U.S. Congressman Randy Hultgren Visits Atlantic Track in Richmond, IL, Discusses Atlantic Track's Expansion in Illinois

From left to right: Congressman Randy, Hultgren, George Perrelli (Atlantic Track), Ashley Bosch (NRC), Dave Francis (Atlantic Track)

On September 22, U.S. Congressman Randy Hultgren (R-IL-14, Financial Services Committee and Science, Space and Technology Committee) joined representatives from Atlantic Track and the NRC for a tour of Atlantic Track's manufacturing facility in Richmond, IL. The NRC organized the event.

Upon his arrival, Congressman Hultgren was greeted by Atlantic Track's Richmond team, including Vice President - Midwest Region Dave Francis and Plant Manager George Perrelli. The Congressman was briefed on Atlantic Track's history, current operations, and recent growth and expansion in Richmond and Chicago Heights, IL.  

Atlantic Track supplies new & relay rail, joint bars, tie plates and other track material to Class I and short line railroads, transit agencies, rail contractors and end users in the US, Canada and worldwide. In addition to rail and track material distribution, Atlantic Track manufactures turnouts, specialty trackwork, transit rail products, compromise rails, movable bridge joints, track panels and more. Their other products and services include crane runway and transit systems.

"Atlantic Track's Richmond facility boasts hardworking employees who manufacture special track components vital to railroads nationwide. Atlantic Track is an ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) company where each employee actually is an owner and has a stake in the company's success" said Congressman Hultgren. "They believe in old fashioned blood, sweat and tears, working long hours to meet the high demand for their quality products, and have invested millions to expand their operations in the 14th District. Northern Illinois is a major cargo and freight hub for our nation-seeing Atlantic Track's facility first-hand makes me proud to represent them in Congress." 

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Hensel Phelps Wins Design and Build Contract for Dulles Corridor Rail Yard  

Hensel Phelps Construction has been awarded the contract to design and build the rail yard and maintenance facility for Phase 2 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project (Silver Line).

Hensel Phelps' $252m price proposal was determined to meet all necessary requirements and was the lowest of the four received by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. The other three bidders were Capital Rail Constructors (Clark Construction Group and Kiewit Infrastructure South), Metrorail Constructors Group Joint Venture (Turner Construction, Southland Industries, and Freestate Electrical Construction), and Skanska USA Southeast.

The design-build contract for the rail yard and maintenance facility is the second and final major contract for Phase 2 of the Silver Line Project. The first was awarded in May of 2013 includes the construction of six stations, 11.4 miles of track and guideways and wayside components, and was awarded in May 2013 to Capital Rail Constructors, a team consisting of Clark Construction Group and Kiewit Infrastructure.

Source: RT&S, Dulles Metro

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PANYNJ to Build Rail Transload Facility, Improvements to Car-Float System

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) board of commissioners approved a major redevelopment of Greenville Yard that will include a new ExpressRail facility.

The fourth of its type to be built by the authority, the ExpressRail facility will enable the adjacent Global Marine Terminal to ship and receive containerized cargo by rail for the first time. Containerized cargo will be transloaded from ship to rail.

Slated to open in July 2016, the facility will have an initial annual capacity of 125,000 container lifts. The project includes the construction of about 10,000 feet of working track, 32,000 feet of support track and switches, and infrastructure to support rail-mounted gantry cranes.

The board also approved a series of improvements to the cross-harbor car float system operated by NY-NJ Rail to move freight more efficiently by both water and rail between New Jersey and markets east of the Hudson River, including New York City and Long Island.

The work includes construction of up to two new transfer bridges at Greenville Yard and related lead and support tracks; the purchase of two larger car floats, each with the capability of transporting 18 rail cars; and the purchase of up to four new, ultra-low emission locomotives to replace older existing ones.

Additionally, off-site improvements to the freight-rail network in northern New Jersey will be made to ensure it can handle the increased rail activity that will be generated by the redeveloped Greenville Yard.

The total cost of the facility and improvements is $356m, of which PANYNJ will provide $320m and third-party stakeholders will contribute $36m. The authority funding will be reimbursed through a combination of federal funds and a cargo facility charge.

Sources: Progressive Railroading, PANYNJ

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Austin Capital Metro Approves $322.1M FY15 Budget

Capital Metro's board in Austin, TX approved a $322.1m budget for fiscal-year 2015, which runs from October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015.

The new budget includes $222.8m for operating expenses, $4.6m for loan repayments and $12.8m for interlocal agreements.

Also in FY2015, the agency has budgeted $81.9m for capital projects, including track relocation work, an East subdivision quiet zone for freight rail, positive train control implementation, a rail and tie replacement program, and a rail timber and surface replacement program.

The full FY15 budget and capital improvement plan can be found at: http://www.capmetro.org/uploadedFiles/Capmetroorg/About_Us/Finance_and_Audit/Capital_Metro_FY2015_Approved_Budget.pdf
  

Source: Progressive Railroading, Austin Capital Metro

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 BNSF Submits Waiver to FAA to Use Drones for Railway Maintenance

BNSF submitted a request for the exemption from multiple regulatory provisions of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to allow the use of small unmanned aerial vehicles (sUAS) to assist in supplemental inspections of railroad infrastructure and operations on BNSF right of way.  

The FAA has already granted exemptions for sUAS use by the film industry and is currently considering more than 40 waiver requests to allow drones to be used in e-commerce, agriculture, land surveying, and oil field inspections, among other applications.  

Source: BNSF 

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FRA Issues Safety Guidance on Ballast

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