Shuster to head Railroad subcommittee; additional members named

U.S. Rep. John L. Mica, the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, named chairmen, vice chairs and memberships of the six subcommittees for the 112th Congress.

Congressman Bill Shuster will serve as chairman of the subcommittee on railroads, pipelines and hazardous materials.  



The subcommittee on railroads, pipelines, and hazardous materials has jurisdiction over the federal programs and policies that relate to the economic management and safety of the nation’s railroads and the safety of pipelines and transporting hazardous materials.
 

“I am honored to have been selected to chair the subcommittee on railroads, pipelines and hazardous materials in the 112th Congress and I look forward to continuing to serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with Chairman Mica and the new Republican majority,” Shuster said.  



“Bill Shuster has proven himself to be a leader on transportation issues, especially where surface transportation and railroads are concerned,” said Chairman John Mica. “Bill’s depth of knowledge on rail issues and his leadership as ranking member last congress proved that he is well equipped to lead the railroads subcommittee in the 112th Congress.  I look forward to working with him closely as we tackle our nation’s pressing transportation challenges.”



“Chairman Mica has indicated that he wants to see a strong rail title in this year’s highway bill and that is something I look forward to working with him on in the coming months,” Shuster said. “We also need to make significant changes to the way our nation approaches high-speed passenger rail and that begins with oversight on how previous high-speed rail funding was allocated and which projects should take precedence as we continue to build a real high-speed infrastructure in America.”



“Freight rail will continue to play a key role in our economic strength and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the subcommittee to ensure this vital piece of our economy remains strong, vibrant and protected from onerous regulation,” Shuster added. 

Republican Memberships of Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee:

Bill Shuster (PA), Chairman,
Tom Reed (NY), Vice Chair
Gary Miller (CA)
Sam Graves (MO)
Shelley Moore Capito (WV)
Jean Schmidt (OH)
Candice Miller (MI)
Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA)
Randy Hultgren (IL)
Lou Barletta (PA)
Larry Bucshon (IN)
Billy Long (MO)
Patrick Meehan (PA)
Richard Hanna (NY)
Stephen Fincher (TN)
Jeff Landry (LA)
Jeff Denham (CA)
John Mica (FL), (ex officio).

Democratic memberships of  Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee:
Ranking Democratic Member: Corrine Brown (FL), Jerrold Nadler (NY), Elijah E. Cummings (MD), Rick Larsen (WA), Timothy H. Bishop (NY), Michael H. Michaud (ME), Grace Napolitano (CA), Daniel Lipinski (IL), Jason Altmire (PA), Timothy J. Walz (MN), Laura A. Richardson (CA), Albio Sires (NJ), Peter A. DeFazio (OR), and Nick J. Rahall (WV) (ex-officio).

CTC approves Santa Cruz line acquisition

The California Transportation Commission has approved the acquisition of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line signaling that all of the requirements for purchase and use of the voter-approved Proposition 116 funds have been met and that the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission can finalize the agreed upon deal with the current property owner, Union Pacific, to purchase the 32-mile transportation corridor.

Local California Transportation Commissioner Carl Guardino led the CTC’s action to move forward with the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line acquisition citing the importance of bringing the 135-year-old transportation corridor from limited private freight, into public use. The corridor spans the length of Santa Cruz County through many prime activity areas, parallels the congested Highway 1 corridor, and if lost, would be impossible to reassemble given high population densities and development between the mountains and the coast.

In June 2010, the CTC unanimously approved the deal contingent upon the RTC meeting six conditions: execute an agreement between the RTC and the operator (Sierra Northern Railway); commit to initiating recreational passenger rail service; commit to continue freight rail service for as long as would be required by the federal Surface Transportation Board; commit to be responsible for hazardous waste clean up; commit to reimburse the CTC should the RTC cease to use the Branch Line for the original purpose approved by the CTC; and to explain the methodology for the appraised value of the property. Although the RTC met all six conditions, CTC and Caltrans staff had questions about the last condition regarding the appraisal of the property, resulting in an eleventh hour revised CTC staff recommendation.

The RTC and Union Pacific agreed on a purchase price for the Branch Line of $14.2 million with a commitment to make $5 million in improvements. California Transportation Commissioners negotiated a $400,000 price decrease from Union Pacific.

Funding for the purchase and improvements to the line comes from Proposition 116, the region’s share of State Transportation Improvement Program and a $1.5 million federal earmark secured by Congressman Sam Farr. Based on recent bond sales, these funds are expected to be available, however the general condition of the state budget may affect the actual availability of the funds.

Next steps for the project include finalizing purchase documents, completing the escrow process, purchase of necessary insurance policies and submitting the required railway application to the federal Surface Transportation Board.

Caltrain budget woes

As San Francisco Bay Area’s Caltrain begins its budget process, it faces a $30 million deficit and the prospect of drastic cuts to its service.

Under the current budget scenario, cuts could be as severe as a reduction in service to 48 trains that would operate only during the weekday commute. All other service would be eliminated including: weekday service outside the commute peak, weekend service and service south of the San Jose Diridon station. The schedule also would require the suspension of service at up to seven stations.

Caltrain is the only Bay Area transit system without a permanent, dedicated funding source such as a sales tax.

Instead, the railroad has relied on contributions from its three partner agencies – the City and County of San Francisco, the San Mateo County Transit District and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority – to balance its budget.

In Fiscal Year 2011, passenger fares make up around 44 percent of the operating budget and contributions from the partner agencies make up 34 percent.

“We are not saying that this is what we are going to do, or where we are going to end up,” said Executive Officer for Public Affairs Mark Simon. “But this is where we are starting.”

For the past three fiscal years, salaries have been frozen. Employees will have taken a total of 17 furlough days from FY09 through FY11. January 1, four weekday trains during the midday were eliminated and fares were increased 25 cents for each zone. In an effort to generate additional revenue, a pilot program for weekend Baby Bullet service was introduced.

SamTrans is expected to reduce its annual contribution to Caltrain to approximately $4.7 million, a reduction of approximately $10 million.  If the other partners follow suit, the budget shortfall is expected to be $30 million.

The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, which owns and operates Caltrain, will be asked to call for two public hearings, one on the proposed service changes and one to declare a fiscal emergency, at its February 3, meeting. Four community meetings will be held throughout the Caltrain service area on Feb. 17, followed by a formal public hearing on March 3. A start date for any service changes has yet to be determined.

New Hougen Trak-Star hydraulic rail saw

Hougen Manufacturing, Inc., in Swartz Creek, Mich. has introduced its new Trak-Star Hydraulic Rail Saw, model HS16, which has been designed to maximize operator comfort, safety and ergonomics. 

The new saw is designed for one-man operation and has several features, that when combined, result in less operator fatigue and straight, fast cuts. The saw is an excellent fit with Trak-Star’s RailMaster™ hydraulic rail drills providing rail crews with a total hydraulic package for cutting and drilling rail.

The new saw’s frame length, 43-1/2″, gives the operator increased comfort  when making a cut and allows making them with less effort when compared to other hydraulic rail saws. Vibration reducing ergonomic handle grips further adds to operator comfort while hose guards improve operator safety. The arbor support bearing, located in the front steel section of the motor supports the axial load, which is applied during cutting. The rail clamp is adjustable by the operator and a convenient locating finger helps to line up the cut. The saw can be used from either side of the rail and if blade wear occurs, it can be flipped to the other side to finish a cut without unclamping.

The rail saw weighs 41 pounds (61 pounds with clamp) with dimensions of 43-1/2″ inches in length, 17 inches hight and 9inches in width. The hydraulic motor is reversible, rated at 10 GPM/38LPM, maximum pressure 2000PSI/138 BAR and 3400 (no-load) RPM. It has a 1 inch arbor and for best results uses 16-inch Trak-Star Trak-Blade™ cut-off wheels, which are specially formulated to wear evenly and breakdown consistently making them less vulnerable to glazing.

Evraz relocates to Chicago

Evraz Inc. NA, a  North American steel manufacturer plans to relocate its headquarters from Portland, Ore. to Chicago, Ill. this June.

In North America, Evraz produces more than 5 million tons annually of flat, long, and tubular steel products for major markets including infrastructure, defense, energy and rail. Its manufacturing facilities are located in Portland, Ore.; Regina, Saskatchewan; Pueblo, Colo.; Claymont, Del.; Calgary, Camrose and Red Deer, Alberta; and Surrey, British Columbia

Evraz selected Chicago primarily for its logistical advantages, which will provide easier access to customers, manufacturing operations and its employees across North America.

Axion appoints Steve Silverman as new CEO

Axion International, producer of recycled composite plastic industrial building products and railroad ties, has appointed Axion’s current president and COO, Steve Silverman, as its new chief executive officer while retaining his title of president, effective immediately.

Jim Kerstein, Axion’s current CEO and chief technology officer, will continue as CTO and focus increasingly on developing new products and applications for Axion’s recycled plastic structural material while promoting the strategic relationships that have proven to be the foundation of the business.

In his prior experience Silverman was a contributor to a five-fold increase in revenues at Archbrook Laguna, LLC. He led the company’s diversification strategy, formed unique joint ventures with international companies and held a key role in the company’s organizational restructuring and long-term strategic development. He also led the merger team that integrated BDI and Laguna into one company.

Public transportation relieves traffic congestion

The Texas Transportation Institute has released its congestion report, the 2010 Urban Mobility Report, which looked at road congestion in 439 United States urban areas. As in past years, the data shows the importance of public transportation in relieving congestion. In fact, the report’s methodology indicates that public transportation has an even greater role in reducing congestion than previously thought.

The 2010 Urban Mobility Report indicates that without public transportation services, travelers would have suffered an additional 785 million hours of delay and consumed 640 million more gallons of fuel. Had there been no public transportation service available in the 439 urban areas studied, congestion costs for 2009 would have risen by nearly $19 billion from $115 to $134 billion.

“There is no doubt that expanding public transportation use is key to reducing traffic congestion,” said American Public Transportation Association President William Millar. “Clearly, even if you don’t ride public transportation, it is still in your best interest to support investment in public transit. Better public transportation in your community means less congestion on the roads.”

Millar said, “Reducing traffic congestion is one of many reasons why the 112th Congress needs to move on passing a well-funded, multi-year, surface transportation authorization bill. Each passing day means a delay in addressing congestion problems which impact individuals and undermines business productivity.”

In addition to its proven record of reducing congestion, public transportation offers economic benefits. Public transportation plays an important role in helping people commute to work. Nearly 60 percent of all trips on public transportation involve travel to and from job sites. Also, every $1 billion invested in public transportation creates and supports 36,000 jobs.

U.S. public transportation use also produces significant energy-savings benefits. Each year 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline are saved because our citizens use public transportation.

“This report offers compelling evidence of the importance of investing in public transportation,” said Millar. “Now is the time for Congress to pass a long-term authorization bill that will help reduce the problem of urban road congestion through a greater investment in public transportation.”

Second project approved for Fairfield County, Ohio rail upgrades

The Ohio Rail Development Commission has approved the second project within two months to upgrade and rehabilitate tracks in Fairfield County, The Eagle-Gazette reports.

The new project will be the rehabilitation of a 5.8-mile stretch of track running south of Lancaster on the Indiana & Ohio Railway line going to Logan.

The project includes replacing 3,000 crossties.

The cost is estimated to be $300,000, with the Ohio Rail Development Commission pitching in with up to $150,000 in grant funding. The Indiana & Ohio Railway will pay the other 50 percent.

The Lancaster to Logan line generated 267 carloads in 2009.

Railroad improvement project escalated by five plus years in Medina, Ohio.

Medina officials are preparing a railroad improvement project that they hope will recruit more railway users and enhance the city’s economy, the Cleveland Sun News reports.

Using almost $1 million in federal stimulus money, the city could complete rail upgrades this summer that, otherwise, would not have been complete for at least another half-decade.

On January 10, city council discussed the approval of a contract with ms consultants, a Columbus-based engineering firm that would prepare construction plans and bid documents. Council still needs to approve the contract at its next scheduled meeting on January 24.

The city owns 3.76 miles of railway within the municipal limits.
Under the current plan, Medina will resurface railroad crossing intersections at Lafayette Road, N. Progress Drive, Ryan Road and W. Liberty Street and upgrade the rail and track surface at several areas by installing new ties, rail lines and a new stone base.

The city will also rehabilitate or replace the rail signal equipment at the W. Liberty Street intersection and improve drainage along certain areas of the track.

According to Patton, even prior to receiving stimulus funds, Medina had a railroad maintenance improvement plan in place – a strategy that would have taken six to eight years to complete because of funding concerns.

Medina received $950,000 last year as part of the Federal Stimulus Program for rehabilitation, repair, and maintenance of the city’s railroads – capital that will allow the city to accelerate Medina’s railroad improvement plan.

Stimulus funds will cover 90 percent of the project and the city will pay $93,617 for construction administration and engineering fees.

City officials are hopeful that the improved track will attract more railway users through the city and encourage additional industrial business activity while decreasing rail maintenance costs.

If council approves the engineering contract January 24, Patton said construction could begin in May and be completed within two to three months.

San Francisco subway funding approved

The Board of Directors of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency approved the financial plan of the Central Subway, Phase 2 of the SFMTA’s Third Street Light Rail Project, the San Francisco Sentinel reports. The Board’s approval is a step in anticipation of submitting the plan as part of the FTA’s New Starts Program in February. The SFMTA is on an active path to achieve a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) from the FTA by the end of this year.

“Closing the funding gap for the Central Subway Project stems from the commitment of federal, state and local government and community support from the southeast sector of the City to Chinatown,” said Mayor Edwin Lee. “This project is vital to connecting our City’s civic, business and cultural centers with our diverse communities along the corridor.”

“The long-standing support of the federal government and the local communities will ensure the momentum of the Central Subway project,” said Tom Nolan, Chairman of the SFMTA Board of Directors. “The scores of riders the Central Subway will serve and the communities it will bring together will ensure its success.”

“I am proud to announce that our Agency has closed the project’s $137 million funding gap and continues to be on track to receive the FFGA later this year that will secure $942.2 million of federal New Starts funding for this project,” said Nathaniel Ford Sr., SFMTA CEO. “We are deeply gratified by the support of our federal, state and local funding partners and, most importantly, that of the local communities.”

The Central Subway is Phase 2 of the Third Street Light Rail Project. When service begins, this 1.7-mile extension of the existing T Third rail line will connect communities from Visitacion Valley to Chinatown with modern, convenient light rail service. The improved service will decrease transit travel times, relieve congestion, enhance the environment, stimulate economic activity along the corridor and provide thousands of much-needed jobs along the way.

The Central Subway has received $72 million in New Starts federal funding to date. The total project cost (with contingency) is expected to be $1.57 billion, with the federal government contributing close to $1 billion.

WMATA weekend renovations

The weekend of January 21-23 the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will upgrade areas of track and the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project will continue construction activities on the Orange Line. This work, which includes repairing rail fasteners and repairing tunnel leaks, is critical to maintain the railroad and ensure reliable service. During the work, trains on the Red and Orange lines will be single-tracking. 



Red Line Service Metro will be single-tracking to replace fasteners, repair tunnel leaks and install communications cables in support of expanded cell phone coverage throughout the Metrorail system. This work is necessary to maintain reliable service through that area. 


Orange Line Service 
Metro will be single-tracking to replace rail and insulators and allows the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project to conduct major construction activities that will eventually connect the new rail line to the existing Metrorail system.


Northline Sounder service cancelled due to mudslides

Seattle Northline Sounder riders to Edmonds, Mukilteo and Everett will need to take special or regular bus service from Seattle January 19 after mudslides closed Northline tracks.

Regular Sounder service to Edmonds and Mukilteo will operate on January 20, and train service to Everett will resume January 21, if no other slides occur.

Southline Sounder service is not affected and will operate on normal schedule.

OSI Systems acquires multimillion dollar contract

OSI Systems, a provider of specialized electronics and services, has announced that its Security division, Rapiscan Systems, has acquired a multimillion dollar contract from a customs agency based in Europe for high-speed rail inspection solutions using the Rapiscan Eagle® R60 Rail scanner platform. The high-energy rail inspection system will allow cargo trains to be screened as they travel at speeds of up to thirty five miles per hour.

OSI Systems CEO, Deepak Chopra, stated, “We are especially pleased to have been awarded a contract from this key customer. With its high-speed throughput and superior threat detection capabilities, the Eagle R60 is an example of our technical leadership and ability to meet our customers’ most demanding requirements.”

Rapiscan Systems President Ajay Mehra commented, “Rapiscan Systems is the only security screening company that offers ultra-high speed comprehensive inspection of rail borne commerce, which is an increasingly important part of today’s global supply chain. We look forward to this implementation in an identified growth region.”

UTA launches new online customer tools(

The Utah Transit Authority has launched several new tools to provide more information and convenience for its riders. The new tools include a mobile trip planning application, a revamped website and a social media hub.
 

 
“We are working to find new and better ways to interact with our customers,” said UTA General Manager Michael Allegra. “These new tools will help us share information with riders when and how they want it.”
 


UTA’s mobile application can be accessed via any web-enabled smart phone, cell phone or mobile device by pointing the device’s web browser at www.uta2go.com. The new application includes route schedules, maps, a trip planner and bus stop information. 



The new UTA website at www.rideuta.com includes an improved trip planner, simplified navigation and greater emphasis on rider information.
 


 UTA has also expanded to interact with customers through social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and three new blogs. UTA’s social media network can be accessed from a hub site located at www.letsrideuta.com. The hub site is also linked to UTA’s main web page.
 

 
“We encourage our riders to use these new tools and provide us with feedback on how we can make them even better,” Allegra said. “Our goal is to help our customers have the best experience possible every time they ride UTA.”

Breaking ground on the $243 million Union Depot in St. Paul, Minn.

Major renovation work on The Union Depot in St. Paul, Minn., has begun with demolition activities, making way for new train tracks and bus lanes. This signals the start of major construction to restore the 1920s train depot to its original purpose as the region’s transportation hub.

“The people of Saint Paul, the State of Minnesota and the entire Midwest are the beneficiaries of this strategic partnership of federal, state and county governments that will create new jobs for our community and build the foundation for future prosperity and growth of the region,” said Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority Chair Jim McDonough.

Under the direction of the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, the 33-acre Depot site will be transformed into a state-of-the-art multimodal Midwest regional transit hub, bringing together rail, bus, motor vehicles, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

“The Union Depot is a major investment and a long-term commitment.  But in today’s global economy, an investment of this scale is not a luxury—it’s a necessity,” said Minnesota Fourth District Congresswoman Betty McCollum.

The Union Depot project brings welcomed jobs and economic stimulus to Saint Paul and the region, creating some 3,000 jobs for all companies involved in the project on-site and off-site. Over the two-year construction period, on-site trades jobs are estimated to be 1,200, totaling 750,000 work hours. Peak on-site workforce will be 300, and more than 95 percent of the on-site jobs are expected to be local tradespeople.

When completed in 2012, Amtrak’s Empire Builder service, currently located at a station in the Midway area of St. Paul, will relocate to The Union Depot. In addition, The Union Depot will be the terminus or transfer point for Central Corridor light rail transit as well as Metro Transit; Jefferson Lines and Greyhound intercity and regional bus lines; bicyclists and pedestrians. The Depot will be a hub for future regional transitways including the corridors of Rush Line, Red Rock, Gateway, Robert Street and Riverview.  Plans are for future high-speed rail from Chicago to also stop at the Depot.

The Union Depot project will vie for LEED Silver certification, utilizing some of the most innovative environmental and energy efficient techniques available, under the direction of Minnesota-based Mortenson Construction, the lead design-build contractor. Mortenson has built more than 120 LEED certified or green projects nationally.

“The Union Depot renovation combines the delicate job of historic restoration with the challenges of heavy civil railroad and infrastructure work,” said Dan Mehls, director of project development for Mortenson Construction. “We are honored to lead this signature project for the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority.”

The entire Union Depot renovation project will cost $243 million, of which $35 million will be provided by a federal TIGER grant. The Union Depot also has been identified as a project of national and regional significance in the federal transportation bill, and has been awarded $50 million over the next five years. Other funding will be provided by federal, state, and county sources.

Honolulu gets Federal green light to build its first rail system

The FTA has issued a Record of Decision for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project, confirming that the project has met all the requirements of the environmental review process and clearing the way for construction to begin on Honolulu’s first rail system.

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff presented the ROD to Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle and Toru Hamayasu, general manager for the City’s Rapid Transit Division, at FTA offices in Washington, D.C.

“This is one of the most significant milestones for the rail project,” Carlisle said. “We will soon be able to provide residents with a sensible alternative to our congested roads and highways and improve their overall quality of life. Rail transit construction will also create thousands of jobs and fuel our state’s economy – it’s time to get those shovels in the ground.”

“Today marks an important milestone in Oahu’s quest to become a more transit-friendly island,” said FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff. “With the completion of the National Environmental Policy Act process, the City of Honolulu has met all of the laws and regulations of the environmental review and we look forward to the day when Honolulu’s citizens can ride the rails in comfort, breathe cleaner air and avoid getting stuck in time-wasting traffic jams.”

Carlisle said he was pleased to have the FTA’s approval. “This is a huge accomplishment and reflects the strong confidence the FTA has in this project. Our transit team has worked closely with FTA throughout the process and this shows that our plan is sound and our project is on solid footing.”

The $5.5 billion transit project is a 20-mile elevated rail system connecting East Kapolei with Ala Moana Center. It includes 21 stations in communities including Waipahu, Pearl City, Aiea, Kalihi, Chinatown, Downtown Honolulu and Kakaako. There will also be stations at activity centers such as UH-West Oahu, Leeward Community College, Pearl Highlands, Pearlridge, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu International Airport and Honolulu Community College.

The City has already secured a construction contract for the first phase of the elevated rail guideway from East Kapolei to Pearl City. A second contract for the train storage and maintenance facility in Waipahu is expected to be executed shortly. The city is scheduled to award two more major contracts this year for the second phase of the rail route from Pearl City to Aloha Stadium and for the “core systems,” which consists of the train vehicles and the control center for the rail system.

Twin Cities Metro ridership up 2.3 percent

Customers boarded Minneapolis Metropolitan Area Transit Authority buses and trains more than 78 million times last year, a 2.3 percent increase over 2009.

The year 2010 marks only the fourth time in past 30 years that Metro Transit’s annual ridership has exceeded 78 million.
“With signs that the economy is slowly improving, we have a positive outlook for ridership to continue to grow in 2011,” said Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb.

Customers used Hiawatha light-rail trains 10.5 million times in 2010, a six percent increase and the highest annual ridership in the line’s six-year history.

Ridership on core urban routes – the heart of the Metro Transit system — increased .7 percent to 65.6 million.
Ridership on the new Northstar commuter rail line closed its first year at 710,400 rides, nearly 21 percent below expectations. The rush-hour only service intended for workers was hampered by the weak economy and a seven percent unemployment rate with fewer people headed to jobs in downtown Minneapolis.

Lamb said average weekday rides last month on Northstar were 2.5 percent higher than December 2009, a trend that continues in early January with average weekday rides up more than 14 percent.

“While Northstar ridership last year did not match expectations, service quality was high with a 95.6 percent on-time performance,” he said. “Best of all, 2010 Northstar operations finished within budget despite low ridership.”

GE Transportation and TESSCO form partnership

GE Transportation and TESSCO Technologies Incorporated have formed a long-term partnership to offer Positive Train Control solutions to the North American Rail industry.

GE Transportation and TESSCO will co-produce, market and sell integrated, turnkey, Positive Train Control and Monitoring solutions. The two organizations will support the U.S. rail network in its response to the U.S. Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 that set a December 31, 2015 deadline to implement PTC in over 7,000 presently “dark territory” switch locations in the United States.

“TESSCO and GE are combining their individual strengths to bring the best turnkey, dark territory solution to our customers,” said Pierre Comte, CEO of GE Transportation’s Intelligent Control Systems business. “TESSCO brings a unique combination of state-of-the-art communication and radio frequency technology – GE brings its innovative signaling solutions; together, we are able to offer an integrated PTC solution.”

“We are excited and honored,” commented TESSCO CEO Robert B. Barnhill. “Our power and radio frequency propagation station provides the PTC infrastructure for the GE controller and the radio to detect the condition of rail right away, and monitor oncoming locomotives to help prevent train-to-train collision, over-speed derailment, incursions into established work-zone limits and movement of a train through a switch left in the improper position. We are proud to come together with GE Transportation to create history-making innovations to meet the safety requirements of the railroads.”

Amtrak

In response to customer demand, Amtrak Keystone Service (Harrisburg – Philadelphia – New York) will add Quiet Car® service starting January 24, providing passengers with a peaceful, quiet atmosphere to work or rest without distraction.

The coach car adjacent to the locomotive will typically be designated as the Quiet Car. Seating on the Quiet Car is available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. There is no additional charge for a seat in a Quiet Car.

While riding in the Quiet Car, passengers must follow these guidelines:
Hushed Voices: Strictly limit conversation and speak only in quiet, subdued tones.
Muted Devices: No use of any devices that emit sounds, including cellular phones, handheld games without headphones, laptop computers with audible features enabled, or CD, DVD, iPod and MP3 players without headphones.
Headphones/Earpieces: Volume must be low enough so that the audio from headphones/earpieces cannot be heard by neighboring passengers.

The Amtrak Quiet Car first started in 1999 on the Northeast Corridor between Philadelphia and Washington. Today the Quiet Car has expanded to include Acela Express and Northeast Regional service between Washington and Boston, as well as the Hiawatha Service between Chicago and Milwaukee.

Ohio rail developments to be considered Jan. 20

Two industrial development sites in Ohio, with the potential to create much-needed jobs, will boost their attractiveness to new business with new rail connections, if Ohio Rail Development Commision Commissioners approve at the meeting on January 20th. 



The Eastpointe Business Park near Zanesville, Ohio, is seeking to improve both rail access and safety by extending rail service deeper into the 1,200-acre industrial park and adding new lights and gates to grade crossings at the site. The Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority is asking the ORDC to serve as project sponsor so it may access $475,000 in federal rail line relocation funds for the project. 


In Van Wert County, the local port authority is seeking a $500,000 grant to rehab a rail line into a 1,600-acre job ready mega site that could generate up to 2,500 jobs and improve service and business for two existing companies.

Commissioners will also consider a request for funding to make repairs to a railroad bridge on the city of Greenfield-owned rail line in Highland County. They will also hear briefings on a staff-approved project to rehabilitate the Indiana & Ohio Railroad Line from Lancaster to Logan, a rail bridge repair project in Ashtabula County and funding for a steel trans-loading facility on the Cleveland Commercial Railroad.