Operation Lifesaver awards grants for rail transit safety
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), awarded $148,500 in grants to eight rail transit agencies in seven states for public awareness and safety education projects.
NS to CP: Proposed merger “a poor combination”
Refuting practically every purported benefit that Canadian Pacific has given, and citing substantial regulatory risks and uncertainties as well as many other negatives, Norfolk Southern on Dec. 4, 2015 loudly and firmly rejected CP’s proposal to merge the two railroads into a transcontinental.
Analysis details benefits of SEPTA’s proposed King of Prussia extension
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transpiration Authority’s (SEPTA) proposed extension of the Norristown High Speed Line to King of Prussia (KOP) will result in the addition of 17,000–29,000 new employees in King of Prussia over 20 years, according to new analysis released by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia and Econsult Solutions, Inc.
Valley Metro places CEO on administrative leave; accepts resignation
Valley Metro has accepted the resignation of Chief Executive Officer Stephen Banta and placed him on administrative leave, effective immediately.
TSB makes five recommendations in OC Transpo bus, VIA Rail report
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s (TSB) investigation into the September 2013 collision between an OC Transpo bus and a VIA Rail train in Ottawa, Ontario, identified numerous contributory factors including company practices, work-related driving distractions, speed, the configuration of the Transitway and bus crashworthiness.
Valley Metro’s South Central light-rail extension takes a step forward
Valley Metro’s South Central light-rail extension in Phoenix, Ariz., has been approved by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) into the Project Development phase of the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program. This marks the first step in receiving federal project approval under the CIG program and, ultimately, eligibility for federal construction funds.
FAST Act on the fast track to approval
Congressional conferees on Dec. 1, 2015 reached an agreement on the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, a five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill and the first long-term bill of its kind in a decade. It comes after years of predeccesor-bill extensions and partisan bickering.
Apache Railway sold
The 98-year-old Apache Railway Company, a shortline railroad operating in Navajo County, Ariz., has been purchased by an entity formed by Aztec Land and Cattle Company Limited and related entities.
Applications for ConnectOregon funds top $90 million
The Oregon Department of Transportation has received 78 applications requesting a total of $91,551,136 for the next round of ConnectOregon funding.
RTD adds power to lines for Eagle P3 Project
As part of the Eagle P3 Project, Denver’s Regional Transit District and its contractor, Denver Transit Partners have the power lines turned on along the Gold (G) Line between Union Station and the Wheat Ridge – Ward Station and on the Northwest Rail (B) Line to Westminster for testing.
PANYNJ budget released
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) released its proposed $3-billion Operating Budget that funds critical planning for future growth. The agency also posted a $3.5-billion Capital Budget that funds critical state-of-good-repair to existing transportation facilities and new infrastructure that is needed to sustain and accelerate growth and enhance the overall customer experience.
Texas Central expands leadership team, hires three executives
Texas Central Partners, LLC, developers of a high-speed rail project between North Texas and Houston, has expanded its executive ranks, adding Holly Reed, Doug Jones and Lori Willox to its leadership team.
TSB: Broken heel block assembly caused CP derailment near Banff
In its investigation report, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined that a broken heel block assembly led to the derailment of a Canadian Pacific train that destroyed the bridge over 40 Mile Creek near Banff, Alberta, on Dec. 26, 2014.
Gulf & Ohio Railways to operate Global Trans Park Rail Line in North Carolina
After a competitive solicitation for proposals to market and operate the state-owned Global Trans Park (GTP) railroad line in Lenoir County, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) selected Gulf & Ohio Railways, Inc. (G&O). The NCDOT Board of Transportation approved the new GTP Lease & Operating Agreement at its Nov. 5, 2015 meeting. Under the terms of the agreement, G&O will operate, maintain and market freight service on the GTP line.
Ralph L. Wadsworth awarded additional subcontracting work for RTD projects
Sterling Construction Company, Inc. subsidiary, Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company, LLC (RLW), was selected by Denver’s Regional Rail Partners (RRP) as a major subcontractor for a joint venture between Balfour Beatty and Graham Contracting on two Regional Transport District (RTD) projects. These projects, which entail construction on multiple segments of the North Metro Rail Skyway Bridge, are the second and third jobs awarded to RLW by RRP during 2015.
Edmonton awards Valley Line LRT contract to TransEd Partners
The city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has selected TransEd Partners to design, build, operate, maintain and finance stage one of the Valley Line LRT following an 18-month procurement process.
Port Vancouver USA conducting thorough review of energy DEIS
The Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) has released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a proposed crude oil transload facility at the Port Vancouver USA in Washington state.
R&N to own, operate track in Humboldt Industrial Park
Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad (R&N) announced on Nov. 24, 2015 that it will take over ownership of the rail infrastructure at the Humboldt Industrial Park beginning Jan. 1, 2016 through an agreement with the park’s owner, CAN DO, Inc., according to CAN DO President Kevin O’Donnell and Andrew Muller, Jr., owner and CEO of the rail company.
In addition to owning and maintaining all of the track, R&N will also provide service to all of the customers in the industrial park.
CAN DO entered into an agreement in 2012 with R&N to take ownership of the more than seven miles of rail line inside Humboldt at the end of 2016. As a result of negotiations between the park’s current rail provider, Norfolk Southern Railroad Company (NS), and Reading & Northern, the timeline was accelerated to Jan. 1, 2016, O’Donnell said.
Muller said R&N plans to run a scheduled service, but will provide additional rail switches when business needs warrant them. The company will also offer railcar storage and personalized service for each business customer. Muller noted that all traffic to Humboldt Industrial Park will be received at Reading and move directly to Humboldt via Tamaqua and that no traffic to Humboldt should move through downtown Hazleton.
“Each customer will have their own local account representative who can assist them with all their rail needs and any issues that arise,” said Wayne Michel, R&N’s President. “At Reading & Northern the customer comes first and Humboldt customers will learn what our existing customers already know—our service is superior to that of any other railroad. Every Humboldt customer will be visited at least twice before we take over service. During those visits we will get to understand their needs. We will then design a service plan that guarantees every customer a service window and up to six-days-a-week service that meets their needs,” Michel said.
O’Donnell said CAN DO is excited to have R&N as a partner in its economic development efforts to attract new industry to Greater Hazleton. “Rail service is critical to many companies and has been instrumental in the growth of our industrial parks. The new provider promises to be an asset in our future growth.”
“As for potential customers, we will follow-up on all opportunities with our award-winning industrial development team. Reading & Northern, like CAN DO, has a national reputation for its innovative approach to economic development. We have won national awards for our efforts to attract business to the railroad,” Michel said. “We make investments in plant and equipment and we assist customers with their development. We also work to make rail infrastructure decisions easy by charging less for the needed rail work and being more flexible on track design. We have a strong team focused on industrial development and that team will work hand in hand with CAN DO.”
CAN DO constructed the 7.5 miles of track in its Humboldt Industrial Park, which is the region’s largest rail-served industrial park. CAN DO launched the rail service more than 40 years ago with a $165,000 matching grant from the Appalachia Regional Commission and has extended the track numerous times since. Currently, more than 15 industries are dependent on rail service to the park. In 2013, 4,569 rail cars moved through Humboldt and the number increased to 4,633 last year.
R&N is known nationwide for its commitment to working closely with economic development organizations. Michel said the company is proud to continue this approach in its partnership with CAN DO.
R&N is the largest privately owned railroad company in Pennsylvania and was the only railroad to be named Regional Railroad of the Year three times by Railway Age, receiving the honor in 2002, 2011 and 2015.
VIA Rail acquires Brockville Sub in Ontario
VIA Rail Canada has acquired the Brockville Subdivision, consisting of 45 kilometers (28 miles) of single track between Smiths Falls and Brockville in Ontario.
Metra preps system for winter
Winter is Chicago can be quite brutal and to combat its annual battle against cold and snowy weather, Metra has installed covers and supercharged heaters to several of the most critical switches in its system and continues to repair and replace railcar doors that are prone to fail in winter conditions.