Alion awarded $10 Million FRA contract to study human performance in rail operations and maintenance

To enhance safety and improve railroad operations, the Federal Railroad Administration has awarded Alion Science and Technology a contract with a ceiling of $10 million to conduct research that gauges human performance in rail operations and maintenance. The global engineering, R&D, IT and operational solutions company will provide technical expertise to FRA’s Human Factors Research Division, which aims to reduce human factors that cause train, trespasser and grade crossing accidents.

New rail horn technology project continues in Del Mar, Calif.

As part of a pilot program to install wayside horns in the city of Del Mar, Calif., crews are beginning to construction of pedestrian crossing improvements at Coast Blvd.

Reading and Northern Railroad hires Dennis Shaffer

Reading and Northern Railroad hired Dennis Shaffer as vice president of business development, effective August 20, 2012.

FTA green lights LACMTA’s Westside Subway Extension Project

The Federal Transit Administration granted the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority a Record of Decision (ROD) for the $5.6 billion Westside Subway Extension,

Feasibility study to look at proposed rail line in Quebec/Labrador iron ore range

Canadian National says that a customer group of mining companies, Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Ltd., New Millennium Iron Corp., Cap-Ex Ventures Ltd., and Alderon Iron Ore Corp.

SFMTA issues statement regarding use of switchbacks

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board Chairman Tom Nolan and Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin issued a statement on the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury Report, “Better Muni Service Needed, Without Switchbacks.”

UTU, BLET members ratify four contract agreements

Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and United Transportation Union recently ratified four new collective bargaining agreements.

Regional Rail LLC acquires majority share of Diamondback Signal, LLC

Regional Rail, LLC, has acquired a majority ownership interest in Diamondback Signal, LLC. Diamondback Signal specializes in the design, construction and maintenance of signal installations for crossings and was formed in January of 2012. In the short time since its inception, Diamondback has been able to contract with 21 railroads and private industries throughout the United States to provide normalized maintenance and monthly inspections for their signalized crossings and has also aggressively pursued and secured a number of crossing signal construction and/or rehabilitation projects.

CTA adds more work to North Red Station Project

In an effort to reduce future expenses and avoid additional impacts to rail service, the Chicago Transit Board approved an amendment to the existing design/build contract for the North Red Line station improvement project.

Oregon port’s South Rivergate Expansion boosts export flow

A major rail yard expansion project in Portland, Wash., is improving efficiency and capacity for exports at the city’s largest industrial park. Completed in June and now fully operational, the South Rivergate Yard expansion project was the last in a series of four recent rail and road improvement projects located in Rivergate Industrial District.

KCS promotes Ebbrecht to EVP & COO

Kansas City Southern promoted David Ebbrecht from executive vice president operations to executive vice president and chief operating officer for KCS and its U.S. subsidiary, The Kansas City Southern Railway Company. In this position, Ebbrecht will continue to coordinate closely with the leadership of Kansas City Southern de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. Ebbrecht reports to KCS president and chief executive officer David Starling.

2012 chief enigneers’ survey: WISH LIST

Safety remains at the top of engineering department’s list of equipment guidelines.

You want to impress a railroad engineer with a piece of maintenance equipment? Make sure it’s versatile, reliable, as well as easy to maintain, to transport and to use. Above all else, it must be safe.

CREATE program update: keeping Chicago fluid

The CREATE program continues to improve movement through the nation’s rail nucleus.

The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program marked nine years of existence in June 2012.

Maintaining ballast below the ties

Optimal track conditions rely heavily on ballast maintenance.

Ballast doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. For those outside of the industry, the flashy signals, rail and crossties are what railroad lines are made of.

Metra breaks ground on Cicero Station rehab project

Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval and Cicero Town President Larry Dominick joined Metra Acting Chairman Larry Huggins and Executive Director/CEO Alex Clifford on August 7 at a groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of Metra’s Cicero Station on the BNSF Line.

NS, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to begin hazard elimination project

The effort to establish Section 130 hazard-elimination at railroad crossings in Louisville, Ken., near Wilson Avenue and Woodland Avenue, has taken a major step forward with the project receiving $1.8 million in funding for improvements.

Western Rail Road members ratify new UTU pact

Train, engine and mechanical forces represented by the United Transportation Union on shortline Western Rail Road in Texas have ratified a new agreement reached with mediation assistance from the National Mediation Board.

Union Pacific working on infrastructure in Iowa, Illinois

Union Pacific is enhancing Illinois and Iowa’s transportation infrastructure with a $24 million investment.

SFMTA to begin utility relocation for Central Subway Project

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said that pre-construction associated with the Central Subway tunnel will begin on August 13 in North Beach. The work involves relocating utility lines on a half-block section of Columbus Avenue between Union and Powell streets.

Amtrak celebrates Seattle maintenance facility upgrades

Phase 1 and Phase 2 of a major upgrade of the Seattle Maintenance Facility in Washington State has been completed by Amtrak and its partners. The facilities support Amtrak operations and maintenance agreements in the Pacific Northwest for the Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, Amtrak Cascades and Sounder commuter trains.

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