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.

UP reorganizes its operating department

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

Maryland DOT terminates agreement, pulls funding of CSX Morrell Park facility

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) said on Aug. 28 that it has terminated its agreement with CSX Transportation, Inc., and CSX Intermodal Terminals, Inc., (CSX) to attempt location of the Baltimore Rail Intermodal Facility at Morrell Park and has pulled all state funding from the project.

UP invests $20 million in Kansas’ infrastructure; begins double track project in Texas

Union Pacific will strengthen Kansas’ transportation infrastructure by investing $20 million in the rail line between Topeka and Kansas City, Kan. The project, funded entirely by Union Pacific, began June 16 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-November.

Oklahoma plans $100-million grade crossing safety initiative

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin are implementing a new initiative to fast-track hundreds of projects to improve more than 300 rail crossings statewide and upgrade safety warning features on rail crossings.

Rocla opens new crosstie manufacturing facility

Rocla Concrete Tie, Inc. (RCTI), supplier of pre-stressed concrete ties, has opened a 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in San Jose Iturbide, Mexico.

Springfield Rail Improvements Project begins with grade separation

Local and federal officials gathered on Thursday, August 21, 2014, for a ground-breaking ceremony of a underpass at Carpenter Street in Springfield, Ill. The grade separation is part of a larger rail project that will consolidate rail traffic and improve safety as part of the Chicago to St. Louis high-speed corridor.

FRA funds grants for Short Line Safety Institute

The Federal Railroad Administration funded two grants totaling $350,000 to support development of a Short Line Safety Institute. The institute will help mitigate risk associated with shipping hazardous materials by rail by working to improve the culture of safety within the shortline and regional rail industry while improving its overall safety record.

KCS names Vecellio AVP production and standards

Kansas City Southern promoted Shawn Vecellio from director to assistant vice president production and standards for the engineering department.

Exemptions expanded in FRA’s final PTC rule

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published its final rule concerning Positive Train Control (PTC) systems in the Aug. 22 Federal Register. The rule, which takes effect Oct. 21, 2014, expands certain exemptions and comes 16 months before the full implementation deadline of Dec. 31, 2015.

Proposal outlined for North Dakota rail safety program

North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak has outlined a proposal for a state-run rail safety program to increase oversight of North Dakota rail operations. The program is included in the agency’s budget request submitted last week to the governor.

ARG Transportation to operate central Washington rail line

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) selected ARG Transportation of Eugene, Ore., to operate the 26-mile rail line in central Washington, with a goal to restore rail service to a portion of Grant County, assisting farmers getting their products to market.

Massachusetts to purchase rail line for Knowledge Corridor project

The commonwealth of Massachusetts plans to purchase the Knowledge Corridor rail line between East Northfield and Springfield from Pan Am Southern, a joint venture of Pan Am and Norfolk Southern.

Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal construction contract awarded

The Port of New Orleans Board of Commissioners awarded a $13.3-million construction contract to Hard Rock Construction LLC for the Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal improvement project. Hard Rock Construction, of Metairie, La., was the lowest of eight bidders.

Track rehabilitation results in higher speeds along KCS’ Gulfport to Hattiesburg Line

Effective September 1, Kansas City Southern will increase train speed on portions of its line from Gulfport to Hattiesburg, Miss., from 25 miles per hour to 49 miles per hour.

Illinois grade separation in Lynwood breaks ground

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn joined local and state officials August 19 to break ground on a $29.6-million grade separation project in Lynwood, Ill., which will improve traffic flow and safety at the U.S. Route 30 and Canadian National crossing.

Pacheco named GM of San Antonio Central Railroad

Watco Transportation Services promoted Jeffrey Pacheco to general manager for the San Antonio Central Railroad (SAC).

TSB: Systemic problems lead to Lac-Mégantic train accident; additional safety measures needed

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigation into the July 2013 Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA) train derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, concluded that a number of factors led to the accident.

NCDOT, CLNA complete Greenville Transload Project

On August 19, N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) officials helped drive the final spike on the Greenville Transload Project, located next to the Pitt County Landfill in west Greenville. The $290,000-project provides a new siding track adjacent to the existing rail line that will allow local companies to receive and unload their products via the Carolina Coastal Railway (CLNA).

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