Watco Mechanical Services names new VP of marketing and sales

Watco Mechanical Services promoted Marty Riedlinger to vice president of marketing and sales.

Riedlinger will be responsible for marketing and sales for all mechanical repair facilities, over¬seeing the estimating department for mechanical and meeting with corporate customer service representatives.

Riedlinger joined the Watco team in May 2011. He has previously served as direc¬tor of estimating and as a corporate customer service representative.

Foxx Sworn in as 17th U.S. secretary of transportation

Anthony Foxx was sworn in as the nation’s 17th secretary of transportation by Judge Nathaniel Jones in a private ceremony at U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters July 2, 2013.

NCDOT begins grade separations along its Piedmont Corridor

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has begun construction on rail safety improvement projects along the North Carolina Railroad’s Piedmont Corridor between Raleigh and Charlotte.

New Jersey marks safety month with “E-Cubed” success

In honor of National Safety Month, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) have collaborated to promote safety and reduce accidental deaths along the state’s railroad tracks.

Senate approves Anthony Foxx as next secretary of transportation

The Senate has confirmed Anthony Foxx, the mayor of Charlotte, N.C., as the next U.S. Transportation secretary by a 100-0 vote. Foxx will replace current secretary Ray LaHood.

DeQueen & Eastern employees re-select UTU-SMART

Train and engine workers employed by DeQueen & Eastern Railroad (D&ER) voted June 20 to elect United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (UTU-SMART) as their collective bargaining representative.

Hamberger: Freight railroad investments provide foundation for intercity and commuter rail

Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and CEO Edward Hamberger on June 27 told the House Transportation subcommittee on railroads, pipelines and hazardous materials that the billions of private freight railroad investments spent annually on infrastructure and maintenance today provides

AAR: Freight rail private investments help build America’s strong transportation system

Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and CEO Edward Hamberger on June 26 told a House Transportation Committee special panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation that billions in annual privately-funded rail infrastructure investments have made America’s rail network vital to U.S. competitiveness in the global supply chain.

Crosstex reactivates Black Run rail terminal

The partnership of Crosstex Energy, L.P. and Crosstex Energy, Inc., reactivated its Black Run rail loading terminal located in Frazeysburg, Ohio, on the Ohio Central Railroad (OHCR).

The Black Run facility is a 20-car rail rack with tracking gangways designed to top load multiple products, including light oil condensate and various grades of crude oil, at a rate of 24,000 barrels per day.

“The reactivation of our Black Run rail facility enables us to offer producer customers in the Utica Shale an immediate midstream solution to export their products to out-of-region markets to maximize value for our customers. We are pleased to be at the forefront of moving product by rail in an area where there is a lack of transloading capabilities,” said Barry Davis, Crosstex president and chief executive officer. “Our Ohio River Valley assets continue to provide Crosstex with an exceptional growth opportunity as more wells come on line in the Utica Shale.”

The OHCR is a 70-mile shortline that interchanges with the Columbus and Ohio River Railroad, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Ohio Southern Railroad and Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway. The Black Run terminal, which is adjacent to the partnership’s oil gathering pipeline, will leverage the partnership’s existing tankage and piping, as well as the capabilities of its extensive truck fleet in the Ohio River Valley.

 

Watco names new EVP/CFO

Watco Companies, LLC appointed Matt McKenzie to executive vice president and chief financial officer.

McKenzie has been serving as interim CFO since July of 2012. As CFO, McKenzie will continue to oversee the areas of finance, accounting, treasury and investor relations. In addition, he has assumed responsibility for the performance management, information technology and operational analysis teams. McKenzie will support all of these areas in following the Customer First Foundation Principles and will oversee the implementation of all financial aspects of Watco’s strategic plan.

“During the past six years Matt has led many improvements in several facets of our company. As we conducted our search, it became evident that the best candidate for the CFO position at Watco was Matt. We are very pleased and excited that Matt has accepted the position on a full-time basis,” said Terry Towner, Watco president.

McKenzie got his start with Watco in 2007 as senior vice president, chief accounting officer and corporate controller and served as senior vice president finance and corporate controller before being named interim CFO.

Stantec names new heavy rail lead in Midwest

Stantec hired Peter Josefchak as heavy rail lead for the US Midwest. Josefchak will focus on expanding the firm’s heavy rail market share, while being responsible for consistency, quality, delivery and profitability of Stantec’s rail business. He will also provide leadership on some of Stantec’s major railway engineering projects.

Josefchak has more than 42 years of experience in the engineering and railroad transportation industries. His background includes 13 years in the railroad industry with Canadian Pacific as a Class 1 divisional operating officer, transportation analyst, transport planner and cost analyst.

He has conducted research on rail construction, privatization and rehabilitation and specializes in negotiating and coordinating agreements with railroads. He has provided rail operations and engineering expertise on projects for clients such as Chicago’s Metra, Chicago Transit Authority, Canadian National and Union Pacific, as well as CSX, Norfolk Southern, Toronto’s Metrolinx and Metro-North Railroad. His project management experience involves all heavy rail core technical disciplines for major Class 1 Railways and third party departments of transportation.

He joins Stantec’s heavy rail team providing a complete railway engineering service package addressing bridges, track, signal and communication, rail yards and terminals for Class 1 and shortline railroads, as well as supporting industrial and mining sector clients across North America and internationally.

Pacific Imperial Railroad and JLP enter into bridge management agreement

Pacific Imperial Railroad, Inc. (PIR), has entered into a Services Agreement with J.L. Patterson & Associates, Inc., (JLP).

Under the agreement, JLP will provide a bridge management program, inspect 57 bridges, inspect 17 tunnels and provide a track inspection of the Desert Line. Additionally, JLP will provide oversight during the test train operations in compliance with PIR’s agreement with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.

Ernie Dahlman, CEO of PIR, stated, “Once these inspections are implemented, we are prepared to immediately commence reconstruction activities on the Desert Line.”

 

GWI subsidiary recognized for safety

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) subsidiary, Rail Link, Inc., received the Wyoming Governor’s Safety Award for Large Mine Contractors for 2012 and the Wyoming State Mine Inspector Safety Award, both for the third consecutive year.

Hamberger: Nation’s railroads safer than ever, PTC deadline too soon

Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward Hamberger on June 19 told a Senate Commerce Committee panel that massive private investments in safety-enhancing infrastructure and maintenance on such things as tracks, new equipment, as well as employee training and cutting-edge technologies, have helped make the nation’s railroads safer than ever in their history.

ARRC shuffles senior management

As part of a company reorganization, the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) recently realigned its top-level management team, which features expanded roles and a few new faces.

Watco appoints three to new positions

Watco Transportation Services promoted Mike Stickel to vice president sales and marketing, East Region. With the acquisition growth of Watco’s railroads across the company, additional marketing and sales resources are being deployed to ensure Watco is meeting customer’s needs.

Keolis, VRE’s contractor operator, ratifies a deal with the UTU

Members of the United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (UTU-SMART) employed by Keolis Rail Services ratified a new three-year agreement June 7 to continue service on the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains operating between Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Of the ballots returned, 78 percent were in favor of the new pact.

JLP hires former Amtrak construction manager

J.L. Patterson & Associates, Inc. (JLP) hired Harry Steelman as senior construction manager, a former Amtrak construction manager.

USDOT receives 568 applications for latest TIGER Grants

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says that the strong demand for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants continues, as once again the number of applications has surpassed the available funding.

Crouch names new VP

Crouch Engineering is expanding, starting with the creation of new departments and a restructuring of its management. The company named Richard Brann as vice president and general manager. Harvey Crouch, founder of Crouch Engineering, will continue his responsibilities as president and CEO, as well as manager of business development.

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