Railroad News

Union Pacific Railroad is using helicopters and drones to inspect by air its track, bridges and signals in areas east and west of Houston where road access is unavailable due to flooding and storm damage from Hurricane Harvey.

As weather and access to storm-damaged areas allow, UP is inspecting and repairing track, bridges and signals to return rail service as quickly as possible, the railroad said in yesterday's customer notice. As of yesterday, the majority of of areas east of Houston were still inaccessible.

California Gov. Jerry Brown has appointed Nancy Miller to serve on the California High Speed Rail Authority's (CHSRA) board.

Miller serves as senior counsel for Renne Sloan Holtzman Sakai LLP.

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is increasing light-rail, bus and ferry fares by 25 cents starting Oct. 1.

The cost of one-way fares on each mode of transit will rise from $1.75 to $2. The change is the second phase of a planned fare increase for the system; the first phase took place in October 2014, when one-way fares rose from $1.50 to $1.75.

The Societe de transport de Montreal (STM) board has unveiled its 2025 strategic organizational plan, which is aimed at improving overall operations and customer service.

The plan's four main goals are improving the customer experience, adapting the agency to evolving governance, bringing finances under control and attracting new talent. STM was required by law to update its last strategic plan for 2020, which was approved in 2012, agency officials said in a press release.

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Cap Metro) in Austin, Texas, on Monday approved a $65.7 million contract with Modern Railway Systems Inc. to design, build and commission a positive train control (PTC) system for the Red Line commuter-rail route.

Under the contract, Modern Railway Systems will complete the work within 15 months, which will make Cap Metro eligible to apply for a two-year extension to the December 2018 deadline to implement PTC, agency officials said in a press release.

CN executives joined Port of Prince Rupert, DP World and other community leaders yesterday to mark the 10th anniversary of Fairview Container Terminal, as well as the recent completion of its expansion.

DP World's expansion increased Fairview Container Terminal's annual throughput capacity from 850,000 to 1.35 million 20-foot equivalent units, according to a press release issued by port officials.

Ohio this week became the first state in the country to have its state safety oversight (SSO) program certified by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Under a final rule that went into effect in April 2016, the FTA requires strengthened SSO programs at transit-rail agencies. The rule also provides greater authority for SSO agencies to oversee their transit agencies.

BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad provided updates on the status of their operations in the Gulf Coast area, as flooding in Houston and parts of southeastern Texas continued in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Several BNSF subdivisions remain out of service due to multiple washouts and high water. As a result, all traffic destined to or originating from Houston — as well as traffic scheduled to route through the area — remains suspended, according to a BNSF announcement.

Bombardier Transportation obtained a $143.7 million contract from the London Underground to supply new motors and traction control equipment for the subway's fleet of Central line trains. The contract requires Bombardier to provide ongoing maintenance support until 2024. Bombardier's re-traction project is part of the London Underground's larger Central line improvement program, which calls for a number of enhancements to reduce failures on the route. For the program, Bombardier is replacing direct current traction motors on Central line trains with the latest MITRAC alternating current traction systems and traction control equipment, company officials said in a press release. In total, Bombardier will supply new motors and traction control for 85 eight-car Central line trains.

L.B. Foster Co. has appointed James Maloney senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. He'll join the company on Sept. 18. Based in L.B. Foster's office in Pittsburgh, Maloney will oversee global finances and accounting, as well as investor relations. He previously served as CFO at First Insight Inc., a company providing consumer data to global retailers and brands. Before that, Maloney was vice president-global financial planning and supply chain finance at H.J. Heinz Co., where he managed strategic and annual operating plans.

The Port Authority of Allegheny County and Comcast yesterday announced Wi-Fi availability at seven of Pittsburgh's busiest light-rail stations.

In January, the agency's board approved a seven-year, nonexclusive agreement with Comcast. The pact permitted Comcast to install wireless hotspots at the Station Square, First Avenue, Steel Plaza, Wood Street, Gateway, North Side and Allegheny stations.

The largest container shop to arrive on the U.S. East Coast made its first stop yesterday at the Port of Virginia.

The 1,200-foot CMA CGM Theodore Roosevelt, which has a capacity of 14,400 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), was guided through the Norfolk Harbor yesterday morning, port officials announced in a press release.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has released its draft Michigan Freight Plan, a supplement to the 2040 MI Transportation Plan.

The Michigan Freight Plan provides a comprehensive overview of the state's freight transportation system, including existing assets, system performance and investments needed to "ensure long-term success," MDOT officials said in a press release. 

Freight- and passenger-rail services remain suspended in Southeast Texas as Tropical Storm Harvey continues to cause rainfall and widespread flooding, railroads and industry associations announced.

Amtrak, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and Class Is announced yesterday that service disruptions and suspensions will remain in effect, according to service alerts and press releases.

Amtrak's new Siemens Charger locomotives have begun serving riders in Illinois and Wisconsin, the railroad announced yesterday.

The units are slated to operate on state-sponsored routes in the Midwest. The locomotives feature the new "Amtrak Midwest" logo to promote the five-state network of trains, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has signed a $900 million federal grant agreement for Maryland's Purple Line light-rail project, the agency announced yesterday.

The signing coincided with a groundbreaking ceremony held yesterday in Hyattsville, Maryland. The 16.2-mile light-rail line will connect to three Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) rail lines, all three Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) rail lines and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor trains.

Metrolinx's board has appointed Phil Verster as the agency's new president and chief executive officer.

He'll begin his duties Oct. 1. Verster succeeds Bruce McCuaig, who earlier this year stepped down to serve in the Privy Council Office in support of the Canada Infrastructure Bank.