Norfolk Southern and the Delaware & Hudson Railway (D&H), a subsidiary of Canadian Pacific, have proposed a transaction under which NS would acquire 282.55 miles of D&H rail line between Sunbury, Pa., and Schenectady, N.Y. The $217-million is subject to the approval by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.
In a complaint filed on Nov. 17, Amtrak is asking the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to investigate Norfolk Southern and CSX for causing delays for passengers traveling between Chicago and Washington, D.C., on the Capitol Limited service.
Union Pacific will strengthen Illinois’ transportation infrastructure by investing $12 million in the rail line between West Chicago and Franklin Grove. The project began October 1 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-December.
On November 13, 2014, an eastbound BNSF train carrying lumber and paper product in Casselton, N.D., derailed 21 cars that subsequently struck a passing westbound train derailing 12 empty tank cars. BNSF said the underlying cause of the derailment appears to be a broken rail. No injuries were reported.
BNSF crews worked through the night to clear the area and opened both tracks late November 14. BNSF is working with the Federal Railroad Administration to learn what factors led to the break. The railroad said the track was visually inspected earlier November 13 with no issues and has been regularly inspected in accord with BNSF’s track inspection program, which complies with federal standards.
BNSF stated, “As we continue working to understand what occurred in this incident, we will also undertake a broad-based review of the infrastructure in this vicinity to assure the residents of Casselton of its integrity.”
North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple is urging BNSF to perform an exhaustive inspection of the track system in the Casselton area.
“I was pleased to hear that Matt Rose plans to have BNSF make a special priority to perform a complete analysis of rail track both east and west of Casselton,” Dalrymple said. “He assured me that the analysis will be comprehensive and will include a thorough inspection of rail, base, ties, crossing areas and other infrastructure.
“While we continue to press the railroad industry to improve rail safety, we are also moving forward on safer rail tank cars and a stronger state role in rail inspections,” Dalrymple said.
Railroad Track Repairer and Board Member Jack Burton recently passed the half-century mark as an employee of the Alaska Railroad (ARRC) and was recognized for his tenure with a salute during the ARRC Board of Directors meeting November 13. Burton joined ARRC as a track laborer in April 1964.
Two North American companies won top honors for Bentley System, Inc.’s Be Inspired Awards, part of Bentley’s annual Year in Infrastructure Conference, held in London, U.K., Nov. 4-6. Bentley provides software solutions to engineers, architects and constructors for sustaining intelligent infrastructure. The awards recognize users’ efforts to improve the world’s infrastructure.
RailComm has been selected to provide remote control to multiple switch locations and install a shove track protection system at a Class 1 hump yard located in North Carolina.
RailComm has been chosen to install and provide control to multiple switches throughout the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) terminal.
Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo joined Congresswoman Kay Granger in celebrating the re-opening of Tower 55, a 141-year-old railroad interlocking on Nov. 7. The newly-rebuilt interlocking will improve safety while relieving rail congestion following a multi-million dollar overhaul.
Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo will be stepping down from the post he has held since April 2009 and, effective Jan. 1, 2015, will be on staff at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)—effectively returning to his Chicagoland roots.
BNSF celebrated the opening of a new $45-million logistic center in Sweetwater, Texas, November 6. The logistic center, capable of supporting rail, truck and transload services, will accommodate several industries, including agricultural commodities, sand, pipe and aggregate.
CSX has appointed Kellen Riley as its South Carolina industrial development manager where he will be responsible for managing existing customer partnerships, helping to locate rail-served industries along the CSX network in South Carolina and identifying new development sites throughout the state.
The Federal Highway Administration has approved a preferred construction alternative for CSX’s Virginia Avenue Tunnel project, enabling CSX to complete the tunnel’s design and initiate the construction permitting process.
Washington state regulators have approved nearly $18,000 for rail safety upgrades at 98 railroad crossings in Grant, Franklin, Adams, Yakima and Benton counties.
According to a recent Washington State Freight and Goods Transportation System report published by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the Columbia Basin Railroad line from Connell to Moses Lake/Wheeler, Wash., is the busiest shortline in eastern Washington.
BNSF says it will go into the 2014-2015 winter season better prepared than ever before, especially if the United States experiences a return of the polar vortex. The 2013-2014 winter was one of the most severe winters the United States has experienced in decades with extreme temperatures that persisted for long periods and created special challenges for operating the railroad.
Construction has started on the $29.8-million Amtrak Rochester Intermodal Station in Rochester, N.Y., which will reduce regional delays by expanding track service at the station, increase functionality through a new and redesigned concourse and enhance the overall passenger experience in the larger, modern station. Construction is expected to be completed by 2017.
BNSF has named Utah Railway as the 2014 Shortline of the Year. Utah Railway operates about 423 miles along the heavily-populated Wasatch Front Corridor, serving a wide variety of customers with growing volumes in Utah.
As part of an ongoing effort to improve the movement of goods produced on Northwest farms, officials are asking for input from eastern Washington citizens, businesses and communities to help make state-owned rail lines better.
On October 23, federal, state and local officials celebrated the opening of the $142-million Englewood Flyover, a major railroad bridge that has eliminated a significant source of train delays on the south side of Chicago and has reduced emissions and noise from idling trains in the neighborhood.
