Wood Energy Group names Natalie Macey vice president sales and marketing
The Wood Energy Group, Inc., a division of Banyan Rail Services Inc., hired Natalie Ann Macey as vice president sales and marketing.
RailAmerica to acquire Michigan shortline, percentage of another
RailAmerica has signed an agreement to acquire Marquette Rail LLC for $40 million, subject to final adjustments for working capital. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and Surface Transportation Board approval.
Broward County and FEC Railway reach agreement to build Port Everglades rail facility
The Broward County Board of County Commissioners in Florida approved a 30-year lease and operating agreement with the Florida East Coast Railway, L.L.C., to develop an Intermodal Container Transfer Facility at Port Everglades, which will allow freight to move more efficiently between south Florida and the southeast United States via rail. The facility will become operational at the beginning of 2014.
Construction of Atlanta Streetcar line kicks off
Construction has begun on a new 2.6-mile streetcar line in Georgia that will run through the heart of Atlanta’s business, tourism and convention corridor and bring jobs and new development to the city.
Axion to supply crossties to second Class 1 railroad
Axion International has received a purchase order for its first installation of ties from another Class 1 railroad. This represents the second of the nation’s Class 1 rail lines that Axion is doing business with, following a multi-year contract announced earlier in 2011.
House T&I Committee unveils Transportation Bill
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unveiled the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act. The initiative is a five-year, $260 billion infrastructure bill that reforms transportation programs and promotes increased domestic energy production to create American jobs.
AAR: Upping truck limits in Transportation bill does not offer a fix
The Association of American Railroads said the bill designed to fix the nation’s crumbling transportation infrastructure will actually accelerate road and bridge damage and trigger an increase in taxpayer subsidies to the trucking industry, allowing for 20 percent heavier trucks and triple trailers.
Durbin: Increase rail investment under new Transportation Bill
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to increase funding for job creating Illinois rail and multimodal priorities, including rail line relocation grants, Amtrak and the TIGER grant program, in its bill to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Act. Durbin also urged the Committee to reject the proposals in the House Transportation bill that would eliminate or dramatically reduce funding for programs that are essential to creating jobs in downstate Illinois communities.
Birmingham Terminal Railway begins operations
The Birmingham Terminal Railway (BHRR) began operations at 12:01 a.m. Central time, Wednesday, Feb. 1. The railway was created by acquiring the assets of the Birmingham Southern Railway (BS).
Honolulu to seek line of credit to improve rail’s financial plan
Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle presented a proposed solution to further strengthen the financial plan of Honolulu’s rail project, remain on target for its successful completion and obtain full funding in the amount of $1.55 billion from the federal government.
BNSF plans $3.9 billion capital program in 2012
BNSF plans a 2012 capital commitment program of approximately $3.9 billion, a $400 million increase over its 2011 capital spend of $3.5 billion.
Fourth round of TIGER grants to dole out $500 million
A fourth round of the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant program will make $500 million available for surface transportation projects having a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or region.
Construction completed at GO Transit’s new Allandale Waterfront Station
GO Transit’s new Allandale Waterfront Station in Barrie, ON, Canada, has opened for service. The new station allows GO Transit to extend service further into downtown Barrie, which will improve access and increase ridership on the Barrie line.
Hampton Roads Transit gets new president, CEO
The Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads in Virginia selected William Harrell as the new president and CEO of Hampton Roads Transit. The vote was unanimous.
Freight railroads to hire 15,000, spend an expected $13 billion in capex
The Association of American Railroads said the nation’s major freight railroads are projected to invest a record $13 billion in capital expenditures in 2012 to expand, upgrade and enhance the nation’s freight rail network. The freight railroads also expect to hire more than 15,000 employees this year, replacing retiring workers and adding new positions nationwide.
KCS de Mexico opens new transload center
The Kansas City Southern de Mexico and Raloy Lubricants Company opened the Diamond International transload center for the handling of liquid and dry cargo. With capacity to handle 400 rail cars and 27,000 tons annually, the transload center will be operated by Raloy, whose products are specialized lubricants used primarily in the automotive industry.
Amtrak’s Hiawatha Service sets annual ridership record in 2011
For the first time in its history, Amtrak’s Hiawatha Service between Chicago and Milwaukee, has a ridership that surpassed 800,000 in 2011. The year-end numbers put ridership at 823,163. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, that is a nearly four percent increase from 2010 when ridership totaled 792,848.
Apache Railroad members ratify new UTU contract
United Transportation Union-represented engineers and conductors employed by Apache Railroad in Arizona have ratified a new three-year agreement providing for wage increases, certification pay, improvements in disability and life insurance benefits, an increase in the employer match for a 401-k plan, substantial improvements in the healthcare insurance plan and a reduction in the employee contribution.
Paducah & Louisville to use RailComm system
RailComm has been chosen to provide its Domain Operations Controller train control system for Paducah & Louisville Railway in Kentucky. The DOC system will have functionality for Track Warrant Control and Centralized Traffic Control through the companies web-enabled software-as-a-service delivery method.
SunRail project breaks ground
The $1.3 billion SunRail project in central Florida broke ground on Friday, January 27, 2012, at the future home of the Altamonte Springs station, located at the intersection of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and State Road in Seminole, Fla.