All North America articles
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NewsGenesee & Wyoming acquisition completed
INTERNATIONAL: The US$8·4bn acquisition of freight railway group Genesee Wyoming by affiliates of New York and Toronto listed global investor Brookfield Infrastructure and Singapore’s foreign reserves investor GIC has been completed. The US$112 per share deal had been announced in July. ‘This transaction ...
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Urban news
Free Lyft rides from train to plane at Ontario International Airport
USA: As part of a programme to increase public transport’s share of surface access to Ontario International Airport near Los Angeles, passengers can now claim free travel with app-based taxi service Lyft between the airport and four Metrolink commuter rail stations. The $396 000 pilot programme ...
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News
St Louis operator selects operational testing software
USA: Class III operator Terminal Railroad Association of St Louis has selected CloudMoyo’s Operational Testing System for implementation across its network to ensure safety and regulatory compliance. The OTS is part of CloudMoyo’s Rail Transportation Management suite. It uses advanced analytics to create configurable master test ...
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News
Union Pacific completes Positive Train Control implementation
USA: Union Pacific has completed the implementation of Positive Train Control on all sections of its network where federal rules require the safety system to be deployed. ‘PTC is one of the biggest rail industry breakthroughs, designed to keep our crews and communities safer through technology’, ...
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News
Understanding fuel cell applications
USA: Having undertaken research into alternative propulsion technologies to support the order for North America’s first commercial hydrogen-powered train, the Center for Railway Research & Education at Michigan State University is to host a seminar on the topic in Long Beach on January 29-31.
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News
Helping short lines to prepare for emergencies
USA: ‘Short lines need to be thinking through disaster preparation, response, mitigation and resiliency on the calm days so that they’re ready to respond in a crisis’, explained American Short Line Regional Railroad Association President Chuck Baker when the organisation announced a package of resources ...
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News
CN meets US PTC deadline
USA: Canadian National announced on November 25 that it had met the federal requirement to roll out Positive Train Control on 35 of its US subdivisions, 13 months ahead of the December 2020 deadline. This offers interoperability with Amtrak, CSX, NS, BNSF, CP and WSOR, and ...
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News
Maine acquisition as CP looks coast-to-coast again
INTERNATIONAL: Canadian Pacific has agreed to acquire the Central Maine Quebec Railway from Fortress Transportation Infrastructure Investors LLC, the two companies announced on November 20. CMQ operates a 774 km network in Québec and Maine, largely comprising the former Canadian Atlantic Railway ...
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News
First Amtrak Avelia emerges
USA: The first of 28 Avelia Liberty trainsets being assembled by Alstom to operate Amtrak’s Acela Express services has been outshopped at the manufacturer’s Hornell plant, ahead of the start of test running. Ordered in 2016 as part of a $2·45bn ...
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News
US hydrogen train contract awarded
USA: Southern California’s San Bernardino County Transportation Authority has awarded Stadler a contract to supply a Flirt H2 hydrogen fuel cell powered multiple-unit to enter passenger service in 2024, with an option for a further four units. Stadler said the contract announced on November 14 was ...
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News
Short line specific PTC training
USA: The American Short Line Regional Railroad Association has appointed Tech Mahindra to provide Positive Train Control training courses customised to meet the specific needs of short line operators. The courses will be provided through a subscription-based online platform, with interactive modules covering aspects ...
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News
CSX joins freight shipping data platform
USA: CSX says it is the first North American railway to join the TradeLens, an open and neutral platform which has been developed by IBM and Maersk with the aim of overcoming supply chain data processing silos to provide improved transparency and shipment-status visibility. ‘Railroads are ...
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News
Illinois Railway completes PTC deployment
USA: OmniTRAX has announced that its Illinois Railway has become one of the first short lines to implement fully-functional positive train control. ‘We are delighted to be a first mover on PTC in the short line industry and are making our railroad even safer than it ...
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News
Progress Rail to buy Cleveland Track Material
USA: Progress Rail has signed an agreement to buy specialist trackwork supplier Cleveland Track Material Inc, the largest US company in Vossloh’s Customised Modules division. The €35m sale does not require regulatory approval, and is expected to close in early November. ‘This acquisition allows Progress Rail ...
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News
Geopier launches subgrade strengthening GeoSpike
TRACK: Geopier Foundation Co has introduced its GeoSpike, which is designed to provide a low‐cost way to strengthen the subgrade without needing to remove the rails, sleepers or ballast. Pairs of polymer shells are installed between the sleepers, and filled with aggregate which is then compacted. ...
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News
Cat litter by rail
USA: Cat litter producer Intersand has begun construction of a rail-served production, packaging and distribution facility at the Great Western Industrial Park in Windsor, Colorado. GWIP is owned by short line group OmniTRAX, whose Great Western Railway of Colorado will provide direct rail services to the new ...
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News
Partnership to develop North American rail portfolio
NORTH AMERICA: Middle-market investor Connor, Clark Lunn Infrastructure has announced a partnership with Alpenglow Rail’s short line management team with the aim of developing a portfolio of rail businesses across North America. As part of this, CC L has acquired VIP Rail from private ...
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News
Surface Transportation Board proposes rule changes
USA: The Surface Transportation Board has begun consultation on proposed rule changes intended to reduce the cost and complexity of its rate review procedures, particularly in small cases, and to provide a streamlined market dominance process. The proposals build on recommendations made by STB’s rate reform ...
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News
MBTA orders double-deck coaches
USA: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has awarded Hyundai Rotem a $278·5m sole-source contract to supply 80 double-deck coaches. These will replace single deck vehicles to increase capacity on the Boston commuter rail network by more than 14 000 seats/day. A $41m contract for engineering and programme ...
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Urban news
Ceremonies mark start of Dallas Silver Line construction
Dallas Silver Line USA: Dallas Area Rapid Transit held a series of ground-breaking ceremonies along the route of the future Silver Line on September 19 to officially launch construction of the $1·1bn commuter railway in the northern suburbs of Dallas. Previously known as the ...
