Alfred E. Michon, 75
Alfred E. Michon, president of four regional railroads who also worked with both Burlington Northern (now BNSF) and Union Pacific, died Oct. 9 at age 75.
BNSF
BNSF to mark new Burlington, Iowa, bridge
BNSF Railway says it will celebrate the completion of its new railroad bridge over the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa, with a public ceremony and reception this Thursday, Oct. 18.
RailComm to expand BNSF Amarillo yard system
Fairport, N.Y.-based RailComm said Monday it has been selected to provide a wireless remote control derail system at BNSF’s Amarillo, Tex., yard for the roundhouse engine tracks.
STB to Berkshire Hathaway: Divest two railroads
The Surface Transportation Board has directed BNSF Railway’s parent, Berkshire Hathaway, to “promptly remedy its noncompliance with railroad control requirements” stemming from its acquisition of BNSF in 2010.
Commentary
Rail oil prospects excite Wall Street
Railroads these days are enjoying good “fracking” business—no pun intended—and Wall Street has taken notice.
Sounder Lakewood extension looms
Seattle Sound Transit says it will add Lakewood, Wash., to its regional passenger rail service offerings Monday, Oct. 8, which includes new service at South Tacoma Station. A dedication ceremony is slated for Oct. 6 to herald the event.
BNSF touts Bakken field capacity expansion
BNSF Railway said Tuesday it has increased capacity this year to enable the railroad to haul 1 million barrels of oil per day out of the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana.
BNSF slims down expected export coal surge
In travels through the Pacific Northwest last week, BNSF Chairman and CEO Matthew Rose sought to ease concerns of cities and other interests in Washington and Oregon that an expected increase in export coal ports and the number of trains serving them will prove to be unduly disruptive.
Maximizing productivity in “the heart of coal”
The question facing the rail industry is not whether coal traffic will come back, but rather, when will it come back. When it does, the railroads will be ready, as evidenced by ongoing capacity and efficiency improvement projects.
Cold Train expands volume, reach, and fleet
Rail Logistics Tuesday said that due to “continued growth,” the company’s Cold Train service is expanding its Washington State-based refrigerated container fleet to 300 state-of-the-art 53-foot containers (built by Hyundai), and will also be expanding its service territory this year.