Southton Rail Yard in Texas celebrates grand opening
Southton Rail Yard, a 300-acre dual rail-serve facility in San Antonio, Texas, designed for transloading energy-related products, celebrated its grand opening June 11.
Freight
OmniTRAX to manage Brownsville & Rio Grand International
OmniTRAX, Inc. will now manage the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railroad, a shortline railway based in Brownsville, Texas, and will also develop a large-scale industrial park on land owned by the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) of Cameron County, the parent governmental body of the Port of Brownsville.
Watco names GM for Pecos Valley Southern
Watco Terminal and Port Services hired Jeff Lederer as general manager at the Pecos Valley Southern Railway (PVSR) in Pecos, Texas. Lederer will be succeeding Mike Salts, who will be returning to the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (SKOL).
AAR’s Hamberger outlines steps taken to increase safety at Railway Age’s Crude By Rail Conference
Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Hamberger touted the many steps freight railroads are taking to boost the safety of moving crude oil by rail, while reiterating the industry’s call for the federal government to increase tank car standards at Railway Age‘s Crude By Rail Conference and Expo in Arlington, Va.
FRA, MDOT, Amtrak partner to further study to improve Civil War-era tunnel
Working to improve rail service, reliability and address a longstanding bottleneck along Amtrak’s busy Northeast Corridor (NEC), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Amtrak are advancing an engineering and environmental study to examine various
House approves fiscal year 2015 THUD bill
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the fiscal year 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) funding bill on a vote of 229-192. The legislation includes funding for the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies.
TSB finds inadequate drainage caused VIA Rail derailment on CN track
In its investigation report, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined that inadequate water drainage led to the collapse of an embankment, causing the derailment of a VIA Rail Canada train near Togo, Saskatchewan.
Rail Summit rallies rail executives, decision makers in Chicago
The second annual Rail Summit, held in Chicago, Ill., proved to be another success, rallying some 300 rail executives and decision makers to discuss this year’s theme of economic opportunities resulting from the surge in energy and intermodal growth.
Officials celebrate completion of Roberts Bank Rail Corridor Combo Project
In British Columbia, Canada, federal and local officials celebrated the completion of three Asia-Pacific Gateway projects along the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor (RBRC).
UP named 2013 Railroad Company of the Year
Union Pacific earned the 2013 Railroad Company of the Year Award from Evergreen Shipping Agency (America) Corp. The annual award is presented to suppliers and vendors that provide superior service and maintain high performance levels.
Connecticut officials tour New Haven Rail Yard
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) Commissioner James Redeker and other state and local officials on June 5 led a tour of the New Haven Rail Yard, which is undergoing a $1.15-billion, multi-year upgrade and expansion.
FEC’s new ICTF grand opening July 14
Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) will open its new Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) adjacent to Port Everglades in the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., area, with a grand opening ceremony on July 14, 2014.
Rep. Barr tours R.J. Corman yard; speaks to contractors’ role in national rail network
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-06) joined representatives from R.J. Corman Railroad Group and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of R.J. Corman Railroad Group’s rail yard in Lexington, Ky.
NS, Operation Lifesaver team up on Georgia safety train
The Peach State Whistle-Stop Safety Train this week starts a 327-mile tour from the heart of South Georgia to the city of Dalton, calling attention to safety and trespasser awareness.
HDR hires transit sector director
HDR, Inc., has hired Tom Waldron as transit market sector director, based in HDR’s New York City office. His responsibilities include setting HDR’s vision and initiatives for continued growth and expansion in transit across North America and globally.
Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern completes acquisition of DM&E west end
Genesee & Wyoming Inc.’s (GWI) newly-established subsidiary, Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad, Inc., has completed the acquisition of the west end of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E) rail line from Canadian Pacific for approximately $210 million plus approximately $7.5 million for the purchase of certain inventory, equipment and vehicles.
Indiana kicks off $71-million rail upgrade
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence joined representatives from Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration and Norfolk Southern on May 29 to kick off the $71.4-million Indiana Gateway project to improve rail lines between Porter, Ind., and the Illinois state line.
FRA Administrator Szabo tours Siemens Louisville Rail Plant
Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo visited Siemens’ automation plant in Louisville, Ken., which is one of several companies across the country that are making key components for Positive Train Control (PTC) systems.
UP completes New Mexico rail facility
Union Pacific celebrated the grand opening of its New Mexico rail facility May 28, which officially opened April 1. The 2,200-acre site will create value for UP customers and produce greater logistics efficiencies along Union Pacific’s critical Sunset Route, the rail line running 760 miles from El Paso, Texas, to Los Angeles, Calif.
OmniTRAX affiliate acquires Sand Springs Railway Company
Sand Springs Railway Company is being acquired by Sand Springs Holdings, LLC, a managed affiliate of OmniTRAX, Inc. The Sand Springs Railway, which runs freight service between Sand Springs and Tulsa, Okla., on 32 miles of track, will commence operations no later than July 31, 2014.