AAR welcomes new members
Two regional railroads and eight railway suppliers have joined the Association of American Railroads as Full Members and Associate Members, respectively.
Short Lines
For R&N, another growth year
Port Clinton, Pa.-based Reading & Northern Railroad says 2013 was the most successful year in its 30-year history. The regional railroad—twice named Railway Age’s Regional Railroad of the Year since 2000—grew its carload business by more than 14%. Its overall traffic, which included export coal business, was up almost 9%.
Coos Bay Rail Link reports significant growth in 2013
Oregon’s Coos Bay Rail Link (CBRL) moved 4,845 revenue carloads in 2013, a 95% increase over 2012’s 2,480 carloads, in its second full year of operations in western Lane, western Douglas, and Coos Counties. CBRL runs from a connection with the Union Pacific in Eugene to Coquille. Ore.
FEC taps GE Transportation for 24 locomotives
Jacksonville, Fla.-based Florida Florida East Coast Railway, LLC (FEC) announced Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014 it will acquire 24 new ES44C4 locomotives from Erie-Pa.-based GE Transportation.
NRHS sets RailCamp 2014 agenda
The National Railway Historical Society each summer sponsors RailCamp, a venue that gives hands-on contemporary railroading and railroad preservation experience to high school students, allowing them to interact directly with rail employees, learn what it takes to be a railroader, and explore career opportunities. In its 15-year history, RailCamp has hosted nearly 500 high school boys and girls. NRHS has announced the agenda for RailCamp 2014, for which limited space remains.
INRD promotes Le Dune, Jonaitis
The Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) has promoted Brian Jonaitis to Director, Sales, and Shae LeDune to Executive Assistant to the President, with new supervisory and community affairs responsibilities.
Railway Age seeks nominees for 2014 Short Line/Regional awards
Railway Age is now accepting entries for its annual Short Line/Regional Railroad of the Year competition. Short lines and regionals—and there are more than 500 of them—are invited to submit entries describing outstanding achievement in one or a combination of areas.
Investment group sub to buy MM&A
Beleaguered short line Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MM&A), under financial duress due to the July 6, 2013 derailment and explosion of a train in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, has signed a sales agreement with Railroad Acquisisition Holdings LLC, an affiliate of New York-based Fortress Investment Group.
House T&I establishes 3P special panel
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall, II (D-W.Va.) on Jan. 16, 2014 announced the establishment of yet another special panel. The “Panel on Public-Private Partnerships” [identified as P3s] will focus on the use of and opportunities for P3s across all modes of transportation, economic development, public buildings, water, and maritime infrastructure and equipment.
CP to sell DM&E right-of-way to GWI
Canadian Pacific and Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., in a joint announcement Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, said they had “executed an agreement pursuant to which CP will sell the west end of its Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E) line to G&W for continued rail operations.”