Orlando airport plans ‘Grand Central’ terminal for Florida’s high-speed rail






When high-speed rail
finally arrives in Central Florida, Orlando International Airport wants to be
ready – with a "Grand Central Station" of terminals that could
include multiple rail lines, food and retail concessions, a hotel and
rental-car counters, officials said March 17, the Orlando Sentinel reports. There
is no estimate yet on how much the terminal would cost or who would pay for it,
though airport leaders said they think state and federal officials should
provide most of the money.

Philly rail line could be rolling by 2016






A waterfront rail line in
Philadelphia moved closer to reality as the Delaware River Port Authority
approved a $6.5-million contract for environmental studies and preliminary
design, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The work, expected to take about two
years, is to prepare the way for a proposed $500-million light-rail line in the
middle of Columbus Boulevard between Pier 70 and Girard Avenue.

Consolidated Thompson Iron Mine moving towards production






Consolidated Thompson
Iron Mines Ltd. Said mine site development is near final completion and
production has already begun at its Bloom Lake mine in Ontario. First shipments
of ore from the port at Pointe-Noire will commence in May 2010. As of December
31, 2009, a total of C$463 million had been spent on the development of the
Bloom Lake mine. 


N.Y. losing track of rail project funds?






Freight railroad officials
are wondering what happened to the tens of millions of dollars from a 2005 bond
issue that was to be invested in rail and port improvements, Albany Times-Union
reports. Just $70 million of the $186 million earmarked has been spent, none of
that in the past two years. Instead, rail officials grouse, state officials
continue to review $200 million in grant requests submitted before Oct. 1,
2008.

Preliminary work begins on Niantic River Bridge






Construction crews have
already started the three-year project to replace the Niantic River Bridge in Connecticut,
but onlookers won’t see the substantial work begin for a few more weeks, The
Day reports. Workers have been at Cini Park near the entrance of the boardwalk
since last week, staging heavy machinery and creating a ramp that will allow
them to better move equipment up to the railroad tracks. Amtrak officials said
the significant work will start in April when construction barges are brought
out.

Midwest gets a jump on high-speed rail






Illinois is already
investing to make way for a high-speed rail system expected to spread across
the Midwest and hasten commutes between its major cities, The Christian Science
Monitor reports. The projects are in preparation for the $2.6 billion President
Obama promised the Midwest in January to modernize its transportation network
with high-speed rail. That money is part of a larger $11-billion high-speed
rail package made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Chlorine Institute asks FRA to reconsider Positive Train Control rule






While it strongly supports
a new regulation that requires railroads to implement technology capable of
making rail movements safer, the Chlorine Institute, Inc. asked the Federal
Railroad Administration to re-issue the rule with a corrected cost-benefit
analysis.

Alaska Railroad Board offers thanks to President Gamble






On
behalf of the Alaska Railroad Corporation Board of Directors, ARRC Board
Chairman John Binkley expressed congratulations to ARRC President & CEO
Patrick Gamble on his selection as the new University of Alaska president. "He
is deserving of the trust that the university regents have placed in Pat’s
leadership, management and familiarity with Alaskan issues," said Binkley.  

Sound Transit selects HDR for right-of-way services in Washington State






HDR has been awarded a
five-year contract for extensive on-call right-of-way services with Sound
Transit, which provides mass transit in Washington’s King, Pierce and Snohomish
counties.


Rail crossings make Canada’s safety watch list






The Canadian federal
government and the railways must improve safety at high-risk crossings on busy
passenger train routes, according to the country’s transportation accident
investigator, local media report.

MBTA suspends some service due to flooding






State transportation
workers yesterday scrambled to empty the swimming pool-sized hole that opened in
Newton, Mass., beneath MBTA tracks during the weekend rainstorm and will force
thousands of commuters to rely on buses for another week or so, the Boston
Globe reports.

CN gets mixed results on first report card






The Canadian National
Railway has made a good start communicating with towns along the EJ&E
railroad, but there’s room for improvement, a federal audit concludes,
according to the Daily Herald. And, it says, municipalities that have not yet
struck deals with CN are critical of how it’s handling the transition.

Deal reached on Colton Crossing side projects






An agreement is near
regarding improvements around a long-sought railroad overpass in Colton,
Calif., between railroad and local officials, as the overall project’s fate
heads to a state commission, The Press-Enterprise reports.

Crews replacing wood railroad ties between Arlington and Marysville






Residents who drive near
the BNSF railroad between Arlington and Marysville, Wash., will notice some
construction until March 19, the Arlington Times reports. Gus Melonas, director
of public affairs for the railway company, said that a 35-person work crew would
be replacing wood rail ties on a seven-mile stretch of track between the two
cities starting Monday, March 15.

NCDOT officials meet to discuss rail projects






Officials with the N.C.
Department of Transportation’s Rail Division didn’t exactly quell the concerns
of those who gathered at a town hall meeting in Landis, N.C., the Salisbury
Post reports. The meeting, which was an informal session held at Landis’ town
hall, was for area residents to ask rail officials questions about proposed
rail corridor projects.

Construction of LIRR Powell Creek, Hog Island Channel bridges continues






Buses will replace train
service for Long Island Rail Road customers traveling between Long Beach and
Valley Stream the weekend of March 20-21 as work continues on the construction
of two new railroad bridges over Powell Creek and Hog Island Channel.

Sounder M Street to Lakewood track and signal project update






Beginning Friday, March 19,
at 9:00 p.m., the street crossing at Steilacoom Blvd. SW in Seattle is
scheduled to be fully closed to traffic so the crossing can be demolished and
reconstructed over the weekend. The crossing is expected to reopen to vehicles
early the following Monday morning. A full weekend closure of the crossing was
scheduled to reduce the impacts of a partial mid-week closure that would
require additional working days.

Imagemap changes name to MERMEC Inc.






On
March 15, 2010, the MERMEC Group’s American subsidiary, Imagemap Inc., changed
its company name to "MERMEC Inc." and starts a new chapter in its
history by completing transitioning to corporate identity and alignment to
group’s strategy and commercial proposition.

Work begins on East 180th Street 25 Station; signal modernization continues






MTA New York City Transit
said that beginning Saturday, March 27, and continuing for 18 months through
August 2011, there will be no weekday rush hour 5 express service in either
direction between East 180th Street and 3rd Avenue-149th Street. During this
period, 5 trains will make all 2 local stops. Currently, 5 trains run express
in the peak direction during morning (southbound) and afternoon (northbound)
rush hours between East 180th Street and 3rd Avenue-149th Street. It is anticipated
that this service change will add about five minutes to customers’ trips.

Construction continues for light rail in Seattle






Wabtec Signs Contract To Provide Electronic Braking To South Africa’s<br /> Spoornet

Construction at the
University of Washington light rail station in Seattle is under way and during
the week of March 15, 2010 there will be several construction activities along
Montlake Blvd. adjacent to Husky Stadium that will affect the roadway and sidewalks.

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