The Association of American Railroads (AAR) released its first “State of the Industry Report” focusing on the key challenges, accomplishments and innovations within the freight railroad industry. This initial, five-chapter edition details the industry’s investments in new technology and innovation that are enhancing safety across the nation’s rail network.
Scott Goehri has been named director of professional services for HDR’s transportation business group.
The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) promoted Amanda Patrick to the vice president of trade shows and member relations.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its 2016 Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements on January 13 at the 95th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Hamberger says that the industry will be targeting several key issues in 2016, such as maintaining balanced economic regulation at the Surface Transportation Board (STB), extending the shortline tax credit while laying the groundwork for overall tax reform and advancing security-safety legislation or regulation.
Richard Morsches, PE, has been promoted to chief executive officer of TranSystems Corp. He brings to this role more than 30 years of experience and progressive leadership from serving clients locally in the Chicago area, to managing offices throughout the region, to leading the firm’s strategy and sales efforts nationally.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) awarded more than $31 million in grants and loans for seven freight rail projects in the state. The goal of Wisconsin’s freight railroad assistance program is to increase the use of rail transportation and support economic development and job creation.
In a Fastlane blog post Dec. 31, Greg Winfree, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) assistant secretary for research and technology, recapped 2015’s research endeavors.
TranSystems has named Alex Houseal regional vice president for the Pennsylvania and New Jersey operations.
The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed a monster spending bill late last week, which will keep federal agencies funded through the end of September 2016.
OmniTRAX Canada has accepted a letter of intent from a group of Northern Manitoba First Nations for the purchase of its Manitoba assets. This triggers a 45-day due diligence period in which both parties will work together to ensure that a purchase becomes a reality.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 10, 2015 passed S. 808, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Act of 2015, which among other provisions, will increase the number of STB members from three to five, improving STB’s structure and decision-making processes by allowing, with proper disclosure, board members to speak with one another about cases on which the STB is ruling.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Rail Division is collaborating with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) on a rail workforce assessment study.
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has named Peter Burrus chief of rail transportation, a newly created position.
The 98-year-old Apache Railway Company, a shortline railroad operating in Navajo County, Ariz., has been purchased by an entity formed by Aztec Land and Cattle Company Limited and related entities.
After a competitive solicitation for proposals to market and operate the state-owned Global Trans Park (GTP) railroad line in Lenoir County, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) selected Gulf & Ohio Railways, Inc. (G&O). The NCDOT Board of Transportation approved the new GTP Lease & Operating Agreement at its Nov. 5, 2015 meeting. Under the terms of the agreement, G&O will operate, maintain and market freight service on the GTP line.
Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad (R&N) announced on Nov. 24, 2015 that it will take over ownership of the rail infrastructure at the Humboldt Industrial Park beginning Jan. 1, 2016 through an agreement with the park’s owner, CAN DO, Inc., according to CAN DO President Kevin O’Donnell and Andrew Muller, Jr., owner and CEO of the rail company.
In addition to owning and maintaining all of the track, R&N will also provide service to all of the customers in the industrial park.
CAN DO entered into an agreement in 2012 with R&N to take ownership of the more than seven miles of rail line inside Humboldt at the end of 2016. As a result of negotiations between the park’s current rail provider, Norfolk Southern Railroad Company (NS), and Reading & Northern, the timeline was accelerated to Jan. 1, 2016, O’Donnell said.
Muller said R&N plans to run a scheduled service, but will provide additional rail switches when business needs warrant them. The company will also offer railcar storage and personalized service for each business customer. Muller noted that all traffic to Humboldt Industrial Park will be received at Reading and move directly to Humboldt via Tamaqua and that no traffic to Humboldt should move through downtown Hazleton.
“Each customer will have their own local account representative who can assist them with all their rail needs and any issues that arise,” said Wayne Michel, R&N’s President. “At Reading & Northern the customer comes first and Humboldt customers will learn what our existing customers already know—our service is superior to that of any other railroad. Every Humboldt customer will be visited at least twice before we take over service. During those visits we will get to understand their needs. We will then design a service plan that guarantees every customer a service window and up to six-days-a-week service that meets their needs,” Michel said.
O’Donnell said CAN DO is excited to have R&N as a partner in its economic development efforts to attract new industry to Greater Hazleton. “Rail service is critical to many companies and has been instrumental in the growth of our industrial parks. The new provider promises to be an asset in our future growth.”
“As for potential customers, we will follow-up on all opportunities with our award-winning industrial development team. Reading & Northern, like CAN DO, has a national reputation for its innovative approach to economic development. We have won national awards for our efforts to attract business to the railroad,” Michel said. “We make investments in plant and equipment and we assist customers with their development. We also work to make rail infrastructure decisions easy by charging less for the needed rail work and being more flexible on track design. We have a strong team focused on industrial development and that team will work hand in hand with CAN DO.”
CAN DO constructed the 7.5 miles of track in its Humboldt Industrial Park, which is the region’s largest rail-served industrial park. CAN DO launched the rail service more than 40 years ago with a $165,000 matching grant from the Appalachia Regional Commission and has extended the track numerous times since. Currently, more than 15 industries are dependent on rail service to the park. In 2013, 4,569 rail cars moved through Humboldt and the number increased to 4,633 last year.
R&N is known nationwide for its commitment to working closely with economic development organizations. Michel said the company is proud to continue this approach in its partnership with CAN DO.
R&N is the largest privately owned railroad company in Pennsylvania and was the only railroad to be named Regional Railroad of the Year three times by Railway Age, receiving the honor in 2002, 2011 and 2015.
OnTrackNorthAmerica (OTNA), a non-profit action think tank, will partner with Dr. Pasi Lautala from Michigan Tech University and Dr. Mingzhou Jin, director of the Logistics, Transportation, and Supply Chain Engineering lab at the University of Tennessee on better transportation planning and investment.
The Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM) joint venture between Hatch and Mott MacDonald will be separated and integrated into the parent companies by early 2016.