Railroad News

Each weekend this month, MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) will perform "critical work" to install communications-based train control (CBTC) signaling along the 7 rail Line.

Once installed by year's end, the CBTC system will enable the agency to provide more frequent and reliable service on the 7 Line, which currently serves about 500,000 riders each weekday between Queens and Manhattan.

GE Transportation and Australian iron-ore company Roy Hill yesterday commemorated two new pink ES44ACi locomotives in support of breast cancer patients and research. The units arrived at Roy Hill's rail terminal in Port Hedland, Western Australia, as countries around the world mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The new locomotives will join Roy Hill's existing fleet of 21 GE trains. They'll also be connected with 130 pink ore cars manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corp. This is the first time GE has painted a locomotive pink, company officials said in a press release.

CIT Group Inc. has completed the sale of its European rail leasing business NACCO for net proceeds of $1.1 billion. The company's Paris-based operations and assets, including 11,000 rail cars, were sold to VTG Aktiengesellschaft in Germany, while its operations and assets in Germany and Luxembourg were sold to a consortium of buyers consisting of WASCOSA AG and a subsidiary of Aves One AG. A portion of the proceeds will be used to "optimize CIT's funding profile," including redeeming rail-car securitization in the United States, terminating the total return swap facility and repaying outstanding unsecured debt, company officials said in a press release.

The Maryland Department of Transportation's Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) today will begin redeveloping the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Camden Station in Baltimore.

The project calls for expanding the station's waiting area and installing new ticket vending machines, service and information displays and an MDOT MTA police force substation.

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) has promoted Kimberly Sewell to executive director of its labor relations and human resources division.

For the past seven years, Sewell served as director of TriMet's legal services. Before that, she was TriMet's deputy general counsel.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and Union International des Transports Public (UITP) last week signed an agreement to work together on mutual areas of interest, the organizations announced today.

UITP is an international network of 1,500 members, which include public transportation authorities, policy makers, research institutes and the transit supply and service industry.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) yesterday re-elected Dennis Pierce to his third full term as the union's national president.

Additionally, the union elected all Advisory Board members without opposition. Their terms will begin Jan. 1, 2019, BLET officials said in a press release.

U.S. rail traffic grew 4.4 percent to 2,194,211 carloads and intermodal units in September compared with the same month a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Railroads reported 1,066,826 carloads last month, up 2.6 percent, and 1,127,385 containers and trailers, up 6.2 percent, compared with traffic logged in September 2017, according to an AAR press release.

Although many passenger railroads are close to completing equipment installation of positive train control (PTC) systems, less progress has been made on testing those systems, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced earlier this week in its latest PTC report.

Of the 28 commuter railroads required to implement PTC, 19 have initiated field testing. Only eight have started revenue-service demonstration, the GAO reported.

Texas Central has selected global construction and engineering firm Salini Impregilo — operating in the U.S. market with The Lane Construction Corp. — to lead the civil construction consortium that will build the company's proposed bullet train service between Houston and North Texas.

Yesterday's announcement is the latest milestone for Texas Central's efforts to bring a 200 mph train that would connect the state's largest population and economic regions in 90 minutes. The service would include a stop in the Brazos Valley.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Managing Editor

The Maryland Department of Transportation's Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) late last week launched CharmPass, a mobile ticketing app for rail and bus services.

The app enables passengers to use smartphones to pay fares for Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) train service, as well as light-rail and subway services. The app allows 90-minute transfers between transit modes.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is seeking applications for $1 million in grant funding from its 2018 rail service improvement program.

Railroads, rail users, cities and counties are eligible to apply for the program, which is aimed at boosting freight-rail service that supports economic development, according to an MnDOT press release.

CSX this week resumed rail service to the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina, following a stoppage due to Hurricane Florence.

The first inbound train arrived at the port on Tuesday night, according to a report on Wilmingtonbiz.com.

CN has become the first transportation company in Canada to receive the Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) Bronze Level certification from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB).

Established in 2001, the certification signals to Aboriginal communities that designated companies are "good business partners, great places to work and committed to the prosperity of Aboriginal communities," according to a CN press release.

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) yesterday announced that Amtrak's Southwest Chief trains will continue running — for now.

According to a news release issued by the senator's office, Amtrak Chief Operating Officer Scot Naparstek yesterday told the Senate Commerce Committee that the railroad will continue to run Southwest Chief service "as is" in fiscal year 2019. Amtrak previously proposed replacing a large portion of the line with bus service.

Canadian Pacific today reported preliminary third-quarter results, updated its 2018 guidance and unveiled the next phase of its long-term strategy for driving sustainable, profitable growth.

Third-quarter revenue is expected to increase by 10 percent to a record high of CA$1.9 billion. Reported diluted earnings per share (EPS) are expected to be about CA$4.35, while adjusted diluted EPS are expected to be about CA$4.10 — the highest in company history, CP officials said in a press release.

Encore Rail Systems has moved into a new headquarters in Broomfield, Colorado. The 40,000-square-foot facility includes dedicated areas for equipment maintenance, product and equipment testing, sales and services offices, and space for staff meetings, according to a company press release. The larger headquarters addresses the company's increased need for space to service equipment, stock more inventory, and perform product and equipment testing, said Encore Vice President and General Manager Greg Spilker.

General Electric has selected H. Lawrence Culp to replace John Flannery as chairman and chief executive officer. Flannery was appointed to the position in August 2017. The news comes as GE continues to downsize and sell off its assets. Culp previously served as CEO and president of Danaher Corp., where he led a "successful transformation of the company from an industrial manufacturer into a leading science and technology company," GE officials said in a news release.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has scheduled three meetings to update residents and businesses on transit-oriented development (TOD) plans at light-rail stations.

The agency's developer selection panel will discuss how the land can be used, VTA officials said in a press release.