Sandy leaves freight, passenger rail service stunned
Freight and passenger rail providers across the Northeast scrambled Tuesday morning to assess damage left by Hurricane Sandy and restore service where possible.
Ballast, Ties, Rail
K-State study to look at freeze/thaw of concrete ties in HSR applications
A Kansas State University-led research project is helping high-speed rail systems handle the stress of freezing and thawing weather conditions.
Jacobs/CH2M HILL JV awarded additional contract from Sound Transit
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. and CH2M HILL, in a joint venture, received a seven-year, $75.5 million contract from Sound Transit of Seattle, Wash. for the Northgate Link Extension Project.
“Early works” contract for British Columbia’s Evergreen Line awarded
Another early works construction contract for the Evergreen Line in British Columbia, Canada, has been awarded to Surrey, B.C.-based Hans Demolition and Excavating.
BART Warm Springs Extension tunnel construction complete
More than 400 local residents, elected officials and regional transportation leaders toured the recently completed underground subway portion of San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Warm Springs extension project at Fremont’s Central Park.
CTC grants funds to three California rail projects
The California Transportation Commission has allocated approximately $102.7 million to three rail projects that will provide better transit, increase intermodal opportunities and reduce highway congestion.
Axion begins ECOTRAX trials in Asia
Axion International has begun trials of its ECOTRAX composite railroad ties in Southeast Asia.
Chicago-St. Louis HSR demos 110 mph speeds
The start of 110-mph rail service in Illinois was demonstrated between Dwight and Pontiac on the Chicago-St. Louis rail corridor on October 19.
FRA publishes NPRM for rail inspections
The Federal Railroad Administration published a Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register Oct. 19, proposing to amend the Federal Track Safety Standards “to promote the safety of railroad operations by enhancing rail-flaw detection processes.”
Schumer: Provisional funding secured to repair damaged NY rail lines
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) said the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has provisionally committed to award $4,718,000 in federal disaster funding for the Chenango Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to move forward with the Utica Main Rail Line Revitalization project.
FTA provides LYNX Blue Line with $580 million
The Federal Transit Administration has agreed to provide Charlotte, N.C., with $580 million to extend the LYNX Blue Line light-rail system from downtown Charlotte to the city’s University of North Carolina campus.
Valley Metro receives funding for Central Mesa Extension
The Federal Transit Administration awarded the city of Mesa, Ariz., $75 million for construction of a 3.1-mile light-rail extension connecting the city with Phoenix and Tempe.
Union Pacific to spend $8 million improving Illinois infrastructure
Union Pacific Railroad is enhancing Illinois’ transportation infrastructure by investing nearly $8 million in the rail line that runs between Villa Grove and Findlay.
L.B. Foster rebrands Portec Rail Products as L.B. Foster Rail Technologies
L.B. Foster Company said that it is changing the names of several of its subsidiary companies acquired from Portec Rail Products, Inc., to L.B. Foster Rail Technologies
Union Pacific to improve Nebraska infrastructure
Union Pacific Railroad is enhancing Nebraska’s transportation infrastructure by investing more than $29 million in the rail line that runs between Grand Island and Havens.
Union Pacific acquires Oklahoma line
Union Pacific Railroad acquired complete ownership of a rail line in Oklahoma three decades after state officials saved what continues to be a link of commerce through the Sooner State.
INRD completes upgrades, increases speed in Bloomington, Ind.
Indiana University students and Bloomington commuters will notice increased trains speeds beginning Monday, Oct. 15 on the Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) rail line that cuts through the IU campus and the balance of the city.
Union Pacific to improve infrastructure in Kansas and Wyoming
Union Pacific plans to enhance Kansas’ transportation infrastructure by investing more than $9 million in the rail line that runs between Menoken and Junction City.
LACMTA receives $545.9 million TIFIA loan for Crenshaw/LAX project
The U.S. Department of Transportation approved a $545.9 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan that will enable the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) to advance construction of a new light-rail transit line along the Crenshaw corridor.
Connecticut receives $120 million for high-speed rail
Connecticut will receive $120 million in high-speed intercity passenger rail program funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to complete construction on the Hartford segment of the New Haven to Springfield, Mass., passenger rail corridor.