Desert Line receives support from South County EDC board members
South County Economic Development Council (SCEDC) board members voted to support the reactivation of the San Diego Arizona Eastern Railway at its May board of directors meeting.
Freight
Ouch: House Appropriations Committee cuts transportation FY 2015 budget by nearly $730 million
The House Appropriations Committee released its Fiscal Year 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill. The committee proposal allocates $17.1 billion for the Department of Transportation, $727 million below FY 2014 funding levels.
Metra recognized for safety practices
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) recently recognized Chicago’s Metra for its commitment to employee safety in best safety practices from railroads around the industry at the annual Railroad Safety Leadership Forum in Atlanta.
Watco names GM for Wallula Switching
Watco Transportation Services named Kenneth Barnhouse general manager at the Wallula (Wash.) Switching Site, where it switches cars for Boise Cascade.
Oklahoma offers Sooner Sub to Stillwater Central
Oklahoma awarded the opportunity to purchase a 97.5-mile line known as the Sooner Sub to the Stillwater Central Railroad, L.L.C. (SLWC), a subsidiary of Watco Transportation Services, L.L.C. BNSF also made an offer on the line, which runs between Del City, Okla., and Sapulpa, Okla.
Port of Coos Bay hires Steffensmeier as chief engineer
Charles Steffensmeier has joined the staff of the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay as chief engineer. He will have primary responsibility for engineering oversight for rehabilitation and upgrade of the port’s Coos Bay rail line serving southwest Oregon industrial and agricultural operations and marine terminals in the Coos Bay harbor.
KCS engineering forces complete four capacity enhancing projects
In the first part of 2014, the Kansas City Southern (KCS) Engineering and Maintenance of Way team completed four major projects allowing for capacity increases and greater operational efficiency.
Washington state seeks federal funds to rail rehab
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has applied for six Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants, which would improve highways, ferries and freight rail.
BNSF 2014 capital program progressing with Northern Corridor projects
BNSF has kicked-off its plan to invest approximately $1 billion to improve and expand rail capacity in states along its Northern Corridor, which spans the northern U.S. between the Pacific Northwest and Chicago. Some of the projects that will help expand capacity and improve traffic flow for all freight and passenger trains for current and future growth on those routes are well underway.
USDOT sends long-term transportation bill to Congress
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is sending a long-term transportation bill to Congress for consideration as the House and Senate face deadlines to avoid the economic uncertainty and job loss that would ensue if the Highway Trust Fund runs out of money this summer.
UP invests in Minnesota’s and Iowa’s transportation infrastructures
Union Pacific will strengthen Minnesota’s and Iowa’s transportation infrastructures by investing $17.5 million in the rail line between Butterfield, Minn., and near Mason City, Iowa. The project began April 8 and is scheduled to be completed by mid- July.
Transport Canada’s new funds for crossings; CN’s public outreach rollout kick off Canada Rail Safety Week
Prime Minister Stephen Harper government today launched Rail Safety Week with new funding to improve railway crossings.
KCS engineering team marks successful rebuild of rail grinding machine
Recently, the Kansas City Southern (KCS) Engineering Department purchased and rebuilt an on-track rail grinding machine.
Atlas Railroad Construction reorganizes, relocates, expands to new markets
Genesee & Wyoming Inc.’s (GWI) Atlas Railroad Construction subsidiary is reorganizing under a region-based commercial and operating structure to facilitate expansion into the U.S. Midwest, Southeast and Southwest. As part of the reorganization, Atlas is relocating its headquarters from Bridgeville, Pa., to Jacksonville, Fla.
KCS hosts Officer on a Train event in Joplin, Mo.
Kansas City Southern (KCS) and the Joplin, Mo., Police Department hosted an Officer on a Train event on April 24 to promote public safety at railroad crossings in the city.
Watco appoints three to new positions
Watco Transportation Services (WTS) appointed Jason Cathey to safety director. He will be responsible for managing the Safety Department Training and QA programs, assisting with incident reporting and statistics record keeping and leading WTS safety initiatives supporting safe work practices among WTS locations.
AAR: Only 20 percent of PTC network will be ready by 2015
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) issued a new report to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) updating the industry’s progress on installing Positive Train Control (PTC) and said the industry will not meet the December 2015 deadline.
Massachusetts awards grants for freight projects
Massachusetts awarded seven grants totaling $2.5 million for industrial rail projects as part of the 2014 Industrial Rail Access Program (IRAP), which is being matched by more than $1.9 million in private sector funds for a total $4.5 million investment.
The real zeal behind railroad maintenance
While Reading & Northern may be smaller in size to other railroads, its employees are never short on enthusiasm, dedication and passion when it comes to maintaining its assets.
Canadian government’s subsidy to CN for Algoma Central Railway operation extended a year
The government of Canada will extend its CA$2.2-million (US$2-million) federal subsidy to Canadian National for the operation of the Algoma Central Railway (ACR) passenger rail service between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst, Ontario, until March 31, 2015.