On March 18, members of the Senate and House Appropriation Committee toured the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Transportation Technology Center (TTC), near Pueblo, Colo., to learn firsthand about the activities being performed at the site.
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) named the winners of its Safety Awards for 2013. ASLRRA says the Safety Program enables the association to recognize the continued efforts of its members to maintain a high level of safety.
Canadian National (CN) has proposed binding arbitration to reach a contract settlement with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference – Conductors, Trainpersons and Yardpersons (TCRC-CTY) after the union advised that the tentative labor agreement negotiated with CN on February 5, 2014, failed to ratify.
The Union Pacific Board of Directors has voted to elect the company’s chief executive officer, Jack Koraleski, chairman of the board and has also added David Dillon to the board, effective immediately.
Union Pacific has recently promoted many in the marketing and sales, operating and finance departments.
Union Pacific will strengthen transportation infrastructure in Nebraska and Iowa by investing nearly $4.5 million in the rail line between Omaha, Neb., and near Missouri Valley, Iowa. The project, funded entirely by Union Pacific, began March 5 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of May.
U.S. Rep. John Duncan, Jr. (R-TN-02), joined representatives from UNITRAC Railroad Materials, the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC), the Gulf & Ohio Railway and Nisus Corp. for a tour of UNITRAC’s manufacturing facility in Knoxville, Tenn., on March 17.
Watco Transportation Services named James Moore general manager of the Pacific Sun Railroad (PSRR) and Garrett Bolyard general manager of the Eastern Idaho Railroad (EIRR).
Representatives from Class 1s, shortlines, suppliers, as well as other railroad supporters joined forces on Thursday, March 13, to take part in Railroad Day on Capitol Hill, the industry’s annual event to advocate for freight rail-related issues.
Orange County Transportation Authority (OTCA) has opened the first grade separation project of seven in its OC Bridges program and has opened Placentia Avenue to traffic where BNSF now crosses over the road.
OmniTRAX, Inc., named the 2014 Safety People of the Year; each of the five winners was selected by division managers based on nominations from team members at the individual rail lines.
Kansas City Southern de Mexico (KCSM) has initiated a new Safety Friday program, following an in-depth analysis that found more injuries occur early on Fridays than any other time of the week.
Atkins has been awarded a construction management services contract by the Fort Worth & Western Railroad (FWWR) for a bridge and retaining wall construction project adjacent to FWWR’s operational facilities on East Long Avenue in Fort Worth, Texas.
Railway Age magazine has named Coos Bay Rail Link the 2014 Short Line Railroad of the Year, and Arkansas & Missouri Railroad Co. its 2014 Regional Railroad of the Year. The awards will be presented at the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s annual meeting in San Diego, Calif., Friday, April 25, 2014.
Watco Transportation Services has named Travis Herod vice president of transportation safety and compliance. In this position, Herod’s responsibilities include leading the Transportation Safety Team in safety training, certifications, safety incident solutions and proposals and mentoring managers and team members.
According to an estimate released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the nation’s freight railroads project they will spend approximately $26 billion to build, maintain and upgrade their nationwide rail network this year.
CSX appointed Gary Sease to vice president, corporate communications, effective March 30. He succeeds Vance Meyer, who is leaving CSX after leading significant communications efforts, including successfully strengthening the company’s brand and developing social media capabilities over the past nine years.
Profiles in Diversity Journal has recognized Union Pacific as one of the nation’s 25 Most Influential Companies for Veteran Hiring for its commitment to veteran hiring, progressive reservist policies and dedication to supporting employee veterans.
BNSF has committed to making $250 million in investments for rail transportation improvements in North Dakota.