Railroad News

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has appointed transit industry veteran Paul P. Skoutelas as president and CEO, effective Jan. 8, 2018.

A licensed professional engineer, Skoutelas has been involved with many major capital programs, among them the South Hills Stage ll Light Rail Program and North Shore Rail Connector. He has served on numerous boards and committees for transportation organizations in leadership positions, including APTA, the Transportation Research Board, National Transit Institute, Pennsylvania Transportation Institute and the Transit Cooperative Research Program. Skoutelas currently serves on the APTA Board of Directors and APTA Business Member Board of Governors.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has appointed transit industry veteran Paul P. Skoutelas as president and CEO, effective Jan. 8, 2018.

A licensed professional engineer, Skoutelas has been involved with many major capital programs, among them the South Hills Stage ll Light Rail Program and North Shore Rail Connector. He has served on numerous boards and committees for transportation organizations in leadership positions, including APTA, the Transportation Research Board, National Transit Institute, Pennsylvania Transportation Institute and the Transit Cooperative Research Program. Skoutelas currently serves on the APTA Board of Directors and APTA Business Member Board of Governors.

Metra, local and federal officials last week broke ground on the Chicago commuter railroad's $34 million project to construct a new bridge over the Fox River in Elgin, Illinois.

The project is designed to remove a rail chokepoint between freight and passenger trains. The bridge construction is being funded in part by a $14 million federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant. Metra will contribute $14 million, while Canadian Pacific will provide $6 million toward the project.

The Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) 5.3-mile subway extension to southern Ontario's York region will open Dec. 17.

Late last week, Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca joined local officials to announce the opening date during a tour of the extension's Vaughan Metropolitan Center and Downsview Park stations.

Mike O'Malley, a former vice president of CSX, will become president of the Railway Supply Institute (RSI) on Feb. 1, 2018. He will succeed Tom Simpson, who is retiring.

O'Malley's career includes experience in the railroad industry, federal and state government, and international trade organizations. He joined CSX in 2007 as vice president, state government and community affairs, before being named vice president, procurement and supply chain management, in 2013.

The American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) board has appointed Paul Skoutelas president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 8, 2018.

Skoutelas has served as CEO of transit agencies in Pittsburgh and Orlando, Florida. Most recently, he was senior vice president at WSP USA. Skoutelas currently serves on APTA's board and the association's business member board of governors.

The Delachaux Group has combined its rail divisions under the Pandrol brand. The companies that will now operate under the Pandrol name include Railtech, Vortok, Pandrol CDM Track, Rosenqvist, Matweld and RSS. The rebranding effort is aimed at creating "synergy from the combined strengths of the market-leading businesses within the rail division, and to make the products and services more streamlined for customers," Delachaux officials said in a press release. The Pandrol organization will focus on four key product lines: rail infrastructure, fastening systems, aluminothermic welding, equipment and control, and electrification. The combined company has been operating in the rail sector for more than a century.

Cubic Transportation Systems has signed a $185 million contract with Transport for London for a three-year extension of services for the agency's Oyster and contactless ticketing system. Cubic will continue to provide operational and maintenance services to the ticketing system and invest in "further innovations" to benefit riders, company officials said in a press release. Meanwhile, Cubic also finalized a $553.8 million contract with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for the design and implementation of New York City's new fare payment system. The MTA contract was awarded in October, and Cubic President Matt Cole signed the agreement Nov. 1. Cubic was chosen to replace the agency's MetroCard with a next-generation fare payment system similar to the one used by Transport for London.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has launched a new version of its app for Apple and Android devices.

The updated app includes a refreshed version of "TrainView," which provides visual location updates for Regional Rail trains every 30 minutes, the agency announced yesterday. The app also features an improved layout for selecting and viewing schedules and the duration of trips.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (Metro) rail system experienced 2,585 service disruptions in 2016, according to a recent audit.

Of that total, 441 delays involved passenger health incidents or policing issues, while the remaining 2,144 occurred due to equipment problems and staffing shortages.

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for design, build and finance work on the Milton Corridor project.

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for design, build and finance work on the Milton Corridor project.

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for design, build and finance work on the Milton Corridor project.

Swire Shipping will begin a container shipping service in January at the Port of Portland's Terminal 6, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Monday.

The new shipping option is part of a larger goal to ensure Oregon regional shippers have access to global markets, according to a press release issued by Brown's office.

A Toronto-based holding company has expressed interest in a partnership that could purchase the beleaguered Hudson Bay Rail line, the Port of Churchill and other associated assets.

Natural Resources Canada says Fairfax Financial Holdings Inc. is exploring a partnership with Missinippi Rail and One North to buy the northern Manitoba rail and port infrastructure.

A Toronto-based holding company has expressed interest in a partnership that could purchase the beleaguered Hudson Bay Rail line, the Port of Churchill and other associated assets.

Natural Resources Canada says Fairfax Financial Holdings Inc. is exploring a partnership with Missinippi Rail and One North to buy the northern Manitoba rail and port infrastructure.

A Toronto-based holding company has expressed interest in a partnership that could purchase the beleaguered Hudson Bay Rail line, the Port of Churchill and other associated assets.

Natural Resources Canada says Fairfax Financial Holdings Inc. is exploring a partnership with Missinippi Rail and One North to buy the northern Manitoba rail and port infrastructure.

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority has released a report explaining the economic benefits expected to come to the region from the upcoming construction and operation of the 12.3-mile Foothill Gold Line light-rail extension.

Beacon Economics, an economic research and forecasting firm based in Los Angeles, produced the report, entitled, "Economic Impact Study of the Foothill Gold Line Glendora to Montclair Segment." The segment is the final of a three-phase project to construct the Gold Line between Los Angeles and Montclair.

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority has released a report explaining the economic benefits expected to come to the region from the upcoming construction and operation of the 12.3-mile Foothill Gold Line light-rail extension.

Beacon Economics, an economic research and forecasting firm based in Los Angeles, produced the report, entitled, "Economic Impact Study of the Foothill Gold Line Glendora to Montclair Segment." The segment is the final of a three-phase project to construct the Gold Line between Los Angeles and Montclair.