Harris departs OmniTRAX Board for CSX position
OmniTRAX, Inc., Board Chairman Edmond Harris is resigning after being named executive vice president of operations at CSX Corporation (CSX).
Shortline/Regional
Harris new ops lead at CSX
Veteran railroader and long-time Hunter Harrison and Jim Foote colleague Edmond L. Harris has come out of retirement a second time to head operations at CSX.
NCRR to build spur track to serve tire manufacturer
The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) will invest $2.5 million in design and construction of a rail spur and storage tracks for a tire manufacturer in Edgecombe County.
Red River Valley & Western names new executive team
Red River Valley & Western Railroad (RRVW) has announced that Victor Meyers joined its new executive leadership team as president effective Jan. 1, 2018. Mark Wegner is serving as chief executive officer.
Oregon DOT receives six transload facility pre-proposals
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) received six pre-proposals from firms willing to build two transload facilities in Treasure Valley and in the mid-Willamette Valley.
Sec. Chao urges swift PTC implementation among US railroads
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine Chao sent a form letter to 47 Class 1, intercity and state and local transit authorities to stress the urgency and importance of implementing positive train control (PTC) by Dec. 31, 2018.
Canada, Ontario commit funds to freight rail study
Federal and provincial funding has been committed toward freight rail analysis of Ontario’s Peterborough-Toronto-Havelock-Blue Mountain corridor.
FECR offers safety training for emergency responders
Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) recently provided training for emergency responders on railway safety issues associated with various equipment used in daily rail operations.
SIAP awards nearly $6 million to North Carolina rail projects
Twelve North Carolina freight projects have received nearly $6 million in funding through the Short Line Infrastructure Assistance Program (SIAP), the North Carolina Department of Transportation has announced.
First trains roll over Portageville Bridge
Norfolk Southern began operating trains across its new Portageville Bridge on Dec. 11, following two years of construction.
Conrail restores NJT service in less than three days
It took Conrail maintenance-of-way forces less than three days to repair heavy damage to its Lehigh Line, a busy main line used by New Jersey Transit Raritan Valley Line (RVL) passenger trains and CSX and Norfolk Southern freights, following the derailment of a 141-car CSX mixed freight late on the afternoon of Dec. 8.
NTSB reauthorization bill aims to increase communication, transparency
A bill reauthorizing the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was introduced last week in the Senate and aims to enhance the board’s safety investigations through added transparency.
Alaska Railroad to promote Hopp to COO, Engebretson to retire
The Alaska Railroad (ARRC) has promoted Clark Hopp, vice president of engineering, to serve as chief operating officer (COO) beginning Jan. 1, 2018.
R. J. Corman partners with Kentucky to develop apprenticeship program
R. J. Corman Railroad Group has announced a partnership with the Kentucky Labor Cabinet to begin an apprenticeship program.
AAR, GoRail honor Rep. Shuster
The Association of American Railroads and GoRail have honored House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) with the Railroad Achievement Award.
AAR offers up several rules and regulations for USDOT to reevaluate
Airbrakes, hours of service, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and level boarding rules were included in comments the Association of American Railroads (AAR) filed Friday with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) concerning federal regulations AAR is offering up for reevaluation.
Rail related fatalities up 3.5 percent in 2016
Railroad fatalities were up in 2016 as compared to 2015, following the overall trend upwards for total transportation deaths, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
WSOR hosts WisDOT Sec. Ross for tour
Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Secretary Dave Ross joined a group of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (WSOR) employees recently for a tour of the railroad.
Rep. Estes tours Budde Enterprises, discusses rail and policy issues
On Nov. 17, Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS-4) joined representatives from Budde Enterprises Inc. and the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad for a tour at Budde’s Newton, Kan., facility.
Fairfax shows interest in joining partnership to purchase HBR
A Toronto-based holding company has expressed interest in a partnership that could purchase the beleaguered Hudson Bay Rail line, the Port of Churchill and other associated assets.