ENSCO awarded WMATA contract for track geometry vehicle






ENSCO, Inc. announced that
it has received an initial $7.8-million contract for a self-propelled Track
Geometry Vehicle. The contract was awarded by the Washington Metropolitan Area
Transit Authority (WMATA or Metro). The TGV will be a diesel powered rail
vehicle specifically designed to inspect WMATA tracks in order to ensure track
safety on the complete WMATA system. Delivery of the vehicle is scheduled for
March 2012. ENSCO has teamed with Plasser American for this effort, which will
supply the base vehicle.

Stella-Jones completes acquisition of Tangent Rail Corporation






Stella-Jones Inc. has
completed the acquisition of Tangent Rail Corporation, a provider of wood
crosstie supply chain services to the railroad industry. This acquisition
expands Stella-Jones’ capabilities within the U.S. railway tie market and
provides the company with coal tar distillation operations. Stella-Jones’ North
American wood treating infrastructure now consists of 19 facilities, 11 of
which are located in the United States.

Indiana Southern to manage Hoosier Southern Railroad






Indiana Southern Railroad,
a RailAmerica Inc. property, has been contracted by the Perry County Port
Authority in Tell City, Ind., to provide management services for the Hoosier
Southern Railroad. ISRR will be responsible for leading all aspects of the rail
operations of HOS – managing safety and training programs; directing sales,
marketing and industrial development efforts; handling purchasing; and managing
the bulk storage facility – while reporting to the Port Authority.

High-speed rail picks up speed in Illinois











Illinois Secretary of
Transportation Gary Hannig will meet April 1with Union Pacific officials in
Omaha, Neb., to talk about using the freight company’s rail line for high-speed
trains heading from Joliet to St. Louis, the Joliet, Ill., Herald reports.

Public transportation in serious funding crisis due to economic recession






Public transportation
systems are facing unprecedented funding challenges due to widespread declining
state and local revenues, and have been forced to take a number of critical
actions including: raising fares, cutting service, and laying off employees,
according to a new survey released today by the American Public Transportation
Association.

PATCO schedules maintenance, inspection of escalators






The PATCO escalators at
Westmont and 15th/Locust are out of service during the week of March 29. The
time that the equipment is out of service for annual inspection and maintenance
will be minimized as much as possible. Customers who need an
escalator are encouraged to use alternate stations or an elevator
(15th/Locust).

CN sells commuter rail line segment to Metrolinx for C$168 million






CN said it has sold a key
section of track west of Toronto Union Station to Metrolinx for C$168 million. Metrolinx
is the Ontario government Crown Corporation responsible for delivering an
integrated, multi-modal transportation network in the Greater Toronto Area,
from York and Durham regions through Toronto, the regions of Peel and Halton
and the city of Hamilton. GO Transit, the operating division of Metrolinx,
provides commuter rail and bus services in the GTA.


Railroad Safety Technology Program funding available






The Rail Safety Technology
Program is a newly authorized program under the Rail Safety Improvement Act of
2008 (RSIA) (Pub. L.  110-432;
October 16, 2008). The program authorizes the Department of Transportation to
provide grants to passenger and freight rail carriers, railroad suppliers and state
and local governments for projects that have a public benefit of improved
railroad safety and efficiency. The program makes available $50,000,000 in
Federal funds.

Boatright Vegetation names Alison Potts Shirley president






Alabama-based Boatright
Companiesrecently promoted Alison Potts Shirley to serve as president for
Boatright Vegetation Management, LLC. Shirley will assume overall
responsibility for this original Boatright company, including overseeing daily
operations for company activities in more than 20 states, managing the bid
process with railroads, handling all railroad contracts and serving as the
leader for relationship management with railroad customers.

Ontario Lowlands set for mineral boom






The
provincial government of Ontario has announced plans to develop the James Bay
Lowlands in the north of the province, Minerals and Metals magazine reports. More
than 20 mining companies are hoping to cash in on an area believed to contain
high-grade deposits of nickel, copper, zinc, gold, chromite and palladium.

CN to swap thousands of rail ties in B.C.






Workers are distributing
90,000 railroad ties beside CN’s track between Prince Rupert and Smithers,
B.C., in preparation for an extensive spring/summer replacement work project,
the Terrace Standard reports. A bright yellow tie carrier, complete with a
grappling arm to unload the ties, is now making its way on the tracks east from
Prince Rupert.

BART earthquake safety work moves inside West Oakand Station






Beginning the early part of
April, Earthquake Safety Program construction crews will start working inside
BART’s West Oakland, Calif., Station to strengthen it against earthquakes. Crews
will erect scaffolding and enclosures around work areas, which may obstruct
your path through the concourse area as you head to the platform or fare gates.

State seeks input on Route 34/EJ&E crossing






By 2014, the Illinois
Department of Transportation hopes to start separating the railroad crossing at
Ogden Avenue in Aurora, Ill., the Sun-Times Media Group reports. But at this
early stage, officials aren’t certain just how they’re going to do it.