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Aug
10

Rep. Carter tours Temple & Central Rwy.

Shortline railroads continue to emphasize their role as a critical economic link and job provider in events with elected representatives.

Rep. John Carter, a Republican from the 31st District, on Wednesday met with company executives to tour the Temple & Central Texas Railway, one of 12 short line railroads managed by Patriot Rail Company LLC, a member of the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association.

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Aug
10

Rep. Carter tours Temple & Central Rwy.

Shortline railroads continue to emphasize their role as a critical economic link and job provider in events with elected representatives.

Rep. John Carter, a Republican from the 31st District, on Wednesday met with company executives to tour the Temple & Central Texas Railway, one of 12 short line railroads managed by Patriot Rail Company LLC, a member of the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association.

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Aug
10

SLSI: Study reveals themes that influence railroads' safety culture

After reviewing a year's worth of safety culture assessments at short lines and regionals, the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) has identified areas in need of improvement through training and education, the institute announced yesterday.

The SLSI recently reviewed the results of a study of its safety culture assessments completed during the pilot program and first year of the institute's operations. The study pointed to three measurement categories that influence a positive safety culture, as well as areas in need of improvement, SLSI officials said in a press release.

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Aug
10

SLSI completes safety culture assessment

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) will develop training and education efforts to address and enhance railroad safety culture following the completion of a systematic review of Safety Culture Assessments.

 

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Aug
10

SLSI completes safety culture assessment

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) will develop training and education efforts to address and enhance railroad safety culture following the completion of a systematic review of Safety Culture Assessments.

 

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Aug
10

New York state orders Con Edison to guarantee subway power reliability

Due to recent repeated delays and power flow failures throughout the entire Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway system, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has directed Con Edison to take significant and immediate actions to improve the subway's power reliability.

According to the PSC, during the past 12 months alone, power-related issues have caused more than 32,000 subway delays and service disruptions. PSC says the outages stem from four problem areas including: loss of power, frequent surges in power that force the system to go into failsafe mode (shutdown), frequent power dips which cause equipment to fail and an insufficient power back up system in the event of a power failure.

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Aug
10

New York state orders Con Edison to guarantee subway power reliability

Due to recent repeated delays and power flow failures throughout the entire Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway system, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has directed Con Edison to take significant and immediate actions to improve the subway's power reliability.

According to the PSC, during the past 12 months alone, power-related issues have caused more than 32,000 subway delays and service disruptions. PSC says the outages stem from four problem areas including: loss of power, frequent surges in power that force the system to go into failsafe mode (shutdown), frequent power dips which cause equipment to fail and an insufficient power back up system in the event of a power failure.

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Aug
10

Rising Stars: Amanda Stahlnecker, HDR Inc.

Amanda Stahlnecker, 36

Job description: Stahlnecker works on a variety of freight- and transit-rail projects. Her duties include feasibility studies, design, plan preparation, cost estimation, project management and construction support. She provides guidance for less experienced staff in her section and helps with HDR's freight railroad training program.

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering with a minor in communication studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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Aug
10

From the editor: International gains boosted intermodal volume in Q2

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Editor

Given all the strident NAFTA renegotiation talk earlier this year, there was concern in some rail circles about the consequences of trade-pact tinkering on U.S.-Mexico cross-border carload and intermodal business. The anxiety eased a bit after the Trump administration released its renegotiation priorities on July 17. Meanwhile, international container volume has been the key driver of North American intermodal traffic growth so far this year.

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Aug
10

In memoriam: Stephen Tobias, 72

Stephen C. Tobias, former Norfolk Southern vice chairman and chief operating officer and former member of the Canadian Pacific Board of Directors, died Aug. 7.

"Steve was COO for most of the years I was chairman, president and CEO. He was a tower of strength for me and the company. He was a great railroader and, I believe, the best operations man in the business," said David Good, former chairman, president and CEO of NS.

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Aug
10

In memoriam: Stephen Tobias, 72

Stephen C. Tobias, former Norfolk Southern vice chairman and chief operating officer and former member of the Canadian Pacific Board of Directors, died Aug. 7.

"Steve was COO for most of the years I was chairman, president and CEO. He was a tower of strength for me and the company. He was a great railroader and, I believe, the best operations man in the business," said David Good, former chairman, president and CEO of NS.

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Aug
09

Rail supplier news from AngelTrax, Road & Rail, RSI and Vertex (Aug. 9)

AngelTrax has relocated all operations into a renovated 40,000-square-foot facility, which will serve as the new headquarters for the company's expanded corporate offices, as well as its manufacturing, inventory and distribution centers. The expansion follows the debut of the new Vulcan™ Series high-definition cameras, IP cameras and DVRs, which were launched in the first quarter. With increasing demand for Vulcan Series systems, AngelTrax needed room to accommodate current and future growth, said President and Chief Executive Officer Richie Howard.

Road & Rail Services Inc. has received the Association of American Railroads' automotive quality excellence award for its efforts at a site in Talladega, Alabama. The company was recognized for the highest quality review score for origin facilities for the period covering June 2016 to May 2017. The AAR gives out only one such award each year, Road & Rail officials said in a press release. This marks the third time that Road & Rail has received the honor.

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Aug
09

Valley Metro honored for ridership data portal, Northwest light-rail extension

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/9/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The agency uses geographic information system (GIS) technology in its ridership data portal.Photo – Valley Metro

Valley Metro has been recognized for its use of geographic information system (GIS) technology in its ridership data portal.

GIS supplier Esri presented the agency with a 2017 special achievement in GIS award for the portal, which provides access to customized transit ridership reports. The data portal serves as a "model for the industry," Valley Metro officials said in a press release.

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Aug
09

Pittsburgh transit agency to open customer service center

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/9/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The new site will feature digital screens with real-time light-rail and bus information.Photo – Port Authority of Allegheny County

The Port Authority of Allegheny County next year plans to open a larger customer service center in downtown Pittsburgh.

The agency's board late last month approved amending an existing lease at the Heinz 57 Center to include a new 8,500-square-foot location. The lease will now run through 2030.

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Aug
09

RTA: Crosstie production down, purchases up in June

Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends 8/9/2017 Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
In June, crosstie production fell 4.8 percent to 1.8 million units, while purchases rose 7.8 percent to 2.49 million units from May levels, according to the Railway Tie Association (RTA).In comparison to year-ago levels, June production plunged 29.1 percent and purchases slipped 5.6 percent, according to the RTA report.Production through June decreased 21.3 percent from year-ago levels to 11 million units, while purchases dropped 11.3 percent to 11.48 million units compared with the same period in 2016.Purchases are in a downward trend at a 9.8 percent annual rate, while production is trending lower at a 15 percent annual rate, according to RTA's report.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

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Aug
09

Teamsters ratify new pact for CN conductors, yard crews

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 8/9/2017 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Conductors, Trainpersons and Yardpersons union that represents CN conductors and yard crews in Canada has ratified a new collective agreement with the Class I.Retroactive to July 23, 2016, the three-year contract provides wage increases and benefit improvements to 3,000 conductors, according to a CN press release."This agreement is testament to the benefits of relationship building and we look forward to continuing to foster this relationship moving forward," said CN Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Cory. "Together, we reached this agreement without a labor disruption allowing us to continue providing quality service to our customers."

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 8/9/2017


Aug
09

Teamsters ratify new pact for CN conductors, yard crews

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 8/9/2017 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Conductors, Trainpersons and Yardpersons union that represents CN conductors and yard crews in Canada has ratified a new collective agreement with the Class I.Retroactive to July 23, 2016, the three-year contract provides wage increases and benefit improvements to 3,000 conductors, according to a CN press release."This agreement is testament to the benefits of relationship building and we look forward to continuing to foster this relationship moving forward," said CN Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Cory. "Together, we reached this agreement without a labor disruption allowing us to continue providing quality service to our customers."

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

More News from 8/9/2017


Aug
09

Union Pacific ranks No. 1 in Soy Transportation Council's report card

Union Pacific Railroad ranked as the top performer while Canadian Pacific ranked last in the Soy Transportation Coalition's (STC) seventh annual survey of Class I performance.

UP was regarded as the top performing railroad for the fifth time. Survey respondents ranked CP in seventh place for the six year in a row, STC officials said in a press release.

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Aug
09

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending August 5, 2017

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The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 5, 2017.

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Aug
09

KC Streetcar starts planning for extension to university

The Kansas City Streetcar Authority (KCSA) on Monday issued a notice to proceed on planning work for a southern extension to the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

An HDR Engineering-led team will perform planning and engineering services. The planning work will include collecting data on area conditions and utilities, refining alignment details, determining station locations and updating cost estimates.

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