BLET members ratify new contract with GWR in Colorado

Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have unanimously ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the Great Western Railway of Colorado. The three-year agreement runs through February 15, 2015, and includes a lump sum allowance that is retroactive to July 1, 2008.

Metrolink CEO Fenton resigns, heading to Patriot Rail

Southern California’s Metrolink Chief Executive Officer, John Fenton will step down from his post at Metrolink after leading a two-year comprehensive reorganization that has put in place new leadership, policies and standards that have increased ridership and enhanced safety in the region.

SteelRiver reaches agreement to acquire Patriot Rail Corp.

SteelRiver Infrastructure Partners, an independent investment management firm focused on investment and asset management services within the infrastructure asset class in North America, has agreed to acquire 100 percent of the capital stock of Patriot Rail Corp. through its dedicated infrastructure investment vehicle SteelRiver Infrastructure Fund North America LP.

KCS appoints new senior vice president and chief information officer

Kansas City Southern appointed Michael Naatz as senior vice president and chief information officer with responsibility for information technology and business planning. Naatz will report to KCS president and chief executive officer David Starling.

“Mike is a great addition to the KCS team,” said Starling. “His extensive transportation leadership experience will enhance our information technology efforts and business planning capabilities.”

Naatz has 18 years of transportation experience. He joins KCS from USF Holland, a YRCW company, where he served as president for the past year. Since USF was acquired by YRCW in 2005, he held the position of chief information and service officer, as well as a variety of other leadership positions for YRCW, including customer service and enterprise management. Prior to the acquisition, he held similar positions with USF for 11 years.

Axion receives first order from New Zealand

Axion International Holdings, Inc., has received its first purchase order being shipped to New Zealand’s Kiwi Rail. The railroad ties are the rail line’s first such order of Axion’s recycled ECOTRAX products and are being installed in critical application areas such as turnout switch-sets and transoms.

Massachusetts intermodal center opens

Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff and other dignitaries dedicated the The John W. Olver Intermodal Center in Greenfield, Mass., which will serve as a central hub for transportation in the heart of the northwest community’s urban renewal zone.

HART CEO proposes reduction in budget

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dan Grabauskas, recommended reducing the agency’s budget for next year by $1.57 million. He suggested lowering HART’s fiscal year 2013 operating budget by nearly sevent percent to $21.3 million.

HDR acquires Stetson Engineering, Inc.

HDR, Inc., has acquired the business of Stetson Engineering, Inc., a Wyoming-based firm with offices in Gillette and Riverton. Stetson Engineering, Inc., specializes in design, engineering and consulting services related to water, sewer, storm sewer, hydrology and transportation.

CSX honors Gannett Fleming’s El-Aassar

Ahmed El-Aassar, Ph.D., INCE, ASA, a vice president with Environmental Acoustics, Inc., an affiliate firm of Gannett Fleming specializing in noise and air quality, has been recognized by CSX Transportation with an Outstanding Service Award in the Environmental Services Category. Based in the firm’s Lemoyne, Pa., office, El-Aassar serves as a project manager for noise and air quality projects.