U.S. Development Group expands crude-by-rail network with Niobrara logistics Hub

U.S. Development Group LLC, a Houston, Texas-based developer of rail logistics and terminal facilities, has begun operations at its Niobrara Crude Terminal, the third in a nationwide network of crude oil/condensate terminals. Located near I-25 in Carr, Colo., the industry logistics hub will handle crude oil and related products from the Niobrara Shale play. USDG anticipates that the terminal will provide a growth platform for the Niobrara oil field by giving producers immediate access to refiners and blenders on the Gulf Coast.

"U.S. Development Group continues to extend its leadership position in the burgeoning crude-by-rail sector with the addition of our Niobrara Crude Terminal," said Mike Day, vice president, U.S. Development Group. "Strategically located near the developing Niobrara production area, the new terminal gives producers a safe, efficient and flexible way to transport their product to the lucrative Gulf Coast refining and distribution market."

NCT rail operations will have direct truck-to-rail loading with capacity to handle up to 35,000 barrels per day at 30 truck unloading positions. Served by Union Pacific, outbound destinations include USDG’s expanding crude terminal network as well as refiners with the capability to receive product by rail. NCT has an initial rail loading capacity of 60 railcars, with plans to double rail capacity to 120 railcars by Q1 2012. Available terminal services include unit train terminalling for up to 60 railcars, railcar fleet and freight services, truck scales and inventory management with state-of-the-art environmental controls.

The Niobrara facility joins USDG’s St. James Rail Terminal and Eagle Ford Crude Terminal as part of a nationwide network of crude oil and related products terminals.

Bridgeport, Ct., delegation expects approval of state funds for Barnum Station

The Bridgeport, Ct., legislative delegation, led by Chair Rep. Andres Ayala, anticipates $1 million in state funding to be approved by the State Bond Commission when they meet Friday December 9, to begin ground work on a second train station that Rep. Ayala says will bring significant benefits to East Side commuters and the entire city.

"The site of this second rail station will spur further economic development. Currently, the city of Bridgeport has numerous projects in this area which would be well served by the second station," Rep. Ayala said. "This could be the spark which ignites further investment opportunities and better jobs and housing for our residents. As chairman of the Bonding Subcommittee on Transportation, I am pleased to see this project move forward."

The funds will support on site remediation efforts on the seven-acre parcel on Barnum Avenue and will help with the area’s revitalization initiatives. Bridgeport was the successful recipient of a Sustainable Communities Grant Award to explore the feasibility of a second station at this site. The planned station will serve to expand transportation options for commuters that have difficulties accessing the current downtown station.

CANRAIL names new president

CANARAIL, a Quebec-based company specializing in feasibility studies, consulting and the design and implementation of projects in the rail sector, appointed Miguel Valero as its new president.

Prior to joining CANARAIL, Valero worked for various international companies in the road transport and industrial sectors.

"Leading a company such as CANARAIL represents an exciting challenge that I am very proud of," said Valero. "With the increase of rail transportation projects, particularly urban ones, there will be more opportunities for CANARAIL to promote its professionals’ expertise, such as in railway electrification and continue to grow both in Quebec and abroad."

CP to further develop long train strategy in 2012

Canadian Pacific will further develop its long train strategy in 2012. As part of CP’s previously announced 2011 capital expansion program, the company’s installation of new and extended sidings in several key regions throughout its network will allow CP to further benefit from current double digit increases in train lengths.

By the end of 2013, the railway is targeting an 11 percent increase in transcontinental train lengths by adding growing volumes into existing trains. CP currently operates intermodal trains up to 12,000 feet long, an increase of 40 percent since 2008.

"Long trains are the cornerstone of CP’s operating strategy," said CP EVP Operations Mike Franczak. "By increasing train lengths and realizing strategic long siding investments, CP is maximizing productivity and service, while reducing labor costs and increasing fuel efficiency"

CP has been designing and running long trains using locotrol technology for remote locomotive operations and TrAM, its state-of-the art train area marshaling software. TrAM’s technology ensures that in-train forces are kept within safe standards, reducing wear on track infrastructure.

The benefits of long trains include reduced fuel consumption, capital maintenance and labor savings and improved safety and efficiency. Long trains also offer important benefits to CP’s customers, as they are adaptive to traffic flows and service oriented.

NJ Transit to host open house on study to improve transit

NJ Transit will host a second public open house to discuss potential transit improvements along the congested highway corridor that connects suburban Gloucester and Camden counties with the city of Camden and Philadelphia. The first open house was conducted in April 2011.

The open house is scheduled for Monday, December 12, 2011, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Camden Technology Center (Executive Conference Room 201) at Camden County College, located at 200 North Broadway in Camden.

Members of the public are invited to attend the open house to learn about the study and to give NJ Transit their input on suggested transit improvements.

Rohal named VP of Patriot Rail

Patriot Rail Corp., a shortline and regional freight railroad holding company, hired David Rohal to its management team as vice president, reporting to Patriot Chairman, President and CEO Gary Marino.

Rohal brings more than 27 years of rail industry management experience to Patriot. Previously, he was with shortline railroad holding company RailAmerica, Inc., in Jacksonville, Fla., where he was senior vice president strategic relations. He previously held the title of senior vice president & COO at RailAmerica.

"I am pleased to welcome David, a seasoned railroad executive, manager and leader, to the Patriot team," said Marino. "He brings an abundance of industry knowledge to the operations, finance and strategic areas of our company and will assist in our continued growth both organically and through acquisitions."

FRA issues safety advisory for bridge workers and final rule on roadway worker protection

The Federal Railroad Administration issued a Safety Advisory to remind railroads, contractors and railroad bridge workers of safety practices intended to prevent accidents and casualties to employees. FRA regulations require standards related to scaffolding and for railroads and railroad contractors to provide and employees to use, fall protection and personal protective equipment, including head, foot, eye and face equipment for employees as they work on railroad bridges. The Safety Advisory focuses attention on the unsafe workplace behavior preliminarily found to be contributing factors in two incidents occurring this year during which workers fell from bridges, resulting in one fatality. In 2008, another worker fell under similar circumstances. In each of these three incidents, the bridge worker was not using a personal fall arrest system and fell when stepping on an unsecured walkway or platform grating. The responsible railroads, contractors and subcontractors had also not erected a safety net system. The Safety Advisory is available at http://www.fra.dot.gov/rrs/pages/fp_350.shtml and the Bridge Worker Safety Compliance Manual is available at http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/safety/bws_compliance_manual_110806_final.pdf .

The FRA also issued a final rule that will help protect railroad construction workers from passing trains. The rule amends existing Roadway Worker Protection regulations to require that railroads adopt safety procedures to protect workers from the movement of trains or other rail equipment from nearby adjacent tracks. The new safety procedures generally require all affected work and equipment movements to stop and for each roadway worker to occupy a predetermined safe place upon receiving a notification or warning when there is an approaching train or other on-track equipment movement on an adjacent track. Track safety job briefings will be expanded to include information about the new rule. The final rule is available at http://www.fra.dot.gov/rcc/downloads/RWP_Adjacent_Track_Final_Rule_11-30-11.pdf.

Denver

A federal loan of up to $280 million was awarded to advance construction on the 30-mile Eagle P3 commuter rail project, which will significantly expand transportation choices in the greater Denver area.

"This loan brings Denver a step closer to completing this ambitious and far-reaching project that offers better transportation choices in one of the most densely populated regions of the country," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. "We’re proud to promote a solid foundation for the region’s economic growth, while creating thousands of good jobs in Colorado."

The project is a two-pronged effort. The western segment of Eagle P3, known as the Gold Line, will serve the suburbs of Arvada and Wheat Ridge. The East Line will run from Denver’s historic Union Station nearly 23 miles east to Denver International Airport and will connect to existing light rail and bus service. Both lines are under construction and roughly 4,700 construction-related jobs are expected to be generated by the work.

The Department’s Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program, which provides credit assistance for infrastructure projects, is the source of the loan to the Denver Regional Transportation District. This funding boost is in addition to a $1 billion federal funding agreement for the project signed in August by Secretary LaHood and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff.

RTD will use the TIFIA loan to fund a portion of its contribution to the project and will begin drawing on the funds in 2013. In addition to FTA’s contribution to the project, a consortium of private companies, known as the Denver Transit Partners, is responsible for financing around 24 percent of the project through tax-exempt private-activity bonds issued by RTD, equity contributions and other means. The entire project should be completed in 2016.

Atlantic Track & Turnout acquires patterns, patent rights from Conley Frog and Switch

Atlantic Track and Turnout Co. has added additional capacity for the supply of bridge, sliding and expansion joints for fixed and movable railroad bridges. With the purchase of certain inventory, patterns and patent rights, the acquisition will expand Atlantic Track’s range of bridge products to include an all-rail design expansion joint for CWR installation; Conley-design two and three piece manganese joints for movable bridges and easer rail arrangements for both vertical lift and swing-type bridges. The purchase also expands Atlantic’s range of products for use in track scales.

Atlantic Track offers a complete line of Conley manganese bridge and sliding joints, as well as a newly-patented easer rail arrangement that carries the train wheel over the gap between the rails on the land and bridge.

Amtrak dedicates Lawrence, Kan., station improvements

Amtrak joined state and local officials to celebrate more than $1.5 million in improvements to the Lawrence, Kan., station, including a 500-foot passenger boarding platform and access to parking with designations compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Repairs to the platform canopy and new exterior lighting designed to both improve safety and blend with the former Santa Fe Railway ATSF station have also installed.

The depot was built in 1955 and designed by Warren Corman and Warren Jones, both graduates of the University of Kansas in Lawrence. The exterior has changed little since then and the interior retains almost of all its original appointments, furniture and materials.
As was common with ATSF stations, neon signs at the platform canopies identified the name of the city. Amtrak restored those signs and installed an Amtrak sign in neon that echoes the previous "Santa Fe" neon sign atop the building.

Amtrak worked closely with the City of Lawrence on the historic elements of the building, along with the state’s historic preservation office, the Federal Railroad Administration and the station’s current owner, BNSF, the successor to the ATSF.

The Lawrence station, at 413 East 7th, is served by the daily Amtrak Southwest Chief train operating between Chicago and Los Angeles, with 6,410 passengers using the station in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2011. The improvements at Lawrence also make the station more able to accommodate service expansions envisioned by Kansas and other states.

VIA Rail Canada gets ready to start Cobourg station work

VIA Rail Canada will begin construction work for its new Cobourg train station overpass, island platform and related structures. Located slightly west of the current station, the new structures are scheduled to open in fall 2012. The new island platform and overhead walkway will service tracks north of the current station platform.

Some preparatory work must be carried out during nighttime hours due to access and train operations issues. Efforts will be made to keep noise to a minimum. The nighttime work, scheduled to begin by around December 8, should last about six to eight weeks.

Cobourg is the 13th busiest station in VIA’s national network. The new overhead walkway and connecting buildings will be fully accessible and aesthetically pleasing structures. Their construction will allow VIA to respond to anticipated future growth, as the region continues to expand and prosper. This project is linked with other work VIA is undertaking throughout its Ontario – Quebec Corridor with the overall result being improvements in train safety, better on-time performance, increased capacity for potential future growth, as well as reductions in travel time. All of this work, including construction of the new station structures, adds up to better passenger rail service for the citizens of Cobourg and area.

Agreement reached between railroads and unions

The nation’s major freight railroads reached tentative agreements with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the American Train Dispatchers Association, which together represent about 26,500 employees in collective bargaining. The last remaining union without a settlement, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, has agreed with the railroads to extend the "cooling off" period until Feb. 8, 2012, eliminating the immediate threat of a national rail strike.

"We’re pleased that we have now settled with 12 of the 13 unions in this bargaining round. Everyone wins when we reach voluntary agreements," said A. Kenneth Gradia, chairman of the National Carriers’ Conference Committee, the railroads’ bargaining representative. "In a tough economy, these agreements offer a terrific deal for rail employees. They lock in well-above market wage increases of more than 20 percent over six years, far exceeding recent union settlements in other industries."

A statement was issued by Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward Hamberger in response :

"The goal of the nation’s freight railroads, from the start of bargaining almost two years ago, has been to reach voluntary settlements with all of its rail unions. These agreements bring the industry closer to achieving that goal. Freight rail touches nearly every sector of our economy and we are committed to finalizing the remaining agreement so that we can continue to deliver for the tens of thousands of American businesses that rely on rail and the hundreds of thousands of Americans who use passenger rail to commute to work every day."

Alaska Railroad joins AAR

Alaska Railroad has become the newest member of the Association of American Railroads.

Established in 1914, the Alaska Railroad Corporation is a full-service railroad, serving ports and communities from the Gulf of Alaska to the interior of Alaska and connecting them to the lower 48 states and Canada through roll on-roll off barge services. ARRC manages 651 miles of track, carries more than 400,000 passengers and hauls in excess of 6 million tons of freight annually. Though it is owned by the State of Alaska, the ARRC is run as a private business and generates revenue through its year-round freight and passenger operations.

"The Alaska Railroad is a major freight hauler with an interline barge service, which allows us to be an interstate and international rail carrier," said ARRC President and CEO Chris Aadnesen. "Our membership in AAR and on AAR committees will allow the Alaska Railroad to carry that message to policy makers and gives us a great opportunity to work with the leaders in the American freight rail industry on common legislative, regulatory and operational issues."

Alaska Railroad joins the AAR as a full member, which includes holding a rotating seat on the AAR Board of Directors and a seat on AAR’s two governing committees, the Safety and Operations Management Committee and the Policy and Advocacy Management Committee.

CP reaches into Iowa with IANR trackage rights agreement

Canadian Pacific and Iowa Northern Railway have entered into a trackage rights agreement, which will enhance shipping alternatives for local customers and provide benefits for both railroads.

The agreement expands CP’s market reach in Iowa and increases rail business options for customers’ agricultural commodities via CP and IANR track. The agreement also provides Iowa Northern rights to operate over CP’s line between Garner, Iowa, and Nora Springs, Iowa.

"The acquisition of the Forest City-Belmond line with access over CP from Garner to Nora Springs restores good service and competitive rates to customers who have not enjoyed rail service for several years," said IANR President Dan Sabin. "In our first three weeks, we have handled more loads off of the line than had been handled over the past five years."

As a result of the agreement, CP can now market transportation services directly to existing and future customers served by the IANR.

"The agreement with Iowa Northern promotes economic growth within the state of Iowa and builds on CP’s commitment to the shippers and communities in this region," said Jane O’Hagan, CP’s executive vice-president, marketing & sales and chief marketing officer. "It is a good example of CP working closely with short line railroad connections to extend our franchise and develop mutually beneficial growth opportunities."

Watco subsidiary to purchase Birmingham Southern

Birmingham Terminal Railway, a subsidiary of Watco Transportation Services, has reached a definitive agreement to purchase the assets of Birmingham Southern Railway. BHRR plans to file the appropriate paperwork with the Surface Transportation Board later this month and could begin operations as early as Feb. 1, 2012.

"This is truly one of the great shortline railroads in America," said WTS Chief Executive Officer Rick Webb. "The opportunity to bring our Customer First! focus to Birmingham and work to create value for each of our new customers and for the community of Birmingham is very exciting for us."

The BSRR serves Alabama’s largest steel making and manufacturing region and provides rail service to Port Birmingham, a rail-to-barge and barge-to-rail transfer facility located on the Black Warrior River. The BSRR operates 75 miles of track and provides service to more than 20 Customers. The railroad interchanges with three Class 1 railroads; the CSXT, the Norfolk Southern and the BNSF.

BHRR will immediately begin the hiring process to ensure uninterrupted service to the rail customers. The BHRR will be under the leadership of Rodney Gordon who currently serves as general manager of the Grand Elk Railroad in Kalamazoo, Mich.

"We want to assemble the best team of people possible to serve our new customers," Gordon said. "We want men and women who will make sure our customers’ transportation needs are met on a daily basis. We realize the number of customer jobs that depend on this railroad and we are committed to doing our best every day to make these customers more competitive in the global economy."

Kansas unveils passenger rail service plan

The Kansas Department of Transportation released the Passenger Rail Service Development Plan, which is the next step necessary in exploring the feasibility of expanding passenger rail service in Kansas.

The development of the SDP follows an earlier feasibility study completed by Amtrak in March 2010. The results of that feasibility study provided preliminary cost and revenue estimates plus potential schedules for expanded passenger rail service between Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.

The just completed SDP is a comprehensive business and operating plan that looks at things such as route schedule and projected ridership, capital investments to infrastructure, operating subsidies and implementation. Completion of the SDP is required in order to be eligible to apply for potential future federal capital funding for state supported passenger rail service programs.

The SDP explored two options for expanded passenger rail. One is a nighttime service between Newton and Fort Worth. The other option is a daytime service between Kansas City and Fort Worth. In addition, the SDP explored a scenario in which the nighttime service would first be implemented and then later the daytime service would be added. Any expansion of state-supported passenger rail service would require further refinement and much more detailed environmental and engineering work, along with an investment in infrastructure as well as annual operating subsidies.

The SDP estimates the cost of the infrastructure improvements for the nighttime service to be $87.5 million and the daytime service to be $245.5 million. The annual operating subsidy to be shared by participating states for the nighttime service is estimated at $4.4 million and the daytime service is $10 million.

KDOT’s next step regarding passenger rail service is to present the SDP’s findings to the Kansas Legislature during the upcoming 2012 session.

Granite receives full notice to proceed for Houston light rail project

Granite Construction Incorporated says that in conjunction with the execution of the Full Funding Grant Agreement, the Houston Rapid Transit Joint Venture team, has received full notice to proceed on the $1.2 billion contract from the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County for expansion of the existing light-rail transit system in Houston, Texas. HRT was awarded the design/build contract in 2009. The company will book its 34 percent share of the additional NTP, or approximately $242 million, into backlog in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Led by Parsons Transportation Group, Inc., HRT JV includes Granite Construction Company, Kiewit Texas Construction L.P. and Stacy and Witbeck, Inc. The team is responsible for expanding the existing light-rail transit system in three new corridors in downtown Houston totaling an additional 15 miles of light-rail transit.Scope of the work includes 24 stations, storage and inspection facilities and a major renovation to the existing Rail Operations Center. Construction began with issuance of the original NTP in July of 2010 and the project is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

Zetica Rail awarded Network Rail contract

Zetica Rail was awarded a contract by Network Rail to upgrade Zetica’s Advanced Rail Radar installation on three inspection trains to include high frequency horn antenna for ballast fouling measurements in addition to existing antennas for imaging deeper trackbed layers.

New software functionality to provide automated asset detection, automated data registration and enhanced reporting via a network portal has also been delivered. The ZARR system is being utilized to scan more than 16,000km (9,941 miles) of track per year.

MBTA’s “T” ridership grows at a record pace

Acting Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority General Manager Jonathan Davis says record numbers of riders continue to use the nation’s fifth busiest public transportation system. Weekday MBTA ridership for October increased by 3.2 percent over October 2010 and averaged 1.348 million passenger trips per weekday.Davis said last month’s ridership was just shy of September’s record high of 1.349 million passenger trips.

As back-to-back months, September and October represented the MBTA’s highest ridership in the modern record-keeping era. Davis said heavy ridership growth was seen on the Red, Orange and Blue Lines, which exceeded September’s record high. Last month’s average of 555,000 weekday passenger trips on the Red, Orange and Blue Lines was the highest in MBTA history.

In this calendar year, ridership has been higher than 2010 levels in nine out of ten months. Davis cited the state’s economic recovery and growing employment levels as factors in the T’s record ridership. He also believes the availability of real-time train location information has attracted new riders by making it easier and more convenient to use the MBTA.

NCDOT to hold public hearings for proposed rail improvements

The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division will hold two informal design public hearings on Monday, Dec. 12, and Tuesday, Dec. 13, regarding proposed track and rail crossing improvements between south of Concord and Charlotte. The 12-mile stretch of second track is a part of the railway Raleigh to Charlotte Piedmont Improvement Program and is proposed along the North Carolina Railroad and Norfolk Southern.

The first meeting will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, at Hickory Ridge High School (Commons area) located at 7321 Ragin’ Road in Harrisburg. The Tuesday, Dec. 13, meeting will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the Charlotte Friends Meetinghouse (Meeting Room) located at 570 West Rocky River Road in Charlotte.

The proposed project would include the construction of an additional track adjacent to the existing railroad track along the NCRR/NS from south of N.C. 49 near Concord to Orr Road in northeast Charlotte. As part of the project, new bridges also are proposed to separate automobile and train traffic.

The environmental assessment document (EA) prepared for this project and a copy of the maps are available for public viewing at the following locations:
• NCDOT District 2 Engineer’s Office, 7605 District Drive in Charlotte; and
• Harrisburg Town Hall, 4100 Main Street, Suite 101.