Railroad News

Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP's $6 billion petrochemical construction project on the U.S. Gulf Coast has reached a milestone with the completion of mechanical work on its two polyethylene (PE) units, the company announced this week.

Based in Old Ocean, Texas, the PE units are now undergoing commissioning activities, system checks and final certifications to ensure a safe and reliable startup. When operational, each unit will produce at least 500,000 metric tons of product annually, company officials said in a press release.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 17, 2017.

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 543,179 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.2 percent compared with the same week last year.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo advanced legislation that would give the state majority control of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), citing the transit agency's "state of crisis."

New York state has six seats on the MTA Board, New York City has four and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Putnam compromise the balance of the board's 14 total voting seats with no voting majority.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo advanced legislation that would give the state majority control of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), citing the transit agency's "state of crisis."

New York state has six seats on the MTA Board, New York City has four and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Putnam compromise the balance of the board's 14 total voting seats with no voting majority.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo advanced legislation that would give the state majority control of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), citing the transit agency's "state of crisis."

New York state has six seats on the MTA Board, New York City has four and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Putnam compromise the balance of the board's 14 total voting seats with no voting majority.

MTA Metro-North Railroad President Joseph Giulietti will retire by August's end, according to New York City-area news media.

Giulietti plans to spend time with his family before making a decision about his next steps, the Hartford Courant reported.

Bombardier Transportation has signed a $1.1 billion contract with FirstGroup and MTR Corp. to supply and maintain 750 Aventra passenger-rail cars for operation on the South Western franchise in the United Kingdom. The deal marks the largest single contract for Aventra trains, Bombardier officials said in a press release. The trainmaker also will execute a technical services and spares supply agreement with an extension option for the seven-year franchise. Rock Rail, the UK-based rolling stock investment consortium, will finance the procurement. Aventra electric multiple units will feature regenerative braking and passenger amenities that include air conditioning, Wi-Fi, USB sockets and improved passenger information systems.

GE Transportation has signed a $575 million letter of intent with Egyptian National Railways (ENR) and Egypt's Ministry of Transportation to supply 100 ES30ACi Light Evolution Series locomotives for freight and passenger services. The locomotives are equipped with 3,200-horsepower GE Evolution series engines, according to a GE press release. The company also signed a 15-year agreement covering locomotive parts and technical support for ENR's new and current fleet.

Valley Metro Rail and the Refrigeration School Inc. (RSI) have established a customized training program that provides certification for maintaining HVAC equipment on the agency's light-rail cars.

Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway Co. Inc. (QNS&L) and Champion Iron subsidiary Quebec Iron Ore Inc. (QIO) have signed a contract for the transportation of iron ore concentrate generated from Bloom Lake Iron Mine near Fremont, Quebec.

The agreement calls for iron ore concentrate from the Bloom Lake mine to be carried on the QNS&L from the Wabush Lake Junction in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, to Sept-Iles, Quebec.

The ZIM Shanghai's inaugural port of call on June 18 marked the fourth new container service activated at the Port of Wilmington in the past two months, the North Carolina State Ports Authority announced yesterday.

North Carolina Ports has doubled its container services so far this year and is set for unprecedented growth in its next fiscal year, port authority officials said in a press release.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) yesterday reopened two elevated rail stations in Brooklyn after a months-long rehabilitation project.

Located on the No. 3 rail line, the Sutter Avenue-Rutland Road and Junius Street stations reopened for service in both directions yesterday morning. The rehab work included adding platform windscreens, guardrails, concrete panels and light poles.

More than half of U.S. House members have signed a letter calling for a long-term funding solution to maintain the Highway Trust Fund.

Signed by 253 House members from both parties, the letter was sent June 12 to the chairman and ranking member of the House Committee on Ways and Means. The letter seeks a "long-term dedicated, user-based revenue stream" to maintain the trust fund's solvency.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has notified 30 states where transit-rail systems operate that they must establish a State Safety Oversight (SSO) program by April 15, 2019.

Established in April 2016, the federal SSO program's final rule established a three-year timeframe for states to obtain certification for their SSO programs. If a state fails to obtain a certification, FTA will not obligate funds to transportation agencies in that state until certification is achieved, according to an FTA press release.

An expanded West End Concourse, the first phase of the modernization and transformation of New York Penn Station, is open.

The new concourse will provide direct access to 17 of the station's 21 tracks, will connect the future Moynihan Train Hall to Penn Station underground via 33rd Street and provide a direct connection to the 8th Avenue Subway.

An expanded West End Concourse, the first phase of the modernization and transformation of New York Penn Station, is open.

The new concourse will provide direct access to 17 of the station's 21 tracks, will connect the future Moynihan Train Hall to Penn Station underground via 33rd Street and provide a direct connection to the 8th Avenue Subway.

An expanded West End Concourse, the first phase of the modernization and transformation of New York Penn Station, is open.

The new concourse will provide direct access to 17 of the station's 21 tracks, will connect the future Moynihan Train Hall to Penn Station underground via 33rd Street and provide a direct connection to the 8th Avenue Subway.

Ontario has begun an environmental assessment of the proposed electrification of GO Transit's rail network, Ontario Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca announced late last week.

The process involves evaluating the environmental impacts of converting core segments of the GO rail network — including the Union Pearson Express Line — from diesel to electric.

A state senator from Massachusetts is tapping into a mode of public communication not seen since last century: The whistle-stop tour (but by car).

Sen. Eric Lesser (D-1-Hampden & Hampshire) went on the tour to rally support for his proposal to study the feasibility and economic benefits of a high-speed rail link between Springfield and Boston.

A state senator from Massachusetts is tapping into a mode of public communication not seen since last century: The whistle-stop tour (but by car).

Sen. Eric Lesser (D-1-Hampden & Hampshire) went on the tour to rally support for his proposal to study the feasibility and economic benefits of a high-speed rail link between Springfield and Boston.

A state senator from Massachusetts is tapping into a mode of public communication not seen since last century: The whistle-stop tour (but by car).

Sen. Eric Lesser (D-1-Hampden & Hampshire) went on the tour to rally support for his proposal to study the feasibility and economic benefits of a high-speed rail link between Springfield and Boston.