Michigan trackwork to relieve slow orders, restore Amtrak service
Following work set to begin April 16, Amtrak Wolverine Service and Blue Water passengers can expect normal travel times on Norfolk Southern tracks in Michigan by early May.
SEPTA issues Norristown High Speed Line construction update
For the past several months, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has been working to complete both planned and emergency construction projects on the Norristown High Speed Line.
PANYNJ plans $256 million Harrison Rail Station replacement project
A new glass-and-steel Harrison Port Authority of New York and New Jersey rail station is now on track to replace the currently deteriorating 76-year-old facility after the authority commissioners authorized key steps to move the project forward.
Harsco awarded international track equipment orders
Harsco Corporation received international orders for its railway track maintenance rail grinders totaling more than $20 million, including the company’s first rail equipment order from South Korea and its first larger-capacity 30-stone rail grinder sale into China’s urban metro transit market.
Iowa City City Council approves railroad infrastructure project
Iowa City will proceed with the Iowa City Industrial Campus Railroad Siding and Spur Improvement Project after the city council approved details of the project with a 6-0 vote.
NYCT launches second track improvement initiative
In New York a major track renewal and component replacement project along the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Queens Boulevard Line will begin on April 7. The track closure will be in effect 24 hours a day as the tracks and support equipment are completely replaced with new ties, tie blocks, plates and rails.
Metro Gold Line contractor receives Notice To Proceed
California’s Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority issued a Full Notice to Proceed to Foothill Transit Constructors, A Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture for the $486 million Foothill Extension from Pasadena to Azusa light-rail alignment project. The Full Notice to Proceed affords the Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture the ability to implement all aspects of the design-build contract, including design and construction of the 11.5 miles of tracks, stations, crossings, bridges, utilities, maintenance facility and more. The total project budget is $735 million.
IDOT commits $2.2 million to BNSF viaduct replacement project
The Illinois Department of Transportation is committing $2.2 million to complete the engineering and design plans for replacing the BNSF viaduct over Illinois Route 29 in Chillicothe, Ill.
The project will replace the two existing viaducts with a single structure carrying three mainline tracks, a yard track, a service road and a pedestrian walkway.
Sen. Lautenberg voices support of Amtrak’s Gateway Project
U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) released the following statement after New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Joe Lhota expressed his support for Amtrak’s Gateway Tunnel project under the Hudson River.
GT OmniPort Industrial Park welcomes first train
The first unit train pulled in to the Port Arthur, Texas, GT OmniPort on April 3. The arrival of this train indicates that the rail terminal is now open for business.
Boring complete on Sound Transit second tunnel
The second tunnel boring machine mining new light-rail tunnels in the Seattle, Wash.-area, between Capitol Hill and the University of Washington finished its underground journey Monday afternoon.
Brian Thompson Joins Stantec
Brian Thompson joined Stantec as a senior railway engineer in Charlotte, N.C. Thompson has 21 years of experience in the design of mainline and industrial and rail yard tracks, transit design and environmental and civil engineering for the railroad industry.
RailComm to convert LS&I dispatching system to SaaS Model
Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad in Michigan has been using RailComm’s Domain Operations Controller train control system to dispatch their railroad since 2007. The DOC System at LS&I will soon be able to be accessed through web-enabled software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery.
Heilig joins Progress Rail
Progress Rail Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., has hired Tim Heilig as senior vice president of customer solutions. In this role, Heilig will work with Progress Rail Services and its subsidiary, Electro-Motive Diesel, to enhance the companies’ many products and services. Additionally, he will be involved in helping develop new products.
CHSR revises business plan, cost estimate now at $68.4 billion
The California High-Speed Rail Authority revised its Business Plan to launch high-speed rail service, capable of traveling 220 miles-per-hour, from Merced to the San Fernando Valley, within 10 years.
LACMTA to update the public on the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor Study
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, in cooperation with the city of Los Angeles, will hold three community meetings in April to update the public on the Alternatives Analysis study that is evaluating options to improve north-south travel opportunities in the East San Fernando Valley and provide connections to the regional transportation network. The AA study is a precursor to the draft environmental document.
CN offers new steel-wheel-interchange service with CSX in Chicago
Canadian National has a new steel-wheel-interchange service with CSX Transportation over Chicago. The service gives container imports moving over CN’s network from the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, B.C., efficient access to key Ohio Valley markets.
CSX hiring in Tennessee, Maryland and Alabama
CSX Transportation says it is looking to fill 150 positions in Tennessee, mostly in and around Nashville; 140 jobs in Maryland, mainly in Baltimore and Cumberland and 90 positions in Alabama, primarily in Birmingham.
Port of Los Angeles receives $40.72 million for rail yard project
The Port of Los Angeles received $40.72 million to improve rail operations and access to West Basin rail yards as part of a larger funding allocation from the California Transportation Commission. The CTC distributed $271 million in new funding to 73 projects that will improve the state’s highways and rail systems and enhance the state’s economic recovery.
RT&S launches “Rail Brief” weekly engineering newsletter
The editors of Railway Track & Structures are pleased to bring you “Rail Brief,” a weekly e-mail newsletter that brings breaking news about rail engineering and maintenance-of-way to your inbox. Whether it occurs on or off the track, RT&S “Rail Brief” will cover advancing projects, developing technologies and other updates on rail infrastructure.