatives that will help better serve the state’s communities, businesses and industries.

• September 08, 2015
• Shortline/Regional

NCRR adds economic development, engineering and communications staff

The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) welcomed three new members to its team.

• September 08, 2015
• Shortline/Regional

TNW Corporation makes managerial appointments

TNW Corporation (TNW), operator of shortline railways and logistics centers, has hired three and promoted one to managerial roles.