UP starts work in June on New Mexico facility
Thanks to a locomotive fuel tax deduction granted by the state, Union Pacific will move ahead in June with construction of a major new rail facility near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. UP’s
news
Short line chosen for Maine right-of-way
Maine’s Department of Transportation on Tuesday said it has chosen Eastern Maine Railway as the new operator for 233 miles of state-owned right-of-way in the Penobscot and Aroostook counties, located in the
Commentary
Railway Age Commentary: A little transit music, maestro!
By William C. Vantuono, Editor Ever hear of “classical repulsion?” Portland, Ore., Tri-Met is wielding it to great effect to ward off young perpetrators of crimes like vandalism. In other words, if
Oklahoma City OKs streetcar route
The Oklahoma City Council Tuesday approved a proposed route for its MAPS 3 streetcar line, with provisions for adjusting the route as conditions warrant. The proposed route runs in a four-mile loop,
Houston taps Siemens for LRT order
Houston’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Harris County announced Wednesday it has awarded Siemens Industry, Inc. an $83 million contract for 19 S70 light rail vehicles, including spare parts, training, and manuals. The
NYMTA touts Help Point pilot tests
MTA New York City Transit announced Tuesday its new Help Point station communications system has begun pilot testing at two subway stations along the Lexington Avenue Line (4,5, and 6) on Manhattan’s
MBTA awards Green Line Extension contract
HDR/Gilbane Team, a joint venture of HDR Engineering, Inc. and Gilbane Building Co., has contracted with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to provide program management and construction management for the Green Line light rail transit extension project.
TUV Rheinland oversees wind turbine test move
TUV Rheinland Rail Sciences says it recently completed an over-the-road test for Transportation Technology Services (TTS) to monitor 40-meter wind-turbine blades shipped from Texas to Iowa. The company says TTS has developed
Kopp leaves California HSR authority
Quentin Kopp, who introduced legislation in 1996 creating the California High-Speed Rail Authority, said Monday he is stepping down from his director’s position on the authority. Kopp’s term expired last December and
AAR lists
The Association of American Railroads says it is urging the Department of Transportation (DOT) to modify six regulations that cost the industry hundreds of millions of dollars each year. AAR says it
Cold Train Intermodal expands
Launched last April, the Pacific Northwest-Chicagoland Express Cold Train is expanding service to meet rapidly growing demand. This year will see expansion to the Southwest market. The refrigerated intermodal container service went
Amtrak updates fleet strategy plan
Amtrak has issued an updated fleet strategy plan for replacing both conventional and high speed rail passenger equipment, re-emphasizing that its current fleet is nearing an average age of 26 years. The
For Phoenix, east and west LRT extensions still planned
Phoenix Valley Metro Light Rail still is planning an extension of its LRT operations from downtown Phoenix along Interstate 10 to the 79th Avenue Park-and-Ride. But the extension, currently scheduled to open
Bombardier gets German LRT order
Bombardier Transportation said Monday it has received an order from Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (RNV) for 11 new low-floor trams. The latest order, valued at $47 million, is a further option of a contract
Crossing, trespassing fatalities up in January
Of the 60 fatalities reported by U.S. railroads in January, 58 were caused by highway-rail grade crossing collisions (27) and trespassing (31), according to preliminary figures posted March 31 by the Surface
Metrolinx orders 12 DMUs for Toronto airport line
Ontario regional transport agency Metrolinx on Friday said it has entered into a C$53 million contract with Sumitomo Corp. of America to supply 12 diesel multiple-units (DMU) trains for the Air Rail Link (ARL) between Toronto’s Union Station and Lester B. Pearson International Airport. Sumitomo will be joined by Nippon Sharyo, Ltd. in the effort.
Victoria, B.C., closes bridge to rail traffic
Officials in Victoria, British Columbia, on Friday closed the city’s Johnson Street bridge to rail traffic after an inspection discovered corrosion of key structural supports. Pedestrian and bicycle use of the bridge
Flashing green for productivity
While signaling and communications is most often associated with safety (and rightly so), its role goes far deeper. “Wayside signals have been a familiar feature of railroads ever since the industry’s beginnings,” according to the Encyclopedia of North American Railroads. “In essence, signals are communication devices designed to inform locomotive engineers of track conditions ahead of the train and tell them to react to these conditions.
Regional Railroad of the Year
Reading & Northern: Ready and able
Short Line Railroad of the Year
For Texas short line, “Customer is king”. In 12 years, an upstart short line powerhouse has increased freight traffic 20-fold.
In Texas, “think big” is a maxim, even for the smaller things such as short line railroads. Blacklands Railroad, Railway Age’s 2011 Short Line Railroad of the Year, certainly qualifies.