Railroad News

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The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 29, 2017, as well as volumes for July 2017.

Govs. Andrew Cuomo of New York and Chris Christie of New Jersey yesterday announced new leadership appointments at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).

Kevin O'Toole has been named chairman of the board, while Rick Cotton has been appointed the authority's executive director, according to a press release jointly issued by the governors.

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. will acquire CH2M HILL Companies Ltd.

The two companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Jacobs will acquire all of the outstanding shares of CH2M in a cash and stock transaction with an enterprise value of approximately $3.27 billion, including approximately $416 million of CH2M net debt.

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. will acquire CH2M HILL Companies Ltd.

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. will acquire CH2M HILL Companies Ltd.

Michael Lefevre, 28

Job description: As director of the Operations Control Center (OCC) of the Brightline intercity passenger-rail service in southeastern Florida, Lefevre designed and implemented procedures for monitoring, reporting and streamlining daily operations. With the support of the five teammates who staff the OCC, Lefevre is responsible for delivering real-time updates on train performance, fielding all situational calls from Brightline trains and stations, and initiating schedule changes as necessary.

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree, Duke University

The number of riders who said they were satisfied with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) commuter-rail service has nearly doubled over the past two years, according to a recent survey.

Of the riders who participated in the survey, 32 percent said they're satisfied with the MBTA's commuter-rail service. That marks an increase from another survey conducted in spring 2015, when just 18 percent of passengers said they were satisfied with the agency's commuter rail.

Gulf & Ohio Railways Inc. (G&O) announced leadership appointments effective today at locomotive manufacturer Knoxville Locomotive Works Inc. (KLW).

Michael Wester has been named executive vice president; Tom German, general manager; and Scott Gatewood, chief design engineer, said KLW President Pete Claussen in a press release.

Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario (IO) have issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for firms to design, build and finance GO Transit rail station improvement projects.

The infrastructure upgrades are needed to accommodate service increases resulting from the GO Regional Express Rail (RER) project, which calls for electrifying core segments of GO Transit's network.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has issued a draft environmental impact report for its proposed Livermore extension in California.

The project involes adding 5.5 miles of rail along Interstate-580 and building a new station. The extension would link an existing station in Pleasanton to a new one in Livermore.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) yesterday announced a proposal that would make it easier for public-private partnerships to be formed in public transportation projects.

The proposed Private Investment Project Procedures for public transportation capital projects will help the federal government develop "more effective approaches" to spurring private participation and investment in project planning, development, finance, design, construction, maintenance and operation, according to an FTA press release.

Rail-car orders in the second quarter totaled 17,665 units compared with 4,814 units in the first quarter and 7,555 units in second-quarter 2016, according to quarterly statistics released last week by the Railway Supply Institute's American Railway Car Institute Committee (ARCI).

Car deliveries in Q2 increased to 10,625 units from Q1 deliveries of 10,042 units. However, they decreased in the last quarter compared with Q2 2016's deliveries of 15,655 units.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today will begin holding hearings to solicit public input the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) for the Hudson River rail tunnel project.

The FRA will hold two sessions today. Hearings also are scheduled for Thursday and 10. Each meeting will include afternoon and evening sessions.

Alene Tchourumoff was sworn in as the 15th chair of the Metropolitan Council. Tchourumoff is replacing Adam Duininck who stepped down to pursue a new professional opportunity.

The Metropolitan Council says Tchourumoff will bring a decade of experience in infrastructure planning, transportation policy and finance to her new role. Tchourumoff most recently served as served as Minnesota's first State Rail Director. Minnesota Governor Mark administered the oath of office to Chair Tchourumoff at the Met Council Chambers on Monday. He says Chair Tchourumoff is exceptionally well qualified for the position.

Alene Tchourumoff was sworn in as the 15th chair of the Metropolitan Council. Tchourumoff is replacing Adam Duininck who stepped down to pursue a new professional opportunity.

The Metropolitan Council says Tchourumoff will bring a decade of experience in infrastructure planning, transportation policy and finance to her new role. Tchourumoff most recently served as served as Minnesota's first State Rail Director. Minnesota Governor Mark administered the oath of office to Chair Tchourumoff at the Met Council Chambers on Monday. He says Chair Tchourumoff is exceptionally well qualified for the position.

Alene Tchourumoff was sworn in as the 15th chair of the Metropolitan Council. Tchourumoff is replacing Adam Duininck who stepped down to pursue a new professional opportunity.

The Metropolitan Council says Tchourumoff will bring a decade of experience in infrastructure planning, transportation policy and finance to her new role. Tchourumoff most recently served as served as Minnesota's first State Rail Director. Minnesota Governor Mark administered the oath of office to Chair Tchourumoff at the Met Council Chambers on Monday. He says Chair Tchourumoff is exceptionally well qualified for the position.

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. reported second-quarter operating revenue rose 7.8 percent to $540.4 million, while operating income increased 16.2 percent to $101.3 million compared with the same quarter in 2016.

G&W's adjusted operating income in the quarter rose 13.3 percent to $107.4 million compared with $94.7 million in Q2 2016, according to a G&W press release.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) yesterday warned rail workers of the risks of working on tracks using only a watchman or lookout to provide the train-approach warning.

Issued yesterday, Safety Alert No. 066 was prompted in part by the deaths of two rail workers who died after being struck by a train while working on track in South Dakota. The NTSB investigation into the January accident found that the sight distance used by the worker serving as the lookout was about half the distance required by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

The federal government is hoping a new proposal will spur private investment in public transportation.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) says the proposed Private Investment Project Procedures (PIPP) for public transportation capital projects will help the federal government develop more effective approaches to spurring private participation and investment in areas such as project planning, development, finance, design, construction, maintenance, and operations.