Wi-Tronix, LLC announced on Feb. 4, 2016 the formation of a new Customer Strategy department with Customer Care Manager roles. The team is being deployed in response to continued growth of Wi-Tronix’s customer base and to further engage and assist customers, the company says.
2018 or 2020, whatever the case may be, isn’t very far off. According to a Positive Train Control implementation chart published on the Federal Railroad Administration website, 30 out 37 U.S. freight and passenger railroads required to have PTC—roughly 80%—will have the technology in place by the year-end 2018 extended deadline.
Metra on Feb. 2, 2016 issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the design and production of 367 new railcars as part of the agency’s 10-year, $2.4 billion modernization plan.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) on Jan. 27, 2016 released its first “State of the Industry Report” focusing on the key challenges, accomplishments and innovations within the freight railroad industry. This initial, five-chapter edition details the industry’s investments in new technology and innovation that are enhancing safety across the nation’s rail network.
BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) on Jan. 26, 2016 announced a $4.3 billion 2016 capital expenditure plan that “will focus on helping to ensure the company continues to operate a safe and reliable network this year and beyond. This year’s capital program reflects BNSF’s success in adding capacity to support customer demand while bringing investment more in line with current volumes,” the railroad said.
The nation’s top freight rail representative, Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger, said Jan. 13, 2016 that the industry will be targeting several key issues in the new year, such as maintaining balanced economic regulation at the Surface Transportation Board (STB), extending the short line tax credit while laying the groundwork for overall tax reform and advancing security-safety legislation or regulation. With freight rail companies facing a deadline later this month to provide the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) with plans to implement Positive Train Control (PTC) deadline technology, the AAR reaffirmed the industry’s stance that the technology will be fully installed where required by 2018 and all testing for full coast-to-coast operations completed by 2020.
In 2015, the Railway Supply Institute, Inc. (RSI) advocated quite heavily against keeping truck size and weight from increasing. And it was successful on both accounts. Now, according to RSI’s Nicole Brewin, Vice President of Governmental Affairs, intercity passenger rail funding outside of the appropriations process is big on the association’s 2016 agenda.
Working within the up-to five-year extension Congress granted in late 2015, the Association of American Railroads has set year-end 2016 goals for Positive Train Control implementation.
January 7, 2016: Carl R. Ice, President and Chief Executive Officer of BNSF Railway, has been named 2016 Railroader of the Year by railroad industry trade journal Railway Age. Ice is Railway Age’s 53rd Railroader of the Year.
Amtrak activated its final segment of ACSES (Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System), its version of Positive Train Control (PTC), along the Northeast Corridor on Dec. 18, 2015. ACSES is now fully functional on all Amtrak-owned track between Washington, D.C., and Boston, almost two weeks before the Congressionally imposed original deadline of Dec. 31, which has since been extended by three years.