Freight comes first on rail in Ohio’s passenger system

Ohio’s planned passenger
rail system could be on a collision course with another one of the state’s key
economic priorities – expanding its powerful, growing freight and logistics
industry, Business First of Columbus reports. The state’s plan for a passenger
line calls for running passenger trains on heavily traveled freight tracks that
crisscross the state instead of putting them on dedicated lines, as may be done
in other states such as California.

Michigan rail route is key






A Kalamazoo-based Michigan
railroad is approaching its first anniversary of service on its
Elkhart-to-Grand Rapids route, and officials with the Grand Elk Railroad say
St. Joseph County is proving to be a critical part of its success and growth, the Sturgis Journal reports. After working out a long-term track lease
with Norfolk Southern last March, the Grand Elk and its seven distinctive black
and yellow locomotives began rumbling along the north-south route on April 1.

Arson suspected as fire damages NS maintenance equipment

Police and firefighters are investigating what appears to be an intentionally set blaze that damaged one and destroyed another railroad track repair vehicle, the Dayton, Ohio, Daily News reports. It took firefighters less than 20 minutes about 5:40 a.m. Feb. 3, to get the fires under control along the railroad tracks near 506 E. Xenia Ave., according to reports.

Improvements allow UP to increase train speed in Malvern, Ark.






Drivers will spend less
time waiting for trains to pass as Union Pacific increases the speed of its
trains on the rail line that parallels State Highway 279 in Malvern, Ark. The
train speed limit will increase from 35 miles per hour to 60 mph on nearly two
miles of track that crosses Banks, Babcock and Cabe Streets.


Mica organizes campaign to bring high-speed rail to NEC






U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-Fla.)
gathered state, municipal and Congressional representatives and other
stakeholders of the U.S. Northeast Corridor (NEC) to help relaunch an effort to
bring high-speed passenger rail service to the region. Attending the meeting
were various officials and representatives from New York, New Jersey, Delaware,
Pennsylvania, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Transit official to announce Denver FasTracks funding






The top transit official
for President Barack Obama’s administration will be in Denver Feb. 5 announcing
major funding for the FasTracks project, the Denver Business Journal reports. Peter
Rogoff, head of the Federal Transit Administration, is to join U.S. Senator
Michael Bennet, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Phil Washington, the head of
the Regional Transportation District, at Denver Union Station on Friday
afternoon.

Montreal, Maine & Atlantic files abandonment notice






Montreal, Maine &
Atlantic Railway said that it has filed a "Notice of Intent" with the
Surface Transportation Board to abandon certain of its lines. This notice is
required by the STB as a preliminary step in the abandonment process. MMA
continues to provide regular rail service and is continuing to work with Maine
DOT in order to find a solution that would permit continued rail operations on
these lines.

UP gives historic rail bridge to city






A rusty Missouri River
railroad bridge that came to symbolize the battle between historical tourism
and modern transportation has been saved from demolition due largely to federal
stimulus funds, local newspapers report. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said Union
Pacific has agreed to give the old bridge to the central Missouri city of
Boonville, which hopes to convert it for use by hikers and bikers on the Katy
Trail State Park.

Fort Madison, Iowa, railroad depot renovations to begin in spring






Work to raise the
historic Santa Fe Depot — the first step in its renovation for use as an
Amtrak Depot — should begin this spring n Ft. Madison, Iowa, the Hawkeye
reports. Mayor Steve Ireland has worked four years to make the project a
reality, and hopes renovations will be complete by next spring.

CN to build $100-million Calgary Logistics Park






CN plans to establish a new
$100-million CN Calgary Logistics Park in Conrich, located in Rocky View County
north east of Calgary. The 680-acre park is planned to include a
state-of-the-art intermodal terminal with room for customers to co-locate with
CN and custom build their facility in place. The Logistics Park will be
designed to include a multi commodity transload and warehouse facility, an
automotive compound, and a liquid/bulk transload and distribution facility. The
site is strategically located a few miles east of the Calgary Airport, on Twp
Road 250/ McKnight Boulevard, providing fluid access to Stoney Trail and other
major roadways.

Favorable federal rating for BART Silicon Valley






The first phase of the
Santa Clara, Calif., Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) BART Extension to
Silicon Valley has been given an overall project rating of "medium" in the Federal
Transit Administration New Starts Annual Report for Federal Fiscal Year 2011,
which was released Feb. 3.

New HRT chief aims to shore up management practices






After a few days on the
job, new Hampton Roads, Va., Transit leader Philip Shucet said he’s working to
correct poor project management practices on Norfolk’s beleaguered light-rail
construction and eliminate a culture of fear that has gripped the agency, The
Virginian-Pilot reports. Both have contributed to the spiraling cost overruns
and schedule delays on the light-rail project that has cast a pall over the
transit agency.

Amtrak Kansas grant needs matching cash






Kansas has received a
grant to develop a business plan for an expanded Amtrak passenger rail service
south from Newton to Oklahoma City – but no money to actually develop the line,
The Hutchinson News reports. The $250,000 award from the $8 billion American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program also
must be locally matched, which is not a foregone conclusion with the fiscal
crisis facing the state, officials acknowledged.

Norfolk Southern moving ahead on Memphis-area facility






Norfolk Southern hasn’t laid down any of the track that will connect
its main line to the proposed $112-million intermodal terminal in Rossville, Tenn.,
but the company is laying down a foundation to keep the project on target to
open in two years, The Daily News reports.

Plan would add gates at 2 Granite City, Ill., railroad crossings






An early state plan to
improve two busy railroad crossings has sparked questions about who should pay
for the project, even though no one knows the exact price tag yet, the St.
Louis Post Dispatch reports. The improvements are planned for crossings at
Mockingbird Lane near Illinois Route 162 and Cargill Road at Country Place
Lane. Both are in eastern Granite City about a quarter-mile apart.