Railroad News

Amtrak has named longtime aviation executive Richard Anderson as its president and chief executive officer, effective July 12.

Anderson, 62, former chief executive officer of both Delta and Northwest Airlines, will serve in a co-CEO capacity with current CEO Wick Moorman through Dec. 31, 2017, at which time Moorman will become an advisor to the company. Moorman joined Amtrak in September 2016 as a transitional CEO tasked with improving the company's operations, streamlining the organizational structure, and helping recruit his successor.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AAR COMMENDS SELECTION OF NEW AMTRAK PRESIDENT RICHARD ANDERSON

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 26, 2017 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) issued the following statement by President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger in response to the announcement that the Amtrak Board of Directors has named Richard Anderson President and CEO of Amtrak, succeeding Charles “Wick” Moorman.

Metra has hired Jayne Deno as chief human resources officer.

Deno most recently served as vice president of human resources at Americas for Oerlikon Fairfield in Lafayette, Indiana.

The planned Finch West Light Rail Transit project in Toronto, ON, Canada, secured a CA$333-million (US$251.4-million) federal funding commitment under the Building Canada Fund.

The planned Finch West Light Rail Transit project in Toronto, ON, Canada, secured a CA$333-million (US$251.4-million) federal funding commitment under the Building Canada Fund.

Sound Transit will study an option to elevate the planned extension of light rail to downtown Redmond per a directive from the transit agency's board.

The study is one of the refinements Sound Transit could incorporate into the extension, which is planned to begin construction in 2019 and be in service in 2024.

Sound Transit will study an option to elevate the planned extension of light rail to downtown Redmond per a directive from the transit agency's board.

The study is one of the refinements Sound Transit could incorporate into the extension, which is planned to begin construction in 2019 and be in service in 2024.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that the $163 million project to rebuild and improve the reliability of century-old sections of the M line will begin on July 1.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that the $163 million project to rebuild and improve the reliability of century-old sections of the M line will begin on July 1.

Bay Area Rapid Transit's (BART) board has approved a $1.92 billion budget for fiscal-year 2018 that includes funds to acquire new rail cars.

L.B. Foster Company's wheel flange lubrication systems will be available to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland and South Africa thanks to a recent distribution agreement with German-based Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems.

"The partnership with Knorr-Bremse leaves us even better placed to meet the needs of our customers and access markets that we expect to deliver substantial growth," said L.B. Foster Senior Vice President Rail Business John Kasel.

L.B. Foster Company's wheel flange lubrication systems will be available to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland and South Africa thanks to a recent distribution agreement with German-based Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems.

"The partnership with Knorr-Bremse leaves us even better placed to meet the needs of our customers and access markets that we expect to deliver substantial growth," said L.B. Foster Senior Vice President Rail Business John Kasel.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) awarded $66.5-million contract for track and system installation for a second track on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to L.K. Comstock & Company Inc.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) awarded $66.5-million contract for track and system installation for a second track on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to L.K. Comstock & Company Inc.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has executed an $87.7 million low-interest loan for Sound Transit's new light-rail operations and maintenance facility in Bellevue, Washington.

The 25-acre operations and maintenance shop is needed to accommodate expansion of the Puget Sound region's light-rail system, Sound Transit officials said in a press release. By 2024, the system will grow from 22 miles to 62, with the existing light-rail fleet slated to grow from 62 cars to 214.

VTG Rail Inc. has acquired the fleet of Redwood Rail LLC, a transaction that will add 1,135 rail cars to VTG's fleet, the company announced today.

The acquisition will enlarge VTG's fleet to 5,200 rail cars. VTG also assumed the associated leases as well as Redwood Rail's existing customer relationships, according to a VTG press release.

RailPros Field Services, a provider of railroad engineering and field support, has named Terry Tate as Assistant Vice President of Rail Operations. He will focus on the expansion of existing projects and the development of new business ventures.

Tate has more than 35 years of experience in transportation operations management with Union Pacific and Southern Pacific. He most recently served as General Director of Quality Service for UP, providing marketing, sales and business development leadership for the railroad's Western Region.