Metra breaks ground on Cicero Station rehab project

Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval and Cicero Town President Larry Dominick joined Metra Acting Chairman Larry Huggins and Executive Director/CEO Alex Clifford on August 7 at a groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of Metra’s Cicero Station on the BNSF Line.

NS, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to begin hazard elimination project

The effort to establish Section 130 hazard-elimination at railroad crossings in Louisville, Ken., near Wilson Avenue and Woodland Avenue, has taken a major step forward with the project receiving $1.8 million in funding for improvements.

Western Rail Road members ratify new UTU pact

Train, engine and mechanical forces represented by the United Transportation Union on shortline Western Rail Road in Texas have ratified a new agreement reached with mediation assistance from the National Mediation Board.

SFMTA to begin utility relocation for Central Subway Project

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said that pre-construction associated with the Central Subway tunnel will begin on August 13 in North Beach. The work involves relocating utility lines on a half-block section of Columbus Avenue between Union and Powell streets.

Amtrak celebrates Seattle maintenance facility upgrades

Phase 1 and Phase 2 of a major upgrade of the Seattle Maintenance Facility in Washington State has been completed by Amtrak and its partners. The facilities support Amtrak operations and maintenance agreements in the Pacific Northwest for the Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, Amtrak Cascades and Sounder commuter trains.

BNSF plans $106 million capital program in Washington

BNSF plans to invest an estimated $106 million on maintenance and rail capacity improvement and expansion projects in Washington this year.

MTA completes seven station rehabilitation projects along D Line

The completion of the work to rehabilitate seven stations along the West End D Line in Brooklyn, N.Y., is now complete.

Caltrain ridership hits historic high

For the first time in the nearly 150-year history of the railroad, San Francisco Bay-area’s Caltrain average weekday ridership is more than 50,000, according to the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board.

RailComm to provide DOC system to PATH’s Harrison Yard

RailComm has been selected to provide a wireless remote control 3rd rail and switch heater system for Port Authority Trans-Hudson’s (PATH) Harrison Yard in New Jersey.

UP receives Provider of the Year Award from Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics

Union Pacific was named the 2011 Provider of the Year by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics Vehicle Services Americas Inc. (WWL). This award evaluates railroad, truck and short sea companies to determine the best overall logistics excellence provider in the areas of quality, performance and customer service.

NS names Rathbone and Squires to new executive positions

Norfolk Southern made two personnel changes to broaden the experience of its senior management team.

KeRail and Tata Steel enter into long-term agreement

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and a newly-formed GWI subsidiary, KeRail Inc. have entered into a long-term agreement with Tata Steel Minerals Canada Ltd. for KeRail to provide rail transportation services to the 4.2 million tons per annum direct shipping iron ore mine TSMC is developing near Schefferville, Quebec, Canada, in the Labrador Trough (the Mine). In addition, KeRail will construct an approximately 21-kilometer (13-mile) rail line that will connect TSMC’s mine to the Tshiuetin Rail Transportation interchange point in Schefferville.

Patriot adds Shoener to board of directors

Patriot Rail Corp., operator of shortline and regional freight railroads, appointed Arthur Shoener to the board of directors of the company. In this role, Shoener will provide executive support and oversight in company proceedings.

NS completes coal line maintenance blitz

Norfolk Southern recently completed $20.5 million of track, bridge and signal improvements along its major coal line through the Monongahela Valley in Pennsylvania in a record seven days. To ensure coal customers in Southwest Pennsylvania continue to receive consistent and reliable rail service, Norfolk Southern schedules a maintenance blitz each July to coincide with the coal miners’ annual weeklong summer break.

Tyco executive to take the helm at Harsco

Harsco Corporation hired Patrick Decker as president and chief executive officer, effective September 10, 2012.

Federal money to aid track projects in Alaska, Kentucky, fund UTCs

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded more than $12.6 million for Alaska and Kentucky infrastructure projects and will extend University Transportation Center (UTC) grants by one year.

Miami-Dade Transit opens MIA Metrorail Station

Miami-Dade Transit opened its 23rd Metrorail station, the new Miami International Airport (MIA) Station on July 28.

DART Orange Line service begins

In Dallas, Texas, Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s long-anticipated Orange Line to Irving opened on July 30.

NYCT FASTRACK wraps up week on 6th Avenue Line

New York City Transit’s intense maintenance and clean-up program, FASTRACK, wrapped up a weeklong stint along the Sixth Avenue B, D, F and M lines. Once again, hundreds of transit workers inspected, repaired, maintained, cleaned and painted subway infrastructure in stations and tunnels between 59th Street-Columbus Circle and West 4th Street.

Dr. Zarembski hired at the University of Delaware

Dr. Allan M. Zarembski accepted a position as research professor and director of the Railroad Engineering and Safety Program, Department of Civil Engineering, at the University of Delaware.

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