UIC Innovation and Railway Research Awards recognizes TTCI’s freight research

The inaugural International Union of Railways (UIC) Innovation and Railway Research Awards were held in Paris, France, on Dec. 11, where Transportation Technology Center, Inc., (TTCI) was recognized for its freight research at its Facility for Accelerated Service Testing (FAST).

L.B. Foster, Union Pacific enter agreement for concrete crossties

L.B. Foster Company has agreed on a multi-year contract extension with Union Pacific for the supply of prestressed concrete railroad ties from its Tucson, Ariz., facility. The previous supply contract was set to expire on December 31, 2012.

Progress Rail mobile welding assets from RibbonWeld LLC

Progress Rail Services Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., has purchased mobile welding assets from RibbonWeld LLC, a rail welding company based in Springfield, Mo.

IntegriCo composite ties installed in Mexico

IntegriCo Composites, Inc., manufacturer of recycled plastic railroad ties, recently had a railroad company in Mexico install its ties in track.

GO Transit completes switch replacement program

GO Transit in Toronto, ON, Canada, replaced more than 100 switches throughout the Union Station Rail Corridor to move trains more quickly and efficiently in and out of Union Station.

VIA Rail readies improvements to locomotives, frequencies and infrastructure

VIA Rail Canada has completed a number of projects, including additional frequencies and the introduction of a new service between Ottawa, ON, and Quebec City, QB.

light-rail transit

DART opens Blue and Orange rail extensions

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) in Dallas, Texas, opened two rail segments on Dec. 3, extending the Blue Line to Rowlett and the Orange Line farther into Irving and closer to DFW International Airport.

Schuster named new T&I Committee chair

Rep. Bill Shuster was selected by the House Republican Conference to be the next chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Steel Dynamics Structural and Rail Division to expand rail production

Steel Dynamics, Inc., plans to install a heat-treating system at its Columbia City, Ind., Structural and Rail Division (SRD). When operational, the system will be capable of producing up to 350,000 tons of standard-strength and head-hardened plain, carbon steel rails for North America’s railroad industry.

Axion receives purchase order from BART

Axion International Holdings, Inc. received its third purchase order for an additional 270 switch ties from San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). The 100-percent recycled ECOTRAX switch ties are to be installed BART’s 104 miles of tracks.

UP to increase speeds on south-central Kansas line

Recent track improvements will allow Union Pacific to increase the speed of its trains from 40 mph to 49 mph on nearly 22 miles of its rail line in Kansas between Wellington and the Kansas/Oklahoma border.

NJ Transit fully or partially restores service to all but one rail line

New Jersey Transit rail lines are running full or modified service effective Monday, November 19, with the exception of one line.

Cleveland Track Material awarded several projects on low vibration ties

Cleveland Track Material will deliver five guarded, tangential geometry, double crossovers with 39-41-foot track centers on low vibration concrete tie blocks for the 2nd Avenue and 7 Line Extension projects in New York City.

First Nations and Alaskan Tribes show support for Alberta-Alaska rail link

Canada’s First Nations and Alaskan Tribes have expressed support for a new “purpose built” railway that would link Alaska with Yukon, northern British Columbia and northern Alberta to the rest of North America.

Honolulu receives rail delivery despite project’s hold status

The first 3,000 tons of steel track for Honolulu’s rail system arrived on Oahu last week. The shipment, more than 13,000 tons of steel track and other track-related materials, was blessed at a ceremony held Tuesday at Kalaeloa Harbor.

DART to open two rail extensions in December

In Dallas, Texas, Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s (DART) 4.5-mile Blue Line extension from Downtown Garland Station to the new Downtown Rowlett Station will open Dec. 3.

LACMTA begins utility relocation work for Westside Subway Extension project

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Westside Subway Extension project started utility relocation work in Los Angeles’ Mid-Wilshire District.

IntegriCo wins $1.5 million transit authority award

IntegriCo Composites, Inc., manufacturer of recycled plastic railroad ties, received a $1.5 million purchase order from a United States transit authority.

Pennsylvania state grants to help 24 freight rail projects

The Pennsylviania State Transportation Commission has approved nearly 18.6 million for 24 freight rail projects, which will improve rail access, upgrade rail infrastructure and provide repairs.

UP plans Oregon track replacement in tunnel

Union Pacific plans to enhance Oregon’s transportation infrastructure by investing $2 million to replace the line that runs through Penn Tunnel in Portland, Ore.

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