• December 12, 2011
• Class 1

KCS de Mexico recognizes nine customers for reducing their carbon footprint

At the second annual awards ceremony in Mexico City on December 6, Kansas City Southern de Mexico recognized ArcelorMittal, Cemex, Dow Química Mexicana, ExxonMobil, Mexichem, M&G Polímeros, Petróleos Mexicanos, Ternium and Vitro. By choosing to use rail on shipments that could have moved by truck, these companies reduced their carbon footprint by avoiding the generation of 316,823 tons of CO2 by shipping their freight via rail.

• December 12, 2011
• Bridges/Tunnels

UP begins bridge work in Lake Bluff, Illinois

Union Pacific will be performing repairs on two bridges, which span over Illinois Route 176 the week of December 12. The repairs will consist of repairing the steel sheeting on the underside of the bridges.

• December 12, 2011
• Shortline/Regional

Watco appoints five to leadership roles

Watco Companies named Geoff Holder has regional safety manager for the east region and named Jamie Brooks administrative assistant for the Gulf region.

• November 23, 2011
• OFF Track Maintenance

Washington state approves funds for crossing enhancements

Washington state regulators approved funds to improve the safety at railroad crossings in Clark County.

• November 22, 2011
• Intermodal

STB approves Alaska Railroad line in Port Mackenzie

The Surface Transportation Board issued a decision granting final approval for the Alaska Railroad Corporation to construct and operate approximately 35 miles of a new rail line connecting Port MacKenzie in south-central Alaska, to a point on ARRC’s existing mainline, between Wasilla and an area north of Willow, Ala.

• November 22, 2011
• Class 1

RailComm to expand remote control yard system at BNSF Nebraska yard

RailComm was selected to expand its existing yard system at BNSF’s Alliance South Yard in Alliance, Neb. RailComm’s Domain Operations Controller System will be used to remotely control switches.

• November 21, 2011
• Intermodal

Georgia Ports Authority Board approves Savannah area intermodal terminal expansion

The Georgia Ports Authority Board approved a $6.5 million, 6,000-foot extension of the Mason Intermodal Container Transfer Facility in Garden City, Ga. The initiative is designed to expand capacity, improve efficiencies and reduce costs for customers.

• November 21, 2011
• Shortline/Regional

EIS issued for proposed Corman line in Pennsylvania

The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis has issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the R.J. Corman Railroad Company/Pennsylvania Lines Inc. proposed construction, operation and reactivation of a 20-mile railroad line between Wallaceton and Gorton, in Clearfield and Centre Counties, Pa.

• November 18, 2011
• Class 1

NCCC has tentative agreements with 10 out of 13 unions

The nation’s major freight railroads reached tentative collective bargaining agreements with then out of 13 unions, the National Carriers’ Conference Committee reported.

• November 18, 2011
• OFF Track Maintenance

Tesoro plans new rail project to ship ND crude

Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) met with Tesoro CEO Greg Goff to review the company’s major expansion plans in North Dakota, including a new rail project to ship North Dakota crude to its Anacortes, Wash., facility.

• November 17, 2011
• Yards & Terminals

PANYNJ hires HDR to rehabilitate Greenville Yard

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hired HDR to rehabilitate the Greenville Yard in Greenville, N.J., to improve ongoing rail-to-barge-to-rail freight movements across New York Harbor. The work includes rehabilitating a barge and transfer bridge used to move freight rail cars from the yard to the barges, designing a new barge and two new bridges, demolishing two bridges, rehabilitating the rail yard and waterfront structures and environmental permitting.

• November 16, 2011
• OFF Track Maintenance

USDOT: TIGER grants in high demand

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says the overwhelming demand for TIGER grants has once again far surpassed the available funding.

• November 11, 2011
• Class 1

Arizona, BNSF partner to upgrade safety at crossings

The Arizona Department of Transportation will partner with BNSF to install new technology to enhance vehicle safety at railroad crossings.

• October 28, 2011
• Yards & Terminals

SFMTA renames streetcar yard for Cameron Beach

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors, which oversees all surface transportation in the city, including the Municipal Railway (Muni), held a ceremony to rename Muni’s Geneva Yard for SFMTA board member and transit advocate Cameron Beach.

• October 12, 2011
• Safety

FRA issues safety advisory aimed at reducing yard incidents

Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Szabo issued a safety advisory to the railroad industry to help prevent injuries and fatalities from employees working between rail cars during switching operations and other dangerous or unsafe workplace behaviors.

• October 05, 2011
• Yards & Terminals

NS names yard office in honor of late coal executive

At a dedication ceremony Oct. 4, Norfolk Southern named its new yard office building in Williamson, W. Va., after the late John William Fox, Jr., who retired from NS as senior vice president coal services in 2003 after a 35-year career with the company.

• September 09, 2011
• Class 1

NS, GE Transportation sponsor sustainability symposium

Demonstrating a commitment to corporate sustainability, Norfolk Southern Corporation and GE Transportation are sponsoring the first Railroad Sustainability Symposium.

• September 08, 2011
• Class 1

NS 2011 report details strengthened connections through corporate sustainability

Norfolk Southern has made significant strides in its corporate sustainability program, including achieving nearly 40 percent of its five-year greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal during the first year.

• August 29, 2011
• Yards & Terminals

Indiana Rail Road Co. to invest $65 million in Hiawatha Yard

Indiana Rail Road Company President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Hoback, along with state of Indiana and Greene County officials, plan to announce a major capital investment and participate in a groundbreaking ceremony at INRD’s Hiawatha Yard near Jasonville, Ind., at 11 a.m. (ET) Monday, Aug. 29.

• August 15, 2011
• Yards & Terminals

RailComm to expand remote control yard system at BNSF Memphis

RailComm has been selected to expand its existing yard system at BNSF’s mechanical facility in Memphis, Tenn. RailComm’s Domain Operations Controller (DOC®) System will be used to remotely control derails.