RailComm to install yard control system in Mississippi

RailComm says a North American Class 1 railroad with a large switching yard located in Mississippi has chosen the company to install a yard control system.

Uncertainty clouds key rail bills in Senate

Two bills of substantial importance to railroads—Staggers Rail Act revisions as part of reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), and extension of the deadline to implement Positive Train Control (PTC)—took meaningful steps forward March 25, gaining the imprimatur of the Senate Commerce Committee.

ASLRRA reveals full list of safety winners

The American Short Line Rail and Regional Association (ASLRRA) disclosed the winners of its 2014 Safety Awards including Safety Person of the Year, Safety Professional of the Year, Most Improved Award, the President’s Awards, Jake Awards with Distinction and Jake Awards.

FRA to hold annual Right-of-Way Fatality & Trespass Prevention Workshop in August

The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) 2015 Right-of-Way Fatality & Trespass Prevention Workshop will be held August 4 – 6, 2015, at the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel, in Charlotte, N.C.

ASLRRA 2014 Safety Person of the Year: Billie Johnson, OmniTRAX

OmniTRAX Inc.‘s Billie Johnson, general manager for Newburgh & South Shore Railroad and Northern Ohio & Western Railway, has been named the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s (ASLRRA) 2014 Safety Person of the Year. Johnson will receive the award at the ASLRRA Convention in Orlando, Fla., March 28-30.

All Aboard Florida hires The Vailon Group to implement DBE program

All Aboard Florida has hired The Vailon Group to implement its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in Miami-Dade County.

CN continues major rehabilitation work on Quebec Bridge

Canadian National has planned its annual major work program for the Quebec Bridge.

Rep. Quigley calls for full funding of transit and passenger rail in 2016 THUD bill

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD), submitted a letter to the THUD Subcommittee with 10 members of the Illinois House delegation urging full funding for mass transit and passenger rail in next year’s THUD budget.

NJ Transit celebrates Newark Penn Station 80th birthday

Newark Penn Station, the gateway for New Jersey rail travel throughout the region, turned 80 years old March 23.

Rep. Lowenthal proposes legislation to create Freight Transportation Infrastructure Trust Fund

Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) has introduced legislation he says will provide a dedicated revenue source to invest in rebuilding crumbling freight infrastructure.

Sens. Thune and Nelson introduce bill to streamline STB process

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who serve as the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, introduced S. 808, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Act of 2015.

Proposed TRAIN Act would reform environmental permitting process for rail projects

U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) introduced the Track, Railroad, and Infrastructure Network (TRAIN) Act, which the senators say will reform the environmental permitting process for rail projects in order to facilitate a more efficient way to approve rail infrastructure.

Rep. Maloney calls on FRA to perform deep dive examination of crossings

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) called for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to do a “Deep Dive” examination into measures to reduce collisions and deaths following what he called “a significant increase” in these accidents at grade crossings.

CARTA sells property originally planned for intermodal passenger hub

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) approved an agreement to sell its property at 4894 Dorchester Road in North Charleston for $6.5 million to Rushmark Properties, LLC.

Unifor shopcraft members ratify CN agreement

Members of the Unifor shopcraft group representing 2,100 Canadian National car mechanics, heavy-duty equipment mechanics and electricians, have ratified a four-year labor agreement.

NYCT senior leadership reorganized with eye toward future service

New York City Transit (NYCT) says it has reorganized its senior leadership to meet the challenges posed by steadily increasing ridership on the 110-year-old subway system, for the first time putting a single vice president in charge of integrating new technology, operating more efficiently and improving the customer experience.

MnDOT begins Zip Rail environmental study

Several options for high-speed passenger rail service between the Twin Cities and Rochester, Minn., known as Zip Rail, will undergo the first phase of a two-step environmental impact statement review process.

Sen. Leahy: U.S.-Canada agreement brings Vermont-Montreal passenger rail service closer

U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) says years of work on the goal of restoring passenger rail service between Vermont and Montreal took a major step forward March 16 as the United States and Canada signed a long-awaited agreement designed to improve cross border travel and security between the two countries.

Unifor ratifies agreements with CN

Unifor ratified agreements with Canadian National, including the clerical/intermodal, Savage Alberta Railway, excavator-operator and CNTL owner-operator collective agreements. CN is awaiting the results from the mechanical bargaining unit represented by Unifor Local 100R.

Gov. Dayton proposes crossing safety projects to be bankrolled partially by railroads

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton proposed 75 grade-crossing projects to improve safety and improve congestion across the state.

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