• January 23, 2012
• Class I

CN, CP reach accord for potash shipments

Canadian National and Canadian Pacific reached separate 10-year agreements with Canpotex Ltd. to transport potash volumes that Canpotex ships to export markets. Under CP’s agreement, CP will be Canpotex’s principal Canadian railway, transporting a large majority of potash shipments to Canpotex’s main terminal in Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition, in conjunction with Union Pacific, CP will transport significant Canpotex potash shipments to Portland, Ore.

• January 23, 2012
• Class I

BNSF offers new online tools for shippers

BNSF Railway Monday announced the release of two new online tools —Carload Shipping Advisor and Serving Carrier Reciprocal Switch Inquiry— that it says “allow customers to compare shipping options by price, equipment, and route for multiple origins and destinations.” 

• January 23, 2012
• Class I

Union Pacific No. 5 on top 50 companies list

Bloomberg BusinessWeek magazine has listed Union Pacific No. 5 on its 2012 list of top 50 performing companies. The Bloomberg BusinessWeek 50 evaluates companies on one-year and five-year risk-adjusted returns, consensus analyst ratings, and projected earnings growth. Companies are ranked against other members of the S&P 500 stock index.

• January 23, 2012
• C&S/IT

Thales lands Hong Kong airport APM contract

Neuilly-sur-Seine, France-based Thales Group said Monday it has been awarded a contract by IHI Corp. to resignal and upgrade the automated people mover (APM) located within Hong Kong international airport.

• January 23, 2012
• C&S/IT

Railway Age launches new website

Railway Age Publisher Jonathan Chalon on Friday announced the “official launch of the new Railway Age website.”

• January 20, 2012
• Finance/Leasing

GE Transportation hails healthy 4Q

Erie, Pa.-based GE Transportation on Friday reported $1.5 billion in fourth-quarter 2011 revenue, up 43% year-over-year. Revenue for the full year 2011 was $4.9 billion, up 45% compared with fiscal year 2010. Segment profit for the fourth quarter was $226 million, up from $73 million in 2010. Full-year profit for GE Transportation was $757 million, up from $315 million in 2010.

• January 20, 2012
• Intercity

New Amtrak service target date for Norfolk, Va.

Amtrak reportedly hopes to begin passenger rail service to Norfolk, Va., along the south side of the James River, by the end of the year.

• January 20, 2012
• Light Rail

San Francisco Central Subway LRT OKd

The 1.7-mile Central Subway sought by San Francisco has received a “letter of non-prejudice” from the U.S. Department of Transportation, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee says. The move clears the way for the city to commence construction on the underground LRT route, expected to cost $1.6 billion.

• January 20, 2012
• News

RSI Scholarship application now available

The Railway Supply Institute says its RSI 2012/2013 Academic Year Scholarship application is now available online. Applications and related materials are due on April 20.

• January 19, 2012
• Class I

U.S. freight, intermodal volumes gain, AAR says

U.S. freight carload traffic rose 5.5% for the week ending Jan. 14 compared with the second week of 2011, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday. U.S. intermodal volume also rose, up 7.4% for the week measured against the comparable period in 2011.