Four new cranes boost Savannah lift
Georgia bid up the competitive balance among East Coast container ports as it took delivery of four Neo-Panamax cranes at the Port of Savannah, already the largest U.S. container facility.
Maintenance of Way
UP updates PTC progress; plans Minn. speed increase
Union Pacific gave an update on its progress toward implementing Positive Train Control (PTC) and also announced plans to increase track speeds in southwest Minnesota following completion of a project.
DOT tabs Batory as rail advisor
With his nomination as Federal Railroad Administrator awaiting Senate confirmation, Ronald L. Batory has been named as a special assistant on railroad matters to Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.
Progress Rail to acquire Downer of Australia
Progress Rail has signed an agreement to acquire Downer EDI’s freight rail business, Downer Freight Rail, an Australian railcar company.
MBTA selects Green Line extension contractor
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line Extension project team held a “price opening” to choose the design-build team to carry out the Green Line Extension’s design and construction work.
Gehl appointed to NRC Board
The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) announced the appointment of Russ Gehl, Vice President of Sales and Marketing (Maintenance of Way), at Holland, to its Board of Directors.
Five product lines, one brand: Pandrol
The Delachaux Group is launching a rebranding effort aimed at bringing all its rail businesses under the Pandrol brand. The company says the move “enhances its commitment to the rail infrastructure market and comes as part of a strategic review to make the products and services more streamlined for customers and create a synergy from the combined strengths of its rail division businesses.”
Commentary
Culture wars, Part 1
I spent three hours viewing the video archive of the Nov. 14, 2017 National Transportation Safety Board meeting convened to review and approve the findings, probable cause and safety recommendations developed from NTSB investigation into the April 3, 2016 collision of Amtrak 89 with M/W equipment at Chester, Pa., on the Northeast Corridor.
NTSB: Amtrak safety culture to blame for fatal crash
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) blamed ignored procedures and a fractured safety culture for the April 3, 2016, derailment of Amtrak train 89 near Chester, Penn.
Helmut Schroeder, 78, Railquip founder
Services were held for Helmut Schroeder, 78, founder of Railquip Inc., a supplier of rail and maintenance of way equipment, who died Oct. 30 following an illness.