Search Results for: track structure

Massachusetts awarded $72.8 million to cut travel times on Vermonter

Travel time on Amtrak’s Vermonter line will be cut by nearly 30 minutes through a $72.8 million federal grant to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The project will restore a rail line, improving 50 miles of track and infrastructure on a direct route from Springfield to East Northfield, Mass., along the Connecticut River Valley.

"Coupled with previous federal investments along the Vermonter line, these improvements will bring almost a one hour reduction in travel time for passengers traveling in Vermont and Massachusetts," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The Vermonter line operates between St. Albans, Vt., and Washington, D.C. and had a 16 percent ridership increase in 2010. Progress on the service began last year with a $50 million grant to the Vermont Agency of Transportation, improving 190 miles of track between St. Albans and Vernon, shaving 30 minutes off of travel time within Vermont. Long-term, the investments in Vermont and Massachusetts will also increase reliability and for future expansion of service in Montreal, Quebec.

U of I to test high-speed rail components

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is conducting a $3.3 million study on the performance of certain track components of shared passenger and heavy-axle-load corridors to make them both safer and more efficient.

The research to improve concrete crossties and fastening systems will be undertaken by the university’s Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC), part of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Illinois. It is sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration, which contributed approximately $2.4 million to perform the research. Industry partners will contribute the remaining $900,000.

"These joint corridors present unique challenges in terms of the design and maintenance of infrastructure. This research project is aimed at improving concrete tie and fastener design in order to increase safety and reliability and lower their life cycle cost," said CEE faculty member J. Riley Edwards, who is leading the study.

During the two-and-a-half-year study, researchers will conduct laboratory and field testing to compile empirically gathered performance data. Improved understanding of the tie and fastening system is expected to facilitate the development of performance requirements and design recommendations for concrete ties and fastening systems in the United States, specifically those used in joint passenger-freight railway infrastructure. They will also develop a centralized knowledge and document depository about concrete ties and fastening systems.

In addition to Edwards, the research team includes CEE professors Bassem Andrawes, Daniel Kuchma and David Lange and Research Engineer Marcus Dersch, a CEE alumnus.

The industry partners involved in the project include: Amtrak, BNSF, GIC Ingenieria y Construccion S.A. de C.V., Hanson Professional Services Inc., LB Foster Company, CXT Concrete Ties, Union Pacific and Unit Rail Inc./Amsted Rail Inc.

British Columbia to provide C$7.5 million for E&N passenger rail

The province of British Columbia is investing C$7.5 million (US$7.7 million) for the E&N Railway to help restore passenger train service on Vancouver Island.

"Vancouver Island mayors have told us loud and clear that this rail service supports their economies by creating jobs, which in turn supports many families along the route," said Premier Christy Clark. "Today the Province is stepping up with C$7.5 million to help return this train service to island families and communities."

Funding will be provided in two parts. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will contribute up to C$500,000 (US$515,000) for an engineering inspection on the condition of the approximately 40 rail bridges and trestles on the line.

The balance of C$7 million (US$7.2 million) will help the Island Corridor Foundation repair the track and ensure that it is safe for passengers. The ICF has identified that it needs C$15 million (US$15.5 million) to complete essential repairs. The provincial funding of C$7 million is conditional upon the final bridge inspection and ICF matching the other C$7.5 million that it needs to ensure all repairs are completed and passenger train service can safely resume.

"Our government has heard from the communities and the local MLAs about the importance of the E&N to families on Vancouver Island," said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom. "We’re taking a balanced approach to ensure the service is viable over the long-term."

The ICF will also prepare a long-term plan that describes how passenger service can reach its potential, including ways to attract more ridership.

The rail operator, Southern Railway on Vancouver Island, suspended passenger train service earlier this spring when it determined the line was no longer safe and funding was not available to make repairs. Inspections identified decaying wooden rail ties, worn or loose bolts and vegetation overgrowth.

Today, freight service continues with speed restrictions on the E&N railway.

AECOM alliance wins US$15-million contract for new rail link in Australia

AECOM Technology Corporation announced that its TrackStar alliance was awarded a US$15 million contract to build transit rail infrastructure in Queensland, Australia.

The Richlands-to-Springfield section of the Darra-to-Springfield Rail program west of Brisbane, which has a construction value of US$488 million, comprises six miles of dual track and two stations at Springfield and Springfield Lakes, including 100- and 200-space park-and-ride facilities.

"The new rail line will help reduce congestion and ease the commutes of travelers on Centenary Highway," said John M. Dionisio, AECOM president and chief executive officer.

AECOM will be providing civil and structural design of all road and rail infrastructure on the project, including alignments, drainage, pavements, utilities, bridges, station buildings and associated urban and landscape design.

 

 

CN’s Alberta shortline rail acquisitions, upgrades total C$400 million

Canadian National has invested almost C$400 million (US$408 million) to buy and rehabilitate four shortline railways serving resource-rich regions of northern Alberta, Canada, by year-end 2011.

"CN has stepped up to the plate in Alberta with sizable rail infrastructure investments," Claude Mongeau, president and CEO of CN said. "Since 2006, we’ve purchased four rail shortlines that are key to economic growth and prosperity in northern Alberta and have spent significant sums to maintain and improve them.

"Reliable, consistent rail service is essential to current and future oil sands and resource developments and our infrastructure investments represent a clear and meaningful commitment to help foster that growth with quality rail transportation for our customers."

Mongeau said CN’s short-line acquisitions and improvements have helped solidify its freight franchise in northern Alberta, characterized by important volumes of coal, sulphur, petroleum coke, steel pipe, grain, wood pulp, lumber and diesel fuel.
CN paid a total of C$76 million (US$7.1 million) in 2006 and 2007 to buy the Mackenzie Northern Railway, Lakeland & Waterways Railway, Savage Alberta Railway, Inc., and the Athabasca Northern Railway.

Between 2006 and 2010, CN spent C$260 million (US$265 million) to upgrade the infrastructure of these lines, including the installation of new rail, ties, ballast, track, other track materials, bridges, sidings and communication technology, and expects to spend another C$45 million (US$46 million) this year on further upgrades.

As part of its purchase agreement, CN targeted the former ANY line to Fort McMurray for the largest portion of the improvements, a C$135 million (US$138 million) rehabilitation program, which remains on-track to be completed by the end of 2011. CN’s purchase and upgrading plan for the ANY was based on long-term traffic volume guarantees negotiated with shippers Suncor Energy Inc., OPTI Canada Inc., and Nexen Inc.

CN plans to build a new Calgary Logistics Park, which will provide transportation solutions to rail customers moving products and commodities into and out of Calgary, a key logistics hub for consumer and industrial goods markets in southern Alberta.

 

Canada’s VIA Rail reaches out to the public about future plans

VIA Rail Canada held its first Annual Public Meeting June 14, at the Ottawa Train Station. Broadcast simultaneously on the Internet, the meeting provided an opportunity for the public to learn about VIA’s business operations, financial performance and projects for improvements.

It also gave the public a chance to speak directly with Paul G. Smith, chairman of the board, Marc Laliberté, president and CEO and Robert St-Jean, chief financial and administrative officer, during an open-question period. The chairman and executive officers also answered questions sent by e-mail from members of the public who could not attend in person.

Major investment program
Smith mentioned that with an unprecedented investment by the Canadian government of approximately $950 million (C$923 million), VIA is transforming the future of passenger rail.

"It is the biggest capital investment program in VIA’s history," Smith said. "It will give VIA the tools, the infrastructure and equipment, to ensure that passenger rail provides relevant, vital services connecting Canada and Canadians across the country in the years ahead."

Laliberté noted that infrastructure improvements in the Quebec-Windsor corridor will expand the capacity of passenger rail, allowing VIA to carry more people. He added, "this is essential for one of our top priorities, connecting more Canadians by offering more frequent train services, faster and better schedules and more reliable performance."

Performance
In an overview of VIA’s performance in 2010, St-Jean said that travel markets continued to struggle following the 2009 recession and despite that context, VIA revenues increased by 3.2 percent.

"This means that we are earning more revenues per passenger," St-Jean added. "And if we look at the first quarter of 2011, things look even more encouraging. Compared with the first quarter of 2010, passenger revenues are up 6.3 percent and passenger volumes increased 2.7 percent. So revenues continue to increase, due in large part to better revenue management and we’ve got ridership back on track for growth."

Transforming VIA
Laliberté also outlined VIA’s strategy to achieve two further goals: increase services in a value for taxpayers’ perspective and making passenger rail "not only the safest, but most operationally-efficient mode of public transportation in Canada."

Commenting on prospects for the future, Laliberté said, "2011 will be a pivotal year, as key investment projects move forward and reach completion. As we continue to focus on the immediate challenge, maintaining steady growth in the months ahead, I am confident that this pivotal year will mark an important step towards our vision for the future. "

Amtrak bridge projects on schedule

Amtrak work on its three Connecticut movable bridge projects remains on schedule for completion. Two of the three federally-funded projects are on pace to be concluded sometime in 2013, with work to replace the railroad bridge over the Pattaganset River (Miamicock) in East Lyme scheduled to be completed in June 2011.

Replacement of the railroad bridge over the Pattaganset River (Miamicock)
The $20 million Miamicock Bridge Replacement Project is being funded by the American Recovery and Investment Act and is in its final stages with an anticipated completion date by the end of June. The project included removal of the existing 100-year-old bridge and substructure and construction of the new bridge on footings supported by piles driven to bedrock. According to Amtrak, this project was unique in that construction was completed on each track in phases while train service remained active on the adjacent track.

Niantic bridge replacement project
The $125 million Niantic Bridge Replacement Project in East Lyme remains on pace for completion in May 2013. It is being funded by $47.1 million from Amtrak’s annual capital program and $57.6 million from ARRA. Crews are preparing to begin construction of a new navigation channel bridge pier fender system; installation of an electrical submarine cable crossing under the navigation channel and between the river piers; and completion of the concrete river piers, bridge abutments and the pre-cast of a concrete sea wall. All of this work is to be completed by the end of 2011.

East and West Harbor railroad bridge project
The East and West Harbor Bridges each received $16 million in ARRA funding for their removal and replacement with new bridges, steel spans, concrete piers and headwalls. As a result of the work, the bridges will have increased in its vertical clearance under the bridge, which will improve access north of the railroad for local boaters to Lambert’s Cove.

Illinois HSR work affects Amtrak Lincoln Service, Texas Eagle

Upgrading of approximately 96 miles of railroad track, including installation of a 250,000 railroad ties for future high-speed Amtrak trains, will resume May 20. This work will lead to the substitution of chartered motorcoaches for some Lincoln Service trains and the detour of the Texas Eagle between Chicago and St. Louis.

The temporary changes will allow Union Pacific crews to improve infrastructure to allow Amtrak service at speeds up to 110 mph, an increase from the current maximum of 79 mph. The Illinois Department of Transportation anticipates operation of some Lincoln Service trains at speeds up to 110 mph next year between Dwight and Pontiac.

Until the new trains arrive in a few years, Lincoln Service trains will continue to operate with the current Amtrak cars and locomotives, which are capable of higher speeds.

Passenger Service Notices are posted at stations and will be displayed as part of the booking process on Amtrak.com, with updates on the Official Illinois High-Speed Rail Chicago to St. Louis project website, www.idothsr.org.

CN increases Brampton Intermodal Terminal capacity

Canadian National has announced a series of capacity improvements to accommodate growing container volumes at its Brampton Intermodal Terminal and to ensure a high level of service for intermodal customers across its system.

BIT, located in the prime logistics area of Greater Toronto, is Canada’s largest rail intermodal terminal and a key component in CN’s distribution network, almost 60 percent of the railway’s system-wide intermodal business touches the terminal. CN’s rail intermodal traffic consists primarily of containerized cargos moving in cooperation with other transportation modes.

Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer of CN, said, "Intermodal is one of CN’s fastest-growing business segments. We are investing in new track, equipment and other infrastructure improvements at BIT to take our intermodal service offering to the next level in efficiently distributing growing overseas container traffic reaching our network over Canadian ports as well as rising domestic intermodal shipments across Canada. These investments will increase supply chain efficiencies for our customers and help them grow their businesses.

CN’s BIT improvements include:

– The installation of new track and extension of existing track to
increase rail capacity by close to 15 per cent;

– Creation of approximately 25 percent more ground space for
international containers by staging CN containers offsite;

– Purchasing five new cranes in 2011, after the acquisition of five new
ones last fall and

– Increasing the labor force by about 10 percent in 2011.

BIT’s 2011 intermodal volumes through the end of April increased by 12 percent over figures for the comparable period of 2010.

Mongeau said, "CN’s capacity improvements at BIT reflect our strategic agenda of operational and service excellence. By anticipating our customers’ transportation needs, our innovation and supply chain collaboration focus can help them expand profitably and compete more effectively."

ORDC approves grants for three rail projects

Ohio Rail Development Commission has approved grants for three rail projects in Butler, Highland and Summit Counties, Ohio, after projects were given the green light by the ORDC.

Rail spur at Middletown
A two-track rail spur and switch connection to the CSX Transportation main line will enable a new coiled steel coating operation to start at the NCI Group manufacturing facility at Middletown. This new rail infrastructure represents part of a total $12.7-million dollar investment at a brownfield site. The steel coating operation will create 74 new jobs at an average pay of $17.68 an hour with benefits and generate between 500 and 1,000 carloads of freight annually.

ORDC approved a grant of $75,000, which leverages further funding from NCI Group, CSXT, the Ohio Department of Development and local sources through a job creation grant and tax abatements.

Bridge rehabilitation enables plant re-opening at Greenfield
A series of bridges on the city of Greenfield-owned rail line will provide key transportation links toward the re-opening of the Johnson Controls plant at Greenfield and the immediate restoration of 130 jobs, with another 80 jobs to be added with a planned second shift later this year.

ORDC Commissioners had approved a $235,000 grant in January of this year, which leveraged $58,000 in funding from the City of Greenfield. Today’s action by the Commission adds another $35,000 toward the project for additional bridge tie replacement and ditch-cleaning along several miles of the railroad right-of-way.

Rail-truck transload facility at Macedonia
An ORDC loan of up to $350,000 to the Jamen Corporation will leverage funding from Jamen, the Mean J Trucking Company and the Norfolk Southern Railroad to build a rail spur and re-install a switch connection to the NS main line at Macedonia for a new cement rail-to-truck transloading facility. The project will create 4 new jobs at the facility and create an additional 10 trucking jobs.

 

HDR providing construction services for Orange County grade-crossing projects

HDR will monitor utility relocation and inspect construction of a railroad detour as part of the project, which is located in Fullerton, Calif., along the BNSF. HDR is providing construction services, including utility coordination, BNSF coordination and structure and roadway inspection, as a subconsultant to Arcadis.

The Orange County Transportation Authority is conducting multiple grade separation projects that will separate vehicular traffic from rail traffic, to alleviate traffic impacts and enhance safety for at-grade rail crossings for several county intersections. The scope of the project involves building a railroad bridge to accommodate two BNSF tracks and a future third track, while Kraemer Boulevard and Crowther Avenue will be depressed to accommodate the undercrossing of BNSF lines.

 

Amtrak’s portion of federal funds will upgrade New York to Washington HSR Service

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Amtrak $450 million in funding to upgrade its rail infrastructure to support more frequent and faster high-speed rail service and to improve reliability of current service between New York and Washington, DC.

"With this investment by the Obama administration, the Amtrak vision for high-speed rail in the Northeast is now departing the station and heading down the tracks to help take America to the next generation of passenger service," said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman.

The funding will go toward improvements in support of the Amtrak Gateway Project, which will construct new tunnels to access an expanded New York Penn Station, enhance regional economic development and job creation and lay the foundation for the future launch of 220 mph next-generation high-speed service.

Specifically, the $450 million awarded to Amtrak is for a project to upgrade electrical power, signal systems, track and overhead catenary wires between Morrisville, Pa., and New Brunswick, N.J. It also will reconfigure track switches at the western entrance to New York Penn Station to mitigate congestion issues. The anticipated completion date is in September 2017.

As a result, Amtrak top speeds will increase from 135 mph to 160 mph along a 24-mile section of track. Combined with new equipment acquisition currently in the planning stages, the project supports plans to add six more Acela Express high-speed roundtrips between New York and Washington by 2018 and a total of 15 additional roundtrips by 2022.

In addition to the $450 million received by Amtrak, several states were awarded a total of $345 million for other NEC-specific projects. Amtrak worked closely with its state partners along the NEC during the application process to coordinate projects in order to maximize the expected regional improvements.

 

Chicago to St. Louis line receives $186M from Florida’s rejected HSR Funds

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $186 million in high-speed rail funding to finance track and other improvements on the Chicago to St. Louis corridor between Dwight and Joliet, Ill. The U.S. Department of Transportation notified Congressional Appropriators that they have reprogrammed $400 million of the $2 billion in funding that was rejected by the governor of Florida.

"Illinois will be able to use this funding to upgrade an important segment of the Chicago to St. Louis corridor," said Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a co-chair and founding member of the Bi-Cameral High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Caucus. "Improvements to this route will improve on-time performance, increase travel speeds and create jobs that our state badly needs.

U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) said, "High-speed rail projects like this one will ensure that Illinois remains at the center of the nation’s infrastructure network, attracting more jobs and making us more economically competitive."

"Today’s announcement is an important step toward faster trains and even better rail service on the route between Chicago and St. Louis, ultimately making Illinois the Midwest’s hub for high-speed rail," Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said. "We are committed to quickly turning federal investment in rail into jobs and economic development across the state. This latest award is another example of our ongoing efforts to lead the nation in development of high-speed rail."

Last month, Durbin and Kirk led a group of Illinois Congressional Delegation members in expressing support for Illinois’ application for the federal funding for high-speed rail projects that was rejected by the governor of Florida. In their letter to the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, the members stressed the importance of the Chicago to St. Louis route as the backbone of the Midwest passenger rail system.

 

NS begins construction on $105 million Memphis Regional Intermodal Facility

Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman and Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam joined state and local dignitaries and business and community leaders at the groundbreaking for the new Memphis Regional Intermodal Facility in Rossville, Tenn. The $105 million facility is part of the multi-state $2.5 billion Crescent Corridor initiative to establish an efficient, high-capacity intermodal freight rail route between the South and the Northeast on Norfolk Southern’s rail network.

NCDOT awards $2 million to nine shortlines for maintenance

The North Carolina Board of Transportation has awarded nearly $2 million in state funds to nine small freight railroads through the Short Line Infrastructure Assistance Program. The grants will be used to help with track and bridge maintenance and other improvements.

"These grants will retain jobs and support economic development in rural areas," Transportation Secretary Gene Conti said. "At the same time, the grants will help modernize the state’s rail system and bring about improved capacity, reliability and safety."

SIAP’s focus is to help shortlines maintain and improve their tracks and better serve industries in primarily rural areas. The money will be used to assist nine railroads that will directly benefit 20 counties serving 62 companies. The money is a part of a public-private partnership, with at least 50 percent coming from the shortline railroad companies.

"Shortline railroads connect our shippers with the national rail network," said Andrew Perkins, chair of the Board of Transportation’s Rail Subcommittee. "They ensure that our industries can receive raw materials and ship products across the country."

State SIAP funds are appropriated by the N.C. General Assembly on a year-by-year basis. These grant funds are not automatically recurring.

UP to increase train speeds in Southern Oregon and Northern California

Drivers will spend less time waiting for trains to pass as Union Pacific increases the speed of its trains on the rail line that runs between Klamath Falls, Ore., and Perez, Calif. Union Pacific recently invested more than $1.5 million to enhance its track infrastructure on this 50 mile corridor that runs from southern Oregon into northern California.

Replacing more than 11,000 railroad ties and adding new ballast for a stable roadbed, the track improvement project will increase train speed on this corridor from the current limit of 10 mph to 25 mph.

CN signs agreements with two Illinois communities for safety enhancements

Canadian National has reached a voluntary mitigation agreement with the Village of Wayne, Ill., regarding its acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company and another agreement with the city of Joliet, Ill., to fund construction of a grade-crossing bypass that will improve vehicular traffic flows and enhance rail safety in the city’s Forest Park area.

With the Village of Wayne agreement, CN has VMAs with 82 percent of the 33 communities along the EJ&E in Illinois and Indiana.

CN will provide the Village of Wayne funding for the creation of a quiet zone, noise and safety mitigation, communications and emergency response training.

Jim Vena, CN senior vice-president, Southern Region, said: "CN is pleased to have reached this mitigation agreement with the Village of Wayne, marking the 27th VMA that we have signed with communities on the EJ&E line. The fact that CN has concluded VMAs with more than 80 percent of municipalities affected by the EJ&E transaction reflects a clear corporate commitment to work cooperatively with our line-side neighbors toward mutually acceptable mitigation outcomes. This leaves just six communities along the EJ&E without VMAs with CN. Should any of these remaining municipalities wish to explore mitigation agreements with CN in future, we would be more than pleased to enter such discussions."

Joliet’s $2.5-million bypass funded by CN will permit the closure of the Woodruff Road grade crossing, located just outside of Joliet Yard. Delays to motorists due to stopped and slow-moving trains needing to enter and exit the yard have long been a problem at this crossing and it has consistently experienced the highest number of crossing blockages since CN’s acquisition of the EJ&E.

The new bypass road will link the eastern portion of Woodruff Road and Collins Street, providing area residents a road connection that does not cross the CN tracks.
The new road will also assist the efforts of the City of Joliet to promote the redevelopment of the old Joliet Prison/Collins Street Prison property, including the old prison structures as well as undeveloped land located east of Collins Street.

Vena said, "CN has been working closely with the City of Joliet for the past three years on ways to lessen the impact on the community of our acquisition of the EJ&E. In fact, Joliet was the first city we reached a voluntary mitigation agreement with back in August 2008.

"We are extremely pleased that our productive partnership with Joliet has produced a mutually beneficial road bypass agreement that will improve the quality of life of residents living near the Woodruff Road grade crossing, spur property redevelopment in the area and help improve the fluidity of CN’s rail network in the Chicago area."

Joliet Mayor Arthur Schultz said, "CN’s investment in the new bypass road should assist us in kick-starting the redevelopment of the old prison property, which has been a key priority for many city stakeholders. We appreciate CN’s innovation and community partnership in advancing such an important urban initiative."

Granite awarded $41M rail relocation project in Northern California

Granite Construction Incorporated, a heavy civil contractor and construction material producer, has been awarded a $41 million rail relocation project by the City of Sacramento, Calif. Granite booked the project into its first quarter 2011 backlog.

Located in downtown Sacramento, the Railyards project includes the relocation of approximately 2.3 miles of heavy rail track, major utility infrastructure and site improvements, construction of multiple access tunnels for pedestrians and service vehicles, as well as new passenger tracks and platforms. The project is part of a 245-acre redevelopment effort designed to improve connectivity in downtown Sacramento in preparation for future expansion plans including residential and commercial development.
Work is estimated to begin in May 2011 and be completed by December 2012.