Railroad News

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) seeks board approval this week to award a contract to accelerate the rehabilitation of the L train's Canarsie Tunnel under the East River.

 

Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends March 2017 Rail News: Rail Industry Trends

Every two years, the rail worlds meet at Railway Interchange, the largest combined railway exhibition and technical conference in North America. This fall, about 10,000 railroaders will convene, compare notes and reconnect in Indianapolis.To be held Sept. 17-20 at the Indiana Convention Center, Railway Interchange comprises technical presentations from the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) and the Coordinated Mechanical Associations (CMA); and a products and services exhibition organized by the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA), Railway Systems Suppliers Inc. (RSSI) and Railway Supply Institute (RSI).“This will be the fourth time that we will have the opportunity to bring our technical conference together with the exhibition provided by RSI, REMSA and RSSI,” said AREMA Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Beth Caruso. “Our planning is underway, and our technical presentations and events are sure to please.”Education is a big aspect of this biennial event. AREMA will offer more than 66 technical presentations this year. The association also will conduct a range of seminars, including:
• Introduction to Practical Railway Engineering;
• Track Alignment Design;
• Track Safety Standards;
• Intermodal Terminal Engineering;
• Railroad Bridge Load Rating Steel Structures.The CMA will host a variety of mechanical-department-related technical and educational sessions, as well. CMA comprises the Air Brake Association Inc., the International Association of Railway Operating Officers Inc., the Locomotive Maintenance Officers Association, the League of Railway Industry Women, and the Mechanical Association Railcar Technical Services.Railway Interchange attendees will have multiple opportunities to learn and engage outside of a classroom setting as well. Ken Schmidt — a brand visionary, thought leader and former Harley-Davidson Motor Co. communications director — promises to deliver a provocative keynote during the Monday, Sept. 18 Railway Interchange General Session. Michael Wheeler, Norfolk Southern Corp.’s Executive Vice President and COO, is the speaker at AREMA’s Annual Committee Chairs Luncheon on Tuesday (this ticketed event requires a separate fee). Rail transportation analyst (and Progressive Railroading columnist) Tony Hatch delivers his take on the rail world at large in the AREMA Closing General Session on Wednesday.The rail industry’s vitality will be on display in the exhibit halls, where more than 600 exhibitors will showcase the latest technology, services and research by members and supporters of REMSA, RSSI and RSI. Exhibits will be in three contiguous halls without barriers, so attendees won’t miss any of the innovations.Registration opens April 3Rooms are available at several hotels within walking distance of the Indiana Convention Center. Event registration and the hotel room block opens on April 3, and attendees are advised to book rooms and register to attend early.Sunday, Sept. 17
Conference
•AREMA Student Schedule: 11:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
•AREMA Committee Meetings: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Exhibition
•1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.Monday, Sept. 18
Conference
•Opening General Session & Keynote: 7:30 a.m. - 8:50 a.m.
•AREMA General Session: 9:20 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
•CMA Technical & Education Sessions: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
•AREMA Meet The Next Generation: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Exhibition
•10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.Tuesday, Sept. 19
Conference
•AREMA Functional Group Technical Sessions: 7:55 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
•CMA Technical & Educational Sessions: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Exhibition
•8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Wednesday, Sept. 20
Conference
•AREMA Closing General Session: 7:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.Registration, hotel and full agenda info at www.railwayinterchange.org

3/17/2017    

Rail News: Supplier Spotlight

3/17/2017    

Rail News: Supplier Spotlight

3/17/2017    

Rail News: Kansas City Southern

3/17/2017    

Rail News: Kansas City Southern

Rail News Home Kansas City Southern 3/17/2017 Rail News: Kansas City Southern
Kansas City Southern officials issued a statement yesterday saying they disagree with the Mexican Economic Competition Commission's conclusion that competition is lacking in certain areas of the freight-rail market in Mexico.KCS officials were reacting to the commission's preliminary report on effective competition in the market for interconnection services, trackage and switching rights used to provide freight-rail services in Mexico. The commission concluded that the conditions of effective competition are lacking in the market of trackage rights in the networks operated by KCS de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (KCSM),  Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A. de C.V., and Ferrocarril and Terminal del Valle de México S.A. de C.V., an entity partially owned by KCSM.In the next 20 days, KCS will file evidence and arguments with the commission in favor of their position, company officials said.They also noted that the commission's conclusions have no impact on KCSM's business or operations. If the commission confirms its findings, Mexico's railway regulatory agency would have the authority to consider certain remedies, including setting mandatory trackage rights on KCSM for specific commodities or routes. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 3/17/2017

3/17/2017    

Rail News: People

3/17/2017    

Rail News: Canadian Pacific

3/17/2017    

Rail News: Canadian Pacific

Rail News Home Canadian Pacific 3/17/2017 Rail News: Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific and the United Steelworkers Local 1976 announced yesterday they reached a tentative five-year agreement covering 600 administrative support and intermodal employees in Canada.The current contract expires Dec. 31. Details of the tentative contract are being withheld until after ratification by Local 1976 members, according to a CP press release."This agreement reflects a shared vision for the future success of this company and is an acknowledgement of the important work of our support staff personnel and intermodal employees in writing the next chapter of the CP story," said CP President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 3/17/2017

The Massachusetts Bay Transport Authority (MBTA) has release a draft Request for Proposal regarding its Green Line Extension (GLX). The draft includes an affordability limit of $1.319 billion, base scope of work and additive options.

 

Passenger rail advocates called out the Trump Administration's proposed budget for perceived hypocrisy and undermining the voters who put him in office while the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) response was more moderate.

Acting American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President and CEO Richard A. White issued a statement that noted APTA's surprise and disappointment with what he dubbed the "Skinny Budget" for Fiscal Year 2018, especially with talk from the administration about investing $1 trillion into infrastructure.

The Valley Metro Rail Board of Directors has approved a base five-year contract with Alternate Concepts, Inc. (ACI), to provide rail transportation services for the 26-mile system in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, Ariz.

 

3/17/2017    

Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation

3/17/2017    

Rail News: Security

HNTB Corporation has promoted Rob Troup to transit and rail market sector leader for the Northeast Division. The company has also added Mark Niles as senior project manager and associate vice president, based in Washington, D.C.

As an HNTB vice president, Troup is based in the Philadelphia office; he joined the firm in 2016. In his new role, Troup's focus is client development, as well as the management of engineering and design for rail and transit projects in the northeast region.

Rail News Home Security March 2017 Rail News: Security

— By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Senior Associate EditorTransit-rail agencies in recent years have been using data and Internet of Things (IoT) principles to address certain safety and security challenges.For instance, they've installed video systems on locomotives and inside the cabs to capture data that might be used after train derailments, crossing incidents or other safety-related mishaps. Video technology also has been used at passenger-rail stations to catch fare evaders or other criminal activity.As a result, transit-rail agencies have collected a lot of data that typically isn't accessed and evaluated until after an event occurs and an investigation is underway. Now, some agencies are considering how they can use that data to further protect their passengers and assets from harm. One way is accessing the data remotely and turning it into real-time information that railroad operators and security personnel can use to prevent accidents or criminal activity from occurring on trains or in stations, says Larry Jordan, president and chief technology officer at Wi-Tronix LLC, which provides remote monitoring solutions for mobile assets in the rail, marine and mining markets."There are tens of thousands of systems out there that are recording information, but they don't have remote accessibility," Jordan says. "We provide remote accessibility to get that data. Once it's available, we use artificial intelligence and deep learning both on board the vehicle and in the back office to analyze it and merge it with other information to flag or detect exceptions to conditions."Last year, Wi-Tronix introduced "Violet," a combined system comprising a vehicle's event recorder, digital recorder and remote-monitoring platform."Our product combines all the elements needed to move the customer and the industry from recording the information and using it in a post-investigation situation, to using the information in real time to detect threats and determine if those threats are from criminal activity or from unsafe operations or conditions," Jordan says.In the future, transit-rail agencies will be able to use video and data analytics to serve as virtual security guards throughout their railroad to detect security threats, he adds."Passengers certainly feel more safe if there's a transit security officer on the rail car," says Jordan. "We know it's not practical to have human officers stationed on every car. … But the way the technology is evolving, it will be like having a security guard in every compartment of every rail car."Among the many ways the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is stepping up security is through the recent installation of a closed circuit TV (CCTV) surveillance center, where security personnel will be tasked with monitoring video and data gathered from the system."We're going to use video analytics to monitor those critical safety areas to make sure we maintain restricted access and can respond appropriately," says Metro Executive Officer of System Safety and Law Enforcement Alex Wiggins. "We're also looking at patterns of fare evasion. We've trained our cameras to people jumping turnstiles and using emergency exit gates to enter the system."Metra will then catalog that data, which will help the agency determine where to deploy its security resources.Wiggins notes that there’s a strong correlation between individuals who enter the transit system without proof of payment who may also engage in other behavior that could be criminal activity."All that activity affects the ridership experience of our paying customers," he says. "By managing and responding better to people who are paying to enter our system, we anticipate a reduction not just in criminal activity, but in the unpleasant experiences felt by our paying customers."In addition to using data to track fare evaders, Metro recently partnered with the Transportation Security Administration to develop a pilot program that will screen passengers for explosives and other weapons.Wiggins and other Metro officials are reviewing next-generation screening systems that could be installed on the Metro Red Line and at Union Station in Los Angeles. One company whose products Metro is reviewing is Evolv Technology, which offers a threat detection system that the company's website describes as "an adaptable, open architecture, security platform that combines artificial intelligence (AI) and human IQ to provide unprecedented protection."The agency is seeking a technology that can accurately screen 600 to 800 passengers per hour so as not to delay their travel schedules.Similar to a security screening at an airport, the checkpoint system would use low-intensity millimeter wave technology to detect anomalies on a person’s exterior."If the anomaly is not organic, the system will pick up and display that image to the operator. Then, of course, law enforcement would interdict if something needs to be investigated further," Wiggins says.Metro is seeking a portable screening system that can be moved for use at gates, on platforms and at building access points."Our ultimate goal over the next several years is to continue to test technology so that when we need to deploy random screening, we can do it in a way that’s efficient and doesn’t interfere with our customers' travel plans, but at the same time helps keep us all secure," adds Wiggins.Email questions or comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Keywords Browse articles on Wi-Tronix LLC Larry Jordan Transit-rail security Internet of Things IoT Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Alex Wiggins Transportation Security Administration Evolv Technology Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

3/16/2017    

Rail News: Passenger Rail

3/16/2017    

Rail News: Internet-Digital