Winter is Coming
ATLANTA –– From the September 2024 Issue of Railway Track & Structures. From frozen switches to ice on the rails, railroads need a plan in place to combat the effects of the winter season.
Technology
Plasser & Theurer Ground-Breaking Ceremony For New Factory
LINZ, Austria –– On 11 September, Plasser & Theurer, the global technology leader for track construction and maintenance machines, celebrated the ground-breaking ceremony for its new assembly and commissioning factory at the Pummererstrasse site in the Linz industrial area.
Bentley Systems, Inc. Acquires Cesium
EXTON, Pa. – Infrastructure engineering software company, Bentley Systems, Inc. has acquired Cesium, a 3D geospatial company.
Enhancing Rail Integrity: Expansion of the Rail Flaw Library at the Transportation Technology Center
PUEBLO, Colo. – Expanding the RF-LOAD to enhance rail safety. From Alejandro Alvarez Reyes, Senior Rail Research Engineer, ENSCO, Inc., Pueblo, CO;
Megan Brice, Rail Integrity Program Manager, Federal Railroad Administration;
Robert Wilson, Track Research Engineer, Federal Railroad Administration.
RailPulse Launches Signature Railcar Telematics Platform
CARY, N.C. — PR Newswire reported that RailPulse, formed by a coalition of rail industry leaders, announced this week the launch of its new technology infrastructure that provides near real-time data and insights across the North American freight railcar fleet. The platform leverages GPS and other telematics technologies to monitor the location, condition and health of railcars, aiming to enhance safety, efficiency and visibility for rail shippers, railroads and railcar owners.
Assessment of Fine Migration in Shoulder Cleaned Ballast
PUEBLO, Colo. –– (FROM THE AUGUST 2024 ISSUE OF RT&S) MxV Rail partnered with the University of South Carolina (UofSC) to investigate fine migration in shoulder ballast cleaned (SBC) track. In 2021 and 2022, UofSC conducted laboratory “flume tests” that allowed UofSC to quantify fine migration in a variety of maintenance and fine-filled ballast conditions.
Watch: Caltrain Inaugurates Electric Service
SAN FRANCISCO –– This past Saturday saw the beginning of a long-awaited event – the inauguration of Caltrain’s new electric trains along the San Francisco peninsula.
How Union Pacific Discovers, Predicts, and Resolves Track Defects
OMAHA ––(From Railway Age, August 2024 issue). With more than 32,000 miles of track covering 23 states in the western two-thirds of the U.S., those charged with inspecting and maintaining track at Union Pacific (UP) have their work cut out for them.
Norfolk Southern Names Anil Bhatt Chief Information and Digital Officer
ATLANTA — PR NewsWire reports that Norfolk Southern is elevating the power of technology and innovation to drive its transformative, balanced strategy as it brings onboard Anil Bhatt, a technology leader recognized for pioneering cutting-edge solutions to advance and shape the direction of enterprises.
Digi, Cylus Collaborate on Rail Cybersecurity
HOPKINS, Minn. ––Digi International, a provider of IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity products and services, on Aug. 1 announced a collaboration with Cylus to integrate the company’s CylusOne cybersecurity solution into the Digi TX64 5G Rail celluar router solution, “delivering an unprecedented level of cyber protection for rail networks worldwide.”
GZA Infrastructure Protection Technology Wins Major ACEC Awards
NORWOOD, Mass. Business Wire reports that GZA Infrastructure Protection Technology Has Won Major ACEC Awards.
Eloy Martinez Joins HNTB as Vehicles Project Director
BOSTON –– Eloy Martinez, an industry leader in rail and transit vehicle technologies, has joined HNTB as project director for fleet engineering, project management and advisory services.
Caltrain Announces Start Date for Revenue Electric Service
SAN FRANCISCO –– Last week, we reported that Caltrain was in its final stages of testing it’s electric trains sets in anticipation of beginning revenue service this fall. They have now announced the date service will begin.
Watch: Metrolink Expands ‘Smart Crossing’ Technology to Benefit San Juan Capistrano Community
LOS ANGELES — Metrolink, Southern California’s regional passenger rail provider, has implemented cutting-edge ‘smart crossing’ technology known as a Wireless Crossing Nearside Station Stop (WCNSS) system at the Del Obispo Street crossing near the San Juan Capistrano Station in Orange County.
Watch: Caltrain Will Suspend Rail Service This Weekend For Final Electric Testing Between San Francisco and San Jose
SAN FRANCISCO –– Most readers know that Caltrain has been working on the implementation of electric rail service since July 17 when then-Governor Jerry Brown and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi led a groundbreaking ceremony for the Caltrain Electrification Project.
WRI 29 Is In The Books
CHICAGO – I have just returned from the 29th annual Wheel/Rail Interaction Conference in Chicago, and the event exceeded my expectations.
Rail Industry Gathers in Pueblo, Colo. for 29th AAR Research Review –– MxV Rail
PUEBLO, Colo. – MxV Rail welcomed more than 350 attendees including representatives from all Class 1 railroads, industry experts from across the globe, academia, and sponsor representatives to the 29th Annual AAR Research Review event held in Pueblo, Colo.
29th Annual AAR Research Review Round-Up
PUEBLO, Colo. – As one of the sponsors for the 29th Annual AAR Research Review hosted by MxV Rail, RT&S headed to Pueblo.
NS Deploys Second DTI Portal
From our colleagues at Railway Age.
EMFI Technology Development for Rolling Contact Fatigue Characterization in Rails
ATLANTA – Railway Track & Structures, April Issue: Optimal management of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) in rails requires reliable, effective, and efficient non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technologies for detecting and characterizing surface damages.