LRT extension through Mesa, Ariz., advances
Phoenix suburb Mesa, Ariz., continues to prepare for a three-mile extension of Phoenix Valley Metro, expected to open in 2016 with four new stations. Mesa City Council now has approved the sites
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CSX Intermodal picks APS yard tracking systems
San Diego-based APS Technology Group, Inc., announced Wednesday that CSX Intermodal has selected the APS Rail OCR Portal and Rail Tracking Systems for its new intermodal terminal in North Baltimore, Ohio. The rail yard automation
Bipartisan foursome pushes Green Railcar Enhancement Act
In a call to “save a critical domestic industry,” four U.S. House representatives have introduced the Green Railcar Enhancement Act of 2010, designed to provide tax credits to bolster U.S. freight railcar
Denver RTD shines at APTA International Rail Rodeo
The American Public Transportation Association says Denver’s Regional Transportation District won the Operators Competition for APTA’s 18th annual International Rail Rodeo. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority won the rodeo’s Maintainers Competition. The
GWI reports rise in May traffic
Amidst its expansion plans, Genesee and Wyoming, Inc. Tuesday reported its May 2010 carload volume rose 19.0% from the comparablemonth a year ago, and its volume for the second quarter to date
GWI to buy FreightLink, expands Australian presence
Greenwich, Conn.-based Genesee & Wyoming, Inc. (GWI) Tuesday said it had signed an agreement to acquire the assets of FreightLink for $227.2 million, plus assumption of debt worth about $1.4 million. GWI
Florida’s big-truck bill will sock taxpayers
The big-truck legislation that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law June 4 will cost local and state taxpayers up to $150 million year in increased maintenance costs as well as pose new safety
Tucson to United Streetcar: Build seven
Tucson, Ariz., Monday contractually became the second U.S. city to order streetcars from Clackamas, Ore.-based United Streetcar, LLC. Tucson will receive seven cars under a $196.8 million contract for use on its planned
GE Transportation wins Stockholm signaling contract
Under an agreement with AB Storstockholms Lokaltrafik announced Tuesday, GE Transportation will supply a new signaling facility for Stockholm’s Tvärbanan light rail system. It will include a traffic control system, interlocking system, and automatic train
David J. Joseph Co. marks 125th anniversary
The David J. Joseph Co. reached a milestone—125 years in business as of this month—celebrating its formation in the 19th century, when German immigrant Joseph Joseph started a hide and fur trading
RZD tests air quality monitoring train
Russian Railways (RZD) demonstrated its “mobile complex for environmental atmospheric monitoring” during a presentation Monday in Sochi, Russia, site of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Led by Viktor Cherkasov, head of Russian Railways’
PTC: A passenger operator perspective
Vancouver, B.C., June 7, 2010: Class I freight railroads may be dealing with the most pressure to meet the federal government’s mostly unfunded mandate for fully operational Positive Train Control by year-end
Amtrak seeks role as U.S. HSR “foundation”
Amtrak called on the Federal Railroad Administration Monday to be “bold and unambiguous” in recognizing that “Amtrak’s existing national intercity passenger rail system should be recognized in the NRP [National Rail Plan] as the
GO-Metrolinx taps AECOM for grade separation work
AECOM announced Monday that it has won a $4.1 million assignment from GO-Metrolinx to provide detailed design, as well as serve as the engineer-of-record, for the Strachan Grade Separation project in Toronto. Part of
Amtrak addressing Albany-area bottleneck
Amtrak says it will award a contract in July to beginremoval of two former passengers stations in Rensselaer, N.Y., just east of thestate capital, Albany, to allow track capacity improvements on the
Bombardier trains set for South Africa’s World Cup
Thanks to accelerated work by contractor Bombardier, the 12.5-mile Phase One line of South Africa’s new Gautrain rail system will open for revenue service Tuesday, in time to help handle crowds pouring into Johannesburg
NS, GE tout RailEdge Movement Planner
Norfolk Southern and GE Transportation Monday formally announced GE RailEdge Movement Planner, dubbed “a technology that could change the rail industry by increasing the average network speed of trains by 10%-to-20% or
NYMTA energy saver: Solar-assisted railcar cleaning
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the New York Power Authority on Friday unveiled the latest in a series of 86 energy projects expected to yield savings of nearly $5.7 million a year and annual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of more than 34,000 tons.
Project No. 86 is described as "an advanced rooftop-mounted solar thermal array that heats hot water used to wash subway cars at New York City Transit’s Coney Island Overhaul Shop and Maintenance Facility. By lessening New York City Transit’s need for electricity, the array will lower the agency’s power bill by $94,000 and avoid 86 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year."
The $550,000 cost of the solar thermal array was financed by NYPA with the help of a $150,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). "NYSERDA is pleased to partner with NYPA and the MTA on a system that is notable both for reducing energy use, protecting the environment and reducing costs. We commend the leadership of these two authorities for developing an innovative solar thermal project that we hope will serve as a model for other significant energy users," said Francis J. Murray, Jr., NYSERDA president and CEO.
MTA described these other energy-saving initiatives:
—New subway signal lighting using light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures that are more efficient and brighter than the bulbs they replaced.
—A 200-kilowatt fuel cell at NYC Transit’s New Corona Car Maintenance Facility in Queens, providing a continuous source of non-polluting, on-site power and residual heat for the shop’s domestic hot water system.
—A 300-kilowatt roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) array at the Gun Hill Bus Depot in the Bronx.
—LED necklace lighting at the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, replacing less-efficient conventional lights.
—Wireless equipment for the remote control of electric resistance heaters on the third-rail systems that provide power to the subways. The remote-control feature contributes to minimizing electricity use when the weather conditions don’t warrant heater use.
CN to Webcast 2010 Chicago analyst meeting June 9-10
CN said it will Webcast its two-day meeting with financial analysts in Chicago on June 9-10, 2010. The CN management team will deliver a series of presentations “focusing on operational excellence and service innovation to support growth and value creation.” The Webcast and presenters’ slides will be available via the Investor section of the company’s website at www.cn.ca/investors.
ACI wins contract to operate San Juan’s Tren Urbano
Alternate Concepts, Inc.(ACI), announced Friday that it has won a five-year contract worthapproximately $250 million operation and maintenance contract with Tren Urbano,the 16-station subway system serving the metropolitan San Juan, Puerto Rico,area.