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Near year’s end, U.S. freight traffic gains

U.S. freight carload traffic, falling short of 2011 totals through most of this year, notched a 0.9% rise in the week ending Dec. 22, 2012, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday. More in keeping with overall 2012 trends, U.S. intermodal volume for the week also advanced, up 10.2% when measured against the comparable week in 2011.

Berkshire Hathaway completes short line sales

Berkshire Hathaway has divested a second short line, the White City Terminal Union Railway, ahead of a schedule set by the Surface Transportation Board earlier this year, as part of the company’s acquisition in 2010 of BNSF Railway. 
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Indiana Rail Road promotes three

Indiana Rail Road President and CEO Tom Hoback has announced key promotions in senior management, along with expanded duties in the railroad’s marketing department.

ARDA readies 2013 Executive Forum

The American Railway Development Association (ARDA) late Wednesday announced that registration for the ARDA 2013 Executive Forum is now available. The forum will be held February 12-13, 2013, in BNSF’s Network Operations Center (NOC) Viewing Gallery, at 2600 Lou Menk Drive, Fort Worth, Tex., 76131.

Delay seen for AMT service addition

Montreal’s Agence Métropolitaine de Transport (AMT) reportedly will not increase frequency on its Vaudreuil-Hudson regional rail line until 2014. AMT originally had hoped to bolster service early in 2013.

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Words of praise for a Class I

I’ve known Andy M. Muller Jr., chairman and CEO of Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad Co., for close to 30 years, when he was just getting started in the business, operating local freight and steam-powered tourist trains on a short branch line emanating from Reading Pa.

Amtrak names new marketing, sales head

Matt Hardison has been named Amtrak’s Chief Marketing and Sales Officer (CMSO) following the retirement of Emmett Fremaux. He reports directly to President and CEO Joe Boardman, effective immediately.

GO Transit extends Bombardier contracts

Bombardier Transportation said Friday Metrolinx/GO Transit has exercised options for 10 years of fleet operations and maintenance services for its regional rail system serving the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area. The value of the two contracts, which are extended to 2023, is approximately C$927 million CDN (US$937 million), Bombardier said.

Back on the table: Buffalo LRT expansion

Buffalo, N.Y., has tapped Los Angeles-based AECOM to evaluate transportation expansion alternatives on behalf of Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council, with Light Rail Transit, streetcars, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) all under consideration.

Greenbrier to Icahn: No deal

The Greenbrier Companies has firmly rejected Carl Icahn-led American Railcar Industries’ conditional proposal to acquire Greenbrier for $22 per share. The offer “is unacceptable and not in the best interests of Greenbrier stockholders,” the company said in a statement released late Dec. 20.

CP achieves key labor settlements

Canadian Pacific late Wednesday announced two labor settlements that E. Hunter Harrison, president and CEO, said puts the railroad “in a very good position to continue the work of being an even more reliable and efficient railway for our customers.”

U.S. intermodal rebounds in latest week

U.S. intermodal volume for the week ending Dec. 15 returned to the plus column it has been in for much of 2013, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday. U.S. intermodal moves were up 8% measured against the comparable week in 2011.

Ottawa awards first LRT contract

Ottawa’s City Council Wednesday, in a unanimous 24-0 vote, awarded a C$2.1 billion initial contract to Rideau Transit Group to begin construction of the city’s first light rail transit line.

New York MTA approves fare hike

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Wednesday approved fare hikes for New York City Transit subways and buses, Metro-North Railroad, and the Long Island Rail Road. Fares increase next March 1.