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Posts by David C. Lester

David C. Lester

Commentary

UP’s Jalali: No Hiccups With NS IT Integration

Union Pacific Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Rahul Jalali told reporters on a media day business train that UP-NS computer systems integration will go smoothly if the merger…

POTUS 47: Hudson Tunnel Project ‘Terminated.’ DOT Says Not True

POTUS 47 on Oct. 15 said that $16 billion in federal funding for the project to build the New York/New Jersey Hudson Tunnel under the Hudson River, a key component…
Commentary

Hinrichs at Morgan Stanley Conference: ‘Work Cooperatively’

The Morgan Stanley 13th annual Laguna Conference covered Industrials, Machinery, Aerospace & Defense, Airlines, Freight Transportation, Autos & Suppliers, and Materials companies. The conference featured CSX President and CEO Joe…

Discovering, Predicting, Resolving Track Defects

RAILWAY AGE, AUGUST 2024 ISSUE: How Union Pacific leverages state-of-the-art inspection technology. With more than 32,000 miles of track covering 23 states in the western two-thirds of the U.S., those…

Just For Fun: Union Pacific Announces Big Boy Schedule

Union Pacific has announced its schedule for Big Boy operation for the remainder of 2024.
Commentary

Dr. George M. Smerk Jr., 1933-2023

Railway Track & Structures and Railway Age recently learned that Indiana University Transportation professor Dr. George M. Smerk, Jr., died in mid-2023. Editor’s Note: We regret that Railway Track & Structures…
(Wabtec Photograph)

Wabtec Set To Close Wilmerding, Pa., Plant

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported that Wabtec Corp. will lay off 94 workers with the closure of its Wilmerding, Pa., plant, which is set to occur around July 1, 2024. According to…

Renowned Railroad Historian H. Roger Grant, 79

Clemson history professor and prolific railroad historian H. Roger Grant has died.

John E. Bromley, 1942-2023

Editor’s Note: John E. Bromley was a long-time press representative for Union Pacific. I imagine many readers either knew him or knew of him, either as a professional, an enthusiast,…
(L.B. Foster Photograph)

L.B. Foster Exits Fabricated Bridge Grid Deck Business

L.B. Foster is discontinuing its fabricated bridge grid deck manufacturing and commercial operations in Bedford, Pa.

Hudson Tunnel Project: $6.88B CIG Grant

The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) announced July 6 that the Hudson Tunnel Project has entered the Engineering Phase of the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program, and…
Seminole Gulf Railway

Donalds Reintroduces Legislation to Secure Disaster Relief for Short Line Railroads as Hurricane Season 2023 Begins

Last week Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) reintroduced H.R. 3782—The Short Line Railroad Relief Act—alongside Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Mike Bost (R-IL), Mary Miller (R-IL), Jake LaTurner (R-KS), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Jack Bergman…
Rendering of CTA’s Argyle Station. (CTA)

CTA to Kick Off Final Major Phase of Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization Project

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will begin construction on four new, fully accessible stations at Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr to replace century-old stations, and start rebuilding southbound Red…
Dr. MD Islam, Colorado State University (left) and Kari Gonzales, MxV Rail (MxV Rail Photograph)

MxV Rail, CSU Pueblo Team on Education, Training, Research

MxV Rail and Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a framework to work together on future education, training and research related…
(Amtrak train on the Keystone Corridor, Jim Blaze Photograph)

OIG Identifies Fraud Risks as Amtrak Begins Large Acquisitions, Infrastructure Programs

Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General has released a report outlining fraud risks “America’s Railroad” could face as it leverages significant federal investments for major acquisitions and capital projects.
David C. Lester Photograph

Norfolk Southern Outlines New Six-Point Safety Plan

Norfolk Southern (NS) on March 6 announced a six-point plan to immediately enhance the safety of its operations. The initiatives are based on the preliminary findings of the National Transportation…

Vuono Launches TraConcepts, LLC

After almost 20 years in railroad construction, Maggie Vuono has launched TraConcepts, LLC, a business development and marketing firm to serve the needs of the ever-changing industry.
The Gateway Program will eventually double rail capacity between Newark, N.J., and New York. (GDC)

Biden Announces Investment in ‘Mega Projects’

President Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Jan. 31 announced that the Biden-Harris Administration has awarded nearly $1.2 billion from the new National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) discretionary grant…
According to OCTA, the first row of ground anchors are in place to stop the track from moving in south San Clemente, allowing passenger service to safely resume on weekends while construction work continues on weekdays. (Photograph Courtesy of OCTA)

Watch: OCTA Stabilizes Tracks in San Clemente

Emergency construction work, led by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), has stopped slope movement and stabilized the tracks in south San Clemente, Calif., clearing the way for weekend passenger…
“We are excited to welcome the team from Sentient Science’s rail business unit to Loram Technologies,” said Greg Grissom, President of Loram Technologies. “Their expertise and innovative products will help us continue our mission of using data to understand the root causes of track challenges and make informed decisions.”

Loram Acquires Digital Twin for Rail From Sentient Science

Loram, a maintenance-of-way equipment and services provider based in Hamel, Minn., has announced its acquisition of the rail business unit of Sentient Science. The products, team and intellectual property will…
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