Five teams to bid on fourth construction package for California high-speed rail

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) received five qualified bids for Construction Package 4 (CP4) – the next 22-mile mile phase of construction through the counties of Tulare and Kern and the cities of Wasco and Shafter.

Ontario commits provincial funds to GO Transit expansion

Through its Moving Ontario Forward plan, the Ontario government is investing in improvements across the GO Transit network to increase transit ridership, reduce travel times, manage congestion, connect people to jobs and improve the economy.

Eglinton Crosstown TBMs moved to begin western segment boring

Two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) have moved to begin tunneling the western segment of the 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) Metrolinx Eglinton Crosstown light-rail transit (LRT).

CN plans capital program to upgrade western Canada feeder rail lines

Canadian National‘s multi-year capital program will invest approximately CA$500 million (US$409 million) in infrastructure improvements for its western Canada feeder rail lines in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan that are handling rising volumes of industrial products, natural resources and energy-related commodities.

BNSF and CSX extend contracts with Koppers

Koppers Inc. has agreed to contract extensions with each of its two largest railroad customers, BNSF and CSX. Combined revenues from BNSF and CSX accounted for approximately 40 percent of 2014 railroad-related sales for the company.

Rep. Steve Cohen tours Atlantic Track’s Memphis facility

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (R-TN-09) joined representatives from Atlantic Track and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of Atlantic Track’s Memphis, Tenn., operations and facility.

New U.S.-Mexico rail bridge to open in second half of 2015

The first railroad bridge to be built in more than a century connecting the U.S. and Mexico is expected to be operational by the second half of 2015.

Does missing ballast result in development of track geometry defects?

The correlation between missing ballast and the development of geometry defects is explored.

Robust design behind the Tanana River Bridge

Alaska’s longest bridge is designed to withstand floods, large debris, ice jams, road and rail traffic and just about anything else the wilderness can throw at it.

STB approves Louisville & Indiana track upgrade

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board has approved a joint proposal by Anacostia Rail Holdings’ (ARH) subsidiary, Louisville & Indiana Railroad (L&I) and CSX to upgrade a key freight corridor between Indianapolis, Ind., and Louisville, Ky.

Metra plans tie, switch projects on Milwaukee District Lines; readies Englewood Flyover for expansion

Chicagoland’s Metra will perform tie replacement and switch replacement along its Milwaukee District Lines this spring.

RLW named subcontractor for Skyway Bridge

Sterling Construction Company, Inc.’s subsidiary, Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company, LLC (RLW) was selected as a major subcontractor for a joint venture between Balfour Beatty and Graham Contracting on construction of the Skyway Bridge for North Metro Rail in Denver, Colo. Construction of the 9,800-foot bridge is planned to begin in May 2015 and to take two years to complete. RLW’s portion of the project has a value of approximately $29 million.

KCS to invest $19 million in Beaumont to DeQuincy line

Kansas City Southern (KCS) will invest approximately $19 million in 2015 on construction and improvement projects on its Beaumont Subdivision line, which runs from Beaumont, Texas, to DeQuincy, La. The railroad says these projects will help grow capacity, as well as maintain and enhance safety on the KCS cross-border network.

MBTA, Keolis to begin tie replacement project

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Keolis Commuter Services will begin the first of several railroad tie replacement projects on the Lowell and Haverhill lines, part of a $100-million investment in infrastructure improvements for both lines that the MBTA says will increase passenger comfort and reliability.

Sound Transit, Bellevue set to finalize details of East Link partnership

Sound Transit and city of Bellevue leaders proposed an agreement to move ahead with construction of the voter-approved East Link Extension in a way that minimizes construction impacts, commits the city’s financial contribution to a downtown tunnel and promotes the city’s Bel-Red Corridor land use vision.

USDOT makes $500 million available for next round of TIGER

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is making $500 million available for the seventh round of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program.

UP receives delivery of “game changing” long rail

Union Pacific began receiving 480-foot-long rail sections from Japan, which culminates a project more than a decade in the making and according to the railroad, sets a new standard for rail reliability.

CTA to progress next phase of Ravenswood Connector project

This month, the Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) will begin the next phase of a major project to rehabilitate the Ravenswood Connector, the elevated rail structure that carries Brown and Purple Line Express trains between Armitage and the Merchandise Mart.

FEIS issued for Sound Transit’s Lynnwood light-rail extension

Sound Transit and the Federal Transit Administration have issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the voter-approved Lynnwood Link light-rail extension from Northgate to Lynnwood.

BART opens Contra Costa Crossover

In northern California, a new set of crossover tracks is now in use on the busy Pittsburg/Bay Point Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) line, bringing capacity relief to riders and greater ability to get around delays.

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