Managing the lineup
Strategic business plans aligned with a strategic technology plan can provide more-effective interchange data and traffic control processes.
Communications
Taming the PTC elephant
The pressing issue for the railroad industry’s communications and signal engineers is whether or not Positive Train Control (PTC) is going to be complete and fully functional by the fast-approaching Dec. 31, 2015, deadline.
Pittsburgh eyes real-time arrival info
Pittsburgh’s Port Authority of Allegheny County is pursuing installation of real-time technology to better aid customers of its bus and light rail transit system, a Port Authority spokesman says.
GE Transportation lands Singapore CBTC contract
GE Transportation said Monday, May 5, 2014 it has been selected by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) to supply fully automated driverless train control and signaling solutions for the Thomson (TSL) and Eastern Region (ERL) Lines based on its Tempo™ portfolio.
Railhead Systems video systems en route
Alsip, Ill.-based Railhead Systems says it has begun shipping locomotive video systems to National Railway Equipment Co.’s (NREC) factory in Paducah, Ky., in keeping with an OEM contract awarded last January.
Mobile ticketing looms for LIRR, Metro-North
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said Monday, April 28, 2014 its rail customers on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad “are one step closer to buying and getting tickets scanned right on their smart phones and tablets.”
Thales to modernize W. Va. University PRT
Thales said Tuesday, April 29, 2014 it has been awarded a contract by West Virginia University to modernize the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) network operating on the university’s Morgantown, W. Va., campus.
GE seeks to acquire Alstom energy business, would leave Transport sector alone
General Electric, having given up on its efforts to acquire Ansaldo STS from Italian conglomerate Finmeccanica, is reportedly in negotiations with Alstom over a $13 billion takeover of the French company’s energy business, and is said to have the support of Alstom’s majority shareholder Bouygues, a French construction and engineering contractor, which holds a 29% stake. Alstom reportedly approached GE.
Birkelbach joins Parsons Brinckerhoff
Ronald L. Birkelbach has been named a Vice President at Parsons Brinckerhoff, and will lead the company’s systems group in the Northeast region, which provides comprehensive engineering services for rail and transit systems projects. He will be based in the Newark, N.J. office.
LIRR starts Long Beach Branch restoration
MTA Long Island Rail Road has launched a $120 million construction program designed to protect the railroad’s Long Beach Branch from the kind of devastating damage caused by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.