Union Pacific to improve infrastructure in Kansas and Wyoming
Union Pacific plans to enhance Kansas’ transportation infrastructure by investing more than $9 million in the rail line that runs between Menoken and Junction City.
Freight
WSOR $10 million bridge program underway
The Wisconsin and Southern Railroad has started a $10 million plan to replace or repair 33 bridges systemwide within two years.
Saskatchewan opens province’s 13th shortline
The Canadian province of Saskatchewan opened its 13th shortline, the Long Creek Railroad (LCRR), on Oct. 2.
Two are named to GWI Board of Directors
Genesee and Wyoming Inc. appointed Richard Bott and Gregory Ledford to its board of directors, effective October 1, 2012 and October 2, 2012, respectively.
CREATE Project B15 complete
As part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE), the Blue Island-Riverdale-Dolton Signal Modernization Project is complete.
Kokomo railroad to reopen after $5.5 million rehabilitation project
Twelve miles of inactive railroad running through the city of Kokomo to Tipton, Ind., will soon be reopened to rail freight traffic by early 2014.
CP EVP/COO resigns
Mike Franczak, executive vice president and chief operations officer for Canadian Pacific, has resigned.
KCS appoints vice president sales and marketing
Kansas City Southern has appointed Stephen Schollaert as vice president sales and marketing. In this position, he leads the carload business unit for The Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR) and reports to KCS executive vice president sales and marketing Patrick Ottensmeyer.
GWI completes RailAmerica acquisition
Genesee & Wyoming Inc. has completed the acquisition of RailAmerica, Inc. and entered into a new five-year Senior Secured Credit Facility comprised of a $1.875 billion term loan and $425 million revolving credit facility.
AAR: Freight rail industry invests $23 billion so taxpayers don’t have to
In 2012, the freight rail industry will invest $23 billion to build, maintain and upgrade the nation’s rail network, according to two new ads released by The Association of American Railroads.
CN to build two training facilities in Canada and U.S.
Canadian National revitalized its company-wide employee training program, which will be anchored by two modern training centers to be built in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, and in suburban Chicago, Ill.
Rail-delivered sand will move faster through upgraded terminal
Norfolk Southern trains hauling sand used in extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation soon will have the ability to unload five times faster due to a $20 million upgrade at the Horseheads (N.Y.) Sand & Transloading Terminal (HOST).
Union Pacific names Duren executive vice president
Union Pacific named Diane Duren executive vice president. She will be responsible for strategic planning, administration and human resources upon two senior executive retirements in February. Duren also will become corporate secretary at that time.
DEIR affirms benefits of proposed BNSF rail facility in Southern California
The updated Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) released by the Port of Los Angeles affirms that BNSF’s proposed Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) facility will result in an overall improvement in air quality, health risk and traffic in both the immediate neighborhoods around the site and throughout the region.
Greenfield, Ohio receives EDA grant for rail spur
The Village of Greenfield, Ohio, received a $2.2-million grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for improvements to a rail line in Highland County. The project is expected to create 72 jobs and save more than 800 at local companies.
UP makes operating department changes
Union Pacific made operating department changes, which will be effective October 1.
ARRC washout repair going better than expected
Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) track repair crews have made better-than-expected progress in repairing a major washout that has left 500 feet of the mainline track dangling just south of Gold Creek (ARRC Milepost 261, about 35 miles north of Talkeetna).
CP hires vice president and CIO
Canadian Pacific appointed Michael Redeker to vice president and chief information officer, effective October 15, 2012. Redeker was most recently chief information officer at ATB Financial.
VTrans plans railyard project in Burlington, Vermont
The city of Burlington, Vt., and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is planning a new railyard project that will link Pine and Battery streets through a new urban street grid, creating a multi-modal network of rail, truck, car, transit, bike and pedestrian connections to access Burlington’s southern waterfront and railyard.
Wisconsin awards $12 million in freight rail grants
The state of Wisconsin awarded $11,955,358 that will be used to construct freight rail-related facilities and preserve and upgrade rail infrastructure as part of overall efforts to support job growth and Wisconsin’s economy.