KCS performing maintenance on Mexico lines
KCS will perform maintenance-of way-work on Kansas City Southern de Mexico this summer, which will help to grow capacity, as well as maintain and enhance safety on KCS’ cross-border network.
Ballast, Ties, Rail
RTD’s I-255 Line is 60 percent complete
The Denver Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) 10.5 mile-long I-225 Rail Line in Aurora, Colo., is now 60 percent finished.
Union Pacific invests $119 million in its Illinois rail infrastructure
Union Pacific plans to invest $119 million in 2015 to improve Illinois’ transportation infrastructure. The investment will enhance employee, community and customer safety and increase rail operating efficiency.
CTA moves forward with plan to rebuild and modernize Red, Purple Lines
The Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) is moving forward with its Red and Purple Modernization (RPM), a transformational, multi-phase program to completely rebuild and add passenger capacity to the northern section of the Red Line, as well as the Purple Line north of Belmont.
FASTRACK comes to the Brighton Line in Brooklyn
On May 4, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) will bring FASTRACK to the Q on the Brighton Line between Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr. and Prospect Park for two consecutive weeks of maintenance and repairs during weeknights and overnight hours.
AAR marks another successful annual research review
The 20th Annual AAR Research Review was held March 31-April 1 in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the Hotel Elegante. The review brought approximately 550 attendees to the event, which had a theme of “Research Innovation for Current and Future Needs of North American Railways.”
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.
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.
Does missing ballast result in development of track geometry defects?
The correlation between missing ballast and the development of geometry defects is explored.
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.
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.