CN opens Winnipeg training facility

Canadian National (CN) has officially opened its new employee training center in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The 100,000-square-foot facility is currently hosting 350-plus CN students from across Canada every week, with hands-on training for all key railway jobs.

Rail component of Sarah Mildred Long Bridge to benefit from $25-million TIGER grant

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will award $25 million in a Transportation Investment Generation Economic Recovery VI grant to the Maine Department of Transportation to replace the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge connecting Kittery, Maine, and Portsmouth, N.H.

Metro-North completes Cos Cob switching rebuild ahead of schedule

Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Metro-North Railroad employees have successfully rebuilt a switching control house in Cos Cob, Conn.

Sens. Blumenthal, Schumer propose rail safety bill

U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) have proposed an overhaul of rail safety laws and protocols to enforce and enhance safety and reliability with a rail safety bill.

NCDOT looking for new Piedmont & Northern Railway operator

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is seeking a new partner to operate the 13-mile Piedmont & Northern Railway line from Gastonia to Mount Holly in Gaston County following Patriot Rail’s announcement that it will terminate its lease of the shortline.

Rep. Dent tours R.J. Corman Allentown yard and facility

U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA-15) joined representatives from R.J. Corman Railroad Company and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of R.J. Corman’s rail yard and material sales facility in Allentown, Pa.

IP Automation hosts Rep. Lamborn

U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO-05) joined representatives from IP Automation and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of IP Automation’s manufacturing facility in Colorado Springs, Colo., on August 29.

KCS names Jameson AVP safety and standardization

Kansas City Southern promoted L.E. Jameson to assistant vice president safety and standardization where he will report to vice president transportation and safety Steven Truitt.

Loram acquires majority stake in RVEL

Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc., has acquired a majority stake in Railway Vehicle Engineering Ltd. (RVEL) in Derby, United Kingdom.

Clarksville to Nashville passenger rail service to be studied

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in Nashville, Tenn., has selected Parsons Brinkerhoff, Inc., to conduct a study of cost-effective transit improvements to serve the Northwest area of Middle Tennessee, which will bring the state one step closer to having passenger rail service between Clarksville and Nashville.

R.J. Corman completes acquisition of TSE

R. J. Corman Railroad Company has completed the acquisition of Texas Southeastern Railroad (TSE), a subsidiary of Georgia-Pacific LLC.

PHL now serving Los Angeles-Long Beach spur

Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) is now serving customers located in three industrial areas near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., linked to a 10-mile industrial spur owned by Union Pacific.

MBTA opens Assembly Orange Line Station

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) opened the Assembly Orange Line station, the first new MBTA station in 27 years, on September 2. MBTA said the station is a key element in the creation of a transit-oriented development at Assembly Row, providing a vital transit link between Assembly Row and Boston.

Wallut appointed president of Alstom Transportation; SVP of North American rail business

Jerome Wallut has been appointed president of Alstom Transportation Inc. and senior vice-president of Alstom’s North American rail transportation business.

Wabtec acquires Australian signal design service firm C2CE

Wabtec Corporation has acquired C2CE Pty Ltd., an Australian-based provider of railway signal design services. C2CE provides turnkey train control, signaling and communications solutions, including design, project management and installation for railway markets in Australia and Southeast Asia. The company also designs and installs high- and low-voltage power distribution systems and provides electrical and communications solutions for industrial markets.

Minneapolis approves Southwest LRT

The Minneapolis City Council granted the Southwest light-rail transit project municipal consent, allowing the Metropolitan Council to seek approval from the federal government to enter Final Engineering. Hennepin County and the cities of Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins and St. Louis Park all provided municipal consent to the project previously.

CTA to perform renovations on Blue Line station

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will close the California Blue Line station for 42 days beginning Thursday, September 4, for major renovations as part of the “Your New Blue” modernization program for the O’Hare branch of the Blue Line. The station is scheduled to re-open October 16.

UP reorganizes its operating department

Union Pacific made multiple operating department appointments, which went into affect September 1.

UNITRAC hires new VP of operations

UNITRAC Railroad Materials, Inc., has hired Scott Arnold as the vice president of operations at UNITRAC’s headquarters and manufacturing facility in Knoxville, Tenn. Arnold comes from Yale Locks, where he served as the director of operation and brings with him more than 20 years of manufacturing experience.

Scanlon retiring as head of San Mateo County Transit District

Michael J. Scanlon, who has led the San Mateo County Transit District for the past 15 years, is retiring. The Transit District is an administrative body that holds jurisdiction over SamTrans bus service, Caltrain commuter rail and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority.

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