“Thanks to Governor Greg Gianforte and Montana Department of Agriculture for joining Ardent Mills, Calumet Montana Refining, Bridge Agri Partners and about 30 community members for the groundbreaking of another rail expansion project,” the BNSF-served Port of Northern Montana reported via Facebook. (Port of Northern Montana Photograph)

Class I Briefs: BNSF, UP

BNSF releases an operations update for customers, and the BNSF-served Port of Northern Montana multimodal hub center launches an expansion project. Also, Union Pacific (UP) joins Clean Fuels Alliance America.

GRYR (pictured) and FGA are now part of the EPA’s SmartWay® Transport Partnership. (GRYR Photograph)

FGA, GRYR Become ‘SmartWay’ Partners

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Pinsly Railroad Company on June 7 reported that its Florida Gulf & Atlantic (FGA) and Grenada Railroad (GRYR) subsidiaries have joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay® Transport Partnership.

“Wabtec has a proven history of providing integrated services designed to maximize reliability and availability of customers' locomotives at optimal operating costs,” said Danilo Miyasato, President and Regional Leader of Wabtec in Latin America, during the announcement of its 10-year master service agreement for Vale's Evolution Series locomotive fleet at Estrada de Ferro Carajás (EFC) railway in Brazil. “This contract reinforces our long-standing working relationship with Vale to drive sustainable and efficient growth of EFC's railway operations.” (Wabtec Photograph)

Wabtec Lands Another Vale Contract (UPDATED 6/10)

Global mining company Vale has signed a 10-year master service agreement valued at approximately $340 million (R$1.8 billion) with Wabtec Corporation “to increase the efficiency and operations” of the Evolution Series (EVO) locomotive

The TTC and ATU Local 113 have reached a tentative agreement that avoids a strike. Pictured during the June 7 announcement: TTC Chair Jamaal Myers (right) and TTC CEO Rick Leary. (TTC Photograph)

Transit Briefs: TTC, Metrolink, NCTD, SEPTA

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 avert a strike. Also, Southern California’s Metrolink approves a contract extension for CEO Darren Kettle; North County Transit District (NCTD) is launching first-mile/last-mile service for COASTER commuter rail riders; and Elavon will enable contactless fare payments for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) riders.

Townline is seeking authorization to construct and operate approximately 5,000 feet of new, common carrier rail line and associated switching and sidetrack in the hamlet of Kings Park, town of Smithtown, N.Y. The proposed line would connect and run parallel to the existing MTA Long Island Railroad main line, and add two daily New York & Atlantic Railway (NYA) trains (one roundtrip) to the LIRR system five days per week. (Map Courtesy of STB)

STB Releases Final EA for Proposed Suffolk County, N.Y. Rail Line

The Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed construction and operation of Townline Rail Terminal’s new rail line in Suffolk County, N.Y., was issued June 7 by the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Office of Environmental Analysis. The Board will now consider the transportation merits of the proposal and the entire environmental record as part of its final decision.

(Top) Last year, members of UP’s Engineering Department met to discuss safety accomplishments and opportunities to continue reinforcing a “safety mindset.” The nearly 600-member group—including employees in Tucson, Ariz., (bottom left) and Tucumcari, N.Mex. (bottom right)—recently marked one year injury-free. (Caption and Photographs Courtesy of UP)

Class I Briefs: UP, CPKC, CN

Union Pacific’s (UP) Southwest Maintenance-of-Way team reaches a safety milestone. Also, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) distributes iPads to conductors; and CN celebrates Pride month (June) with specially designed containers.

(TSA Logo)

TSA: STSAC Member Applications Welcome

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is seeking candidates to serve on its Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee (STSAC), whose mission is to provide advice, consultation, and recommendations on “improving surface transportation security

(Port of Los Angeles Photograph)

Approved Revenue, Spending Plan Supports LA Port Priorities

The Los Angeles (Calif.) Harbor Commission on June 6 signed off on a $2.6 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 budget for the City of Los Angeles Harbor Department that it said will support the “community investment, decarbonization of port-related operations, workforce development, and cargo infrastructure modernization” priorities of the Port of Los Angeles.

Atlas (pictured) is a 12-axle U.S. Department of Energy-designed railcar for transporting shipments of spent nuclear fuel weighing up to 480,000 pounds (240 tons). The $33 million project took 10 years to complete. (DOE Photograph)

Watch: Atlas Cleared for Operation

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) Equipment Engineering Committee (EEC) has certified the Atlas railcar system to run on all major U.S. freight railroads, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy, which developed it to transport the nation’s commercial spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste weighing up to 480,000 pounds (240 tons).

(TexAmericas Center)

TexAmericas Center Earns UP ‘Focus Site’ Designation

The New Boston, Tex.-based TexAmericas Center is now part of Union Pacific’s (UP) Focus Site program, which includes more than 30 “shovel-ready” industrial development sites that range from 125 to more than 6,500

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