Trip Optimizer Tops 500MM Miles
Wabtec Corp.’s Trip Optimizer energy management system, described by the company as a “smart cruise control system for trains,” has surpassed, globally, 500 million miles in operation.
Wabtec Corp.’s Trip Optimizer energy management system, described by the company as a “smart cruise control system for trains,” has surpassed, globally, 500 million miles in operation.
CN President and CEO JJ Ruest, in his second Rail Group on Air appearance, describes his vision for CN’s future as the industry pushes forward following a challenging second quarter. Ruest, Railway
Cindy Sanborn, one of the first women to hold a senior-level executive role at a Class I railroad, will succeed the retiring Michael Wheeler as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Norfolk Southern, effective Sept. 1, 2020.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in consultation with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), issued on June 19 a final rule authorizing the
CN, the second North American Class I railroad to report second-quarter 2020 financial and operating results, was, as expected, adversely affected by the falloff in business related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, there are some bright spots, among them an increase in free cash flow, a decision to acquire 1,500 additional high-capacity grain hoppers, approval from the railroad’s Board of Directors to pay a third-quarter 2020 dividend, and re-affirmation of its C$2.9 billion capital plan.
Career Democratic congressional staffer Robert Primus, 49, has been nominated by President Trump to fill one of two vacant seats on the five-member Surface Transportation Board (STB). Primus’s nomination followed a mid-2019 written recommendation to the White House by Senate Minority Leader Charles E. (Chuck) Schumer (D-N.Y.). He is now paired with Republican nominee Michelle A. Schultz, whose earlier Senate confirmation has been stalled nearly three years pending nomination of a Democrat.
Chicago’s Metra commuter rail agency on July 21 asked the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to issue a preliminary injunction to prevent Union Pacific from “taking planned steps that would degrade or halt” commuter rail service on the three lines—UP North, UP Northwest and UP West—the Class I railroad operates and maintains equipment under contract. Separately, Metra also asked the STB to rule on whether UP has a legal common-carrier obligation to provide commuter service. “UP maintains that it has no such obligation,” Metra said, adding that it “strongly disagrees” with UP’s position and that “settling that dispute is critical to determining how service will continue to operate on the lines and, more important, what it will cost the public.”
American Industrial Transport™ Inc. (AITX™) is the new name and brand of the railcar leasing and repair business of the former ARI (American Railcar Industries), whose railcar manufacturing division was acquired by The Greenbrier Cos. from ITE Management LP (ITE) in July 2019.
Renowned railway industrial designer Cesar Vergara, Principal of Vergarastudio, talks with Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono about the numerous challenges facing passenger rail agencies and railcar engineers and designers created by
New Jersey Transit has exercised an option worth approximately $70.5 million with Bombardier for eight ALP45-DPA dual-powered (electric-diesel) locomotives. The acquisition is based on a contract awarded in 2008 for 26 initial ALP-45DPs, with an option to purchase up to 63 additional units. In July 2009, NJT purchased nine more ALP-45DPs, increasing the fleet 35 units. In December 2017, 17 upgraded ALP-45DPAs were ordered, upping fleet size to 52. This latest option, the first unit of which is expected to arrive in first-quarter 2022, will bring the NJT fleet to 60 units when delivery is completed.