Virgin Trains USA, Wabtec Sign $120MM PTC Deal
Virgin Trains USA (VTUSA), more commonly known under its original name, Brightline, has reached a $120 million agreement with Wabtec for the implementation of Positive Train Control.
Author: Andrew Corselli
OmniTRAX Tabs Scott as Board Chair
OmniTRAX, an affiliate of The Broe Group, has elected Cameron Scott as Board Chair.
BART Opens Berryessa Extension
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) recently opened the Berryessa Extension for revenue service.
Benjamin James Tarbutton, Jr., 1930-2020
Benjamin James Tarbutton, Jr. passed away on June 9 at the age of 90. Tarbutton had a lifelong career with the Sandersville Railroad Company, his family’s short line railroad business, which is now 127 years old. He worked there for 65 years until the time of his death, serving as President, Vice President and Director.
Sharper Angles, Deeper Dives
RAILWAY AGE, JUNE 2020 ISSUE: Geometry—for many, one of the least-favorite school subjects (“When are we ever going to actually use this stuff?!”)—is imperative to the rail industry. Finding faults, on the other hand, is a preoccupation for some people. But for railroads, it’s also critical. Safety depends upon both.
CHSRA Celebrates 4,000th Construction Job
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) announced that more than 4,000 construction jobs have been created across 119 miles of the high-speed rail project. More than 73% of the workers dispatched to various construction sites reported living within the Central Valley.
Great Scott! ACTA Appoints New CFO
The Governing Board of the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority (ACTA) has appointed Kevin Scott as the new Chief Financial Officer.
Transit Operators Team to Form North American Transit Alliance
Six of the largest private transit operating firms—First Transit, Keolis, MV Transportation, National Express, RATP Dev USA and Transdev—have come together to form the North American Transit Alliance (NATA). The group aims to help cities in North America flourish “by promoting innovative transportation solutions that ensure transit is safe, clean and prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.”
Very Cool: KLLM Adds 610 Refrigerated Intermodal Containers
KLLM Transport Services has added 610 domestic intermodal refrigerated containers that aim to provide “an optimized cargo capacity for its customers thanks to the use of Carrier Transicold’s thin-profile Vector™ 1550 refrigeration systems.”
Rail Traffic Still Recovering
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ended June 6, 2020, and, for this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 433,171 carloads and intermodal units, down 15.6% compared with the same week last year.