Railroad News

Pierre-Luc Mathieu has been named president of OmniTRAX Energy Solutions (OES), parent company OmniTRAX Inc. announced yesterday.

Mathieu previously served as chief strategy officer for OmniTRAX.

Pan Am Railways and DP World have agreed to form a new direct intermodal service connecting the Boston market to Port Saint John in New Brunswick, Canada.

The new agreement provides a "viable alternative" to customers in the New England area, said officials representing DP World, the port's terminal operator. Port Saint John provides connections to more than 500 international destinations.

The Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) board yesterday awarded a $30.8 million contract to Walsh Construction Co. II LLC to rehabilitate and upgrade two Blue Line terminals.

The company will perform a range of improvements at the Jefferson Park and Belmont stations. The enhancements include new signage, interior and exterior painting, new LED lighting, and replacement of the bus terminal concrete and rail station platform surfaces.

Norfolk Southern Railway has restored service on mainline track throughout Georgia and Florida following the impact of Hurricane Irma, the Class I announced today.

Regularly scheduled road train service has resumed while NS continues to "meter in traffic" to Savannah and Brunswick, Ga..; Jacksonville, Fla.; and surrounding areas, according to an NS update on its operations.

Metra's board yesterday approved a $21.6 million contract to replace a 136-year-old bridge over the Fox River along the Milwaukee District West Line in Elgin, Illinois.

The contract was awarded to Illinois Construction Corp., the lowest bidder. The $34 million project involves replacing the existing single-track bridge with a double-track one built to modern standards, Metra officials said in a press release.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Board approved the award of a design/build contract for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Jefferson Park and Belmont Blue Line stations as well as the construction contract for the Green Line Garfield Gateway Project.

Walsh Construction Company II, LLC, was awarded both contracts.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Board approved the award of a design/build contract for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Jefferson Park and Belmont Blue Line stations as well as the construction contract for the Green Line Garfield Gateway Project.

Walsh Construction Company II, LLC, was awarded both contracts.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Board approved the award of a design/build contract for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Jefferson Park and Belmont Blue Line stations as well as the construction contract for the Green Line Garfield Gateway Project.

Walsh Construction Company II, LLC, was awarded both contracts.

Tacoma, Wash.-based shortline Tacoma Rail has selected Herzog Technologies, Inc. (HTI) to provide Positive Train Control (PTC) Hosting services.

Herzog PTC Hosting "allows railroads nationwide to simplify and accelerate their PTC implementation utilizing Herzog's PTC expertise and existing PTC data center infrastructure," HTI said. "With this partnership, Herzog will assist Tacoma Rail in meeting the mandated [Dec. 31, 2018] PTC [federal implementation] deadline and be interoperable with Tacoma Rail's host railroads," BNSF and Union Pacific.

Tacoma, Wash.-based shortline Tacoma Rail has selected Herzog Technologies, Inc. (HTI) to provide Positive Train Control (PTC) Hosting services.

Herzog PTC Hosting "allows railroads nationwide to simplify and accelerate their PTC implementation utilizing Herzog's PTC expertise and existing PTC data center infrastructure," HTI said. "With this partnership, Herzog will assist Tacoma Rail in meeting the mandated [Dec. 31, 2018] PTC [federal implementation] deadline and be interoperable with Tacoma Rail's host railroads," BNSF and Union Pacific.

Tacoma, Wash.-based shortline Tacoma Rail has selected Herzog Technologies, Inc. (HTI) to provide Positive Train Control (PTC) Hosting services.

Herzog PTC Hosting "allows railroads nationwide to simplify and accelerate their PTC implementation utilizing Herzog's PTC expertise and existing PTC data center infrastructure," HTI said. "With this partnership, Herzog will assist Tacoma Rail in meeting the mandated [Dec. 31, 2018] PTC [federal implementation] deadline and be interoperable with Tacoma Rail's host railroads," BNSF and Union Pacific.

Metra's Board of Directors has awarded a $21.6-million contract to replace the 136-year-old Fox River bridge to Illinois Constructors Corporation of Elburn.

The project will replace the existing single-track bridge with a double-track bridge built to modern standards. Metra received a $14-million federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant for the $34 million project. Metra and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) will share the remaining cost, with $6 million from CP and $14 million from Metra.

Metra's Board of Directors has awarded a $21.6-million contract to replace the 136-year-old Fox River bridge to Illinois Constructors Corporation of Elburn.

The project will replace the existing single-track bridge with a double-track bridge built to modern standards. Metra received a $14-million federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant for the $34 million project. Metra and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) will share the remaining cost, with $6 million from CP and $14 million from Metra.

Metra's Board of Directors has awarded a $21.6-million contract to replace the 136-year-old Fox River bridge to Illinois Constructors Corporation of Elburn.

The project will replace the existing single-track bridge with a double-track bridge built to modern standards. Metra received a $14-million federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant for the $34 million project. Metra and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) will share the remaining cost, with $6 million from CP and $14 million from Metra.

Rails Co. released a new wireless 900 MHz radio control system.

Rails Co. released a new wireless 900 MHz radio control system.

Rails Co. released a new wireless 900 MHz radio control system.

The Greenbrier Cos. Inc. has built its 50,000th covered hopper rail car, the company announced today. In February, Greenbrier completed production of its 100,00th intermodal double-stack rail car. Both milestones exemplify the company's "transformation from a limited builder of specialized rail cars to a broad-based manufacturer of virtually all rail-car types," Greenbrier officials said in a press release. The company built its first covered hopper rail car more than 11 years ago. Greenbreir now builds a full line of small, medium and large covered hopper rail cars with freight-carrying capacities from 3,250 cubic feet up to 6,580 cubic feet.

Thales has closed on its acquisition of Guavus, a Big Data analytics company. The transaction is expected to help Thales address the growing needs of an "increasingly connected global ecosystem," Thales officials said in a press release. Guavus has built an industrial Big Data platform designed to be implemented across multiple new markets. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, Guavus employs 250 people. Its revenue is expected to exceed $30 million for the current fiscal year, according to Thales. Thales announced plans to acquire the company in spring.

MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) last week opened an upgraded platform at its Hicksville Station in Nassau County, New York.

The 12-car concrete platform was demolished to make way for a new one with a translucent canopy. Crews installed energy-efficient lighting and signage, along with a new audio-visual paging system, which includes train time signs and speakers.

Chicago's Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) has unveiled updated signage at Chicago Union Station.

The 81 updated signs are designed to easily connect travelers to transportation options and amenities in the station, RTA officials said in a press release.