North America – Page 55
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Metro Report InternationalHurontario light rail contract awarded
CANADA: Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have awarded Mobilinx Hurontario General Partnership a C$4·6bn contract to develop the Hurontario light rail project to the west of Toronto. Mobilinx was selected as preferred bidder last month for the design-build-finance-operate-maintain PPP concession. This includes 30 years of operations and maintenance ...
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Metro Report InternationalStudy indicates $7bn cost to restore New York suburban link
Photo: J M Calisi The Long Island Rail Road closed its Rockaway Beach Branch in 1962. USA: New York MTA released in early October a pre-feasibility study into a possible reopening of the former Rockaway Beach Branch of the Long Island Rail Road in Queens. The ...
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Metro Report InternationalMiami-Dade orders Proterra battery buses
USA: Miami-Dade has agreed to purchase 33 Proterra Catalyst E2 battery-electric buses and up to 75 plug-in chargers. ‘Florida is one of the most vulnerable areas in the country to climate change, and Miami is working tirelessly to lower its greenhouse gas emissions’, said Mayor Carlos Giménez. ...
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Metro Report InternationalGamifying transport planning in San Diego
USA: San Diego Metropolitan Transit System has launched the Vision Builder Challenge which allows the public to show their support for different transport investment options. This forms part of the Elevate SD 2020 public engagement programme, which MTS will use to decide whether to put a transport ...
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NewsGeopier 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. The ...
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Metro Report InternationalOklahoma City: Setting a streetcar example
Despite several setbacks, the Oklahoma City Streetcar opened on time and on budget. Its success could have lessons for other projects.
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NewsCat 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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Metro Report InternationalAtlanta consults on draft Regional Transit Plan
USA: Commuter rail, metro and light rail projects form the centrepiece of proposals to improve public transport in the 13-county greater Atlanta metropolitan region. Established last year, the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority has been mandated to develop a ‘seamless’ regional transport network, bringing together and augmenting the ...
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NewsPartnership 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 equity firm and ...
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NewsSurface 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 task ...
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NewsMBTA 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 management ...
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Metro Report InternationalCeremonies 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 Cotton Belt ...
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NewsWabtec to close MotivePower plant
USA: Wabtec is to end locomotive production at the MotivePower plant in Boise, Idaho, by early 2020, with manufacturing to be consolidated at the former GE Transportation site in Erie, Pennsylvania. ‘Decisions like this are never easy but will help simplify and optimise the company’s manufacturing footprint ...
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NewsMexican wagon manufacturing joint venture announced
MEXICO: US wagon manufacturer FreightCar America and heavy fabrication company Fabricaciones y Servicios de México have announced a joint venture to produce wagons in Castaños. FreightCar America is committing US$25m of assets and cash, and will consolidate and control the joint venture; profits and losses will be ...
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Metro Report InternationalMinneapolis Southwest LRT systems contract awarded
USA: Railway systems for the Southwest LRT extension of the Green Line light rail route in Minneapolis are to be supplied by a joint venture of Aldridge and Parsons under a $194·4m contract awarded by the Metropolitan Council on September 18. The deal covers the supply and ...
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NewsTexas Central targets financial close by next year
USA: Dallas – Houston high speed project promoter Texas Central says it is optimistic of securing financial close by the end of next year, which would enable construction to begin. Worth an indicative $20bn, the privately funded high speed railway is intended to link Dallas with Houston ...
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NewsLong Island Rail Road M-9 cars enter service
MTA Long Island Rail Road has put the first of its Kawasaki M-9 EMUs into service (Photo: Joseph M Calisi) USA: New York commuter operator MTA Long Island Rail Road has put the first of its Kawasaki M-9 electric multiple-unit cars into service. The 750 V DC ...
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NewsRJ Corman Railroad Co leases Childersburg Line
USA: RJ Corman Railroad Co has finalised a long-term agreement to lease a 21 km short line in Coosa Pines, Alabama, from the City of Childersburg Local Redevelopment Authority. Branded by RJ Corman as the Childersburg Line, the railway carries a diverse range of inbound and ...
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Metro Report InternationalNew York MTA proposes ‘largest ever’ capital plan
Photo: Gregory Grice USA: New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced its 2020-24 Capital Plan on September 16. The proposed $51·5bn investment is 70% more than the current five-year plan, making it the largest capital plan in MTA history, according to the authority. The investment is to be ...
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Metro Report InternationalConfederation Line opens in Ottawa
CANADA: The Confederation Line was inaugurated in Ottawa on September 14. Also known as O-Train Line 1, the 12·5 km light rail line links Tunney’s Pasture in the west with Blair in the east. Three of the 13 stops are in a 2·5 km tunnel under the ...