Military Times EDGE names UP Best for Vets Employer in 2014
Military Times EDGE named Union Pacific among the Best for Vets 2014 Employers. Union Pacific’s number five ranking marks the fourth consecutive year the railroad has been in the top 10.
Freight
Amtrak, Maryland DOT, FRA partner on Susquehanna River Bridge study
Amtrak, in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), has launched a preliminary engineering study for rehabilitation or possible replacement of the 108-year-old Susquehanna River Rail Bridge.
NS Bellevue Yard expansion nearing completion
A major expansion at Norfolk Southern’s (NS) Bellevue Yard in Ohio is nearing completion and is expected to wrap up construction by the end of this year.
Illinois to fund restoration of Chicago to Rockford Amtrak service
The state of Illinois will make a $223-million state capital investment that will create hundreds of jobs and restart Amtrak service between Rockford and Chicago beginning in 2015.
CDOT receives FRA grant to help in flood recovery
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will receive a $1,656,401-grant from the Federal Railroad Administration to help restore the Great Western Railway that was devastated by severe flooding in September.
Illinois’ new six-year transportation program includes $1.85 billion for public transit
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn unveiled a six-year, $8.6-billion construction program that he says will improve roads and bridges throughout Illinois while making major investments in public transportation.
Southwest light-rail shallow tunnel plan approved by Metropolitan Council
The Metropolitan Council voted 14-2 on April 9 to approve the Southwest LRT (METRO Green Line Extension) Project, the Minneapolis area’s third light-rail transit line.
BNSF, Metra to begin tie and surface project along Illinois line
A major tie replacement and track resurfacing project will get underway during the last two weeks of April on Metra’s BNSF Line to Aurora, Ill. Metra said the project is part of an effort to maintain and improve the quality of service.
FRA to issue proposed rule on minimum train crew size
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) revealed its intention to issue a proposed rule requiring two-person train crews on crude oil trains and establishing minimum crew size standards for most mainline freight and passenger rail operations. The FRA also intends to advance a rulemaking on train securement and recommends a rulemaking on the movement of hazardous materials.
Operation Lifesaver partners with FRA, FTA and AAR on new national safety PSA
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), launched a new public service advertising (PSA) campaign called See Tracks? Think Train!, which aims to reduce pedestrian and driver injuries and fatalities around railroad tracks by highlighting behaviors that put people at risk.
Coalition of senators calls for crude by rail safety fund
U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) led a letter from 16 senators, calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to support new investment and resources for a Safe Transportation of Energy Products Fund to address existing and emerging issues related to the transportation of Bakken crude and other energy products. The Senators also called for increased investment for inspection personnel.
UP utilizing its TRT 909 for Nebraska and Iowa infrastructure improvements
Union Pacific Railroad began work to improve infrastructure in Nebraska and by investing more than $9 million in the rail line between near Missouri Valley, Iowa, and Arlington, Neb. The project began April 1 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the month.
AAR Annual Research Review draws record crowds to new venue
A record number of attendees joined researchers from Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the Association of American Railroads 19th Annual Research Review April 1-2, 2014. This year’s theme was “Innovative Technology Developments in North American Railways.”
Extenders bill passes out of Senate Finance Committee, includes 45G for shortlines
The Senate Finance Committee passed legislation, Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act, on April 3 renewing a set of provisions known as “tax extenders.”
IDOT, DCEO fund studies on freight transportation, infrastructure needs in Decatur and Macon counties
Two Illinois state agencies pledged funding for transportation studies covering Decatur and Macon County that will examine how to increase and better handle freight moving through the region. The studies will look for ways to capitalize on growth of multi-modal shipping at the region’s Midwest Inland Port and at the operations of Archer Daniels Midland Co.
Winter Haven terminal operations begin
The Evansville Western Railway, an affiliate of CSX, commenced operations at a state-of-the-art intermodal terminal located just off State Road 60 in Winter Haven, Fla. Known as the Central Florida Intermodal Logistics Center (ILC), this facility serves as a centralized hub for transportation, logistics and distribution serving Orlando, Tampa and South Florida.
FAMES report makes recommendations to avoid adjacent track fatalities
The Fatality Analysis of Maintenance-of-way Employees and Signalmen (FAMES) Committee published a series of recommendations to improve roadway worker projection when trackwork occurs where adjacent track is present. Between 1997 and 2012, 25 percent of roadway worker fatal accidents have occurred on adjacent track.
Canada’s TSB attributes CP derailment to poor drainage
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) published its report on an April 2013 Canadian Pacific accident and found poor drainage and water-damaged track bed led to 17 cars derailing.
Wabtec awarded Alaska Railroad PTC contract
Wabtec Corporation has signed contracts for $16.6 million with Alaska Railroad Corporation to provide Positive Train Control (PTC) equipment and services, including computer-aided dispatch and back office systems. The systems will be installed on the railroad’s 525 miles of controlled track, which are used for both freight and regularly scheduled passenger service.
NYSDOT performs second round of inspections to guard against CBR accidents
New York state will make additional efforts to protect residents from potential disasters involving the transport of crude oil.