ON Track Maintenance
TC&W rejects freight relocation proposal for Southwest LRT
Twin Cities & Western Railroad (TC&W) rejected a proposal to relocate Minneapolis area freight rail service after reviewing a technical analysis prepared by a South Dakota engineering firm. The proposed relocation would move freight service from the Kenilworth Corridor to a St. Louis Park route to make way for the Metropolitan Council’s Southwest light-rail project.
CN’s 2014 capital plan flirts with US$2-billion mark
Canadian National‘s 2014 capital plan includes an investment of approximately CA$2.1 billion (US$1.9 billion) to continue to raise network safety and efficiency, improve service and grow the business.
First section of rail laid near Salisbury for Piedmont Improvement Program
The N.C. Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Piedmont Improvement Program (PIP), a $520-million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project to improve the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) corridor between Raleigh and Charlotte, celebrated a major milestone with the laying of the first section of track.
SCVTA begins work on light-rail pocket track
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) has begun work on the Santa Clara Pocket Track, a third light-rail track on Tasman Drive. This additional track will allow SCVTA to store light-rail trains and put them into service quickly to meet increased service demands.
Details of Canada’s 10-year infrastructure plan unveiled
Prime Minister Stephen Harper released important details on the New Building Canada Plan, including support that will ensure small communities have stable, long-term access to funding for vital infrastructure projects.
Pasadena to Azusa Foothill Extension more than half way complete
The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority says that its 11.5-mile extension from Pasadena to Azusa is now more than halfway to project completion.
FEC begins laying tracks for Port Everglades yard
Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) is installing crane pads for the new Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) at Port Everglades, which is slated to open in the summer of 2014.
KCS praises MOW team for handling of Winter Storm Nika
Kansas City Southern (KCS) was prepared for a hard hit by Winter Storm Nika, which blanketed Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma with several inches of snow, while southern portions of the network experienced some snow, ice and unusually cold temperatures.
PATH lays out plan for PTC work
Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp. (PATH) says it is on track to meet the federal government’s December 2015 deadline for implementing positive train control (PTC) with work to begin on February 14.
CSX to build new rail yard in Hopkinsville-Christian County, Kentucky
CSX plans to build a new rail inspection yard in Hopkinsville-Christian County, Ken., which will support hundreds of local construction and trade jobs while being built and will initially provide more than 50 on-site jobs servicing the growing freight rail corridor that stretches from the Southeast to the Midwest.
NYCT completes $54 million in station work
New York City Transit (NYCT) has completed a $31-million rehabilitation of Upper Manhattan’s Dyckman St. 1 Interborough Rapid Transit Station (IRT) after two years of work, including a new elevator linking the mezzanine level and the southbound platform.
Four teams competing for Dulles rail yard and maintenance facility
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has selected four teams to bid on a contract to design and build Package B of Phase 2 of the Silver Line project. Package B consists of the design and construction of a rail yard and maintenance facility to be built at Dulles International Airport.
BNSF plans whopping $5 billion capital program
BNSF has planned a capital commitment plan of approximately $5 billion for 2014, approximately a $1 billion increase over its 2013 capital spend.
NYCT crews take care of Brooklyn track maintenance work
For the first time, New York City Transit’s (NYCT) FASTRACK maintenance program came to the 2, 3 and 4 lines in Brooklyn between Crown Heights and Downtown Brooklyn.
California Transportation Commission allocates nearly $27 million for rail projects, including high-speed
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated $27 million in new funding to three projects that it says will improve passenger rail and further strengthen the state’s economy.
FRA issues final rule concerning rail-flaw detection processes
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published a rule in the Jan. 24 edition of The Federal Register, amending the Federal Track Safety Standards to promote the safety of railroad operations by enhancing rail-flaw detection processes.
MTA receives first reimbursement for Sandy-related repairs
New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has received more than $886 million in federal aid to help cover costs associated with repairs from Superstorm Sandy, primarily in the Montague, Greenpoint and Steinway subway tunnels, and to make New York’s transportation system more resilient to any future storms.
NYCT to begin next found of repairs to Flushing Line in February
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) will begin the latest round of ongoing work to modernize, improve and fortify NYCT’s Flushing 7 Line in February.
Watco partners with Great Northern Project Development on new transload terminal
Watco Terminal and Port Services and Great Northern Project Development, L. P. (GNPD) are partnering together in the development and operation of a major multi-purpose rail transload terminal and railcar maintenance shop near South Heart, N.D.