Renovation of Amtrak Lancaster, Pa., station moving forward






Following a productive
meeting late the week of July 26, Amtrak and the Lancaster County Planning
Commission (LCPC) said that issues surrounding the renovation of the Lancaster
Station have been resolved and the project is moving forward as planned. As a
result of the meeting, it was determined that no additional funds beyond Amtrak’s
estimate of $1.7 million provided to the LCPC in 2008 will be needed for Amtrak’s
construction support.

CREATE launches 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project Website






A Website for the 75th
Street Corridor Improvement Project (CIP) in the Chicago area has been launched that provides study
information and links to environmental documents, newsletters, project schedule
and upcoming public events.


Santa Cruz Count, Calif., rail vote comes back to local commission






Santa Cruz County, Calif.,
residents who have been following the local attempt to buy a 32-mile railroad
branch may have a sense of déjà vu, The Post reports. The Regional
Transportation Commission is expected to vote again on issues surrounding a
state grant of $10.2 million on Aug. 5. For some commissioners and members of
the public, the required votes are just a formality, confirming actions already
taken this spring.

Artifacts sought for New York Grand Central Terminal Centennial Exhibition






MTA Metro-North Railroad
and the New York Transit Museum are looking for objects related to Grand
Central Terminal for an exhibit commemorating the centennial of this landmark
building.

Small North Carolina towns fret rail crossing closing plans






The railroad spawned a
string of towns north of Raleigh, N.C., in the 19th century, and now it
threatens to cut them in half, the News Observer reports. Many residents worry
that Youngsville, Franklinton, Henderson and Norlina will see little benefit
from a plan to run passenger trains between Raleigh and Richmond, Va., at
speeds up to 110 mph. The $2.3-billion project is part of a planned high-speed
rail corridor that would cut nearly two hours from train trips between North
Carolina and the Northeast.

Cleveland RTA repair work temporarily closing stations






In order to replace a
stairway, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is temporarily
closing the West 25th Red Line Rail station. The one-week project is
scheduled to close the station from August 11 through August 18. The Red Line
will continue to travel through this location, but passengers will not be able
to enter or exit through this station during the stairway construction project.

Temporary parking changes at BART Ashby Station due to construction






During the week of August 9
through August 13, some areas surrounding the BART Ashby Station will be
unavailable due to construction work on the Station Modernization Project.
There will be a crane in the north parking lot that will be moving steel into
position for construction during the day. A "safety area" will be set
up which will cut off access to part of the sidewalk, parking lot and roadway.
Access will also be cut off to the bicycle lockers under the Adeline Street
Plaza at the Concourse level.


New federal freight bill praised by green transportation group






A bill introduced July 30
in the U.S. House of Representatives could help transform America’s
transportation policy and investment by directing federal investment to
freight system projects that update the freight system and help reduce
freight’s environmental and health impacts, according to an environmental advocay group.

South Shore names Fox president






The Chicago South Shore
& South Bend Railroad said that Henry Lampe, president and CEO, would
retire at the end of October 2010. Succeeding him will be Andrew Fox, managing
director of Pacific Harbor Line and former PHL president since 1997.

Secretary LaHood announces $727,000 
for New York high-speed rail






U.S. Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood said $727,000 would be coming for the State of New York to
continue work on its high-speed rail program with the rehabilitation of the
Buffalo-Depew railroad station. The Department of Transportation has provided
New York $1.7 million of the $151 million awarded under the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for high-speed rail.

New England states pursue joint plan to revamp rail system






A 20-year transportation
proposal to renovate more than 500 miles of passenger rail throughout New
England is anticipated to increase speed between stations while unclogging some
of the region’s congested highways, the Brattleboro, Vt., Reformer reports. The
ambitious project, running through Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, is
designed to improve connection times and spark economic growth throughout the
Northeast.

BNSF proposes wind energy hub in Pasco, Wash.






BNSF wants to create a
wind energy hub in the Big Pasco Industrial Center, the Tri City Herald reports.
The railroad company, which operates one of North America’s largest rail
networks, with about 32,000 route miles in 28 states and two Canadian
provinces, recently proposed setting up a transload facility on Port of Pasco
land. The idea is to haul wind
turbine components by rail from production sites and deliver them to Pasco for
loading onto trucks for shipment to wind farm sites within 150 miles.

 

Brunswick, Maine, taking delviery of cwr to upgrade passegner line






Wiscasset Raceway can
have Oxxfest 2010. Brunswick will host its own celebration of heavy metal on August
2, the Brunswick Times Record reports. Real heavy metal. Very heavy metal.

Rail line repair in Wharton, N.J., Roxbury, N.J., may be done in 4 months






The rehabilitation of the
Chester Branch Railroad, a four-mile
rail line extending from Wharton, N.J., and ending in Roxbury, N.J., is under
way and should be completed within four to five months, county officials said,
according to the Daily Record. The county Board of Freeholders in April awarded
a $5.1-million contract to the firm Railroad Construction Co. Inc., of Paterson
to rehabilitate the rail line, with the money coming from the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act, part of the economic stimulus package.

Virginia makes deal with CSXT to advance DC-Richmond high-speed rail






Virginia and CSX
Transportation have reached an agreement about how to proceed with federal
stimulus spending on a new high-speed rail line between Washington and Richmond,
the Washington Post reports. A framework agreement over the $75-million project
has now been submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

L.B. Foster Company extends of tender offer for Portec Rail Products






L.B. Foster Company said
that it is extending its previously announced cash tender offer, through its
wholly-owned subsidiary Foster Thomas Company, for all outstanding shares of
common stock of Portec Rail Products, Inc., until 12:00 midnight, New York City
time, on August 16, 2010. The tender offer was previously set to expire at midnight,
New York City Time on July 30, 2010.


Vossloh wins two big contracts in Libya






Vossloh has won two major
contracts worth together around 115 million euros ($115.6 million) in
connection with the construction of Libya’s new rail network. On behalf of
general contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Vossloh
will equip around 1,300 km (806 miles) of the planned network with its fastening
systems and switches. Deliveries will extend from 2010 to 2012.

Plan to move train tracks to city’s outskirts all but forgotten now






By the end of the last
millennium, Metro Moncton, New Brunswick, residents couldn’t wait for the day –
and they were certain that it was coming soon – that the CN rail line that
bisects the downtown would be moved to the city’s outskirts, the Times & Transcript
reports. Since then, nary a word.

Caltrain construction, maintenance update July 30 to Aug. 5






Friday, July 30 to Monday,
Aug. 2, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. each day, crews will relocate utilities and
continue construction on a shoofly at the Santa Clara, Calif., station. The
shoofly is a temporary track for trains to use during the renovation of the
station.

Miner Enterprises awarded Canadian patent






In conjunction with
standing 42 x 42 AutoLOKTM II U.S. patents and Mexico patents, the Canadian
Patent Office has recently awarded Miner a patent on their 42 x 42 AutoLOK II
outlet gate.

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