Gas boom sparking rail revival






Those who can operate
trains, repair locomotives, and maintain railroad tracks may find increased job
opportunities in the Lycoming Valley in Pennsylvania soon, the Daily Item
reports. Lycoming Valley Railroad Co. is seeing an upsurge in demand for
transportation of supplies needed by contractors serving Marcellus Shale
drillers. 


NM Rail Runner to open Wi-Fi to public testing on train






Beginning April 5,
passengers aboard the New Mexico Rail Runner Express will get a chance to try
out the train’s new Wi-Fi system. For the last several months, only a group of
50-volunteer participants have been given access to test the system. Now, the
final test phase is being opened to all passengers for the next 90-days to work
out any remaining bugs in the system.

Mississippi approves $15 million for C&G rail project

The Mississippi Senate last week approved $15 million in matching funds toward the reconstruction of a 90-mile stretch of the former Columbus and Greenville Railway line, The Commercial Dispatch reports. The North Central Mississippi Railroad Authority won’t receive the $15 million, however, until all financing for the estimated $99-million project is in place, Railroad Authority board of directors chairman Cynthia Wilson said. The funds would be used to repair and replace a dilapidated stretch of track and bridges between West Point and Greenwood.

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.