Railroad News

The Board of Directors of Union Pacific approved its $3.1 billion capital program for 2017.

 

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) will advance four unsolicited proposals that could accelerate two mega projects.

The four unsolicited proposals will move from Phase 1, an initial conceptual review, to Phase 2 analysis, which involves a more detailed qualitative and quantitative look. Two of the proposals are for the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor and two are for the Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor, both mega projects are included in LACMTA's Measure M transportation ballot. LACMTA says each proposal suggests a different approach to bringing innovation, acceleration, cost savings and/or other benefits to the respective projects, compared with Metro's planned project delivery method.

Sound Transit has announced a temporarily revised route for its Sounder South Line to allow crews to complete the second phase of work on its Tacoma Trestle Track & Signal Project from Feb. 17–22.

 

2/3/2017    

Rail News: People

2/3/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

2/3/2017    

Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad

Rail News Home Union Pacific Railroad 2/3/2017 Rail News: Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad's board yesterday approved a 2017 capital plan of $3.1 billion, down $400 million from last year's plan.The 2017 plan includes $300 million for the railroad's ongoing implementation of positive train control, UP officials said in a press release."The 2017 capital plan reflects our continued commitment to safety, productivity and future profitable growth," said UP Chief Financial Officer Rob Knight in a press release. "Our capital investments serve a critical role in adding value for our customers and shareholders."Most Class Is expect to spend less on capital expenditures, Progressive Railroading reported last week. However, Canadian Pacific has announced a 6 percent increase in its 2017 capex budget, while Norfolk Southern Corp. expects to spend about the same this year. Meanwhile, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) announced this week that the freight railroad industry will spend about $22 billion on capex in 2017. The railroads' investments will include upgraded track and locomotives, as well as advanced technology designed to meet demand and improve railroad safety, according to an AAR press release. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 2/3/2017

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) Chairman of the Board of Directors Mortimer B. Fuller III has announced his retirement effective following the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting this May.

 

2/3/2017    

Rail News: Passenger Rail

2/3/2017    

Rail News: People

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced the appointment of Darryl Irick as acting president of MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) and Owen J. Monaghan as the new chief of police for the MTA Police Department.

 

2/2/2017    

Rail News: Supplier Spotlight

The state of New York awarded $25 million in grants to 19 rail and port projects through the Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program.

"These grants will help strengthen New York's infrastructure, attract new investments, and foster economic growth in communities in every corner of the state," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. "A strong, reliable transportation system is critical to supporting safe, efficient travel for both New Yorkers and visitors, and our investments are key to ensuring the long-term resiliency of infrastructure across the state to support economic growth for generations to come."

2/2/2017    

Rail News: Shippers

Regional transportation authority Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario (IO) have released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for interested contractors to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Hamilton Light Rail Transit (LRT) project.

 

2/2/2017    

Rail News: Passenger Rail

2/2/2017    

Rail News: People

2/2/2017    

Rail News: Short Lines & Regionals

2/2/2017    

Rail News: Rail Industry Trends

Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends February 2017 Rail News: Rail Industry Trends

Union Pacific Railroad provides suicide prevention hotline cards to employees that can be given to anyone perceived as distraught.Photo – UP By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Managing EditorThe two most common ways people commit suicide in the United States are by gunshot and by a prescription drug overdose. But another recurring method is by train. If a distraught person doesn’t have access to a gun or pills, he or she might seek the nearest railroad track — which is easier to find — and intentionally wait to be struck by a train.Suicides involving trains are emotionally trying for rail employees who witness them. The workers often need counseling to deal with the shock or guilt such a traumatic event can cause, or the anxiety of being reminded of a loved one or friend who recently committed suicide.Such acts are troubling for railroad administrators, too, because suicides are out of their control, committed in any part of their network — along rights of way, at grade crossings or in stations — by people who typically are mentally ill, depressed or anxious. Yet, there is something railroads can control: adopting more preventative measures.Railroads are trying to step up efforts to reduce the number of suicides and attempts in their systems to avoid disruptions and distress, says Scott Gabree, an engineering research psychologist at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, which is conducting research on rail suicides and countermeasures.Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) data — which includes statistics on U.S. freight-, passenger- and commuter-rail lines, but not subways — shows rail-related suicides confirmed by local coroners typically number 275 to 325 per year. In addition, confirmed suicide attempts on rail systems usually total 30 to 50 each year, says Gabree.Since the number of suicides and attempts have remained at relatively high levels for many years, railroads continue trying to figure out what role they can play in prevention, he says.For Union Pacific Railroad, it became clear the Class I should assume a leadership role on the issue for the rail industry, given the high number of suicides that occur along its network and the lack of an industry-wide exchange on approaches. Suicide is a sensitive topic that isn’t discussed much — certainly among railroads, their peers or workers — yet the silence needs to be broken to open a dialogue, says Mark Jones, UP’s director of employee assistance and support services.Since UP employees live and work in thousands of communities in 23 states, it’s vital that the Class I strives to be part of the solution when it comes to devising prevention strategies, he says. Plus, there are more than 300,000 miles of track in the nation — including UP’s 32,000 miles — and it all can’t be fenced off, so public messaging is vital, adds Jones.“We need to bring this out of the dark. Railroads need to lead the conversation,” he says.To that end, UP organized and hosted a two-day rail industry summit on suicide prevention in August 2016 that was sponsored by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Attended by representatives from several Class Is, Amtrak, the Association of American Railroads (AAR), Volpe center and other industry constituents, the event included an expert panel and several presentations. Session topics included using epidemiology to understand rail suicides, creating a comprehensive and sustained workplace approach to prevention, and reviewing trends about mental health and substance abuse in the rail industry.An AAR risk management committee now has adopted suicide prevention, a topic it previously didn’t address, says Jones.“I believe that’s an outgrowth from the August summit,” he says, adding that discussions are underway to determine if the event should be held annually.Jones also is a board member for the National Action Alliance. In late January, the alliance announced a joint initiative with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — the nation's largest suicide prevention organization — to reduce the annual suicide rate 20 percent by 2025 due to the rising number of suicide-related deaths over the past 16 years. The two organizations plan to rely on multisector coordination, alignment and engagement to reach that goal.But engaging people to talk or learn about about suicide in groups can be difficult. Although suicide is among the 10 leading causes of death in the United States — and totaled more than 44,000 nationwide in 2015 alone — discussing it in public tends to upset some people, says Jones. For example, during a suicide prevention presentation he gave to labor representatives in September 2016, some audience members were visibly dismissive and agitated, Jones says. But afterward, a man approached him and thanked him for addressing the topic because the man’s brother had committed suicide four years prior.“He found the presentation helpful and comforting,” says Jones.UP also held a safety “stand down” last year that many employees considered helpful in dealing with the sensitive topic. During the stand down, railroad operations were suspended so supervisors and employees could have in-depth conversations on various safety issues, including suicide prevention. A surprisingly high number of workers talked about how they had been affected by suicide, says Jones.In addition, the Class I held a Suicide Awareness Day in September 2016 during which peer support program volunteers went to various facilities and handed out prevention literature targeted at the railroad’s workers and their families.UP tries to emphasize to employees that they don’t need to be a suicide expert to have a discussion with or offer assistance to someone they believe is troubled and might put himself or herself in peril, says Jones. The railroad promotes a “see something/say something” mindset through its Courage to Care program and provides training on ways to recognize the warning signs of a potential suicide.A male employee at UP’s yard in Denver took that to heart earlier this year when he saw a woman standing on track who appeared to be distraught. He approached her, tried to comfort her and gave her UP’s handout on seeking help during a personal crisis, says Jones.“It shows our recognition training worked,” he says, adding that the railroad hopes to continue reaping similar results from what’s become a multidimensional approach to suicide prevention.The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has installed signs in stations that promote Samaritan Inc.'s suicide prevention messages. Source: MBTA