U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and John Rockefeller IV (D-WV) introduced the STB Reauthorization Act of 2014, which the senators said is expected to increase efficiency of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) by changing internal processes and increasing timeliness of STB decisions to improve U.S. rail service.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is seeking a new partner to operate the 13-mile Piedmont & Northern Railway line from Gastonia to Mount Holly in Gaston County following Patriot Rail’s announcement that it will terminate its lease of the shortline.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA-15) joined representatives from R.J. Corman Railroad Company and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of R.J. Corman’s rail yard and material sales facility in Allentown, Pa.
Metrolink, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and Operation Lifesaver Inc., launched a combined safety campaign September 4 of “See Tracks? Think Train!” to honor Rail Safety Awareness month in California.
R. J. Corman Railroad Company has completed the acquisition of Texas Southeastern Railroad (TSE), a subsidiary of Georgia-Pacific LLC.
Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) is now serving customers located in three industrial areas near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., linked to a 10-mile industrial spur owned by Union Pacific.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin are implementing a new initiative to fast-track hundreds of projects to improve more than 300 rail crossings statewide and upgrade safety warning features on rail crossings.
The Federal Railroad Administration funded two grants totaling $350,000 to support development of a Short Line Safety Institute. The institute will help mitigate risk associated with shipping hazardous materials by rail by working to improve the culture of safety within the shortline and regional rail industry while improving its overall safety record.
Kansas City Southern promoted Shawn Vecellio from director to assistant vice president production and standards for the engineering department.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published its final rule concerning Positive Train Control (PTC) systems in the Aug. 22 Federal Register. The rule, which takes effect Oct. 21, 2014, expands certain exemptions and comes 16 months before the full implementation deadline of Dec. 31, 2015.
North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak has outlined a proposal for a state-run rail safety program to increase oversight of North Dakota rail operations. The program is included in the agency’s budget request submitted last week to the governor.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) selected ARG Transportation of Eugene, Ore., to operate the 26-mile rail line in central Washington, with a goal to restore rail service to a portion of Grant County, assisting farmers getting their products to market.
Watco Transportation Services promoted Jeffrey Pacheco to general manager for the San Antonio Central Railroad (SAC).
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigation into the July 2013 Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA) train derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, concluded that a number of factors led to the accident.
On August 19, N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) officials helped drive the final spike on the Greenville Transload Project, located next to the Pitt County Landfill in west Greenville. The $290,000-project provides a new siding track adjacent to the existing rail line that will allow local companies to receive and unload their products via the Carolina Coastal Railway (CLNA).
The Reading & Northern Railroad has been awarded a $10 million State Capital budget grant to build a new railroad bridge over the Lehigh River near Nesquehoning in Carbon County, Pa. The project cost is in excess of $14 million with Reading & Northern investing the balance.
Watco Transportation Services named Ryan Williams vice president marketing – Gulf Region. In this role, Williams will be responsible for the overall performance of the Gulf and Southeast Regional marketing teams as it relates to cultivating growth and leading the expansion of the company’s existing commercial and customer relationships.
Koppers Inc., has completed its acquisition of the wood preservation and railroad services businesses of Osmose Holdings, Inc.
The Pennsylvania State Transportation Commission (STC), building on the Act 89 transportation plan, has updated Pennsylvania’s 12-Year Transportation Program with a $22-billion boost in much needed transportation improvements.