Railroad News

The Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) and its contractor Denver Transit Partners (DTP) today will start testing trains along the G Line commuter-rail route.

The initial phase of testing will be limited, with only a few test trains running Monday through Friday, RTD officials said in a press release.

The Atlantic and Western Railway (ATW) announced the opening of a Choice Terminal™ bulk transload facility in Sanford, N.C.

ATW is a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI). Choice Terminals are operated by GWI railroads and transfer bulk materials – such as flour, plastic pellets, propane and roofing granules – between railcars and trucks, providing customers that are not located directly on the railroad with the ability to reduce transportation costs by using rail. Customers can receive inbound, bulk raw materials via rail at the terminal, hold them on site, and receive them via truck on a just-in-time basis. Likewise, customers can ship outbound bulk products to the terminal via truck, for loading onto railcars to their final destinations.

The Atlantic and Western Railway (ATW) announced the opening of a Choice Terminal™ bulk transload facility in Sanford, N.C.

ATW is a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI). Choice Terminals are operated by GWI railroads and transfer bulk materials – such as flour, plastic pellets, propane and roofing granules – between railcars and trucks, providing customers that are not located directly on the railroad with the ability to reduce transportation costs by using rail. Customers can receive inbound, bulk raw materials via rail at the terminal, hold them on site, and receive them via truck on a just-in-time basis. Likewise, customers can ship outbound bulk products to the terminal via truck, for loading onto railcars to their final destinations.

The Atlantic and Western Railway (ATW) announced the opening of a Choice Terminal™ bulk transload facility in Sanford, N.C.

ATW is a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI). Choice Terminals are operated by GWI railroads and transfer bulk materials – such as flour, plastic pellets, propane and roofing granules – between railcars and trucks, providing customers that are not located directly on the railroad with the ability to reduce transportation costs by using rail. Customers can receive inbound, bulk raw materials via rail at the terminal, hold them on site, and receive them via truck on a just-in-time basis. Likewise, customers can ship outbound bulk products to the terminal via truck, for loading onto railcars to their final destinations.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will host a public scoping meeting tomorrow to initiate environmental studies for the proposed West Santa Ana Branch light-rail line.

The event will be the first of four meetings held in preparation of a draft environmental statement and environmental impact report, Metro officials said in a press release.

By Michael Popke

The oldest tequila producer in the world has teamed with the largest railroad in Mexico to relaunch a train tourism experience that emphasizes both education and entertainment.

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) won the Rail Transit Team Achievement Award at the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) International Rail Rodeo, which was held June 8-11 in conjunction with the association's 2017 Rail Conference in Baltimore.

The award is given to the system with the highest rail operator and maintainer team combined score. The winning team members were Mike Gross, Gary Crandell, James Moon, Tenikia Jackson and John O'Connor, according to an APTA press release.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) isn’t just about gathering information from various sources and data streams, and then using those analyses to drive efficiencies and/or better manage operations. It’s also about using data to predict new market opportunities and build new business.

In a report titled “Driving Unconventional Growth through the Industrial Internet of Things,” Accenture officials note that in addition to tapping IIoT to boost operational efficiency, industrial companies such as railroads and many of the shippers they serve also “can benefit greatly by seeing it as a tool for finding growth in unexpected opportunities.”

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) isn’t just about gathering information from various sources and data streams, and then using those analyses to drive efficiencies and/or better manage operations. It’s also about using data to predict new market opportunities and build new business.

In a report titled “Driving Unconventional Growth through the Industrial Internet of Things,” Accenture officials note that in addition to tapping IIoT to boost operational efficiency, industrial companies such as railroads and many of the shippers they serve also “can benefit greatly by seeing it as a tool for finding growth in unexpected opportunities.”

R. J. Corman Railroad Co. LLC announced it is marking its 30th anniversary this year.

Rick Corman founded the company in January 1987 with the acquisition of the Bardstown Line. In August of that same year, he purchased the 100-mile Memphis Line, which operates from Clarksville, Tenn., to Bowling Green, Ky.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has signed legislation that enables the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) to seek funding for a potential 8.7-mile light-rail line in Las Vegas, local media reported late last week.

The line would connect McCarran International Airport to the city's downtown, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario (IO) have issued a request for qualifications for companies interested in building and financing a double-track project on GO Transit's Barrie Line.

The scope of work includes building a second track between Toronto's Union Station and a stop in Aurora, Ontario. The chosen firm also will perform grading, carry out track and signal upgrades, build noise and retaining walls, and expand bridges.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) last week opened a new Amtrak station along the Chicago-to-St. Louis higher-speed rail line.

Located in downtown Pontiac, Ill., the 1,350-square-foot building features a peaked roof, glass facade and free Wi-Fi. The station will serve passengers on Amtrak's Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle trains.

Public transit leaders joined together at the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) annual conference in Baltimore, Md., to discuss and express their concerns regarding the Trump Administration's FY18 budget proposal to phase out the Capital Improvement Grant (CIG) program.

The FY18 budget reflects a $928-million reduction in the CIG program and limits the requested $1.26 billion to projects that hold existing full funding grant agreements (FFGA). The budget says, "future investments in new transit projects would be funded by the localities that use the benefit from these localized projects." The administration justified the reduction and phase out of the CIG program by stating that "federal resources should be focused on making targeted investments that leverage private sector investment" and noted that "localities are better equipped to scale and design infrastructure investments needed for their communities."

Public transit leaders joined together at the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) annual conference in Baltimore, Md., to discuss and express their concerns regarding the Trump Administration's FY18 budget proposal to phase out the Capital Improvement Grant (CIG) program.

The FY18 budget reflects a $928-million reduction in the CIG program and limits the requested $1.26 billion to projects that hold existing full funding grant agreements (FFGA). The budget says, "future investments in new transit projects would be funded by the localities that use the benefit from these localized projects." The administration justified the reduction and phase out of the CIG program by stating that "federal resources should be focused on making targeted investments that leverage private sector investment" and noted that "localities are better equipped to scale and design infrastructure investments needed for their communities."

Public transit leaders joined together at the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) annual conference in Baltimore, Md., to discuss and express their concerns regarding the Trump Administration's FY18 budget proposal to phase out the Capital Improvement Grant (CIG) program.

The FY18 budget reflects a $928-million reduction in the CIG program and limits the requested $1.26 billion to projects that hold existing full funding grant agreements (FFGA). The budget says, "future investments in new transit projects would be funded by the localities that use the benefit from these localized projects." The administration justified the reduction and phase out of the CIG program by stating that "federal resources should be focused on making targeted investments that leverage private sector investment" and noted that "localities are better equipped to scale and design infrastructure investments needed for their communities."

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) yesterday released a transportation plan aimed at maintaining rush-hour commuter capacity to and from Manhattan during Amtrak's summer repair schedule at Penn Station.

The plan calls for adding MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) trains during rush hour at the station, as well as lengthening existing trains. In addition, the MTA will create a new bus and ferry network that's free to LIRR monthly and weekly ticketholders, and provide free morning subway transfers for LIRR passengers, agency officials said in a press release.

R. J. Corman Railroad Co. LLC is commemorating its 30th anniversary this year. The company that the late Rick Corman founded in January 1987 with the acquisition of a branch line has blossomed into a diverse organization with numerous divisions.