“Ontario Northland was pleased to be in Bracebridge today to share renderings of the shelters that will be installed at nine future Northlander stops,” the railroad company reported in a May 31 LinkedIn post. “Minister Vijay Thanagasalam also announced an investment of [C]$75 million in contracts to enhance rail safety and improve the passenger experience. Look out for our crews working on the rail and at future stop locations in Temagami, Temiskaming Shores, Kirkland Lake and Matheson this summer!” (Ontario Northland Photograph)

Ontario’s Northlander Service Revival Advances

The Ontario government on May 31 awarded three contracts totaling C$75 million to design and build nine new station shelters, improve track, and complete warning system upgrades as part of its plan to reinstate Northlander passenger rail service between Timmons and Toronto with a rail connection to Cochrane.

Washington-Beard Joins DART as Senior Vice President of Procurement

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) on May 31 announced that Collina Washington-Beard has been named Senior Vice President of Procurement.

TWU Ratifies Three-Year Contract With NJ Transit

Transport Workers Union (TWU) of America members at Local 2001 working for NJ Transit recently voted to ratify a new three-year contract that includes pay raises and additional time off. The new

“This technological innovation will help make supply chains faster and more resilient,” said Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez. (Transport Canada)

Transport Canada: C$51.2MM for 19 Digital Infrastructure Projects

Transport Canada on May 31 announced up to C$51.2 million for 19 digital infrastructure projects under the National Trade Corridors Fund.

Hitachi Rail Finalizes Thales GTS Acquisition

Hitachi Rail on May 31 completed its $1.8 billion acquisition of Thales’ Ground Transportation Systems (GTS) business, expanding its global presence to 51 countries with the majority of its revenues now coming

STV is celebrating the official unveiling of its new cutting-edge headquarters in the “World’s Most Famous Building,” the Empire State Building. (STV Photograph)

STV Moves N.Y.C. Headquarters

Professional services firm STV has officially moved its flagship New York City office from 225 Park Avenue South to the Empire State Building at 350 Fifth Avenue.

CSX, NS, UP and The Greenbrier Companies are among the 450 U.S.-based companies named to USA Today’s America’s Climate Leaders 2024 list. (NS Photograph)

Class I Briefs: CSX, NS, UP

CSX, Norfolk Southern (NS), Union Pacific (UP) and The Greenbrier Companies rank on USA Today’s America’s Climate Leaders 2024 list. Also, NS collaborates with its railroaders to enhance their “home away from home”; and UP honors Mechanical employees for working 20 years injury-free.

Transit Briefs: SacRT, APTA, BART, MARTA

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) achieves a major milestone with two new low-floor trains completing 1,000 miles of testing. Also, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announces a call for nominations for its 2024 awards program; Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Link21 Program holds an informational roadshow to share its train technology analysis for the project’s second train crossing; construction begins on BART’s Lake Merritt Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project; and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) advances its Indian Creek TOD project following rezoning approval.

The May 29 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the National University Rail Center of Excellence was attended by federal and state dignitaries, including FRA Administrator Amit Bose, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Omer Osman, and university officials, including UIUC professor and National University Rail Center of Excellence Director Chris Barkan. (Photo Credit: Heather Coit)

UIUC Launches National University Rail Center of Excellence

The first-ever National University Rail Center of Excellence officially opened May 29 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s (UIUC) Grainger College of Engineering, with support from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). FRA last fall

People News: MDOT MTA, HNTB

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) names Martha Gross as Executive Director of Transit Development and Delivery. Also, Victor Rivas joins HNTB as Transportation Asset Management Senior Project Management.

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