Sioux Falls rail yard project completes land appraisal
An important step has been completed in the rail yard redevelopment project in downtown Sioux Falls, S.D.
Freight
Watco names SVP finance
Watco Transportation Services named Joe King senior vice president of finance. King will lead the teams of finance, accounting, revenue accounting and the SAP Team.
CP’s Hunter Harrison is 2015 Railroader of the Year
Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Pacific E. Hunter Harrison has been named 2015 Railroader of the Year by Railway Age.
KCS’ Starling issues annual “State of the Railroad” memo
“This year, the Kansas City Southern management team refined the company’s vision, restating it to be the leading transportation provider both within and between the U.S. and Mexico by consistently providing superior value to our customers, offering challenging careers to our employees and increasing value to our shareholders,” stated KCS’s President and Chief Executive Officer David Starling in his annual “State of the Railroad” memo.
NCDOT issues state rail plan executive summary
In anticipation of the January 2015 release of the Draft North Carolina Comprehensive State Rail Plan, the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has issued the Plan’s Executive Summary.
President Obama signs legislation extending shortline tax credit extension and enacting omnibus spending bill
President Obama signed two key pieces of legislation last week that will impact the rail industry.
Meeting held to discuss Connell Rail Interchange
Approximately 30 people attended a meeting December 15 in Moses Lake, Wash., to discuss the Connell Rail Interchange, a key rail interchange in Eastern Washington where the Columbia Basin Railroad line intersects with BNSF’s Lakeside Subdivision line, which runs between Spokane and Pasco, Wash.
Coos Bay Rail Link, San Pedro & Southwestern Railroad general managers named
ARG Transportation Services’ Coos Bay Rail Link Director of Rail Operations Darrell Rodley and San Pedro & Southwestern Railroad Manager of Operations Richard Archunde have been promoted to general managers of their respective companies, effective January 1.
Boxhold appointed FDOT secretary
Jim Boxold has been named Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, (FDOT) effective January 3, 2015.
New York awards funding to 12 rail projects
New York State awarded $17.8 million in funding from the State’s Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program to 12 rail projects that will repair and replace 65 miles of track and ties, rehabilitate grade crossings and bridges and construct new connections to improve safety and operations.
Congress approves extension of 45G tax credit for 2014
Congress approved the extension of the Section 45G shortline tax credit to cover all of the 2014 tax year.
Four South Dakota rail projects receive $56 million in funds from public-private partnerships
Four rail projects in South Dakota have received $56 million in public and private funds.
CSX opens Montreal intermodal terminal
CSX opened a new intermodal terminal in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield near Montreal, QC.
CMQ completes million-dollar infrastructure investment; receives green light from Transport Canada
Following months of work, a multitude of inspections and an additional CA$10 million (US$8.6 million) investment, Central Maine & Quebec Railway (CMQ) got the go-ahead from Transport Canada.
On December 5, CMQ received the official revocation of a series of notices and orders, confirming immediate threats no longer exist on CMQ railway. The notices and orders were transferred to CMQ following its purchase of bankrupt Montreal Maine & Atlantic.
CMQ has spent the past four months installing more than 32,000 new crossties, 110,000 linear feet of rail and 25,000 tons of ballast, upgrading bridges, culverts and crossings, completing surfacing work and removing more than 300 in-track rail defects from its main tracks and sidings. The Sherbrooke subdivision is the 125-mile backbone of CMQ’s Quebec rail line and stretches from Lac-Mégantic to Brookport just east of Farnham.
“We had to make this investment. The line was covered in snow last February and March when we were finally able to begin our diligence, but we made a commitment to Lac-Mégantic Mayor Laroche and citizens, as well as many regulators, that we would address the years of neglect,” said CMQ President and Chief Executive Officer John Giles. “It was an extremely tough undertaking. We had industry peers questioning the amount of work that we signed up for with such a short construction season. I knew we were in good hands with Ron Marshall, general manager of engineering, leading this project with his team.”
When asked about the scope of project, Marshall commented, “This is one of the most challenging construction seasons I’ve ever been involved in. But I knew from my experience working with this team at RailAmerica that I would have the support I needed. This investment demonstrates our team’s commitment to operating the railway in a safe and responsible fashion.”
CMQ considers Phase 1 of its transformation now largely completed.
“Not to say we don’t have a lot more track and infrastructure work to do next spring, but we have already started Phase II, which focuses on growth, customers and interline partners,” said Giles.
TSB Canada reups focus on Watchlist items following report on CP trains collision
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report into a May 2013 collision between two Canadian Pacific trains just east of Dunmore, AB. The TSB said this accident highlights the need for action on two of the TSB’s Watchlist issues: following railway signal indications and on-board video and voice recorders.
NRC awards 2014 Safety, Field Employee and Rail Construction Projects of the Year
National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) selected the winners of its 2014 Safety, Field Employee of the Year, Small Project of the Year and Large Project of the Year awards. The winners will be recognized at this year’s NRC Conference, January 7-10, 2015, in Hollywood, Fla.
Metra urges support for 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project
The Metra Board of Directors highlighted the need for the $1-billion 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project (CIP), which aims to untangle a knot of railroad tracks on the South Side of Chicago, Ill., that causes significant delays for Metra, Amtrak and several freight railroads.
Wisconsin finalizes rail corridor purchase
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) finalized its purchase of a 70-mile segment of rail line between Madison to Reedsburg and Madison to Cottage Grove.
PANYNJ adopts 2015 operating and capital budget
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Board of Commissioners adopted a $2.9-billion Operating Budget and a $3.6-billion Capital Budget. Combined, together with debt service, the budget for 2015 totals $7.8 billion.
CTC allocates $102 million for state rail projects
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated more than $254 million for 41 transportation projects that it says will enhance the safety and mobility of Californians throughout the state. The allocation includes $102 million for rail projects.