North America – Page 47
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NewsKatie Farmer to head BNSF
BNSF has named Kathryn M Farmer as its next President & Chief Executive Officer with effect from January 1 2021.
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Metro Report InternationalNew York Subway offers under-river connectivity
USA: New York MTA and Transit Wireless have provided the first mobile phone voice and data connectivity in one of the Subway’s under-river tunnels, with AT&T customers now able to stay connected in the East River bores between 1st Avenue and Bedford Avenue on the L/Canarsie line. ...
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Metro Report InternationalPresident opens Guadalajara Line 3
MEXICO: Guadalajara’s third light rail line was formally inaugurated by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on September 12. Following the opening ceremony at 11.00, public services began at 16.00, with free travel being provided until September 20.
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NewsEnvironmental approval marks milestone in California’s truncated high speed programme
USA: The board of the California High-Speed Rail Authority on September 10 approved the Final Environmental Impact Statement for an 80 km section of the planned high speed railway between Merced and Fresno, known as the ‘Central Valley Wye’. The formal approval means that environmental clearance has ...
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NewsAutomating level crossing inspections
USA: VisioStack has been awarded funding for two projects to develop automated level crossing inspection technology, as part of the Department of Transportation’s Small Business Innovation Research programme. The Aerial Crossing Inspection System project aims to use unmanned aerial vehicles and machine learning to perform level crossing ...
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NewsFreightCar America to move production to Mexico under ‘operational realignment’
NORTH AMERICA: FreightCar America has signed a letter of intent to acquire joint venture partner Fabricaciones y Servicios de México’s 50% stake in the new wagon manufacturing plant at Castaños in Mexico, and will consolidate all of its production there by January 2021. This will mean the ...
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NewsFRA updates track inspection rule
USA: The Federal Railroad Administration has introduced an updated rule on the use of ultrasonic rail inspection technology with GPS location data, enabling railroads to undertake continuous testing of rails more efficiently.
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NewsX-ray train inspection systems ordered for US border crossings
USA: The Department of Homeland Security’s Customs & Border Protection agency has awarded Smiths Detection a framework contract for the supply of X-ray scanners for use at railway checkpoints on the borders with Canada and Mexico. The side-view high-energy X-ray inspection scanners will be used to screen ...
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NewsAmtrak works with Reckitt Benckiser to increase cleaning
USA: Amtrak is to work with cleaning, health and household products manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser to strengthen its disinfection protocols for trains, stations and lounges. RB is to supply disinfection equipment for use across high-touch and high-traffic areas, including products which Amtrak said were proven to be effective ...
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NewsFreight RAILCAR bill aims to support US wagon industry
USA: The Railway Supply Institute which represents more than 200 companies has welcomed the bipartisan introduction to the House of Representatives of the Freight Rail Assistance & Investment to Launch Coronavirus-era Activity & Recovery Act, which would offer a time-limited 50% tax credit for purchasing new wagons ...
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NewsTrinity Railway Express information systems to be replaced
USA: The Dallas Area Rapid Transit board has approved a contract for MacKenzie Laboratories to replace the automated information system on the Trinity Railway Express commuter rail fleet which operates between Dallas and Fort Worth. MacKenzie Laboratories will replace the public address and intercom systems, as well ...
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NewsPTC deployed on all Amtrak-owned routes
USA: Amtrak has announced that Positive Train Control has now been implemented on all 1 440 route-km of line that it owns or controls, following the final installation that covered less than 2 km of low-speed track in Chicago. All 550 Amtrak-owned locomotives are also fully equipped ...
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NewsNational Railway Equipment announces consolidation plan
USA: New and remanufactured locomotive supplier National Railway Equipment has announced a consolidation plan, which Executive Committee Leader Pat Frangella, said would ‘significantly streamline our operations, while maintaining all of our service offerings for our customers around the globe’. Over the next few months NRE’s operations at ...
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NewsBombardier Transportation to cut Thunder Bay workforce
CANADA: Bombardier Transportation has announced plans to reduce the workforce at its Thunder Bay plant in Ontario by 125 people by mid-October, and potentially by 75 more next March. ‘Unfortunately, we find ourselves unable to sustain current workforce levels’, the company said. ‘During the last 19 months, ...
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NewsRJ Corman acquires three short lines
USA: RJ Corman Railroad Group has finalised an agreement to acquire three short lines and a transloading company from Steve May, subject to customary regulatory approvals. The 43 km Owego & Harford Railway in New York state operates on a long-term lease from Tioga County Industrial Development ...
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NewsMassachusetts commuter rail construction contract awarded
USA: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Fiscal & Management Control Board has approved the award of the second and largest of the two principal construction packages for the South Coast Rail Phase 1 project. The $1·047bn project which is scheduled for completion in late 2023 will extend Boston’s ...
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NewsAmtrak sells ‘Ocean View’ dome car
Source: Joseph M Calisi USA: Amtrak has sold its ‘Ocean View’ full- length dome car to private coach fleet owner Paxrail, two years after it was withdrawn from traffic because of high maintenance costs. The vehicle is one of six Great Dome cars built by Budd ...
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In depthComment: Beware of the weather
‘Disruption from extreme weather events seems to be increasing rapidly in many parts of the world’
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Metro Report InternationalPlans for light rail project to share BNSF corridor dropped
USA: Following what they described as ‘years of unsuccessful discussions with BNSF Railway’, the promoters of the Minneapolis Metro Blue Line Extension project have abandoned plans for the colocation of light rail and freight services. The Metro Blue Line Extension, also known as Bottineau Light Rail Transit, ...
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NewsLocomotive lamp offers visibility, safety and durability
LAMP: Speciality lamp manufacturer Amglo has launched its PAR Series locomotive halogen lamp, designed to provide train operators with a focused, bright beam of light down the track for greater visibility and safety. Intended for use acreoss the USA and Canada, the lamp’s light output exceeds ...