news

Pictured, left to right: Alex Denis, North County Transit District (NCTD Photograph); Nabanita Nag, Norfolk Southern (NS Photograph), Angel Martinez, STV (STV Photograph); Thomas J. McGuinness, STV (STV Photograph); and Andy Klinck, U.S. Rail & Logistics (USRL Photograph).

People News: NCTD, NS, STV, USRL

California’s North County Transit District (NCTD) appoints Alex Denis as Chief Procurement Officer. Also, Norfolk Southern’s (NS) Nabanita Nag earns a corporate counsel award; professional services firm STV recruits Angel Martinez and Thomas J. McGuinness to oversee transportation infrastructure projects in the Northeast; and U.S. Rail & Logistics (USRL) taps Andy Klinck as Senior Vice President of Operations.

At the Port of Long Beach, Calif., dockworkers and terminal operators moved 750,424 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) last month, up 14.4% from April 2023. (POLB Photograph)

Intermodal Briefs: POLB, SC Ports

The Port of Long Beach, Calif., marked its eighth consecutive month of year-over-year cargo growth in April. Also, South Carolina Ports’ (SC Ports) rail-served inland ports in Dillon and Greer logged record volumes last month.

AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 19

Through the first 19 weeks of 2024 (ending May 11), total North American carload and intermodal traffic rose 2.0% from the same point last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported May 8. The U.S., Canada and Mexico all experienced gains.

Hon. Perrin Beatty, PC, OC, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (left), presented the Canadian Business Leader of the Year award to CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson. (CN Photograph)

Class I Briefs: CN, NS, UP

CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson earns the Canadian Business Leader of the Year award. Meanwhile, the Canadian Class I unveils a transload facility in Michigan and announces the ratification of a new collective agreement for Unifor-affiliated CNTL drivers. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) and its CREATE Program partners mark their five-year commitment to STEM education in Chicago; and Union Pacific (UP) ranks on Fair360’s list of top companies for workplace fairness.

Commentary

RUN Conference Tackling L-D Trains

Amtrak’s skeletal network of long-distance (L-D) passenger trains is the same size now as it was in 1971, when “America’s Railroad” was founded—14 routes. Advocates around the nation are pushing for that

Transbay Joint Powers Authority is leading The Portal project, which is slated to bring Caltrain, and potentially the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s system, to San Francisco’s Salesforce Transit Center. (Transbay Joint Powers Authority Rendering)

Report: The Portal Project Advances in California

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has committed $3.38 billion to The Portal Project, bringing Caltrain commuter rail to San Francisco’s Salesforce Transit Center, the San Francisco Examiner reported May 11. The Transbay

Patriot Rail Names Christian CEO

Patriot Rail Company, U.S. operator of Class II and III freight railroads, transloading and other rail services companies has named Brandy D. Christian as the firm’s next Chief Executive Officer. Christian will

2023: A ‘Strong’ Year for VIA Rail

In 2023, 4.1 million passengers rode VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) trains, an increase of 815,000, or 24.7%, compared to 2022, marking the agency’s highest ridership since 2019, VIA Rail reported on May 14.

Sound Transit Opens 2 Line LRT

Sound Transit, the regional agency in the Seattle area, has been expanding lately. Its most recent light rail expansion, the 2 Line, opened on Saturday, April 27. The new line connects Bellevue

(Amtrak Photograph)

FRA: $2B Available for Fed State-NEC Grants

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on May 14 reported that it is making available more than $2 billion in Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program funding for projects located on the

Virginia DRPT Awards ‘Truck Diversion’ Grants

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has awarded Rail Industrial Access Program grants to SharpTech USA LLC, Queen City Logistics Center LLC and Norfolk Terminal LP to rehabilitate existing