Government of Canada will contribute to Vancouver Island Railway restoration
The Canadian government has set aside up to CA$7.5 million (US$7.48 million) for work on the restoration of the Vancouver Island Railway between Victoria and Courtenay, BC.
Freight
Government of Canada will contribute to Vancouver Island Railway restoration
The Canadian government has set aside up to CA$7.5 million (US$7.48 million) for work on the restoration of the Vancouver Island Railway between Victoria and Courtenay, BC.
RailAmerica completes Wellsboro and Corning Railroad and Industrial Waste Group deal
RailAmerica, Inc., completed its acquisition of a 70-percent interest in the Wellsboro and Corning Railroad and Industrial Waste Group from Myles Group for approximately $18 million.
Construction begins on Dearborn, Michigan rail station
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new $28.2 million federally-funded intermodal train and bus station in downtown Dearborn, Mich., providing greater connectivity for residents throughout the region.
Six Class 1s among TRANSCAER
Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response (TRANSCAER), a voluntary national outreach effort that focuses on assisting communities to prepare for and respond to a possible hazardous materials transportation incident, awarded six Class 1 railroads for its 2011 National Awards Recognition Program.
USDOT receives 703 applications for TIGER 2012 grants
The demand for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) 2012 grants have far surpassed the available funding, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
PARN and the IBT reach agreement
Pacific and Arctic Railway & Navigation Company (PARN) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 959 reached a tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement on March 29, 2012, covering the combined crafts and classes of shop crafts and maintenance-of-way employees.
Michigan trackwork to relieve slow orders, restore Amtrak service
Following work set to begin April 16, Amtrak Wolverine Service and Blue Water passengers can expect normal travel times on Norfolk Southern tracks in Michigan by early May.
Iowa City City Council approves railroad infrastructure project
Iowa City will proceed with the Iowa City Industrial Campus Railroad Siding and Spur Improvement Project after the city council approved details of the project with a 6-0 vote.
IDOT commits $2.2 million to BNSF viaduct replacement project
The Illinois Department of Transportation is committing $2.2 million to complete the engineering and design plans for replacing the BNSF viaduct over Illinois Route 29 in Chillicothe, Ill.
The project will replace the two existing viaducts with a single structure carrying three mainline tracks, a yard track, a service road and a pedestrian walkway.
GT OmniPort Industrial Park welcomes first train
The first unit train pulled in to the Port Arthur, Texas, GT OmniPort on April 3. The arrival of this train indicates that the rail terminal is now open for business.
RailComm to convert LS&I dispatching system to SaaS Model
Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad in Michigan has been using RailComm’s Domain Operations Controller train control system to dispatch their railroad since 2007. The DOC System at LS&I will soon be able to be accessed through web-enabled software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery.
Heilig joins Progress Rail
Progress Rail Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., has hired Tim Heilig as senior vice president of customer solutions. In this role, Heilig will work with Progress Rail Services and its subsidiary, Electro-Motive Diesel, to enhance the companies’ many products and services. Additionally, he will be involved in helping develop new products.
CN offers new steel-wheel-interchange service with CSX in Chicago
Canadian National has a new steel-wheel-interchange service with CSX Transportation over Chicago. The service gives container imports moving over CN’s network from the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, B.C., efficient access to key Ohio Valley markets.
CSX hiring in Tennessee, Maryland and Alabama
CSX Transportation says it is looking to fill 150 positions in Tennessee, mostly in and around Nashville; 140 jobs in Maryland, mainly in Baltimore and Cumberland and 90 positions in Alabama, primarily in Birmingham.
Port of Los Angeles receives $40.72 million for rail yard project
The Port of Los Angeles received $40.72 million to improve rail operations and access to West Basin rail yards as part of a larger funding allocation from the California Transportation Commission. The CTC distributed $271 million in new funding to 73 projects that will improve the state’s highways and rail systems and enhance the state’s economic recovery.
RT&S launches “Rail Brief” weekly engineering newsletter
The editors of Railway Track & Structures are pleased to bring you “Rail Brief,” a weekly e-mail newsletter that brings breaking news about rail engineering and maintenance-of-way to your inbox. Whether it occurs on or off the track, RT&S “Rail Brief” will cover advancing projects, developing technologies and other updates on rail infrastructure.
KCS improves fluidity with work on Laredo Subdivision
Last week, a Kansas City Southern production gang completed a 50-day effort to install 100,000 crossties and 4.5 track miles of new rail to replace the 112-pound rail in curves. The production gang also renewed crossings and surfaced the track between mileposts 22 and 147 (approximately West Killam to Robstown, Texas) on the Laredo Subdivision.
Pershing Square adds Steve Tobias to nominees for CP’s board
Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P., added North American railroad operations executive, Stephen Tobias, as the seventh nominee for the Canadian Pacific Board of Directors.
Iowa Interstate Railroad names two to executive management positions
Iowa Interstate Railroad promoted Dennis Miller from president & CEO to vice chairman of the board, effective March 31. Miller, who has been president since 2002, joined the company in 1985 and previously served as vice president of information systems, customer services and operations. His railroad service also includes 10 years with the Peoria and Pekin Union Railway and two years with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.