RailAmerica chief commercial officer to retire

Charlie Patterson, senior vice president and chief commercial officer of RailAmerica Inc. plans to retire, effective December 31, 2011.

CP adds two to board of directors

Canadian Pacific appointed Tony Ingram and Edmond Harris, both seasoned railroad executives, to the company’s board of directors, effective immediately.

NS moves forward with TIGER grant, plans to expand Harrisburg intermodal operations

This is an update to a story first reported on December 15, 2011, Click here.

Norfolk Southern is moving forward with plans to expand operations at its Rutherford Intermodal Facility near Harrisburg, Pa., after the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $15 million TIGER III grant to the project.

Rail-related projects receive $279 million in TIGER funds

United States Department of Transportation awarded $511 million in TIGER III discretionary grants to 46 capital construction projects in 33 states, of which $279 million of funding will go to rail-related projects.

West Virginia Ports Authority awarded $12 million for Heartland Corridor terminal

The West Virginia Ports Authority has been awarded $12 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation to construct a long-planned intermodal terminal along Norfolk Southern’s Heartland Corridor near Prichard, W.Va.

CP, Manitoba government sign collaboration agreement

Canadian Pacific and the province of Manitoba, Canada, signed a 10-year memorandum of agreement to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the overall transportation system in Manitoba.

PennDOT receives $15 million for Rutherford yard expansion

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Pennsylvania Department of Transportation a $15 million grant to expand capacity at the freight processing facility in Rutherford, Pa., a project which has the potential to create nearly 4,000 direct and indirect jobs and reduce the number of trucks traveling on Pennsylvania’s roadways.

CP completes first year of infrastructure upgrades to enhance northern network

Canadian Pacific has completed the first year of infrastructure enhancements as part of an aggressive three-year plan to upgrade its North Main Line between Winnipeg, MB, and Edmonton, AB, Canada.

North Dakota receives $10 million for line near Devils Lake

The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $10 million in federal resources to help upgrade the rail line near Devils Lake, N.D. These federal resources will be added to additional funding the state’s congressional delegation worked to secure from Amtrak and BNSF to help cover the cost for the project, which many deem critical to regional commerce.

Better scheduling, increased rail car access improve CP’s grain franchise

Canadian Pacific has improved service for its Canadian grain customers this crop year by reducing scheduling variability and increasing access to rail car supply. Crop year-to-date, empty order fulfillment, a metric that highlights rail car availability, has increased by 19 percent or 11,000 units versus a year ago.

KCS de Mexico recognizes nine customers for reducing their carbon footprint

At the second annual awards ceremony in Mexico City on December 6, Kansas City Southern de Mexico recognized ArcelorMittal, Cemex, Dow Química Mexicana, ExxonMobil, Mexichem, M&G Polímeros, Petróleos Mexicanos, Ternium and Vitro. By choosing to use rail on shipments that could have moved by truck, these companies reduced their carbon footprint by avoiding the generation of 316,823 tons of CO2 by shipping their freight via rail.

UP begins bridge work in Lake Bluff, Illinois

Union Pacific will be performing repairs on two bridges, which span over Illinois Route 176 the week of December 12. The repairs will consist of repairing the steel sheeting on the underside of the bridges.

Watco appoints five to leadership roles

Watco Companies named Geoff Holder has regional safety manager for the east region and named Jamie Brooks administrative assistant for the Gulf region.

Washington state approves funds for crossing enhancements

Washington state regulators approved funds to improve the safety at railroad crossings in Clark County.

STB approves Alaska Railroad line in Port Mackenzie

The Surface Transportation Board issued a decision granting final approval for the Alaska Railroad Corporation to construct and operate approximately 35 miles of a new rail line connecting Port MacKenzie in south-central Alaska, to a point on ARRC’s existing mainline, between Wasilla and an area north of Willow, Ala.

RailComm to expand remote control yard system at BNSF Nebraska yard

RailComm was selected to expand its existing yard system at BNSF’s Alliance South Yard in Alliance, Neb. RailComm’s Domain Operations Controller System will be used to remotely control switches.

Georgia Ports Authority Board approves Savannah area intermodal terminal expansion

The Georgia Ports Authority Board approved a $6.5 million, 6,000-foot extension of the Mason Intermodal Container Transfer Facility in Garden City, Ga. The initiative is designed to expand capacity, improve efficiencies and reduce costs for customers.

EIS issued for proposed Corman line in Pennsylvania

The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis has issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the R.J. Corman Railroad Company/Pennsylvania Lines Inc. proposed construction, operation and reactivation of a 20-mile railroad line between Wallaceton and Gorton, in Clearfield and Centre Counties, Pa.

NCCC has tentative agreements with 10 out of 13 unions

The nation’s major freight railroads reached tentative collective bargaining agreements with then out of 13 unions, the National Carriers’ Conference Committee reported.

Tesoro plans new rail project to ship ND crude

Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) met with Tesoro CEO Greg Goff to review the company’s major expansion plans in North Dakota, including a new rail project to ship North Dakota crude to its Anacortes, Wash., facility.

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