EIS issued for proposed Corman line in Pennsylvania

The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis has issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the R.J. Corman Railroad Company/Pennsylvania Lines Inc. proposed construction, operation and reactivation of a 20-mile railroad line between Wallaceton and Gorton, in Clearfield and Centre Counties, Pa.

Wabtec acquires Fulmer Company

Wabtec Corporation has acquired Fulmer Company, manufacturer of motor components for rail, power generation and other industrial markets. Based in Export, Pa., Fulmer has annual sales of about $15 million. Wabtec expects the transaction to be accretive in the first year.

TxDOT receives $5.6 million grant for Oklahoma City-South Texas Corridor

The Federal Transit Administration awarded $5.6 million to the Texas Department of Transportation for planning and environmental work to advance the development of the Oklahoma City-South Texas Corridor. Future intercity passenger rail service will connect Oklahoma City, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and South Texas, some of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the nation.

“Gateway to San Gabriel Valley” final design approved

The I-210 Gold Line Bridge, which will one day serve as the “Gateway to the San Gabriel Valley,” moved closer to completion with the approval of its final design by Caltrans and the The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority. The bridge is the first component of the 11.5-mile Gold Line Foothill Extension light-rail project from Pasadena to Azusa, Calif., to advance from the design phase to the construction phase.

MWAA approves Dulles extension funding agreement

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution ratifying a Memorandum of Agreement that will ensure the continuation of the Dulles Rail extension to Loudoun County. The Memorandum of Agreement is a multi-party agreement that outlines the fiscal responsibilities of federal, state and local entities in the estimated $2.8 billion phase 2 of the rail project.

PANYNJ hires HDR to rehabilitate Greenville Yard

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hired HDR to rehabilitate the Greenville Yard in Greenville, N.J., to improve ongoing rail-to-barge-to-rail freight movements across New York Harbor. The work includes rehabilitating a barge and transfer bridge used to move freight rail cars from the yard to the barges, designing a new barge and two new bridges, demolishing two bridges, rehabilitating the rail yard and waterfront structures and environmental permitting.

CTA approves $1.24 billion budget

The Chicago Transit Board approved a $1.24 billion budget for 2012 that holds the line on fares and maintains current service levels, relying on deep management cuts and work rule changes from labor unions. The proposed budget is $66.2 million, or 5.1 percent, less than the 2011 budget.

Study finds Quebec City-Windsor HSR feasible, but pricey

The feasibility study for a high-speed rail service in the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor in Quebec and Ontario, Canada, was conducted on behalf of Transport Canada, the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario and the Ministry of Transportation of Quebec by EcoTrain, a group of international consulting firms led by Dessau and comprising Deutsche Bahn International, KPMG, MMM Group, and Wilbur Smith Associates.

The joint study included an assessment of high-speed train technologies; potential routings; traffic forecasts; financial and economic (cost-benefit) analyses. The study also evaluated socioeconomic, environmental and transportation system impacts of developing high speed rail.

The study evaluated two technologies based on speeds of 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph) using diesel traction and 300 km/h (186 mph) using electric traction. It further identified potential routes to accommodate each of the 200 and 300 km/h (124 and 186 mph) technologies including stations at Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, London and Windsor.

The financial analysis considered a government financing case (wholly public) and a partly private sector-funded case (private sector). The total development costs in 2009 dollars for the full Quebec City – Windsor Corridor are estimated to be between $18.9 billion (US$18.5 billion) for the 200 km/h (124 mph) technology and $21.3 billion (S$20.86 billion) for the 300 km/h (186 mph) technology. Developing the section between Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto could cost between $9.1 (US$8.9 billion) for 200 km/h (124 mph) and $11 billion (US$10.77 billion) for 300 km/h (186 mph). The main findings from the financial analysis for both the public case and the private sector case for the full Quebec City – Windsor Corridor indicate that while the project could cover all operating costs, governments would need to contribute significantly to the project development cost and receive no financial return on investment.

The economic analysis assessed the viability of the project and its contribution to the economy as a whole by taking into account non-financial costs and benefits, such as changes in atmospheric emissions, public safety improvements and impact of HSR on transportation operators within the corridor. From the point of view of the Canadian economy as a whole, the economic analysis showed that HSR between Quebec City and Windsor would not generate a positive net economic benefit. However, a project between Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto only could generate a positive net economic benefit at both 200 and 300 km/h (124 and 186 mph).

 

Amtrak service resumes in Minot, N.D.

Amtrak is restoring daily Empire Builder service at Minot, N.D., effective November 15, following repairs made to historic station and the establishment of a waiting area and ticket counter in an area of the building ordinarily used for baggage. As a result, checked baggage service remains suspended until more repairs are made to the building damaged earlier this year by flooding.

Amtrak and local contractors were able to complete this work to reopen ahead of the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel period, although further repairs to the building and the boarding platform are expected next year.

"We appreciate the patience of our customers and are pleased to announce the restoration of service in Minot," said Daryl Pesce, the Chicago-based Amtrak general superintendent.

GE acquires RMI

GE Transportation, maker of rail and transportation-related products plans to acquire transportation software provider RMI from global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group. Pending regulatory approval anticipated early next year, this acquisition expands GE Transportation’s Software and Optimization Solutions business to serve railroad customers worldwide. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Transaction is expected to close in early 2012.

RMI is a provider of transportation management software solutions for railroads, rail shippers, railcar leasing companies and intermodal services in North America with revenues of approximately $45 million. RMI’s software is designed to help its users to improve efficiency and productivity while reducing costs.

Lorenzo Simonelli, president and CEO of GE Transportation, said, "We’re excited about the prospect of RMI joining GE Transportation. The company is well known for its leading software products and the expertise of its team members. RMI’s software offerings complement GE Transportation’s rail portfolio. This is incredibly strategic for us and provides a great platform for expanding our software and services capabilities."

Pete Kleifgen, chairman and CEO of RMI, said, "We are looking forward to becoming part of GE, a world-class company, and to expanding the reach of RMI’s software solutions to railroad and transportation logistics customers around the globe."

CalAmp awarded $4.7 million development contract extension for PTC

CalAmp Corp., provider of wireless products, services and solutions, was awarded a $4.7 million extension of its development contract to help design and supply initial radios for the North American interoperable Positive Train Control system.

"Railway safety is a national imperative, with a federal mandate calling for implementation of PTC on the nation’s rails. This law requires railroads to deploy a new dedicated nationwide wireless communications infrastructure to enable the PTC Safety Overlay system," said Michael Burdiek, CalAmp president and CEO.

The contract add-on increases the quantity of pre-production radios to be delivered by CalAmp for use in field testing and early deployments by several North American Class 1 railroads and brings the total value of the contract to approximately $19 million. CalAmp expects to complete fulfillment of this follow-on order during the first half of calendar 2012.