After a competitive solicitation for proposals to operate the state-owned Piedmont & Northern (P&N) railroad line between Gastonia and Mt. Holly, N.C., the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has selected Piedmont Railway, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings, LLC, as the best candidate to operate the rail line.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), in conjunction with the Illinois Capital Development Board, has started a series of listening sessions to discuss the state’s infrastructure needs and the steps required “to make sure the right investments are being made to keep Illinois competitive in a 21st century global economy.” The meetings will be held in multiple communities throughout the state over the next month, with a goal of presenting Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office with a comprehensive package of recommendations for consideration this spring.
Bruno Maestri and Robert Martίnez will assume additional responsibilities for Norfolk Southern, following the retirement of F. Blair Wimbush, the railroad’s vice president real estate and corporate sustainability officer. The changes take effect May 1, 2015.
Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have introduced their version of a Positive Train Control (PTC) extension bill that joins a similar effort introduced by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO).
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) received five qualified bids for Construction Package 4 (CP4) – the next 22-mile mile phase of construction through the counties of Tulare and Kern and the cities of Wasco and Shafter.
RailComm has completed the implementation of a shove track protection system for a private coal mining facility located in Alabama. RailComm provided indication and detection subsystems, as well as wireless communications to keep both subsystems in communication.
Through its Moving Ontario Forward plan, the Ontario government is investing in improvements across the GO Transit network to increase transit ridership, reduce travel times, manage congestion, connect people to jobs and improve the economy.
U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA-9) joined representatives from the Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad (STE), OmniTRAX and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of STE’s facility April 8.
Two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) have moved to begin tunneling the western segment of the 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) Metrolinx Eglinton Crosstown light-rail transit (LRT).
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) named five to executive staff. CHSRA named Scott Jarvis chief engineer, Kevin Thompson director of engineering, Bruce Armistead director of operations and maintenance, Alan Glen director of real property and William Robinson senior legislative analyst.
Canadian National locomotive engineers, represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) union, have ratified a new collective agreement with the railroad.
Ricardo has signed a Share and Asset Purchase Agreement to acquire the business, operating assets and employees of Lloyd’s Register Rail (LR Rail) for £42.5 million (US$63.5 million).
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded eight grants totaling more than $21.2 million that invest in grade-crossing safety, Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation and passenger rail.
Chicago’s Metra has created the “Confidential Close Call Reporting System,” which is designed to proactively address safety issues and create a more positive safety culture.
Canadian National‘s multi-year capital program will invest approximately CA$500 million (US$409 million) in infrastructure improvements for its western Canada feeder rail lines in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan that are handling rising volumes of industrial products, natural resources and energy-related commodities.
Koppers Inc. has agreed to contract extensions with each of its two largest railroad customers, BNSF and CSX. Combined revenues from BNSF and CSX accounted for approximately 40 percent of 2014 railroad-related sales for the company.
Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) reiterated its commitment to employee safety following the issuance of the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) final report regarding an October 2013 accident in which two engineering employees were struck and killed.
BNSF recognized a special group of employees for their outstanding achievements in 2014 at an awards ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas, April 13.
New York has received a $3-million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the Intercity Passenger Rail Grade Crossing Improvements, Positive Train Control Implementation and Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan Grant Program.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) debuted the latest installment of its Freight Rail Works campaign, an exploration of freight rail’s investments in building, growing and maintaining the nation’s freight rail network. The campaign combines television, radio and online components to showcase the projects and innovation that help give U.S. businesses a competitive edge.
