Kansas City Southern (KSC) announced on Sept. 6 that its Holiday Express train will be returning to the rails for the first time since the start of the pandemic in 2020 and will continue its tradition of charitable giving to The Salvation Army.
The Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) has promoted Dan Corcoran to Director, Intermodal Operations and is realigning its Engineering Department. Also, Mark Dorn joins TriMet as Executive Director.
Metrolink launches discount program for low-income train riders. Also, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)’s newly improved Orange Line stations will reopen on schedule featuring platform and customer upgrades; Valley Metro’s South Central Extension/Downtown Hub is halfway to the goal line; the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) releases $19.9 billion draft six-year capital budget plan; new reserved bike rooms are opening at five of Metrolinx’s GO stations; and LA Metro releases final limited edition TAP cards featuring rider portraits.
Two weeks after Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) No. 250 issued its recommendations on the stalled contract negotiations between 12 rail labor unions and the carriers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers announced on Sept. 1 that it has reached a tentative agreement with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), which represents most U.S. Class I freight railroads in national collective bargaining.
VLS Environmental Solutions, LLC (VLS), a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, has announced that it is expanding its railcar services footprint from three to 12 locations with the recent acquisition of
BNSF Railway (BNSF) recognizes customers for significant achievement in sustainability. Also, CN replaces propane-powered forklift with electric forklift reducing 7.6 metric tons of CO2 a year from the environment.
Following a Safety Management Inspection of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) rail transit system, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a report of findings on Aug. 31 and informed both the MBTA and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the state agency charged with Authority oversight, that safety changes, in addition to those announced in June, are needed.
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit (HART) announces Trial Running testing phase for the first segment of Honolulu’s rail system. Also, Metra adds service on its Union Pacific Northwest (UP-NW) Line and capacity on Metra Electric for Bike the Drive; Oregon Metro seeks proposals for 2023 Regional Transportation Plan community partnerships; Gov. Charlie Baker says Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Orange Line “on track” to finish on time; Metrolinx’s GO Train service to Niagara Falls continues year-round; The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) increases service as more customers return to transit; Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) “Ask CTA” program to foster engagement with customers; The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) brings real-time train arrival information to Light Rail; and innovative design suggestions surface for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Extension Phase II project.
Belgium-based chemical company Solvay announced Aug. 26 that, with Union Pacific (UP), it has invested in a purpose-built railcar fleet to reduce the carbon footprint of every railcar of soda ash (or sodium carbonate), “the 10th most consumed inorganic compound in the world and a base ingredient for lass and detergent manufacturers,” shipped from the company’s Green River, Wyo., plant.
The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (Greenbrier) elects Thomas B. Fargo as Independent Board of Directors Chair. Also, Daniel Stein joins The Chlorine Institute (CI) as Senior Director of Products Stewardship & Analysis; Kory Hamill joins ABLOY Critical Infrastructure Solutions as Transportation Vertical Market Manager; and CentrePort Canada Inc. Founding President and CEO Diane Gray resigns after 13 years of leadership.