news

Bombardier, Bratislava conduct FLEXITY tests

Bombardier Transportation said Wednesday it and transport authority Dopravny podnik Bratislava (DPB) have begun test operations of a Bombardier’s FLEXITY tram in Bratislava, Slovakia. Testing in the Slovakian capital city will continue through June 20.

CP urges Teamsters to renew negotiations

Canadian Pacific on Tuesday again asked the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference to let striking workers return to their jobs “and stop the damage the union is unnecessarily causing to CP customers’ businesses and employment levels.”

CN train dispatchers ratify agreement

Canadian National announced Monday that members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Rail Canada Traffic Controllers (TCRC-RCTC) have ratified a three-year labor agreement covering 210 train dispatchers in Canada.

Indiana Rail Road CEO honored with degree

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., has conferred an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree upon Thomas G. Hoback, founder, president, and CEO of The Indiana Rail Road Co. Hoback receive the degree Saturday during the school’s 134th commencement ceremony.

Return of Amtrak’s Montrealer advanced

Four U.S. Senators representing both New York State and Vermont have revived an effort to restore Amtrak service between Montreal and New York City via Vermont (and New Hampshire).

Track replacement disrupts San Francisco MUNI

San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Authority did its best to warn city residents of bus shuttle substitution to address disruptions in light rail transit operations, scheduled to commence during Memorial Day weekend (Friday, May 25) and lasting nine days. 

LACMTA OKs Purple Line extension

Los Angeles County’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority has given its approval to the latest regional rail transit extension, a nine-mile addition of the Purple Line subway to Westwood.

Siemens lands Portland TriMet LRT order

Siemens Mobility said Thursday it has been awarded a $73 million contract to supply 18 S70 light rail transit vehicles to TriMet, solidifying the company’s presence in one the premier U.S. LRT and streetcar cities.

AAR: Carload traffic slumps; intermodal still stars

U.S. freight carload traffic for the week ending May 19, 2012 was down 5.0% measured against the comparable week in 2011, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday, continuing a trend. But U.S. intermodal volume for the same week kept its own trend going, up 3.1% compared with volume one year ago.

Wabtec signs component contract for MTA NYCT

Wabtec Corp. said Thursday has signed contracts valued at about $34 million to provide components for 473 subway cars being supplied by Kawasaki Heavy Industries to MTA New York City Transit under the R-188 option order.

Europorte, Alstom enter rail freight partnership

Europorte, the rail freight subsidiary of the Eurotunnel Group, and Alstom on Thursday announced they have signed a partnership agreement covering the maintenance of 17 Alstom manufactured Prima locomotives now operated by Europorte.

CN: “EcoConnexions From the Ground Up”

Canadian National has launched a program, “EcoConnexions From the Ground Up,” to encourage “tree planting and other greening programs in communities across its network, with a particular emphasis on properties adjacent to its rail lines.”

RailAmerica discusses possible sale

RailAmerica Inc., which owns 45 small railroads that operate approximately 7,500 miles of track in North America, disclosed late Tuesday that it is considering selling the company and has entered into talks with third parties. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is its financial adviser.

GE signs MOU for Kazakhstan diesel plant

Erie, Pa.-based GE Transportation on Wednesday said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with TransMashDiesel and JSC National Company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) to establish a diesel engine manufacturing plant in Astana, Kazakhstan.