Progressive Railroading

Hi %%firstname%%

I am reaching out to you regarding Progressive Railroading's April issue. As we approach the start of the second quarter, I want to help raise awareness of your products and services and keep your company top of mind. Here's a sneak peek at what's being covered in the April issue:

  • Cover Story: MOW Spending Report 2016
  • Trade Patterns: Panama Canal Expansion Project Update
  • Workforce Development: Class I Internships
  • Mechanical: ECP Braking Technology
  • Product Roundup: Onboard Locomotive Monitoring Technology

Scroll down for additional information on these topics.

Ad space closes on March 10th and materials are due March 17th. 


Sincerely,

Kirk Bastyr
Publisher
Progressive Railroading
Phone: (502) 500-3524
kirk.bastyr@tradepress.com

 


Cover Story: MOW Spending Report 2016
In the aggregate, railroads figure to spend less on infrastructure upkeep this year — but not that much less. Their 2016 to-do lists feature hundreds of maintenance-of-way (MOW) projects.

How much will individual Class Is, short-line railroads and transit agencies spend this year? What'll they be spending it on? This month, we'll share the results of our annual MOW survey, which will examine the budgets of more than four dozen freight and passenger railroads, break down the planned work within their programs — from rail to ties to bridges to stations.

Trade Patterns: Panama Canal Expansion Project Update
In May, the Panama Canal Authority will open a third set of locks, marking the completion of a nine-year, $5.25 billion expansion. The project is expected to double the canal's capacity and allow larger vessels to pass through. Over the last several years, U.S. ports on the east and Gulf coasts have been busy prepping for an uptick in container traffic by deepening channels, widening harbors, constructing larger terminals, and expanding and improving rail infrastructure.

For railroads, the canal expansion means more international intermodal traffic on the horizon. As a result, some have been expanding or improving their own infrastructure near the ports. Are railroads and their port partners ready to take on the increase in traffic? Will the expected surge in intermodal volumes make up for decreases in other commodities? And will the canal's expansion affect rail service elsewhere in the country? For answers, we'll check in with a cross section of Class Is, short lines and ports.

Workforce Development: Class I Internships
As the boomer population continues to age, Class Is are grappling with mass retirements and the loss of valuable industry experience as those retirees move on to the next phase in their lives. As a result, major freight railroads are searching for young, talented candidates who can be groomed to fill those vacancies.

How are they doing it? They're reaching out to college students through internship programs that offer students the chance to learn the rail business and taste the Class I way of life. Successful interns also are offered a path to a full-time position upon graduation. We'll take a look at some of the internship opportunities offered by North America's largest railroads.

Mechanical: ECP Braking Technology
Last May, the Federal Railroad Administration issued its long-awaited rule stipulating that new tank cars built after Oct. 1, 2015, must meet new design and performance requirements. The rule also requires the implementation of electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) braking systems. Crude unit trains of 70 or more cars operating faster than 30 mph must feature an ECP brake system by Jan. 1, 2021.

In June 2015, the Association of American Railroads filed an appeal with the U.S. Department of Transportation challenging the tank-car rules. Railroads hope to remove the requirement for ECP, which AAR calls an "unproven technology that will not prevent derailments and will not provide meaningful overall safety benefits." Since then, U.S. railroads also have been reviewing their legal options. What are their options? What's the status of the appeal? For an update with context, we'll talk with rail officials and other interested ECP market observers.

Product Roundup: Onboard Locomotive Monitoring Technology
High-profile derailments continue to put rail-asset monitoring technology front and center — on Capitol Hill, in rail regulatory circles and among rail executives. This month, we'll feature an array of products, systems and technology that monitor locomotive health, train handling, fuel use and overall performance.