DTE Energy rail project to eliminate crossing
DTE Energy says a project to extend a rail line in its rail yard at West Jefferson and Van Horn in Trenton, Mich., will improve safety and traffic flow for local motorists.
Yards & Terminals
BNSF helps fund congestion relief study for Washington town
BNSF plans to contribute $50,000 to help study potential solutions to ease congestion at railroad crossings along the Edmonds waterfront in the state of Washington.
NCRIA approves more than $1.1 million in grants to help with rail access
North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (NCRIA) approved four grants totaling more than $1.1 million that will improve rail access for businesses in the state.
CN and Alabama State Port Authority sign MOU
Canadian National signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA), which owns the public terminals at the Port of Mobile, intended to drive increased supply chain efficiency and a greater share of transportation markets in North America.
O-Train Confederation Line kicks off track installation with laying of first rail
Royal Galipeau, Member of Parliament (Ottawa–Orléans), Bob Chiarelli, Member of Provincial Parliament (Ottawa West–Nepean) and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson installed the first official rail of the O-Train Confederation Line light-rail transit project June 12.
RailComm finalizes rail yard SaaS contract with Kinder Morgan
RailComm completed negotiations with energy infrastructure company Kinder Morgan for a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) contract for remote rail yard control at its Deepwater Terminal in Pasadena, Texas.
Former FRA Administrator Szabo named executive director of CMAP
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) will soon have a new executive director, Joseph Szabo.
NS renames Bellevue yard in honor of Wick Moorman
Norfolk Southern is naming its largest freight train classification yard after Wick Moorman for his leadership in support of freight railroads and their investors, customers and employees.
Railway Interchange exhibits sell out
Railway Interchange 2015 host associations say they are gearing up for the biggest event to-date. With four months to go before the event, indoor and outdoor exhibition space is sold out and 60 percent of available hotel rooms have been reserved.
Jerome Marullo joins Simmons-Boardman Railway Division
Jerome Marullo has joined the Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp. Railway Division as Eastern Regional Advertising Sales Manager, with responsibility for Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures and International Railway Journal. He replaces Mark Connolly, who retired on May 22, 2015 after nine years with the company.
USDOT: No policy change following release of technical reports on truck size and weight
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) released a series of technical reports on truck size and weight for peer review and public comment as a step toward the completion of the comprehensive study required in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).
KCS to build SIT yard, expand classification yard in Louisiana
Kansas City Southern reached an agreement with Sasol Chemicals LLC for the construction and long-term lease of a storage-in-transit (SIT) rail yard to support Sasol’s new ethane cracker and derivatives project in Lake Charles, La. In addition to building the SIT yard for lease to Sasol, KCS will replace and expand its existing rail car classification yard in Mossville, La.
Metrolinx’s UP Express opens for service
Metrolinx‘s Union Pearson Express (UP Express) in Toronto opened to the public June 6 and offers a seamless airport-to-downtown connection. The trip between Union Station and Pearson International Airport, Canada’s two busiest transportation hubs, will take just 25 minutes and trains will depart every 15 minutes.
Wisconsin applies for TIGER money for rail bridges
On June 5, 2015, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) submitted applications for three Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants, requesting more than $43 million combined in transportation investments, including $5.39 million for improvements to more than a dozen freight rail bridges.
Feinberg nominated as FRA administrator
On May 29, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Sarah Feinberg as administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration. Feinberg has been serving as acting administrator since January 9, 2015.
Port of Saguenay opens rail link and intermodal yard
Officials from the Canadian government, city of Saguenay and Saguenay Port Authority marked the official opening of the rail link connecting the Grande-Anse terminal in the Port of Saguenay to the Roberval-Saguenay rail line and of the intermodal rail yard at the Port of Saguenay.
KCS to open Wylie terminal in July
Kansas City Southern says a tentative opening date of July 11, 2015, has been set for its new, state-of-the-art intermodal facility in Wylie, Texas.
Alexandria City Council selects new WMATA station location
Virginia’s Alexandria City Council voted unanimously to endorse the construction of a new Potomac Yard Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority (WMATA) Station and select “Alternative B” as the preferred location. This endorsement now permits the development of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for expected release this winter.
Port of Prince Rupert Road, Rail & Utility Corridor project complete
The Port of Prince Rupert has completed its CA$90-million (US$73 million) Road, Rail & Utility Corridor (RRUC), unlocking new terminal developments and market access for Canadian exporters.
CSX opens new Quebec terminal
CSX joined its partners from the Government of the province of Quebec and the municipal administration of the city of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield to inaugurate the railroad’s new intermodal facility and celebrate the strengthening of business ties between Canada and the United States.