North America – Page 38
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NewsSignal gantries installed at Toronto Union
CANADA: PNR RailWorks has installed two large signal gantries spanning nine tracks as part of the Union Station Rail Corridor signalling enhancement programme on the Metrolinx network in Toronto. Concrete foundations were installed and the structures pre-assembled over two weeks, and then the gantries were put ...
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NewsCanadian National bid for Kansas City Southern in doubt after STB blocks voting trust
USA: Canadian National’s US$33·6bn bid to acquire Kansas City Southern received a major setback on August 31, when the federal Surface Transportation Board rejected an application to use a voting trust as part of the process. Announcing the unanimous decision of the five-strong board, STB said ...
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Metro Report InternationalUltra-wideband train control technology gains SIL-4 certification
USA: Independent safety assessor TÜV Süd has granted CENELEC SIL-4 safety certification for Piper Networks’ ultra-wideband location detection and train control technology.
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Metro Report InternationalCharlotte’s modernised and extended Gold Line reopens
USA: Charlotte’s CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar reopened on August 30, following a project to modernise the line and extend it at each end to connect the historic West End to the Elizabeth neighbourhood via Uptown. Trams run every every 20 min from 05.00 to 02.00 seven ...
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NewsUnion Pacific ups biodiesel blend
USA: Progress Rail has approved the use of up to 20% biodiesel blend across its range of 645 and 710 series engines. This follows testing with high-horsepower locomotives to monitor fuel consumption and the impact on engine oil and fuel filters. Approval will enable Union Pacific ...
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Metro Report InternationalSubscription version of Transit app launched
USA: Transit has launched a paid-for version of its transport app. Core features such as next departures, journey planning and mobile ticketing remain free, while after a grace period only subscribers to the new Royale service will be able to access full timetables and maps for routes that are further ...
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NewsSavage and KCS develop Lake Charles area rail freight terminal
USA: Logistics and supply chain management group Savage is developing a multi-commodity rail terminal on land leased from Kansas City Southern at Mossville in southwestern Louisiana to optimise supply chains for refineries, chemical plants and other businesses in the Lake Charles area. The Mossville Railport is ...
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NewsRockies to the Red Rocks luxury train launched
USA: Luxury tourist train operator Rocky Mountaineer has launched its Rockies to the Red Rocks route, offering a two-day journey between Denver in Colorado and Moab in Utah with an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs.
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NewsWagon investment joint venture formed
USA: Trinity Industries and alternative investment manager Wafra have formed the Signal Rail Holdings joint venture which aims to invest up to $1bn over three years in a diversified portfolio of leased wagons. Wafra will own 90% of the joint venture and TI 10%, with TI ...
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NewsThe Andersons sells wagon leasing business with repair shops to follow
USA: The Andersons has sold its wagon leasing business to American Industrial Transport for $550m, and is also planning to divest its wagon repair business which includes 29 facilities across the USA. ‘This railcar leasing business has been a successful and consistent cash flow generator’, said ...
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Metro Report InternationalFoothill Gold Line design works completed
USA: The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority has announced the substantial completion of design work for the $1·5bn, 15 km four-stop extension of the Los Angeles light rail network from Glendora to Pomona. The design-build contract was awarded to the Kiewit-Parsons Joint Venture in October ...
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NewsRail organisations welcome Senate backing for US infrastructure bill
USA: Rail associations have welcomed the passage of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act through the upper house of the US Congress on August 10, marking the latest step in the process to pass a bi-partisan infrastructure bill which could deliver significant funding streams for main line and urban rail enhancements.
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NewsWabtec breathes new life into older locomotives
USA: This month Wabtec completed the 1 000th locomotive it has remanufactured for customers in the Americas under a programme launched in 2015. Norfolk Southern has taken delivery of 500 of the locos, with other customers including Canadian Pacific, BNSF, Union Pacific and Brazilian operator Rumo.
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NewsCP raises its offer for Kansas City Southern
NORTH AMERICA: Canadian Pacific announced on August 10 that it had submitted a ‘superior proposal’ to acquire Kansas City Southern, valuing the smaller railway at approximately US$31bn.
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Metro Report InternationalReal-time loading information through Google Maps
USA: MTA Long Island Rail Road passengers can now obtain real-time information about seat availability through Google Maps. The technology was developed in-house by the operator. ‘LIRR continues to innovate and develop cutting-edge technology to allow riders to plan their trip right down to the train ...
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Metro Report InternationalCRRC unveils Los Angeles metro cars
USA: The first of the HR4000 metro cars which CRRC Changchun is building for Los Angeles have been unveiled at the manufacturer’s Springfield plant in Massachusetts. Los Angeles County MTA and CRRC Changchun signed a framework agreement in April 2017 for the ...
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NewsKettle to head Los Angeles Metrolink
USA: Darren Kettle has been selected as the next Chief Executive Officer of Los Angeles commuter rail operator Metrolink, the Southern California Regional Rail Authority announced on July 23. Joining with effect from September 7, he succeeds Arnold Hackett, who has been acting as Metrolink’s interim CEO ...
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NewsCalgary – Banff passenger train project enters development phase
CANADA: A detailed memorandum of understanding to accelerate the development of a proposed 150 km passenger line linking Calgary Airport with Banff National Park has been signed by Alberta’s Ministry of Transportation, Invest Alberta and Canada Infrastructure Bank. Project feasibility studies have been completed since an ...
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In depthTraction: Road trials showcase battery loco potential
A three month trial of a Wabtec battery-electric loco hauling freight trains over a 585 km route in California has highlighted the potential for battery traction to reduce emissions from US rail freight, as project leader Alan Hamilton explains to Dave Lustig.
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Metro Report InternationalFAA approves $2∙1bn peoplemover link to New York LaGuardia airport
USA: The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Record of Decision on July 20 approving plans by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey to build a 2∙4 km automated peoplemover to link New York’s LaGuardia Airport with Mets-Willets Point railway and metro station.