NS, EMD looking at biodiesel
Norfolk Southern and Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. have entered into a joint venture to test blended biodiesel locomotive fuel. In what both parties are describing as “one of the most extensive testing programs
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Short lines and regionals post solid traffic gains
Two companies that operate a total of 102 short line and regional railroads—RailAmerica and Genesee & Wyoming (GWI)—have reported solid gains in freight traffic for March. RailAmerica’s 40 railroads, which operate
Would Maine rail abandonment overburden highways?
A draft environmental assessment on the proposed abandonment of 233 miles of Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway right-of-way in northern Maine has found that loss of this line could divert the equivalent
Shipper forum to focus on PTC and re-regulation
Railroad customers will turn the spotlight on such urgent industry issues as Positive Train Control and re-regulation at the 2010 North American Rail Shippers annual meeting. The sessions will be held at
SEPTA sets Silverliner V equipment display
Philadelphia’s Suburban Station will host a public display Tuesday of a married pair of new Silverliner V cars being delivered to SEPTA. Agency staff will be on hand toanswer questions. The cars will
For Kazakhstan, 150 new GE switching locomotives
GE Transportation announced Sunday that it is signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Kazakhstan’s Joint Stock Company Locomotiv (JSC Locomotiv) and Joint Stock Company Kurastyru Zauty (JSC LKZ) for the supply of 150
Amtrak anticipates record ridership in FY2010
Amtrak Thursday said it expects record ridership in fiscal year 2010, noting that with its first two fiscal quarters completed, rail ridership of 13.6 million was up 4.3% compared with the first
Transbay Terminal pushed for San Francisco HSR endpoint
San Francisco’s rebuilt Transbay Terminal, already expected to maximize passenger intermodalism by both land and water routes, has moved into contention as the endpoint for the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s proposed $44
Locomore to challenge Deutsche Bahn on home turf
Berlin-based Locomore Rail GmbH & Co. KG plans to launch long-distance passenger rail service between Hamburg and Cologne beginning in April 2011, offering direct competition to domestic stalwart Deutsche Bahn (DB). Locomore, a
American “Made in China” high speed trains?
China is well ahead of the United States in high speed rail, with plans to invest nearly half a trillion (that’s trillion with a “t”) dollars through 2012 on a national network of
Freight traffic gains sharply, up for sixth straight week
U.S. railroads continued to notch gains in both carload and intermodal traffic during the week ended April 3 compared with levels of a year ago, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday.
LACMTA outlines plan for LRT “Regional Connector”
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Wednesday offered a media briefing on its proposed light rail transit “Regional Connector,” which would unite Los Angeles LRT operations by linking them through downtown. LACMTA
DART to close Union Station stop for platform modifications
Dallas Area Rapid Transit will close its Union Station light rail stop for roughly 45 days, beginning April 12, to adjust platform heightsto facilitate boarding and exiting of its light rail vehicles.
EMD celebrates five-year “independence” milestone
LaGrange, Ill.-based Electo-Motive Diesel Inc. this week marked its fifth year as an independent manufacturing company since being spun off from General Motors Corp. in April 2005. The locomotive builder celebrated the
TieTek LLC is up for grabs; bids are due
TieTek LLC, a manufacturer of composite railroad ties,recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company’s assets are for sale and the deadline for bids is 5:00 CDT on Friday, April 16,
PTC: FRA throws out a bone
Among the railroads, Positive Train Control has been characterized as a $15 billion unfunded mandate that will ultimately divert capital dollars away from other programs, and that offers an unattractive cost:benefit ratio
St. Louis County voters OK sales tax increase for Metro
In the latest demonstration of voters willing to tax themselves to secure rail passenger service stability, even amidst recession, St. Louis County citizens Tuesday approved Proposition A, a half-cent sales tax increase
Banyan completes Shreveport tie reclamation plant
Banyan Rail Services Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Wood Energy Group, Inc., has completed construction of a tie grinding facility in Shreveport, La. Wood Energy reclaims railroad ties and then disposes of them to
Greenbrier Cos. cuts loss in second quarter
Lake Oswego, Ore.-based Greenbrier Cos. Wednesday said it had reduced its loss during its fiscal second quarter ended Feb. 28, largely through cost-cutting measures. The company lost $4.8 million, or 28 cents
Unitrac wins WMATA special trackwork contract
Under a three-year contract valued at approximately $7.2 million, Unitrac Railroad Materials Inc. will supply special trackwork to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Unitrac is a wholly owned subsidiary of