OmniTRAX Adds Rail Safety, Environmental Leader
Former Class I railroad executive Kayden Howard has taken on a newly created role at OmniTRAX: Senior Vice President of Health, Safety and Environmental Programs.
Author: Marybeth Luczak
Weekly Carloads, Intermodal Volume Decline, Again
U.S. rail traffic in Week 34 (ending Aug. 26, 2023) lagged the same week last year—falling 5.2%, according to the Association of American Railroads’ Aug. 30 report. Both carloads and intermodal volume were down.
People News: CTA, Illinois High-Speed Rail Commission, MassDOT, TieEnergy, AECOM
Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) appoints its first Chief Equity and Engagement Officer. Also, a new Vice Chair has been elected for the Illinois High-Speed Rail Commission; the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Secretary is stepping down; railroad tie recycling and repurposing company TiEnergy elevates a five-year sales veteran; and Infrastructure consulting firm AECOM hires a new Senior Program Management Director.
Berkshire & Eastern Readies for PAS Operations
Nearly 18 months after CSX acquired Pan Am Systems, Inc. and its short line subsidiaries, Berkshire & Eastern Railroad is set to take over as operator of Pan Am Southern LLC (PAS).
Transit Briefs: Amtrak, Denver RTD, LACMTA
Amtrak celebrates the completion of a $1.9 million station project in Connersville, Ind. Also, Denver Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) FasTracks bonds rating is upgraded; and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) new Regional Connector project helps boost July ridership.
CDPQ Infra Elevates Three Executives
Contractor CDPQ Infra (Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec) has promoted Daniel Farina, Sophie Lussier and Philippe Batani to key positions on its management team, effective Sept. 5. According to the company, the move will position it well for the next phases of Montreal’s Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project and for other projects.
R&LHS Awards Student Scholarships for 2023
Five graduate/undergraduate students have earned scholarships from the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society (R&LHS) for 2023. Each award is worth $3,000.
Supply Side: Martinus North America, Engelke Consulting
Australia-based rail systems and infrastructure construction firm Martinus announces its first North American acquisition. Also, Engelke Consulting, LLC adds federal lobbying and government affairs services for freight rail clients.
Kentucky Delivering $1.25MM in Grade Crossing Improvement Grants
Grants totaling $1.25 million will go toward safety improvements at 11 highway/rail grade crossings in eight Kentucky counties. Five of the crossings are in communities served by Norfolk Southern (NS).
Watch: CSX Pays Tribute to Predecessor L&N
CSX ES44AH No. 1850, in Louisville & Nashville (L&N) colors, is the sixth in a series of heritage locomotives to roll out of CSX’s Waycross Locomotive Shop in Georgia as a way of “reinforcing employee pride in the history of the railroad” and sharing it with the public.