Railroad News

Completion of a two-year project to modernize the CSX DeWitt Rail Yard in Syracuse, New York, offers the potential for the Port of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to advance its goal of moving more freight through its $600 million ExpressRail on-dock rail system, port officials said yesterday.

The port has handled a "significant" increase in the share of rail cargo to 17 percent of overall volumes as a result of the ExpressRail network expansion, including four operational facilities. The DeWit project is designed to lower shipping costs and make the region's commodities more competitive, PANYNJ officials said in the port's Breaking Waves blog.

CN yesterday unveiled its 2020-21 grain plan, and announced it set a new record by moving more than 30 million metric tons (MMT) of grain across Canada during the 2019-20 crop year.

In addition, CN announced that it is prepared to move up to 7,600 bulk and processed hopper cars per week outside of winter, and up to 6,100 per week during winter in the upcoming crop year.

Second-quarter 2020 intermodal volumes dropped 11.9 percent to 4,016,899 units compared with the same period a year ago, according to the Intermodal Association of North America's (IANA) Intermodal Quarterly report.

Year over year, international intermodal volume fell 15.4 percent to 2,014,179 containers, while domestic volume declined 7 percent to 1,742,968 containers. Trailers decreased 14 percent to 259,752 units.

Olivia Daily, 37
Assistant vice president of network and system design
Kansas City Southern Railway

Nominantor’s quote: “Olivia is critical to the success of KCS as we implement precision scheduled railroading. … When you think of all that Olivia has accomplished in just her 37 years, it’s pretty amazing. She aspires to become a C-suite [executive] for KCS and, based on her past 10 years at KCS and within the industry, there is no doubt that she’ll make it.” — Mike Naatz, KCS

More than half of Caltrain riders polled, or 55 percent, indicated they plan to ride the commuter-rail system the same amount of times or more after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, according to the railroad’s recent rider survey. 

A third of the respondents expect to ride Caltrain less after the pandemic, and 1 percent indicated they won’t return to the system, agency officials said in a press release.

Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) board last week issued $700 million in Measure RR green bonds to further rebuild projects across the system. 

Measure RR is a $3.5 billion bond measure that was approved by voters in Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties in 2016.

U.S. freight railroads logged 481,331 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending July 25, down 9.9 percent compared with the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Total carloads for the week were 215,171 units, down 17.8 percent, while intermodal volume was 266,160 containers and trailers, down 2.4 percent, AAR officials said in a press release.

Canadian Pacific today released its first public statement on climate change to acknowledge the effects of rising global temperatures.

The statement lays out the Class I's commitment to ongoing efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change. It also expresses support for the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, which seek to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels.

Sean Cronin, 39
Senior director, mechanical capital projects
Metra

Nominator’s quote: “In Sean’s 18 years working in the railroad industry, he has risen through the ranks and turned a job into an exceptional career, mastering positions in mechanical operations and capital projects. Sean now possesses a unique combination of skills and experience essential to the department’s success.” — Kevin McCann, Metra

The Societe de transport de Montreal (STM) on Aug. 10 will begin work to make the Edouard-Montpetit Station universally accessible. 

The two-year, CA$39 million project includes two new elevators and an expanded building entrance to make room for a staircase and two fare collection turnstiles, STM officials said in a press release.

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS) Director of Transit Enforcement Manuel Guaderrama will retire Aug. 28, the agency announced earlier this week.

Under Guaderrama’s leadership over the past five years, SDMTS implemented a security staffing plan that offers greater officer presence on the light-rail system, developed a task force with local police departments, implemented de-escalation training, supplied body cameras for security officers and maintained a fare evasion rate of 3 percent, SDMTS officials said in a press release.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) earlier this week launched a fund to help the families of SEPTA employees who have died or suffered health issues as a result of COVID-19.

The SEPTA Disaster Relief Memorial Fund was started in large part due to feedback from employees who wanted a way to help the families of coworkers severely impacted by the pandemic, SEPTA officials said in a press release.

Tomorrow, Progressive Railroading will host a virtual celebration of the 2020 Rising Stars Award winners.

The ceremony will recognize the 25 individuals honored this year for outstanding achievement in the railroad industry early in their careers.

CN yesterday and today continued to roll out its 2020 capital expenditure budgets for various states, including $125 million targeted for infrastructure projects in Illinois, $35 million in Iowa, $30 million in Tennessee and $25 million in Minnesota.

In Illinois, CN's investments will focus on replacing the St. Charles Air Line Bridge over the Chicago River in Chicago. In addition, the Class I will replace 9 miles of rail, install over 180,000 new ties, rebuild 45 grade crossing surfaces and perform maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Cap Metro) and Austin, Texas, City Council officials earlier this week recommended a $7 billion initial investment to begin work on Project Connect, a plan for an expanded rail and bus system in Austin.

The investment would require $3.9 billion in local funding, with Cap Metro seeking federal funding for the remaining 45 percent of the project costs, Cap Metro officials said in a press release.