Metrolinx, TTC reach operating agreement for light-rail lines

Canada’s Metrolinx and Toronto Transit Commission have reached an agreement on the operations and maintenance of Toronto’s four new provincially-funded light-rail transit lines.

Saskatchewan opens province’s 13th shortline

The Canadian province of Saskatchewan opened its 13th shortline, the Long Creek Railroad (LCRR), on Oct. 2.

Two are named to GWI Board of Directors

Genesee and Wyoming Inc. appointed Richard Bott and Gregory Ledford to its board of directors, effective October 1, 2012 and October 2, 2012, respectively.

LACMTA receives $545.9 million TIFIA loan for Crenshaw/LAX project

The U.S. Department of Transportation approved a $545.9 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan that will enable the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) to advance construction of a new light-rail transit line along the Crenshaw corridor.

Connecticut receives $120 million for high-speed rail

Connecticut will receive $120 million in high-speed intercity passenger rail program funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to complete construction on the Hartford segment of the New Haven to Springfield, Mass., passenger rail corridor.

CREATE Project B15 complete

As part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE), the Blue Island-Riverdale-Dolton Signal Modernization Project is complete.

White House expedites Southwest LRT and GCRTA station

As part of President Obama’s We Can’t Wait initiative, two nationally and regionally significant transit projects in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Cleveland, Ohio, will be expedited to put Americans to work and will provide Minnesota and Ohio with more transportation choices.

Metro-North begins rehab work on three stations, plans for three more

Rehabilitation work has begun on New York’s Metro-North Mount Vernon East, Pelham and New Rochelle stations and will begin next summer at Larchmont, Mamaroneck and Harrison stations in a major upgrade that will bring these six facilities to a state of good repair over the next two years.

Kokomo railroad to reopen after $5.5 million rehabilitation project

Twelve miles of inactive railroad running through the city of Kokomo to Tipton, Ind., will soon be reopened to rail freight traffic by early 2014.

CP EVP/COO resigns

Mike Franczak, executive vice president and chief operations officer for Canadian Pacific, has resigned.

KCS appoints vice president sales and marketing

Kansas City Southern has appointed Stephen Schollaert as vice president sales and marketing. In this position, he leads the carload business unit for The Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR) and reports to KCS executive vice president sales and marketing Patrick Ottensmeyer.

GWI completes RailAmerica acquisition

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. has completed the acquisition of RailAmerica, Inc. and entered into a new five-year Senior Secured Credit Facility comprised of a $1.875 billion term loan and $425 million revolving credit facility.

AAR: Freight rail industry invests $23 billion so taxpayers don’t have to

In 2012, the freight rail industry will invest $23 billion to build, maintain and upgrade the nation’s rail network, according to two new ads released by The Association of American Railroads.

CN to build two training facilities in Canada and U.S.

Canadian National revitalized its company-wide employee training program, which will be anchored by two modern training centers to be built in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, and in suburban Chicago, Ill.

FEMA will reimburse MTA for storm damage along Port Jervis line

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will reimburse $1,581,244 in disaster funding to New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority for damages mainly along the Metro-North Port Jervis line that runs parallel to the Ramapo River.

Rail-delivered sand will move faster through upgraded terminal

Norfolk Southern trains hauling sand used in extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation soon will have the ability to unload five times faster due to a $20 million upgrade at the Horseheads (N.Y.) Sand & Transloading Terminal (HOST).

Metro-North celebrates complete reconstruction of the Tarrytown Station

The reconstruction of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro-North Tarrytown Station, the second busiest station on the Hudson Line, has been completed under budget, on schedule after three years of work and with no impact on train performance.

Union Pacific names Duren executive vice president

Union Pacific named Diane Duren executive vice president. She will be responsible for strategic planning, administration and human resources upon two senior executive retirements in February. Duren also will become corporate secretary at that time.

AECOM awarded design contract to expand North Metro Rail Line in Denver

AECOM Technology Corporation was awarded a final design contract to assist the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) in the first two segments of its North Metro Rail Line.

CTC to release $39.8 million to advance Caltrain modernization project

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) released $39.8 million in allocations for critical work to advance the San Francisco-area Caltrain Modernization Program and prepare the corridor for a future blended system with California high-speed rail.

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