Railroad News

The Saint-Laurent Council in Montreal earlier this week asked the Montreal Agglomeration Council and Quebec Deposit and Investment Fund to modify its original Reseau metropolitan express (REM) light-rail concept in order to build an extension between the Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport-based station and the VIA Rail Canada Inc. and Exo intermodal stations.

The REM project would consist of a high-frequency autonomous, electric light-rail transit system between the airport, downtown Montreal as well as interconnections within the Montreal metro system. It will include 26 stations. 

New York state lawmakers early this week approved a fiscal-year 2020 state budget plan that calls for Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) reforms, and includes a "congestion pricing" program that would provide a new source of revenue to the transit agency.

Under congestion pricing, motorists will be charged a toll entering the city's most congested streets. The goal of the charge is to help reduce traffic congestion, while generating revenue for MTA.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) yesterday issued its 2020-2024 Rail Crossing Safety Improvement Plan, which calls for more than $250 million in funding to help local communities and railroads pay for safety improvements at hundreds of locations.

The plan proposes funding from the state's Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) to help cover the cost of 17 highway-rail bridge projects, four pedestrian rail bridge projects, 253 grade crossing warning device projects and low-cost improvements at 500 crossing locations, ICC officials said in a press release.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) officials yesterday marked the completion of a $172 million rail maintenance facility in the Southwestern Yard that will serve the future Crenshaw/LAX light-rail line near Los Angles International Airport.

Light-rail vehicles will be maintained and inspected at the 115,000-square-foot facility. Other work to be performed there includes body repairs, painting, storage, cleaning and washing. 

U.S. rail traffic continued its slump in March, falling 5.2 percent to 2,022,934 carloads and intermodal units compared with volumes in March 2018, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

U.S. carload volume for the month dipped 8.9 percent to 957,144 units versus a year ago, while intermodal levels dipped 1.5 percent to 1,065,790 containers and trailers.

SNC-Lavalin subsidiary TransitNEXT has secured a $663 million deal with the city of Ottawa to design, build and finance the Trillium light-rail extension project, which will extend the route from the Greenboro Station to a new terminal west of Limebank Road in Ottawa, Ontario. SNC-Lavalin will maintain the new extension, as well as assume responsibility for long-term maintenance of the existing Trillium Line, according to a companty press release. Construction of the extension will be completed in 2022.

SYSTRA has been selected by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority to lead the transit technology evaluation component of Project Connect, according to a press release. Project Connect includes short-term enhancement projects and investments into a high-capacity transit system serving the Austin, Texas, community. SYSTRA will also lead system integration, testing and commissioning in later phases of the project.

The Rail Passengers Association (RPA) has presented a coalition of six U.S. senators with the Golden Spike Award for their efforts to save the Amtrak Southwest Chief corridor, the association announced yesterday.

The award was presented to U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.).

Virginia's Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) is soliciting public input on rail and other transportation projects that have been recommended for funding.

CTB will host nine meetings in April and May, according to a CTB press release. Community members may participate by attending the public meetings or submitting comments online, by email or mail.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has posthumously recognized the late Steve Cernak with the Distinguished Service Award.

Cernak was chief executive officer and director of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He died last month after fighting pancreatic cancer. He was 63.

The Reading & Northern Railroad announced yesterday the promotions of Daren Geschwindt to vice president of distribution services and Dustin Berndt to vice president of motive power.

Berndt joined the Port Clinton, Pennsylvania-based railroad in 2000, when he started in the locomotive shop. In 2012, he was named assistant VP of motive power in recognition for his work to improve the locomotive fleet. Along with the engine house crew, Berndt ensures the safety and efficiency of the fleet, according to a company press release.

Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver's G Line — which will operate Denver, Adams County, Arvada and Wheat Ridge — will officially open April 26.

The 11-mile, eight-station electric commuter rail line will connect passengers from the western-most station to Union Station in downtown Denver in 25 minutes, according to an RTD press release.

The West Coast Railway Association (WCRA) will receive $985,000 from the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to acquire and renovate a former British Columbia Railway workshop to support a heritage railway's preservation in Squamish, British Columbia, Canadian government officials announced last week. 

The funding will help WCRA to maintain, protect and preserve its historic collection of locomotives and rail cars, according to a Department of Canadian Heritage press release.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), yesterday issued a report calling on state and local official to address the “looming transportation funding crisis” driven by changes coming to Act 44. 

Act 44 required the PTC to provide the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) with $450 million annually for highways, bridges and public transit, according to a SEPTA press release. In 2013, the act was modified to dedicate the payments to public transit. 

In January, tie production increased 23.3 percent to 1,395,000 ties and purchases rose 24.4 percent to 1,468,000 units compared with December 2018 levels, according to the Railway Tie Association's (RTA) latest market report.

On a year-over-year basis, production climbed 8.4 percent while purchases dropped 7.4 percent.

CN will spend CA$320 million this year on projects to expand and maintain its infrastructure in Ontario, the Class I announced yesterday.

Planned expansion project investments will include a satellite intermodal facility near CN's Brampton intermodal terminal to provide more capacity; intermodal and infrastructure at the Brampton terminal; and facility improvements at the Toronto auto compound.

U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) have announced $120 million in federal funding through the Federal Transit Administration for the construction of the Purple Line light-rail route in Maryland.

This grant is part of the $900 million federal grant agreement for the Maryland Purple Line light-rail project, $568 million of which has been appropriated through the 2019 fiscal year, according to a press release issued by Hollen's office.