Southton Rail Yard in Texas celebrates grand opening
Southton Rail Yard, a 300-acre dual rail-serve facility in San Antonio, Texas, designed for transloading energy-related products, celebrated its grand opening June 11.
OmniTRAX to manage Brownsville & Rio Grand International
OmniTRAX, Inc. will now manage the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railroad, a shortline railway based in Brownsville, Texas, and will also develop a large-scale industrial park on land owned by the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) of Cameron County, the parent governmental body of the Port of Brownsville.
Watco names GM for Pecos Valley Southern
Watco Terminal and Port Services hired Jeff Lederer as general manager at the Pecos Valley Southern Railway (PVSR) in Pecos, Texas. Lederer will be succeeding Mike Salts, who will be returning to the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (SKOL).
AAR’s Hamberger outlines steps taken to increase safety at Railway Age’s Crude By Rail Conference
Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Hamberger touted the many steps freight railroads are taking to boost the safety of moving crude oil by rail, while reiterating the industry’s call for the federal government to increase tank car standards at Railway Age‘s Crude By Rail Conference and Expo in Arlington, Va.
Metro-North issues 100-day progress report
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Metro-North Railroad has issued its 100-Day Report on the Action Plan established by President Joseph Giulietti, which focused the railroad’s efforts on improving safety, restoring reliability and improving communications.
FRA, MDOT, Amtrak partner to further study to improve Civil War-era tunnel
Working to improve rail service, reliability and address a longstanding bottleneck along Amtrak’s busy Northeast Corridor (NEC), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Amtrak are advancing an engineering and environmental study to examine various
CTA awards two Red Line station contracts
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is taking the next steps in modernizing the Red Line by awarding two station construction contracts.
The CTA Board approved the award of two contracts for the Wilson and 95th/Dan Ryan stations, projects that will replace and expand existing stations and provide customers with a convenient, 21st Century transit experience.
House approves fiscal year 2015 THUD bill
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the fiscal year 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) funding bill on a vote of 229-192. The legislation includes funding for the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies.
TSB finds inadequate drainage caused VIA Rail derailment on CN track
In its investigation report, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined that inadequate water drainage led to the collapse of an embankment, causing the derailment of a VIA Rail Canada train near Togo, Saskatchewan.
Ohio, California, New York grade crossings see work
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved construction authorization directing Metro Regional Transit Authority (MRTA) to install mast-mounted flashing lights and roadway gates at the 12th Street NW grade crossing located in the city of Canton, Stark County.
ConnDOT, MTA to conduct operational review of Walk Bridge
Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will conduct an operational review of procedures at Walk Bridge in Norwalk, Conn.
Rep. Denham plans amendment to prohibit funding for California high-speed rail
U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA-10) plans to introduce an amendment to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill, H.R. 4745, preventing any appropriated funds from being used for high-speed rail in the state of California. In June of 2012, Rep. Denham offered the same amendment to the THUD appropriations bill for the year 2013, H.R. 5972.
Rail Summit rallies rail executives, decision makers in Chicago
The second annual Rail Summit, held in Chicago, Ill., proved to be another success, rallying some 300 rail executives and decision makers to discuss this year’s theme of economic opportunities resulting from the surge in energy and intermodal growth.
Annual Report: Grade Crossing Surfaces 2014
Railroads look to suppliers for smooth grade-crossing surfaces to ensure safety for everyone and everything that passes over and on the tracks.
Grinding out the ideal rail profile
The role grinding practices hold in rail profile management calls for special care with one of the railroads’ most expensive assets.
Ports call on rail investment
The Port of Long Beach, the nation’s second busiest port, is close to completing the first of several rail projects aimed at adding capacity.
FRA launches safety investigation into recent Metra incidents
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is launching a 45-day focused deep dive safety assessment of Chicago’s Metra in response to three incidents that have taken place in the past two weeks.
Officials celebrate completion of Roberts Bank Rail Corridor Combo Project
In British Columbia, Canada, federal and local officials celebrated the completion of three Asia-Pacific Gateway projects along the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor (RBRC).
HART begins guideway construction
Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) has started installing the guideway for the rail system, placing the 50-ton segments on top of the columns in West Oahu, Hawaii.
Gov. Malloy to hold “crisis summit” with Metro-North
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy has called for a crisis summit to be held on Monday, June 9, with the state of Connecticut, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Metro-North to address the recent incidents that caused the failure of the New Haven Line’s “WALK Bridge” in Norwalk.