North America – Page 92
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NewsCanada announces tank wagon safety changes
CANADA: On April 23 Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt announced the federal government’s response to the initial recommendations arising from Transportation Safety Board of Canada's ongoing investigation into the July 2013 Lac-Mégantic derailment. With immediate effect, Transport Canada will: ban DOT-111 tank cars which do not have continuous bottom ...
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NewsMP&ES announces natural gas locomotive
USA: Following two years of technology evaluation, Motive Power & Equipment Solutions has announced plans to launch the Greenville MP1500, a low-emissions genset locomotive which would be fuelled by a combination of natural gas and diesel. MP&ES is working with technology partner OptiFuel Systems to develop the 1 500 hp ...
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NewsCSX opens Central Florida intermodal terminal
USA: Revenue operations have started at the Central Florida Intermodal Logistics Center in Winter Haven, which is intended to provide a central hub for transport, logistics and distribution services covering Orlando, Tampa and South Florida. Owned by CSX affiliate Evansville Western Railway, the ILC is operated by CSX Intermodal Terminals ...
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NewsAlaska Railroad awards PTC contract
USA: On April 2 Wabtec Corp announced the signing of contracts worth $16·6m for the implementation of Positive Train Control on the 840 km Alaska Railroad, which operates freight and passenger services. Wabtec is to provide PTC equipment for 54 locomotives, along with its Interoperable Electronic Train Management System and ...
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NewsHazardous goods information
NORTH AMERICA: An information-sharing and safety practice review is being launched by Class I railroad Canadian National across its network, with a view to ensuring the communities its trains pass through have a better understanding of how hazardous materials are transported. ‘Under our engagement programme, CN is approaching municipal officials ...
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NewsGATX buys 18 500 wagons from GE Capital Rail Services
USA: GATX Corp announced the purchase of GE Capital Rail Services' North American per diem boxcar fleet of more than 18 500 vehicles for $340m on March 24. The fleet has an average age of 34 years, and GATX expects it to generate $70m in annual revenues. 'This fleet acquisition ...
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NewsSiemens Charger passenger locomotive contract finalised
USA: Siemens announced on March 18 that the states of Illinois, California, Michigan, Missouri and Washington had formally issued a notice to proceed with production of 32 diesel-electric passenger locomotives suitable for speeds up to 200 km/h. The procurement is being led on behalf of the five states by ...
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NewsTendering to start for new line to Toluca
MEXICO: Secretary of Communications & Transport Gerardo Ruiz signed off tendering documentation for the project to build an electrified passenger railway from Mexico City to Toluca at a ceremony held on February 28. The new line would run for 58 km from Observatorio, the western terminus of Line 1 of ...
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NewsPTC, higher speeds and accessibility in Amtrak infrastructure programme
USA: The continued roll-out out of Positive Train Control, works to upgrade the Northeast Corridor and improvements to station accessibility for passengers with disabilities are included in Amtrak's infrastructure programme for 2014. PTC has now been installed on 850 track-km of Amtrak-owned sections of the Northeast Corridor and its Michigan ...
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NewsFreight spend planned
MEXICO: Speaking at a recent conference in Cancún, federal Under-Secretary of Transport Carlos Almada outlined the 13 railway projects that are being taken forward by the administration of President Enrique Peña Nieto, representing total investment of 125bn pesos. As well as the projects for new passenger lines from Mexico City ...
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NewsRefrigerated intermodal freight operator bought
USA: Federated Capital Corp subsidiary Federated Railways has agreed to acquire Rail Logistics LC, including its 'Cold Train' refrigerated express intermodal service. The new subsidiary will be named Federated Cold Train, trading as Cold Train. Rail Logistics launched Cold Train in partnership with BNSF Railway in April 2010. It now ...
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NewsCN announces C$2·1bn capital investment plan for 2014
CANADA: CN has announced a C$2·1bn capital investment plan for 2014, slightly up on the C$2·0bn which it spent last year. The 2014 plan allocates: C$1·2bn for infrastructure on the 32 000 km network in Canada and the USA, including track renewals, bridge improvements and various branch line upgrades; ...
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NewsSlower trains will need more wagons
USA: Announcing that it had received orders for 5 600 wagons worth $460m in its second financial quarter which ended on February 28, The Greenbrier Companies said it expects that current 'downward trends in railroad train velocity' will lead to stronger demand for certain types of wagon. The orders include ...
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NewsDeux-Montagnes line sold to AMT
CANADA: The C$97m sale of CN's Deux-Montagnes subdivision to Montréal regional transport authority AMT was completed on February 28. The 34 km route from Gare Centrale through the 5 km Mont-Royal tunnel to Deux-Montagnes is primarily used by AMT commuter services. CN retains operating rights over a section of the ...
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NewsRoute selected for Mexico City - Querétaro high speed line
MEXICO: The Secretariat of Transport & Communications has published the environmental impact statement for the proposed high speed line between Mexico City and Querétaro, which is expected to cost 40·8bn pesos to build. Engineered for 300 km/h operation, the preferred route would run for 212·18 km from a refurbished ...
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NewsOptimism returns but skills gap a worry, survey finds
INTERNATIONAL: Optimism is returning to the global rail industry following the economic downturn, according to the results of the fifth Way Ahead survey of the transport industry conducted by legal practice Norton Rose Fulbright. The survey, which was launched at an event in London on February 26, received 850 responses ...
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NewsMetrolink PTC goes into operation
USA: Southern California Regional Rail Authority became the first US commuter rail operator to begin using Positive Train Control in revenue service on February 17. Metrolink has started operating with PTC on selected trains using the BNSF tracks between Los Angeles and Riverside. On February 20, Metrolink demonstrated the technology ...
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NewsSouth Heart terminal to support Bakken oil industry
USA: Watco Terminal & Port Services and Great Northern Project Development are to build a multi-purpose freight terminal and wagon maintenance workshop 8 km west of South Heart, North Dakota, to support the Bakken shale oil and gas industry. Work on the South Heart Rail Terminal is scheduled to begin ...
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NewsUnion Pacific announces $3·9bn capital plan for 2014
USA: The Union Pacific Corp board has approved a $3·9bn capital spending plan for 2014. This is up $300m on 2013, primarily because the number of locomotives to be acquired will be increased from 100 last year to 200 this year, and greater investment is to be made in capacity ...
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NewsTrinity sells more wagons to Element Financial Corp
USA: Trinity Industries has sold a second tranche of wagons to Element Financial Corp under a $2bn alliance announced by the companies during December. The sale announced on January 28 comprises a portfolio of existing leased wagons worth $396m. They will be managed by Trinity Industries Leasing Co. Trinity ...