Railroad News

Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Metro-North Railroad is rebuilding the Prospect Hill Road Bridge in Southeast through a $9.5 million investment made possible by the MTA's 2015-2019 Capital Program.

The 270-foot-long bridge, which is 107 years old, is located just south of the Southeast station; it carries Prospect Hill Road over the Harlem Line tracks and parts of Metro-North's Brewster Yard. The bridge has been deemed beyond the point of repair. The MTA Board approved a contract to the firm Halmar International for the design and construction of the replacement bridge on April 26.

The Durham-Orange Light Rail project remains eligible for more than $1 billion in federal funding following approvals of updated county transit plans from several stakeholders.

The counties of Durham and Orange, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization and GoTriangle Board of Trustees all voted last week to approve new county transit plans and a revised cost-sharing agreement.

5/1/2017    

Rail News: Rail Industry Trends

WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff has added Jeff Goodling as a senior rail project manager for the West region. Samrithy Thlang has also joined the company as a senior managing overhead contact system engineer.

Goodling will utilize more than 30 years of experience in his new position leading and managing design, delivery and commissioning of rail projects throughout the West with a focus on Southern California. Prior to joining WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, he served as project director for the design of the light rail transit project in Edmonton, Alberta. He previously served as project director of the Sydney light rail project in Sydney, Australia. From 1993 to 2010, Mr. Goodling was with Tri-Met in Portland, serving in a variety of senior positions, including manager of the agency's design development department, and project director for the development of the Green Line light rail.

5/1/2017    

Rail News: Passenger Rail

4/28/2017    

Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation

4/28/2017    

Rail News: Rail Industry Trends

4/28/2017    

Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation

4/28/2017    

Rail News: Passenger Rail

4/28/2017    

Rail News: Supplier Spotlight

A new third track between Kelso and Longview Junction, Wash., is operational and provides expanded capacity for both passenger and freight trains.

The project rids the route of a chokepoint that was formed by freight traffic coming in and out of the Port of Longview that blocked on main line track limiting operations to a single track. The project allows for the separation of freight and passenger rail traffic, which the Washington State Department of Transportation says reduces congestion, as well as passenger/freight rail conflicts, improves reliability for both and allows for better movement of people and goods through the corridor.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) Board of Commissioners authorized $57 million in planning funds for the first phase of the PATH system extension to Newark Liberty International Airport.

The board says the project, estimated total cost to be $1.7 billion, is a key component of its 2017-2026 capital plan and essential to improved regional rail service for the commuting public. The authorization provides funding to move the project through preliminary design and the required environmental review process. It includes funds for environmental and transportation services, including preliminary engineering work as well as program and project management services.

4/28/2017    

Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation

Sound Transit unveiled plans to kick off what the company calls "one of the most ambitious public transit capital investment programs in the nation's history."

By the end of 2017, Sound Transit will be planning, designing or building 24 train and bus projects in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties.

4/28/2017    

Rail News: Mechanical

Norfolk Southern Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Marta R. Stewart intends to retire effective Aug. 1, 2017, after a 34-year career.

 

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have published a Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) for the South Station Expansion (SSX) project.

MassDOT says the purpose of the SSX project is to expand South Station terminal capacity to meet current and anticipated future commuter rail and intercity rail service needs. The project would also promote city-building in a key area of Boston, and allow Dorchester Avenue to be reopened for public use and enjoyment for the first time in decades. The expansion of South Station would enable growth in passenger rail transportation within the commonwealth of Massachusetts and along the Northeast Corridor (NEC). Expanding the terminal would improve the passenger experience of using South Station and updating the infrastructure (track and signals) and related layover capacity would improve service reliability.

4/28/2017    

Rail News: Passenger Rail

4/27/2017    

Rail News: Supplier Spotlight

Rail News Home Canadian National Railway - CN 4/27/2017 Rail News: Canadian National Railway - CN
CN announced yesterday a five-year contract has been ratified by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) System Council 11. The union represents approximately 700 CN signals and communications employees in Canada.The agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1, and runs through Dec. 31, 2021. It covers wage increases in each year, plus benefit improvements, according to a CN press release."The contract reinforces our commitment to working together with our employees and their representatives to address workplace issues in a mutually beneficial manner," said Mike Cory, CN executive vice president and chief operating officer. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff. More News from 4/27/2017