Railroad News

CSX has been recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" by Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).

The Class I scored 100 percent on the 2019 Disability Equality Index (DEI), which serves as the nation's most comprehensive annual benchmarking tool on disability inclusion efforts in the areas of culture, leadership, enterprise-wide access, employment practices and community engagement, according to the Disability:IN website.

Wisconsin's new 2019-21 budget includes $75 million in one-time funding for local transportation projects, the state's Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced yesterday.

The new program will enable local communities to prioritize their most immediate transportation needs, said Craig Thompson, WisDOT secretary-designee, in a press release.

Kansas City Southern today reported record second-quarter revenue of $714 million, a 5 percent increase on flat volumes compared with the previous year's same quarter.

Year-over-year revenue growth for the quarter was led by a 19 percent increase in chemicals and petroleum shipments, particularly to Mexico, as well as a 5 percent increase in automotive, KCS officials said in a press release.

Kansas City Southern today reported record second-quarter revenue of $714 million, a 5 percent increase on flat volumes compared with the previous year's same quarter.

Year-over-year revenue growth for the quarter was led by a 19 percent increase in chemicals and petroleum shipments, particularly to Mexico, as well as a 5 percent increase in automotive, KCS officials said in a press release.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's (SFMTA) board earlier this week named Tom Maguire interim director of transportation to succeed Ed Reiskin, who will leave the agency next month.

Maguire will start his new duties Aug. 14 and serve until a new transportation director is appointed, SFMTA officials said in a press release.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) yesterday issued a request for proposals (RFP) to develop and operate solar panels on the rooftops of parking garages at Anacostia, Cheverly, Naylor Road and Southern Avenue stations.

WMATA is offering a 15-year solar ground lease to develop, install, operate and maintain solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems on garage rooftops and on surface parking lots.

The New Jersey Transit's board yesterday adopted a fiscal-year 2020 $2.39 billion operating budget and a $1.42 billion capital program. 

The capital program funds continue state-of-good-repair investments in transit stations and infrastructure, investments in the Northeast Corridor, fare modernization, safety initiatives, rail car purchases, positive train control installation, system expansion and support for local mobility programs, NJ Transit officials said in a press release.

Union Pacific Railroad reported today that 2019 second-quarter net income rose 4 percent to $1.6 billion, or $2.22 per diluted share, compared with $1.5 billion, or $1.98 per diluted share, in the same quarter a year ago.

UP's operating income rose 8 percent to $2.3 billion and the company's operating ratio (OR) improved to 59.6 percent from 63.0 percent compared with second-quarter 2018.

Union Pacific Railroad reported today that 2019 second-quarter net income rose 4 percent to $1.6 billion, or $2.22 per diluted share, compared with $1.5 billion, or $1.98 per diluted share, in the same quarter a year ago.

UP's operating income rose 8 percent to $2.3 billion and the company's operating ratio (OR) improved to 59.6 percent from 63.0 percent compared with second-quarter 2018.

U.S. rail traffic has continued its downward trend so far this month, with railroads posting a combined 5.6 percent decline to 527,908 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending July 13 compared with the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Total carloads for the week fell 4 percent to 260,762 units, while intermodal volume plummeted 7.2 percent to 267,146 containers and trailers.

McMillen Jacobs Associates appointed Victor Romero as executive vice president of its underground division. Romero has been with McMillen Jacobs for 28 years, providing underground engineering in the rail-transit, highway, water and wastewater sectors, company officials said in a press release. Isabelle Lamb will succeed Romero as managing director of the Australia and New Zealand region. Lamb has over 25 years of experience in the design and management of teams for the construction of tunnels, underground structures and associated surface facilities for transit, water and roadway projects.

ABB signed a five-year contract to provide the Swiss Federal Railway (SBB) with its RER670 intelligent electronic device for transformer and line distance protection, ABB officials said in a press release. ABB has also supplied SBB with its REB500 busbar protection.

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) crews will begin switch replacement work at the 96th Street interlocking in Manhattan starting later this week and stretching into August.

The project will take place in phases, ultimately leading to the installation of entirely new switches between the northbound express and local tracks at the 96 Street interlocking on the Seventh Avenue Line, NYCT officials said in a press release.

TNW Corp. this week announced two appointments: Andy Scheriger to director of sales and business development for TNW, and Eric Chavez to general manager at the Texas Rock Crusher Railway (TXR).

Prior to his appointment, Scheriger served as GM at TXR. In his new role, he will contribute to TNW's strategic planing and managing sales initiatives and programs. He will oversee customer account coordination; interaction with customers, prospects and customers; and new prospect initiatives.

Metrolink yesterday announced it appointed Todd McIntyre chief strategy officer to lead the California commuter railroad’s planning, government affairs, community relations, procurement and railroad services.

McIntyre joins Metrolink after three years as chief of staff at the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) in Washington, D.C., Metrolink officials said in a press release.

American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Skoutelas yesterday urged Congress to improve and strengthen the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program.

In prepared testimony to the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Skoutelas suggested Congress conduct a review of the CIG program to assess the statutory, regulatory and administrative requirements to be eligible for a CIG grant.

Harbor Rail Services of California has selected Coast Autonomous to deploy self-driving vehicles at Union Pacific Railroad's Kinney County Railport (KCRP) in Texas.

The collaboration between Coast and Harbor Rail, which operates the railport, marks the first deployment of self-driving vehicles at a U.S. rail yard, Coast and Harbor Rail officials said in a press release.

CN will rebuild the rail bridge over the Steen River in Alberta, with Imperial Oil and Suncor contributing funds to the reconstruction, the Class I announced yesterday.

The approaches on both ends of the 360-foot bridge will be rebuilt with concrete and steel and the bridge deck of the steel span across the river will be replaced. Construction should be completed by mid-August, CN officials said in a press release.