Annual Report: Grade Crossing Surfaces 2014

Railroads look to suppliers for smooth grade-crossing surfaces to ensure safety for everyone and everything that passes over and on the tracks.

Grinding out the ideal rail profile

The role grinding practices hold in rail profile management calls for special care with one of the railroads’ most expensive assets.

Ports call on rail investment

The Port of Long Beach, the nation’s second busiest port, is close to completing the first of several rail projects aimed at adding capacity.

Officials celebrate completion of Roberts Bank Rail Corridor Combo Project

In British Columbia, Canada, federal and local officials celebrated the completion of three Asia-Pacific Gateway projects along the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor (RBRC).

HART begins guideway construction

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) has started installing the guideway for the rail system, placing the 50-ton segments on top of the columns in West Oahu, Hawaii.

TriMet names executive director of maintenance operations

TriMet hired Sam Marra as executive director of maintenance operations, beginning July 8. In this role, Marra will oversee and provide leadership for TriMet’s bus and rail fleet maintenance, rail maintenance-of-way operations and the agency’s facilities management.

UP named 2013 Railroad Company of the Year

Union Pacific earned the 2013 Railroad Company of the Year Award from Evergreen Shipping Agency (America) Corp. The annual award is presented to suppliers and vendors that provide superior service and maintain high performance levels.

SCVTA to close Dixon Landing for grade separation work

Starting June 16, Dixon Landing Road in Milpitas will be closed by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) to through traffic in both directions between Milmont Drive and just east of the railroad corridor in northern Milpitas for eight months for grade separation work.

Freight railroads promote safe behavior around grade crossings

North America’s freight railroads hosted events on June 3 in multiple cities across the country in observance of the sixth-annual International Level Crossing Day (ILCAD) aimed at raising public awareness about safe behavior around railroad grade crossings.

Rep. Barr tours R.J. Corman yard; speaks to contractors’ role in national rail network

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-06) joined representatives from R.J. Corman Railroad Group and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of R.J. Corman Railroad Group’s rail yard in Lexington, Ky.

NS, Operation Lifesaver team up on Georgia safety train

The Peach State Whistle-Stop Safety Train this week starts a 327-mile tour from the heart of South Georgia to the city of Dalton, calling attention to safety and trespasser awareness.

BLET members at SEPTA authorize strike

A 98.84 percent majority of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) members working for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) have voted to authorize a strike when a mandatory 30-day cooling off period under the Railway Labor Act comes to an end in less than two weeks.

HDR hires transit sector director

HDR, Inc., has hired Tom Waldron as transit market sector director, based in HDR’s New York City office. His responsibilities include setting HDR’s vision and initiatives for continued growth and expansion in transit across North America and globally.

Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern completes acquisition of DM&E west end

Genesee & Wyoming Inc.’s (GWI) newly-established subsidiary, Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad, Inc., has completed the acquisition of the west end of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E) rail line from Canadian Pacific for approximately $210 million plus approximately $7.5 million for the purchase of certain inventory, equipment and vehicles.

Parsons selected as program management of Arlington Streetcar project

Arlington and Fairfax Counties in Virginia have selected Parsons Transportation Group to help manage Arlington’s streetcar program, which includes the Columbia Pike streetcar segment that the two counties are jointly building.

Indiana kicks off $71-million rail upgrade

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence joined representatives from Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration and Norfolk Southern on May 29 to kick off the $71.4-million Indiana Gateway project to improve rail lines between Porter, Ind., and the Illinois state line.

FASTRACK returns to Manhattan June 2

On June 2, Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit’s (NYCT) FASTRACK program will return to Manhattan stations along the N, Q and R lines. For four consecutive weeknights the N, Q and R trains will not stop at stations in Manhattan.

Sen. Graham visits Harsco Rail

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a member of the Appropriations Committee, Armed Services Committee, Budget Committee and Judiciary Committee, joined representatives from Harsco Rail and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) May 28 for a tour of Harsco Rail’s manufacturing facility and headquarters in Columbia, S.C.

More Sandy relief funds for NJ Transit, PATH

The Department of Transportation has awarded a combined $235 million in federal grants to repair damage from Superstorm Sandy inflicted on New Jersey Transit and Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) rail systems in late October 2012.

UP completes New Mexico rail facility

Union Pacific celebrated the grand opening of its New Mexico rail facility May 28, which officially opened April 1. The 2,200-acre site will create value for UP customers and produce greater logistics efficiencies along Union Pacific’s critical Sunset Route, the rail line running 760 miles from El Paso, Texas, to Los Angeles, Calif.

LOAD MORE