Railroad News

Railinc Corp. has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA), a consortium of more than 250 transportation and logistics companies aiming to create a forum for the development of blockchain technology standards and education. Blockchain is a digital ledger technology capable of recording transactions and storing data in blocks across a distributed network. The technology "presents interesting opportunities for the freight-rail industry," said Railinc President and Chief Executive Officer Allen West in a press release. BiTA was formed in 2017. BNSF Railway Co. and Kansas City Southern recently became the first Class Is to join BiTA.

FreightCar America Inc. reported a first-quarter 2018 net loss of $6.4 million compared to net income of $600,000, or 5 cents per diluted share, in Q1 2017. Revenue in the quarter fell to $83 million from $140 million a year ago. FreightCar America delivered 1,094 rail cars in Q1 2018 compared with 1,525 rail cars Q1 2017. Although challenging industry dynamics "continue to put pressure on pricing," the company continues to focus on areas it can control, said President and CEO Jim Meyer in a press release. That includes implementation of its "back-to-basics" operational excellence program that began in Q4 2017. The company also is observing increased demand for rebuild capabilities as it relates to coal-car conversions, Meyer said.

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) has awarded a $45 million contract to Ahern Painting Contractors Inc. to perform structural steel repair work and overcoat painting along a segment of the Flushing Line in Queens.

The work, which will take place between 72nd and 104 streets, involves the capture and removal of paint, dirt, grease and grime from the elevated structure, NYCT officials said in a press release. That will be followed by painting of all structural steel surfaces.

Dennis Pierce was re-elected to a third term as president of the Teamsters Rail Conference at its Fourth Quadrennial Convention held in Las Vegas this week.

He serves as national president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET).

The executive committee of the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) board on Tuesday recommended appointing Steve Meyer as interim executive director.

The agency's full board will review his appointment on May 23, UTA officials said in a press release.

Amtrak has issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) from master developers interested in making improvements to the railroad's 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.

With the release of the RFQ, Amtrak begins a two-phase process that will result in the selection of a preferred developer that will assist in introducing new customer amenities, reinvigorating the retail and commercial potential of the station, enhancing transit and pedestrian circulation, and expanding the station's concourses to accommodate anticipated increases in ridership, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

A group of Manitoba First Nations — through a newly formed partnership with private Canadian company iChurchill Inc. — has entered into an acquisition agreement with OmniTRAX Inc. and the Port of Churchill to acquire the Hudson Bay Railway Co. in Manitoba.

The rail line, which operates between Gillam and Churchill, has been inoperable since portions of it were washed out by floods in May 2017.

(Editor's note: This story was updated at 4:32 p.m. Friday with a statement from OmniTRAX.)

A group of Manitoba First Nations — through a newly formed partnership with private Canadian company iChurchill Inc. — say they have entered into an acquisition agreement with OmniTRAX Inc. to acquire the Hudson Bay Railway Co. and Port of Churchill in Manitoba.

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) later this month will launch a $22 million project to upgrade or replace 19 elevators throughout its system.

The multiyear project includes outdoor elevators along the MAX Blue, Green and Red light-rail lines in northeast Portland.

TransLink earlier this week released details of the CA$7.3 billion second phase of its 10-year investment plan.

The second phase includes "significant increases" to SkyTrain and bus service, as well as construction of two new rapid transit projects that have been in the planning stages for years, TransLink officials said in a press release.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) on Tuesday issued a final request for proposals (RFP) to three shortlisted contracting teams to design and build the first phase of the Red and Purple modernization program.

The three teams are Chicago Rail Constructors, Kiewit Infrastructure Co. and the Walsh Fluor design-build team. CTA selected the three bidders in late 2017.

Texas Central, developer of the proposed bullet train between North Texas and Houston, has signed engineering firm Bechtel to provide project management services.

Bechtel will support the company in managing the project as it moves from development to implementation, Texas Central officials said in a press release.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) yesterday approved a $76.7 million joint funding agreement for a grade separation project in Santa Fe Springs, California.

The contribution will be matched by other local funding sources to complete the $155.3 million project, which calls for building an elevated overpass structure at Rosecrans and Marquardt avenues to separate motorist traffic from rail traffic.

CN announced yesterday it has met all grain orders in western Canada for the third consecutive week and is now seeking additional export orders from grain companies.

"The decisive action we took in March to deploy more crews and locomotives has led to dramatic improvements in the movement of western Canadian grain," said Doug MacDonald, vice president of bulk at CN, said in a press release.

U.S. railroads moved 5 percent more carloads and intermodal units in April compared with rail traffic in the same month last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Last month, U.S. roads originated 1,051,026 carloads, up 3.3 percent, and 1,099,000 containers and trailers, up 6.8 percent, compared with April 2017, according to an AAR press release.

The Maryland Department of Transportation's Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) has been recognized as having the safest transit system out of the largest 12 U.S. transit agencies.

A study conducted by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) showed that MDOT MTA in 2017 had the fewest number of Part 1 crimes among the dozen agencies. Part 1 crimes are the most serious offensives such as homicide, rape and aggravated assault.

Metra yesterday kicked off a $29.4 million renovation and expansion of the mechanical shops that house its rail-car and locomotive rehab programs.

Kansas City Southern has been recognized as one of the 2018 CIO 100 for exemplifying operational and strategic excellence in information technology (IT).

KCS will be honored at the CIO 100 Symposium & Awards Ceremony to be held Aug. 15 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Each year, the IDG's CIO highlights technology innovation and business value delivered by the award winners.

Canadian officials on Monday pledged more than CA$187 million for GO Transit's procurement of 53 bi-level coaches.