Emergency work in San Clemente, Calif., will take longer; new contractor selected
The final details of emergency slope stabilization work in San Clemente are emerging, and it looks like the construction timeline has added some length.
Class 1 railroad
Koppers lands five-year deal with another Class 1 for crosstie removal
Koppers Recovery Resources LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Koppers Holdings Inc. and an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals, and carbon compounds, announced it has entered into a new five-year, $50 million agreement with a Class 1 railroad customer to collect and manage end-of-life railroad crossties and other materials.
Bells & Whistles—Hurricane Ian destroys short-liner; HART has more red flags
The top news stories of the week ending Oct. 7.
Canadian National bridge fire hammers grain service in northwestern Alberta
Canadian National reported that a fire on a major bridge on the Grand Cache subdivision near Latornell, Alberta, has shut down rail traffic moving in and out of the Grand Prairie area until further notice.
Savage announces plans to build railport in southern Utah
Savage is a global provider of industrial logistics infrastruture and supply chain services. The company employs about 4,000 people in over 200 locations.
BNSF completes double track installation on Emporia Subdivision
BNSF recently announced that its engineering team and other partners have successfully completed the new second main line track, now in service, across the Emporia Subdivision, which runs from Kansas City to Wellington, Kansas. This is part of the railroad’s multi-year work on its Southern Transcon.
Rail Group On Air: 2022 RT&S Engineer of the Year John Cech
RT&S Managing Editor David Lester talks with the 2022 RT&S Engineer of the Year John Cech from BNSF about challenging projects, the technological movement, what it takes to work in the rail industry, and what it will take to recruit the younger generation.
Norfolk Southern chooses design firm for CREATE project
The ongoing Chicago CREATE project partners accounced that Norfolk Southern has chosen Benesch to provide final track design services for the EW3-Segment B.
The October issue of RT&S is now online
The October issue of RT&S features stories on the L.A. Purple Line Extension project and how canines are used to clear sensitive areas surrounding rail projects.
Orange and Red Line improvements are going to cost another $1B
MBTA officials have announced that another $1 billion will be needed to complete repairs on the agency’s Orange and Red lines.
151-car CN train derails, but cause still unknown
A 151-car-long Canadian National train derailed just outside Detroit on Sept. 29.
HDR will do final track design, engineering services on CREATE project
The CREATE partners are pleased to announce Union Pacific has selected HDR to provide final track design and engineering services for the Union Pacific-led portion of the 80th Street Junction Replacements (EW2) project, a major component of CREATE’s 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project.
Jim Florio, 1937-2022
James J. Florio, the former Governor of New Jersey and eight-term congressman who was the principal author of the 1980 Staggers Rail Act that partially deregulated the industry, died Sept. 25. He was 85.
Train derailment leaves rail bridge heavily damaged; transit accident sends three to hospital
Two derailments occurred on Sept. 21; one happened in dramatic fashion while the other showed more of a pattern.
More funds for CREATE’s rail line modernization project
The Chicago Region Environment and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE) partners announced that $70 million in federal funds will soon be on the way to Chicago, allowing for a $170 million project to modernize a 2-mile stretch of rail lines that provide a critical connection for freight moving across the Chicago region.
NTSB releases preliminary report on UP employee fatality
A Union Pacific conductor was killed in August during a reverse movement on the railroad. The NTSB has released the preliminary report on the accident.
U.S. Class 1 rail employment rose in August
According to data from the Surface Transportation Safety Board, Class 1 railroad employment rose in August to its highest level since December 2020.
NRC column: Sustainability has staying power
If your company is on the fence about whether or not to take sustainability or ESG initiatives by Class 1s, short lines, and transit railways seriously, let me encourage you to get on board.
Koppers announces new director of sales
Koppers announced John McDonald has joined the company as the new Director of Class 1 Sales for Koppers Railroad Products and Services (RPS) segment.
September issue of RT&S is now online
The September issue of RT&S features our 2022 Engineer of the Year John Cech from BNSF.