CSX goes “green” in Illinois
On St. Patrick’s Day, when many people are sporting the color green, CSX touted “green” by unveiling its first low-emission, fuel-efficient switcher locomotives deployed in Illinois.
news
London’s Crossrail awards design contracts to Jacobs
Pasadena, Calif.-based Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., has been awarded design framework contracts by Crossrail Ltd. (CRL) for tunnels, shafts, and stations associated with a new rail line that will be built across London at an
Francis P. Mulvey to head Surface Transportation Board
The Surface Transportation Board on March 17 announced that Vice Chairman Francis P. Mulvey has been named Acting Chairman of the agency by President Obama, succeeding former Chairman Charles D. Nottingham. Nottingham plans
GE Transportation wins $60 million Trenitalia contract
Italy’s Trenitalia has awarded a contract to GE Transportation worth an estimated $60 million for the design, supply, and installation of 400 onboard SSC (Sistema di Supporto alla Condotta) train-protection systems for passenger and freight diesel locomotives. Trenitalia is the operating company of Italian State Railways.
Staten Island LRT study is upbeat
Systra Consulting Inc. has released some details of its ongoing study for light rail transit on Staten Island, in advance of the study’s completion, expected at the end of April. Systra is
BNSF adds RailComm remote control derail system
BNSF’s Amarillo Yard in Texas has added RailComm’s automation system to control derails. RailComm’s outdoor-rated Operator Control Panel provides wireless remote control to severalbi-directional derail locations within the yard. Proximity Detection Loops
Federal funds back Milwaukee streetcar proposal
Federal funds may provide the fiscal spark for a streetcar line in Milwaukee denied the city by state and county planners. Wisconsin U.S. Senators Herb Kohl and David Obey, both Democrats, inserted language in the recently passed $410 billion federal omnibus spending bill identifying $91.5 million for Milwaukee, with roughly $55 million (60%) of that targeted for launching a streetcar project.
New Yorkers face steeper fares, deep service cuts
If the New York State Senate continues to balk at a plan to help the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority close a looming $1.2 billion budget gap, the agency’s millions of daily rail, subway, and bus riders face fare increases averaging 23% and deep cuts in service.
Flooding dampens debut of South Ferry Station
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority opened its $530 million new South Ferry Station in lower Manhattan to customers March 16 following the morning rush hour, with Gov. David Paterson the first official customer to pass through the station’s turnstiles.
Anacostia streetcar line construction looms
Three years after an initial construction attempt was aborted, the 1.3-mile Anacostia streetcar line in southeastern Washington, D.C., is nearing a construction start, according to the District Department of Transportation.
Austin rail debut (once again) faces a delay
The on-again/off-again scheduled debut of Austin, Tex.’s Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority service is off again, at least for regularly scheduled revenue service. Though a ceremonial launch is still slated for Saturday, March 28, regular service won’t commence until sometime in April.
NS video describes the perils of unbalanced regulation
The images are stark and disturbing: Freight cars rocking and rolling down a rickety right-of-way. Derailed equipment. Loose rail joints. Soggy, cracked ties.
Financial Edge: How is 2009 shaping up?
By Tony Kruglinski I don’t think it will be much of a stretch to tell you that nearly all of the questions I have been fielding lately have to do with the
Rae named deputy FRA Administrator
Karen J. Rae, a transportation executive with nearly 30 years’ state and regional experience, has been named the Federal Railroad Administration’s Deputy Administrator. Rae is currently Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Planning
Commentary
From the Editor: Is it pork, or is it bringing home the bacon?
By William C. Vantuono, Editor March 2009 Economists tell us that to pull the economy out of recession, we need to start spending big dollars on all sorts of projects. That’s what
Ansaldo STS gets Taipei Metro order
Ansaldo STS has received an order worth 220 million euros (284 million) to supply electromechanical equipment for the Taipei Metro in Taiwan’s capital. The project, which also includes AnsaldoBreda in the vehicles
Funds flow for Detroit’s M1-RAIL streetcar
Detroit’s Downtown Development Authority voted March 12 to contribute $9 million to help build M1-Rail, a proposed $120 million, 3.4-mile streetcar route for Downtown Detroit that has incorporated details from two separate streetcar proposals.
High Speed Rail Canada to host second symposium
Canadian efforts to build momentum for high speed rail, particularly between Montreal and Toronto, will be the focus of a second HSR symposium April 25, at the University of Toronto’s Bahen Center in Canada’s largest city.
As traffic stabilizes, re-reg concerns deepen
Railroad officers attending the JP Morgan Transportation conference in New York Wednesday expressed optimism that the slide in railroad traffic has been arrested, but in their presentations expressed deepening concern that re-regulation sentiment is growing in Congress and could slow railroad recovery.
March freight traffic: More lamb than lion
U.S. freight traffic completed the first week of March with an estimated volume of 29.2 billion ton-miles, off 13.9% from the comparable first week of March 2008, the Association of American Railroads reported. U.S. carload freight declined 15.0% for the week ended March 7 compared with the comparable period of one year ago, slipping 11.9% in the West and 19.5% in the East. U.S. intermodal volume declined 12.7% compared with year-ago levels.