Railroad News

This year's story of U.S. rail traffic growth continued into week No. 31, with railroads logging a 4.2 percent increase in carloads and intermodal units over the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Total carloads for the week ending Aug. 4 were 279,907 units, up 3 percent, while U.S. intermodal volume for the week was 291,088 containers and trailers, up 5.4 percent, compared with the same week in 2017, AAR officials said in a press release.'

Darren Reynolds, 33

Job description: Responsible for driving business development opportunities — including with ports, short lines and other project proponents — in addition to supporting opportunities for operating efficiency and optimizing CN's cohabitation with passenger railways. Currently the project manager for the Milton Logistics Hub, a new CA$250 million intermodal terminal being developed in the Toronto area.

Education: Degree in civil engineering, McGill University

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

Rio Grande Pacific Corp. (RGPC) has appointed Nathan Neblett chief executive officer of CTC Inc., the company's communication and signaling systems provider. He'll lead long-term planning to support growth and market positioning expertise across business lines, RGPC officials said in a press release.

Loram Maintenance of Way Inc. has appointed Luke Olson vice president of sales and marketing. He will be responsible for contract services, sales and marketing, as well as new and existing product development. He joined the company in 2003 as international marketing coordinator and most recently served as director of rail grinding. He played an "instrumental" role in developing the 400 Series Rail Grinder and expanding Loram's global presence, company officials said in a press release.

Metrolink in Southern California has promoted Kimberly Yu to chief operating officer.

Since she joined the commuter railroad in September 2015, she has served as deputy COO for planning and project delivery.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) this week announced $1.26 million for Special Transportation Circumstances (STC) grants to help fund rail capital projects in Alaska and Wyoming.

The funding was made available by 2017 appropriations legislation for the terminal wireless communications positive train control project in Alaska and the Greater Junction Railroad rehabilitation project in Wyoming, according to an FRA press release.

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) today announced its 2018 Safety Awards.

The awards recognize RAC member companies' initiatives that help to ensure Canada's rail network remains "among the safest in the world," according to an RAC press release.

New Jersey Transit next month will suspend all service on the Atlantic City Rail Line to install positive train control (PTC) equipment on the rail fleet.

The agency also will halt off-peak, one-seat Raritan Valley Line service starting Sept. 10. While no trains will be lost on this line, the change means that passengers will need to transfer to and from New York trains in Newark Penn Station, according to a report on NJ.com.

International Rail Partners (IRP) announced yesterday it has acquired Grenada Railroad from Iowa Pacific Holdings.

IRP will operate the railroad through a lease-purchase agreement with the North Central Mississippi Regional Railroad Authority, according to an IRP press release.

The failure of CSX and the city of Biloxi, Mississippi, to mitigate known safety hazards at a grade crossing is the probable cause of a 2017 fatal crash at the crossing, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced yesterday.

Four people died March 7, 2017, when a chartered ECHO Transportation motorcoach grounded on the "high profile" grade crossing in Biloxi was struck by a CSX freight train. The four killed were among the 49 passengers on the motorcoach, NTSB officials said in a press release.

Przemyslaw Rakoczy, 34

Job description: Serves as research project manager and lead researcher in crashworthiness, blast-worthiness and structural integrity of rail vehicles at TTCI. Also creates project schedules and budgets, and oversees test planning, execution and analysis.

Education: Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, University of Technology and Sciences in Bydgoszcz, Poland; Master of Science in civil engineering-structures from the same university; and Ph.D. in civil engineering-structures, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has begun training operators on its new Orange Line rail cars, as the agency preps to launch train service on the line by year's end.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has recognized three more transit agencies for sustainability.

APTA bestows platinum, gold, silver and bronze levels of recognition based on organizations' specific measurable achievements.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has ratified a new agreement with the Cedar River Railroad, a CN subsidiary.

The contract, which BLET members ratified July 30, governs the railroad's six locomotive engineers. It expires Dec. 31, 2019, according to a BLET press release.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) General Manager Grace Crunican on Thursday will present to the agency's board a safety and security action plan.

Crunican's proposal follows a fatal stabbing that occurred late last month at BART's MacArthur Station in Oakland, California. Another stabbing occurred at the same station late last week, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) General Manager and Director of Rail Transit Michael Marino will retire in January 2019, the agency announced late last week.

Appointed to PATH's top post in July 2015, Marino oversaw the railroad's positive train control implementation and directed ongoing efforts to rebuild the system after it was damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

The House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials on Thursday will hold a field hearing in Sacramento, California, to review the status of the state's high-speed rail project.

The subcommittee, chaired by U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), will also examine the most recent modifications to the project's business plan, which were released in June.

CSX Corp. today announced a new operating management structure that will decentralize operational and support functions.

The changes — a continuation of the Class I's transition to scheduled railroading — are designed to "enhance safety, improve service, accelerate decision-making and drive operating efficiency," CSX officials announced in a press release.

BNSF Railway Co. reported second-quarter net income rose 37 percent to $1.3 billion and total revenue climbed 12 percent to nearly $5.9 billion compared with the same quarter a year ago.

The Class I attributed the revenue growth to a 5 percent increase in unit volume, according to a performance summary posted on BNSF's website.