Commentary

NJT a “national disgrace”? No way!

As is the tradition in New Jersey, the state I’ve called home since birth, the incoming governor 1) trashes New Jersey Transit and 2) proceeds to “fix” everything by cleaning house and starting fresh. This political circus has been going on since the state took over a collapsing commuter rail system in the early 1980s. So what else is new?

HNTB elevates Sweeny to EVP

HNTB Corp. has named Michael Sweeney, P.E., an Executive Vice President after holding various high-profile leadership positions since joining the company in 2012, including New York office leader and Northeast Division president. He continues to serve as Eastern U.S. Region president, overseeing more than 2,000 professionals in the firm’s Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Divisions.

CN makes CDP Supplier A List

CN has been identified as “a global leader for its actions and strategies to manage environmental issues” and awarded a position on the Supplier A List by CDP, the non-profit global environmental disclosure platform.

Wright Joins FreightCar America

Kristen Wright has joined FreightCar America as Director of Sales, with responsiblity for supporting the company’s sales team in marketing and selling FreightCar America’s diverse railcar product line. She is based in FreightCar America’s Chicago offices.

NYA tackling OSA

Anacostia Rail Holdings subsidiary New York & Atlantic Railway (NYA) is the first short line freight railroad to screen and treat employees for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), according to ASLRRA (American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association).

Reyes takes FRA reins, for now

Deputy Federal Railroad Administrator Heath Hall, who has been serving in an Acting Administrator capacity as Ron Batory awaits Senate confirmation, has taken an extended leave of absence, placing control of the agency under Chief Counsel Juan D. Reyes III.

Amtrak 501 wreck: Engineer “missed” approach sign

The engineer of Amtrak Cascades 501, which derailed on Dec. 18, 2017 in DuPont, Wash., has told the National Transportation Safety Board that he does not recall seeing an approach sign with a speed restriction placed two miles before the 30-mph curve upon which the derailment occurred.

Sanborn surfaces at Union Pacific

Cindy Sanborn, the first woman to hold a senior operating executive role at a Class I railroad, and who was unceremoniously axed by the late E. Hunter Harrison in a messy management purge at CSX, has joined Union Pacific as Regional Vice President Transportation-Western Region, effective Feb. 16, 2018.

CSX 4Q, full-year ’17 earnings reflect “impressive margins”

CSX on Jan. 16 announced fourth-quarter 2017 net earnings of $4.1 billion, or $4.62 per share, vs. $458 million, or $0.49 per share in the same period last year.

Slight gain for rail freight traffic

U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 13, 2018 of 511,937 carloads and intermodal units represented a marginal 0.5% gain compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on Jan. 17.

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