SEPTEMBERTRACKSFREIGHT122022#16 Percy Fields takes over what's it with the 80:20 Rule? Patently good thinking WEEKTHISLOOMSSTRIKE NS warns customers of likely shutown
news review The Art of PublishingRailway infowww.chimewhistle.com @ chimewhistle.com
INDUSTRIAL CENTRES IN ABU DHABI LINKED PATENTLY GOOD THINKING PERCY FIELDS TAKES THE HELM
WHAT'S BEHINDTHE HIGH LINE?
RAILWAY READING
Keep the Date Railway industry events NEWS
30432
CONTENTS SEPTEMBER122022 #16
DB Cargo UK tweeted: " We at DB Cargo UK are saddened to hear of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. As trusted operators of the Royal Train we have a unique and privileged relationship with the Royal Household and our thoughts and prayers are with King Charles III and his family at this very sad time. "
HEADLINE
LINKING ABU DHABI WITH INDUSTRIAL CENTRES
It will facilitate the distribution of goods across the coun tries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and UAE, where it will connect quarries in the northern emirates to industri al centres in the Musaffah area, in addition to connecting Ruwais, Khalifa Port and the container companies in Dubai within Jebel Ali Port. The containers will be hauled by rail to and from other freight facilities following a road journey to the end-user location.
E
Upon the completion of Stage Two of the UAE National Rail Network, Etihad Rail will provide logistics solutions from the railway terminal, which is located at the heart of the In dustrial City of Abu Dhabi, a burgeoning hub of industrial companies in the area.
Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Executive Director of Rail Re lations Sector at Etihad Rail, said: “Connecting the railway freight terminal at ICAD with Etihad Rail’s main line ensures our readiness to start providing our clients with logistics solutions by linking Abu Dhabi with various industrial cen tres and import and export points. This milestone brings us closer to achieving our goal of providing an integrated trans port system that connects the industrial and manufacturing centres with freight terminals and ports across the emirates. The strategic location of the ICAD railway freight terminal will also drive value for all our customers as it is the largest indoor railway freight terminal in the UAE.”
their maintenance costs. It will drive the sustainable devel opment that we are witnessing across the UAE, by enabling a positive socioeconomic impact on industry, commerce, the environment, and more,” he added.
This achievement comes in line with the goals of the UAE Railway Programme, which is the largest integrated system for transporting goods and passengers across the country. The programme aims to connect the country’s key centres of industry and production, open new trade routes and facil itate population movement.
headline newsheadline news
tihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail network, has announced the successful completion of the connection between the railway freight terminal at the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD), which is the largest inland freight railway terminal in the country, and the UAE National Rail Network. The Com pany completed tracklaying works and conducting success ful tests on the new line, which extends from the borders of Saudi Arabia to the port of Fujairah, on the eastern coast, passing through key manufacturing hubs and urban centres.
Etihad Rail is constructing the largest inland railway freight terminal in the UAE in ICAD. Spanning just over 2.7 million sq ft, the new railway freight terminal at will comprise over 22 buildings and major structures to support operations, pro cessing up to nine trains each day.
Largest UAE railway freight terminal
"Our network will have a positive impact on end users, as it will contribute to reducing trucks on roads and bring down
4 n SEPTEMBER 12 2022 @freighttracks
“We are proud of this achievement, which supports our efforts to encourage companies to restructure their logistical operations and opt for rail logistics solutions, thereby cutting costs, increasing efficiency, and providing safer transporta tion of goods. This is exemplified by the trade agreements that we have made with some of the biggest companies in the UAE, such as Stevin Rock LLC, Western Bainoona Group, and Al Ghurair Iron & Steel LLC.
Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the new railway freight terminal will offer a range of competitive ad vantages for businesses, at the highest levels of efficiency in terms of transport costs and sustainability.
The railway freight terminal will act as a logistics hub for heavy industries enabling distribution of raw materials and machinery, in addition to facilitating better connections to infrastructure, such as ports. It will also offer customs ser vices, which will make ICAD tenants more competitive.
"Additionally, customers in certain markets, including bulk unit trains, intermodal, and automotive, will see a curtailment of service up to 72 hours before the end of the cooling-off pe riod to prepare for a safe and orderly stoppage should there be a strike. An embargo with specific information for inter modal and automotive customers is scheduled to be issued. We will communicate with all affected customers quickly and transparently about their shipments.
"This does not mean a work stoppage is certain. We want a resolution that allows us to continue serving customers and prevents disruption to an already fragile US supply chain. We have asked the holdout unions to come to the table and final ise an agreement based on the recommendations of the PEB.
"ThesePEB.recommendations represent a fair and generous outcome for labour and would avoid a shutdown of rail ser vice."
headline newsheadline news www.freight-tracks.com SEPTEMBER 12 2022 n 5
"We have communicated to our customers that we will temporarily halt certain types of shipments beginning Sep tember 12. In addition, to safely ramp down our network and enable us to bring service back quickly, certain other custom ers will see a preliminary curtailment of service before Sep tember 16," said the statement.
Ed Elkins, NS EVP & Chief Marketing Officer moved to reas sure customers. In a letter to shippers he wrote: "Unfortu nately, because we have not yet reached agreement with all remaining unions, there is the potential for a strike as early as 12:01 am on September 16, when the final scheduled cool ing-off period expires. We asked the two holdout unions for a commitment not to strike so we could continue normal oper ations, but they have declined.
Reassurance for shippers
In
"As a result, we must take steps to ensure we can shut down operations safely if a strike occurs and be positioned to restart quickly when operations resume. Most importantly, we must ensure that no hazardous material or freight that requires special security is left on an unattended train out on the network in the event of a sudden strike. To prevent this, we must begin issuing embargoes for certain types of shipments beginning today, which includes rail security-sen sitive material (RSSM) and certain time-sensitive shipments outlined in the embargo.
STRIKE LOOMS THIS WEEK
"Should the two remaining unions commit not to strike, we will resume full operations. We have communicated to all parties in the negotiations that we will not lock out union employees. Our goal is to keep our nation’s economy moving, serve our customers and reach agreements with the remain ing unions."
"If the position of the unions changes and the threat of a strike is retracted, we will seek to resume normal operations as quickly as practical. Many of our customers have asked how they can help prevent a service disruption. One option is to contact your Congressional delegation and ask them to encourage the remaining labour unions to reach voluntary agreements based on the recommendations of President Biden’s
As a result, Norfolk Southern must now begin to prepare for the possibility of a strike at the conclusion of the current cooling-off period on September 16. It must ensure that haz ardous and other security-sensitive freight is properly se cured so it is not left stranded in the event of a sudden strike.
a statement, Norfolk Southern (NS) has said that "al though the rail industry has reached tentative agreements with 10 of the 12 unions involved in current negotiations, two holdouts have been unwilling to come to an agree ment based on the recommendations of President Joe Biden’s Presidential Emergency Board (PEB)."
AJ recently received his 362nd US patent, surpassing George Westinghouse’s total. His contributions to the company and the rail in dustry have earned him the nickname “Father of the AC Locomotive.”
headline newsheadline news
Hey, that’s like choosing a favourite child. But seriously, two patents come to mind. One of them has to do with running two drives to control one mining traction motor (dual IGBT drive), thereby facilitating higher tonnage trucks. This innovation kept us ahead of our competition and proved the mainstay of our mining business for many years. To provide just a little more detail, it made existing locomotive/ mining parts work in conjunction with complex timing controls (measured in nanoseconds) – a great challenge for me and lots of fun at the same time.
For AJ, the art of innovation has never been about his personal patent count but rather the impact his inventions have made. In this regard, his work speaks for itself. Whether it is making AC propulsion systems the standard for the rail
industry; creating software that pro vided “cruise control for trains”; or invent ing battery systems for a new era of bat tery-powered locomotives; AJ’s dedica tion to “what’s next” has literally changed the trajectory of how 45-yearfromsightsperform.locomotivesHeshareshisinandadviceacelebratedcareer.
Patently good
Yes, I do. I devel oped a power factor correction control system for a GE electric loco motive we shipped to Mexico. The new system boosted the power factor, therefore improving the power of the locomotive.
Wabtec
6 n SEPTEMBER 12 2022 @freighttracks
has transformed the rail indus try for more than 150 years. It started with the company’s founder George Westinghouse, who was one of the world’s foremost innovators with 361 US patents to his name.Wabtec continues innovating today with the next generation of makers, dreamers, doers, and trailblazers. One of those employees par ticularly embodies Westinghouse’s spirit of in novation. His name is AJ Kumar.
Q: Do you remember your first pat ent?
Q: Out of all the patents you have received, which is your personal favorite?
First, look at all the new technology around you and imagine a fresh way you can apply it to improve the lives of your customers, or start with any problem that resonates with custom ers.If you don’t have direct access to customers and what they are saying, listen attentively at meetings and closely monitor industry publica tions and news.
Q: Which of your patents have made, or will make, the most significant impact on the railroad industry?
I never dreamed of railroads or played ob sessively with train sets. I mentioned luck earli er, and I meant it. Getting involved in this beau tiful business was just a random event. In the 1970s, I applied to GE (not transportation) for a position, and GE Transportation replied. The rest, one might say, is history.
Failurecoming.can be productive and give life to new, successful ideas.
I’ll be honest, there’s no grand “process” per se, but I can share some insights common to successful patents.
www.freight-tracks.com SEPTEMBER 12 2022 n 7
I worked on a flywheel bus that did nothing commercially, but a colleague leveraged that concept to invent the Dash 8 locomotive crank ing system. Another example: hybrid locomo tive applications ideas (which went nowhere in the early 2000s) ultimately led to the commer cially successful Trip Optimizer.
headline newsheadline news
Q: Maybe we should have asked you this first, but what attracted you to railroads? Did you have a train set as a kid?
Q: Most people have had good ideas in their lifetime, you have turned good and great ideas into hundreds of patented products/processes. What's the difference?
Luck, for sure. But let me offer a more objec tive response. Once you identify a potentially significant solution, don’t give up on it – keep trying! My C4 solution came after eight years of presenting it to many different managers in many different ways. Persistence matters. Also, work the different avenues available to you: get your solution into the STRAP process, work through the chief engineer’s office, or bring it to your product manger’s attention.
I suspect the series of patents connected to the AC individual axle control and Trip Optimiz er have made the most impact. The first series boosted the tractive effort of AC locomotives, enabling railroads to dispatch higher tonnage trains with the same number of locomotives, thereby increasing productivity. The second series delivered significant fuel savings and en hanced the consistency of each trip.
Many of my ideas never became patents, and some that did never prove commercially successful. Inventors never know which ideas will make the biggest impact, so we must keep them
My other favourite was a dynamic weight management system for our C4 locomotives. It took the very simple idea of using mostly familiar parts to make a 4-axle AC locomotive perform just as well as a 6-axle DC locomotive –and with higher reliability! The simplicity of the idea, its elegance, elevates it to my “favourite” status. I also remember a CEO saying that this innovation delivered one of the highest returns on investment in history, if not the highest.
Q: What is the process for successfully securing a patent?
Q: Is failure an important part of innovation? What have you learned from your mistakes?
good thinking
Once you identify a worthy problem and solution for it – whether individually or in col laboration with others – that will make a rea sonable impact, the patent process is relatively simple and pain free.
Do you sell to rail freight companies? Do you want to boost your sales to the sector? Do you want cost-effective advert packages? TICK ALL THE BOXES WITH FREIGHT TRACKS Do you want your sales message in front of key decision makers? n a n a n a n a Since our launch in February 2022, we have carved a presence in the rail freight media to reach some of the most important and influential people and companies in the sector. Why not join us in getting to these people? We guarantee that your message will only get to freight people. Contact: editor@freight-tracks.com for great advertising offers
His most recent position prior to coming to BRC in 2020 was General Manager of the Alton and Southern Railway.
Fields succeeds Mike Grace who served as President since 2018 and will now move to a transition role as Execu tive Advisor until his retirement in May of 2023. Grace will retire after a 43-year career in the railroad industry.
BRC operates 28 miles of mainline track with more than 300 miles of switching track.
He began his career as a conductor for the Union Pacific Railroad more than two decades ago.
Railroad
Percy Fields takes the helm at Belt Railway of Chicago
The Belt Railway of Chicago (BRC) is the largest inter
“I am excited and challenged to take this position as the leader of Belt Railway and I am confident we can contin ue to move rail freight traffic through Chicago in a safe and efficient manner,” Fields said.
“I am confident that Percy will capably lead Belt Railway into the future as Chicago continues to evolve as the dom inant and largest railroad hub in the country,” Grace said.
mediate switching terminal railroad in the United States employing approximately 400 people. The Belt Railway dis patches more than 8400 rail cars per day through its Clear ing Yards located just south of Midway Airport in Chicago.
Fields holds an MBA from Benedictine University, and he is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Man agement Programme.
veteran Percy E Fields III, 42, has assumed the position of President and General Manager of The Belt Railway of Chicago (BRC), the largest inter mediate switching terminal railroad in the United States.Fields brings more than 22 years of railroad experience to the job, most recently as General Manager of BRC.
Fields’ experience includes three years as Director of Transportation Services for Union Pacific and one year with UP as Northern Region Superintendent of Dispatching.
headline newsheadline news
www.freight-tracks.com SEPTEMBER 12 2022 n 9
Texas Rail Advocates calls on state to invest in freight and passenger rail projects
ot-for-profit Texas Rail Advo cates President Peter LeCody has met with the Texas Trans portation Commission. He urged the commission to call on state lawmakers this upcoming session and ap ply for Thefunding.stateis expected to have an extra $27 billion in revenue. LeCody is hoping just $200 million of that can go to rail projects and improvements.
10 n SEPTEMBER 12 2022 @freighttracks
N
“It could go to a number of projects,” LeCody said. “No. 1, rail crossings — it could make rail crossing safer with addi tional safety devices or maybe building overpasses or underpasses over the rail lines, you could create a passenger rail corridor, say serving the Round Rock, Austin, San Antonio region, and offers some fast and frequent travel options to Interstate 35.”
Applying the Pareto Principle to rail freight shipments
Once gathered at the elevator or at some point prior to receiving all the grain committed to the grain company’ customer, the grain company will either order railroad sup plied railcars or use their private leased railcars or privately owned railcars to ship the DNS to the customer. The cus tomer could be a processing company turning the wheat into flour or an international market with demand for DNS or an animal feed operation looking to provide food for their animals.
Pareto Measures? The time it takes to incent move ment from the field to elevator to gather sufficient quan tities of DNS to meet shipping requirements. Where does
12 n SEPTEMBER 12 2022 @freighttracks
According to Investopia: “The Pareto Principle, named after economist Vilfredo Pareto, specifies that 80% of consequences come from 20% of the causes, asserting an unequal relationship between inputs and outputs. This principle serves as a general reminder that the relationship between inputs and outputs is not balanced. The Pareto Principle is also known as the Pareto Rule or the 80/20 Rule.”
When measured successfully, you will be able to apply the Pareto Principle to increase your success shipping via rail. To apply the 80/20 rule, you must first have some method of measurement for which to quantify your assumptions. Since we need to verify our assumptions, we take our measurements and put the cause and effect(s) into sepa rate buckets showing those that related to each other and those that are not related. After we document and classify these assumptions, they then become facts. And facts are something we can work with!
What does this have to do with rail?
Pareto and freight transportation
Gathering of the DNS comes from the farmer, after har vest, to the elevator via truck. Price is the catalyst that in cents grain to move to the elevator. A grain company must identify quality and quantities required for their customers who use the DNS to make bread. This, along with futures market puts and call options, help determine the price to the grain company’s customers.
with the “Pareto Principle” or “Pareto Rule”?
Familiar
Growing interest in
headline newsheadline news
the DNS come from and what geographic area supports faster order fulfillment and which is slower.
In the bulk and intermodal freight transportation systems today, there are a lot of data points to measure. Take first of all the entire logistics cycle. This is really best expressed through an example. We’ll use Dark Northern Spring Wheat (DNS) commonly grown in North Dakota and highly sought after for its gluten content generally indicative of its protein content. DNS is a bread makers staple. If you anal yse the logistics path for DNS to its final processing or feed destination, you’ll find these facts at a high level:
Pareto Measure? Reliability measure of the time be tween ordering railroad supplied railcars and the time the railcars are spotted for loading. Reliability of having leased or owned railcars for the same measurement. Which is more reliable? Which meets any cleanliness require ments? What provides better mechanical ease of opera tions (loading)?
Upon shipment of the DNS to a customer the next set of measures are the transit time measures. The time from the loading location at the release of the loads to the placement of those loads at the customer are the mea sures you’re looking for.
What you’re looking for are specific rail yards that hold the loaded railcars for excessive amounts of time, bad or der statuses that may not represent an actual bad order (often time bad order times aren’t counted against rail road performance measures), bad order statuses that are real, etc. Identify the consistent bad order status and put a plan against it.
The details must be supported by hard data to be benefi cial. There can be no guessing, no “I think” analysis. Let the numbers tell you where the issue(s) are.
What’s important? Hard Data = Metrics
in the 80:20 Rule shipments
www.freight-tracks.com SEPTEMBER 12 2022 n 13
Pareto Measure? In detail, measure the times from the release to pull or pickup time of your railcar(s); pickup to spot of the loaded railcar at your customer and from spot to release of the railcar from your customer.
The list goes on.
headline newsheadline news
By Darell Luther, CEO & Founder, Tealinc
You can summarise the data in groups. For instance, six railcars shipped on Tuesday spent 24 hours in our yard prior to release, travelled well until X yard where they set from time 1 to time 2 a total of Y hours and then were delivered to the shippers’ customer who had the cars Z hours. Accumulate data for each shipment and you’ll start to see patterns that allow you to quantify pain points and give you some ammunition to take to the railroads for in sights on how to provide better overall service.
The Outcome
The granularity of measurements here depends on what the initial data tells you. If the pickup to spot of a railcars time is high, dive into more detail.
In consideration of the above, what is the time from spotted for delivery and the release as loads for each loading location and railcar supplier (railroad supplied or
If you can stay focused on the big picture while analysing the details, it will take the noise out of the system and point you to facts from which you can make more informed de cisions which should help your service and ultimately your profitability.
private)? Any identifiable issues with actual loading of the railcars defined by system or private railcars supplied.
grant opportunities will allow FRA to invest in a wide range of projects that will mitigate passenger and freight rail congestion; enhance multi-modal connections; and improve and estab lish new intercity passenger rail corri dors. Furthermore, CRISI grants are a major source of funding for short line
Biden-Harris Administration, USDOT make unprecedented $1.4 billion in rail grants available to industry
headline newsheadline news
moreHigherreliable.”funding levels enabled by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will also accelerate progress in building up infrastructure resilience and strengthening the supply chain, which in turns makes it less expensive to transport goods. The influx of new
14 n SEPTEMBER 12 2022 @freighttracks
US Department of Trans portation has issued a No tice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcing the availability of over $1.4 billion in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) Grant funding. The CRISI Program, which is administered by the Feder al Railroad Administration (FRA), advances projects that modernize America’s freight and passenger rail infrastructure, allowing people and goods to move more safely and efficiently and helping make goods more affordable for Ameri can families. This year, President Biden’s Bipartisan In frastructure Law more than triples funding for the CRISI Program – a much-needed step to meet the heavy de mand for rail funding from States and local communi ties. The program allocates at least 25% of total funds for projects in rural areas.
“Projects funded by these CRISI grants will generate economic opportunities and improve the travel experience in communi ties across America, whether urban or rural, large or small,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s massive boost to the CRISI Program, the funding made available to day will help launch our country’s new rail revolution and maintain our rail network’s unmatched standards for safety andInefficiency.”additionto projects that improve and expand freight and passenger rail infrastruc ture, CRISI grants will focus on safety projects such as grade crossing enhancements and rail line relocations and improvements as well as other priorities, including workforce development and training, re gional rail and corridor plan ning, environmental analyses, and research and deployment of railroad safety technology. New project eligibilities also include measures to pre vent trespassing and to rehabilitate, remanufacture, procure, or overhaul locomotives for emissions reduction projects.
The
railroads, whose operations bolster local economies and are crucial for supply chain fluidity. These nationwide investments will advance the Department’s key goals of infrastruc ture safety, efficiency, economic vital ity, equity, and resiliency.
"Freight rail is a critical part of our supply chains, and when shipping costs come down, families pay less for goods,” said US Transportation Secretary Pete Butti gieg."Today, because of President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we're thrilled to announce the big gest-round of funding ever to make both passenger and freight trains across America safer, faster, and
www.freight-tracks.com SEPTEMBER 12 2022 n 15
In July, the International Union for Conservation of Na ture red-listed the migratory monarch as endangered, plac ing it just two steps from extinction. While this listing is not the same as a listing under the US Endangered Species Act, it is another loud call to action that an all-hands-on-deck approach for monarch and pollinator conservation is need ed.
Crowd-funding QR code
sustainability. Monarchs appear to use a combination of air currents, the magnetic pull of the earth and the position of the sun, among other guides, to find their way south to Michoacán, Mexico for the winter and to the United States and Canada for the summer. Monarchs only travel during the day and need to find a roost at night, where they gather at waystations to rest, refuel, breed, and lay eggs along the way. Many of these locations are used year after year.
In support of the 60,000 Tree Challenge, a crowd-funding QR code is featured on the side of the boxcar. Starting this fall, the boxcar will stop at events in Windsor, Ont; Chica go; Kansas City, Mo; Laredo, Texas; Nuevo Laredo, Tamps.; Monterrey, Nuevo Leon; San Luis Potosi, S.L.P.; Morelia, Mi choacán; and end at the El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Sanc tuary. In coordination with local Rotary clubs, these events will generate awareness and raise funds to help save the butterfly. This innovative environmental project is an exam ple of the commitment of the sponsoring organisations to
The funds raised will be used to plant 60,000 oyamel trees at El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Micho acán, Mexico to help re-establish the monarch population. The Monarch Mariposa Boxcar rolled out of the GATX shop in Hearne,MonarchTexas.butterflies are among the most recognisable butterfly species in North America. In addition to being an international symbol of the environment, monarch butter flies contribute to the health of the planet.
Although the oyamel forests in Mexico are recognized as important to monarch butterflies, deforestation and cli mate change over decades have fragmented the habitat. The disappearance of the oyamel forest affects the mon arch butterfly and the local communities that rely on the forest for their livelihoods, water, healthy soil and erosion control.The monarch butterfly represents North American uni ty. Its migration path closely follows the CP and KCS net works, putting the two companies in a unique position to help. In December 2021, KCS was acquired by CP in a $31 billion transaction. Immediately following the acquisition, KCS was placed in trust and will continue to operate inde pendently pending merger approval by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB). If the two railroads receive STB approval, they will be combined, forming the first truly North American railroad, which will be called Canadian Pa cific Kansas City.
“As the largest global railcar lessor and one of the larg est boxcar owners in North America, GATX was thrilled to help produce a custom designed boxcar to celebrate and raise awareness of the journey of the monarch butterfly in Local Rotary Clubs and NASCO LaunchED Tree Challenge
'60,000
“KCS is proud to work in partnership with CP, GATX, Ro tary and NASCO to drive the 60,000 Tree Challenge,” said KCS President and CEO Patrick J. Ottensmeyer. “In addition, we are installing waystations throughout our U.S.-Mexico network in support of monarch conservation.”
month, Kansas City Southern (KCS), Canadian Pa cific (CP), GATX, Monterrey Metropolitan Rotary Club (Rotary) and NASCO launched the Save the Monarch Butterfly 60,000 Tree Challenge North American Box car Tour to raise $100,000.
“The CP and KCS networks align with the Monarch’s an nual migration route, providing us with a unique opportuni ty to help protect and restore critical habitat,” said CP Pres ident and CEO Keith Creel. “CP is very happy to join with KCS, GATX, Rotary and NASCO to support and promote the recovery of the monarch butterfly.”
headline newsheadline news
Pollinators are critical to global food security and healthy natural ecosystems, but they’re disappearing at analarming rate. Beloved across its tri-national North American range, the iconic monarch has only a 10% chance of persisting above the extinction threshold over the next 30 years. The time is now to protect monarchs and their incredible 3000mile (4500 km) migration.
IN AUGUST, KCS, CP, GATX,
16 n SEPTEMBER 12 2022 @freighttracks
Last
60,000 Tree Challenge North
North American Boxcar Tour
addition to making a financial contribution to support the 60,000 Tree Challenge," said Robert C. Lyons, President and CEO of GATX. “We are proud to join forces on this innova tive environmental initiative.”
"At each stop of the GATX boxcar, local Rotarians will sign a pollinator pledge highlighting actions that will be implemented to protect monarch and other pollinators throughout North America,” said Alex Rechy, President of the Monterrey Metropolitan Rotary club.
Rotarian Chris Stein, who manages the Operation Pol lination environmental framework, said, “If managed with pollinators in mind, privately owned green spaces through
“Rotarians throughout North America are honored to join forces with CP, KCS, GATX and NASCO to regenerate vital pollinator habitat from Windsor to Michoacan. The biological corridor of the monarch butterfly has been frag mented by global warming, deforestation, urbanization and excessive pesticide use.
www.freight-tracks.com SEPTEMBER 12 2022 n 17
headline newsheadline news
Challenge North American Boxcar Tour' to Help Save the Monarch Butterfly
out North America can be important nectar feeding areas and migration corridors for pollinators. Any company that embraces the philosophy that making money and protect ing the environment can go hand-in-hand, understands that we must work together now to be able to leave a healthy planet for our children. The vision behind this creative Monarch Butterfly 60,000 Tree Challenge tour epitomizes how business and the environment can work together for a better“NASCOplanet.”isproud and honored to be part of this inter national effort to save the iconic symbol of North America – the monarch butterfly. We have educated and engaged our continental network to support local events and fund raising efforts and to plant Monarch habitats along their North American migration routes. We commend KCS, CP, GATX and Rotary for leading this effort – the Monarch But terfly Challenge is vitally important to our North American region,” said Tiffany Melvin, President of NASCO.
18 n SEPTEMBER 12 2022 @freighttracks
The contractually agreed extension of the Rhine Valley railway as an element of the NRLA concept is progressing slowly. The upgrade to fourtrack traffic, 740 m train lengths and 2000 tonnes train weight is intended to significantly increase the line capacity andTheperformance.Swissrailway industry express ly welcomes the infrastructure upgrade and expects it will be implemented quickly, as this will make a decisive con tribution to achieving the modal shift and climate targets.
headline newsheadline news
"Freight transport needs alternatives on the left bank of the Rhine –we have to act now!"
Capacity bottleneck Rhine valley railway endangers modal shift and supply
The current capacity bottlenecks, on the other hand, are noticeably worsen ing and represent a worrying constant. Construction sites, technical disruptions and insufficient diversion routes are putting such a strain on operations that regular freight transport operations are hardly possible any more, as it was also recently highlighted at the event "Five years after the Rastatt accident: still nothing learned?" (NEE, link). This has serious consequences on supply and modal shift. Already today, shippers are showing a tendency to shift back to the road, especially for time-sensitive goods.The Swiss railway industry is there fore calling for targeted measures to safeguard capacity and stabilise opera tions. The main focus is on the railway line on the left bank of the Rhine, via France. Thanks to the flat route and good presuppositions with regard to its profile, it is an ideal complement and alternative to the Rhine Valley railway, on the right bank, via Germany. During the closure of Rastatt in 2017, it had already become clear that the Alsatian line could be used for the P400 profile thanks to the rapid coding of the North ern section Lauterbourg-Strasbourg and the technical inspection of the South ern section Strasbourg-Basel. Also the upgrade of the line “Gäubahn” between Stuttgart and Singen contributes to traf fic decongestion.
Measure No. 1 – Rapid upgrade of the Wörth-Lauterbourg-Strasbourg line
www.freight-tracks.com SEPTEMBER 12 2022 n 19
Rail freight traffic shall be op erated without interruption on the main international routes. Therefore, prior to line closures, infrastructure managers must ensure that there are no open construc tion sites, that the facilities are problem-free and that the necessary equipment (overhead line, train length, storage areas, etc.) is avail able for all trains using the al ternative routes. It is in Swit zerland's interest that the general renewal of congested rail corridors, as announced in Germany, includes effec tive bypass concepts from the very beginning. Before completely renewing the bypass routes, they must be adapted to operational and infrastructure requirements.
Further extensive construc tion work is planned on the Rhine valley railway, for ex ample in summer 2024 with a four-week total closure. The diversion route on the left bank of the Rhine via France is passable, but only with disproportionately high op erational effort and only for
The completion of the Rhine Valley railway between Karlsruhe and Basel is not expected before 2040-2045. Workable alternative solutions shall be implemented by then.
Measure no. 2 – Facilitate access to diversion routes via France
The modernisation of the north-south axis on the left bank of the Rhine is current ly one of the most important prerequisites for the stable use of the NRLA and for the further shift of transalpine freight traffic in anticipation of the full upgrade of the route on the right bank of the Rhine.With the motion 20.3003 on the conclusion of an in ternational treaty for the expansion of the line on the left bank of the Rhine and the motion 22.3000 on the financing of the electrifica tion of the Wörth-Strasbourg line, the Swiss parliament has paved the way for Switzer land's active participation in the expansion of the NorthSouth corridor on the French side as well. This will create a parallel diversion route that will put an end to the con struction chaos and ensure both transit and import/ex
be noticeably increased by simply lifting the restrictions on night rail traffic.
The Swiss authorities should now press ahead with negotiations with neighbour ing countries to achieve elec trification and upgrading of the Wörth-Strasbourg line as an alternative route as soon as possible. With relatively little funding, an additional capacity of 60 freight trains per day can be attained with in a few years.
Measure No. 4 – Infrastructure managers of the Rhine-Alpine corridor at one table
headline newsheadline news
Measure No. 3 – Corridor renovation Germany: se cure diverters first, then build
a small number of trains per day. In order to avoid a re newed capacity crisis, access to the diversion routes must be facilitated. Temporary solutions should be found so that German-speaking train drivers can travel via France, for example by setting up German-French communi cation with linguistic apps or bilingual staff at the in frastructure control centres. The procedures for obtaining the necessary line knowledge should also be simplified.
port traffic, which is import ant for the Swiss economy.
An internationally coordi nated train path management on the left bank of the Rhine is also of central importance. The infrastructure managers involved in Germany, France and Switzerland should draw up a joint catalogue of contin uous train paths, in order to let as many freight trains as possible run through this bot tleneck in a stable and fluid manner. Capacity can already
The challenges in freight transport on the Rhine-Alpine corridor can only be mastered through international coop eration. The coming years of intensive construction are crucial in order not to jeop ardise the attained success of the modal shift. We propose the establishment of an in ternational working body of the infrastructure managers of the corridor with the in volvement of the transport ministries.
The demanding railway regulations and standards have been an integral part of its development from the very beginning. The SPACEevo control sys tem allows the RAIL series to have the
20 n SEPTEMBER 12 2022 @freighttracks
HIAB iX.162 RAIL
The new range will help railway in frastructure companies with all lifting jobs from service maintenance, all the way to heavy lifting recovery opera tions, and provide rail wagon makers with a much greater choice of cranes. The cranes’ SPACEevo control system combines the highest level of safety with precise and rapid movements, even for the most delicate operations.
HIAB iX.302 RAIL
HIAB iX.262 RAIL
"Ourindustry.new,extensive offering pro vides railway customers with a greater choice and the possibility to select the best solution for them,” says Marcel Boxem, Director, Global Product Man agement, Loader Cranes Heavy; Super Heavy,Hiab’sHiab.new railway loader crane models range from smaller units de signed for track maintenance and re pair like mowing, utility and grab, all the way up to upcoming future super heavy models for the heaviest lifting challenges:HIABiX.122
RAIL
HIAB iX.142 RAIL
Hiab,
headline newsheadline news
“Using our experience of on-road load handling, we can now offer the same reliability, advanced features and safety that our truck mounted loader cranes are famous for to the railway
highest levels of safety when operat ing in railway and railtrack environ ments.The railway cranes can be compli ant with the following standards, sub ject to customer demands: EN15476, EN14033, EN 50128 and EN 13849. Options such as earth bonding, ad jacent track and height limitations are just a few customisation features available.
part of Cargotec, launch es a new advanced HIAB railway loader crane range with the advanced SPACEevo control system. The new RAIL series is designed to comply with the complex railway regulations and demanding requirements, offering customers a range of equipment to maintain the railway infrastructure network. The model HIAB iX.122 RAIL will be exhibit ed by Hiab at IAA, pavilion P35, in Han nover, Germany, September 20 - 25.
HIAB iX.192 RAIL
HIAB iX.232 RAIL
Hiab launches RAIL series
HIAB iX.2758 RAIL
"KTZ - Freight Transportation" LLP was founded by reorganising the "KTZFreight Transportation" Joint Stock Company into the "KTZ-Freight Trans portation" Limited Liability Partner ship from August 28 2020.
The structure of "KTZ - Freight transportation" LLP has a branch network, formed from railway de partments and locomotive depots, providing customer service on the Ka
from RCG and KTZ/KTZE, the Kazakh state railway company, recently met in Frankfurt to discuss the further expansion of TransFER con nections between Europe and Asia, particularly in the Middle Corridor of the New Silk Road, as well as Trans NET. This resulted in heightened co operation, new targets being set and follow-up meetings being arranged for intensive discussions at operational level.Now there is nothing standing in the way of the TransNET expansion along the Middle Corridor. The Mid
zakhstan railway network and provid ing a full range of cargo transportation services.Bythe Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated September 29 2017, "KTZ - Freight Transportation" LLP was assigned the status of the National Carrier of Car goes.According to the Law "On Railway Transport", the National Carrier faces the following tasks: the implementa tion of military and special transpor tation, the plan for the formation of trains. Such a status is proof of high confidence on the part of the state.
Representatives
www.freight-tracks.com SEPTEMBER 12 2022 n 21
Eurasia: co-operation steps up a gear
headline newsheadline news
dle Corridor runs from China, through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia, over the Black Sea to the Romanian port of Constanța, before continuing to Central Europe.
cross-border moves for cross-laminated timber
BB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) transports 225 tonnes of cross-laminated timber from Carinthia, Austria to Trondheim, Norway for timber com panyKLHKLH.is a pioneer in the production of KLH - CLT cross-laminated timber. This is made by stacking spruce lamel las on top of each other and sticking them together using adhesive which is subjected to high pressure to form large-format construction elements. KLH - CLT are construction elements with a high level of prefabrication for fast, ecological construction methods. RCG is now delivering these el ements from the KLH site's own in dustrial sidings in Bad St. Leonhard in Carinthia, Austria to Trondheim , Norway, 2300 km away, for a school
in Afjord. The shipment contains a to tal of 530 m3 of timber – equivalent to 225 tonnes – which will arrive in Scandinavia via the Passau–Trelleborg route in five to seven days.
22 n SEPTEMBER 12 2022 @freighttracks
Once they reach Trondheim, the KLH elements will be transferred from the RCG wagons onto twelve trucks, which will transport them directly to the construction site.
Ö
headline newsheadline news
For a greener tomorrow
With its sustainable rail transport, KLH will save 76 tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared to classic lorry deliveries. This movement is very much in keeping with the company’s philos ophy of taking responsibility for the environment both internally and ex ternally.
Many freight railways are presently flying the green flag as a way to promote modal shift to railways.
editor@freighttracks.com or @FreightTracks
We'd also love to hear from you your opinions on the importance of rail to your freight operations - just get in touch below.
We want to expand that - to flag up the men and women who work hard around the clock to keep the freight trains moving: drivers, engineers, loaders, traffic manag ers, repair crews, track staff and back room staff.We will promote the day and what it stands for to mainstream media in all key markets to bring out the service that freight trains bring to the global economy.
We would like Freight Trains readers to get involved. Feel free to send us the details of media outlets in your locale to which we can send out message to them.
we launched Freight Tracks in February, we committed to the launch of World Freight Train Day. We are pleased that Freight Tracks is already read in all major rail freight mar kets: Britain, European Union, North Amer ica, Australia as well as South America, Asia andDaily,Africa.around the globe, freight trains pound the rails, supported by legions of staff who make the trains move. Whether it is steel beams, consumer goods, coal, cars and car parts, ocean containers or petro leum products, it can be moved on a train.
WORLD FREIGHT TRAIN DAY 2022
keep the date = September 27 2022
When
headline newsheadline news
A team of CN employees faced off against a team of former Montreal Canadiens play ers coached by Yvan Cournoyer and made up of Guy Carbonneau, Richard Sévigny, Fran cis Bouillon, Gaston Gingras, Stéphane Rich er, Mathieu Dandenault, Gilbert Delorme, Marc-André Bergeron, Louis Leblanc and Nor mand Dupont.
“As a facilitator of global commerce, millions of people, business and organizations rely on the essential services of Georgia Ports Authority,” said Kirk Knauff, CEO, Navis. “We were privileged to partner with GPA to implement mission critical technology while ensuring no service disrup tions and maintaining the highest level of safety.”
Numerous sponsors
24 n SEPTEMBER 12 2022 @freighttracks
avis, a leading global provider of port and terminal operat ing systems and carrier and vessel technology solutions, has launched and implementated the Navis N4 Container Terminal Operating System for Georgia Ports Authority at the Garden City Terminal in the Port of Savannah. The foundational technology plat form equips GPA with a state-of-the-art terminal operating system that optimizes processes, quickly and easily exchanges data with shippers and carriers, and improves visibility of cargo movements by connecting GPA’s multiple port terminals and inland rail terminals in one system.
The Fund has been in existence for over 50 years.
GPA LAUNCHES NEW NAVIS TOS
“We are very proud to make a significant con tribution that will help make a difference for many charity organisations. I want to con gratulate our employees and retirees who participated and donated to the community through our CN Community Fund. I would also like to particularly thank our numerous spon sors who have partnered with us to make this event the huge success that it has been," said Olivier Chouc, CN acting Chief Legal Officer and Chairman of the board of the CN Commu nity Fund/
”We are thankful for this year’s record breaking contributions. This success is not the work of any one person but the work of us all," added Lynn Blais, President & CEO of CN Em ployees’ and Pensioners’ Community Fund.
CN raisesAlumniCanadiensChallengerecord$550k
The Port of Savannah, owned and operated by Georgia Ports Author ity features two terminals – Garden City and Ocean Terminal. Port of Savannah is the single largest and fastest growing container terminal in North America, with an annual throughput of more than 5.6 million TEUs in 2021. GPA also operates direct interstate connections and on-terminal rail Withservice.rapidly growing operations and more carriers and shippers choosing Port of Savannah as their preferred East Coast gateway, GPA continually experiences record gate volumes, leading it to expedite infra structure projects that will add 1.7 million TEUs of annual container yard capacity. Launching the Navis N4 Container Terminal Operating System represented a crucial element in the expansion project.
“After conducting extensive research, we selected the Navis N4 Termi nal Operating System to optimise planning, visibility and asset utilisation at the Garden City Terminal,” said Bill Sutton, Chief Information Officer with Georgia Ports Authority. “The system eliminates data silos, improves velocity across our terminals, and enables us to more easily integrate with our customers to provide the data and insights they need.”
N
N has revealed that the 16th edition of the CN Canadiens Alumni Chal lenge raised a record $550,000. The event was held on August 28 2022, at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard’s Quarti er Dix30. The funds raised will benefit various charitable organizations supported by the CN Employees’ and Pensioners’ Community Fund, namely those dedicated to helping children in need. Since 2002, the CN Employees’ and Pen sioners’ Community Fund has raised $5.3 million for charity through this event.
C
Reto finished the week at 19 under par to take home her first LPGA Tour win and the $352,500 winner’s share of the $2.35 million purse, one of the largest for a non-major on the LPGA
attendance and incredible performances during the CP Women’s Open helped Canadian Pa cific (CP) raise $2.5 million to support the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Foundation and $510,000 for Perth & Smiths Falls District Hospital Founda tion.Paula
“TheTour.CP Wom en’s Open re turned to Ottawa with great fanfare and the best golf ers in the world so that CP could raise funds to support CHEO’s important work and continue the legacy of giving to the communi ties where our em ployees live and work,” said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO. “The Ottawa community and the world’s best golfers did not disappoint and we are proud to be a part of this world-class tournament.”
CP celebrated Lorie Kane’s remarkable golf career as she finished her 30th and final CP Women’s Open.
www.freight-tracks.com SEPTEMBER 12 2022 n 25
“The Foundation would like to thank CP for their sup port, which helped raise $510,000 for cardiac care at our hospital,” said Kristine Fair, PSFDH Foundation Chair.
“Overwhelming community support paired with the matching initiative that CP provided has created double the impact for our hospital. Funds raised through this partner ship will allow us to purchase essential cardiac equipment that our healthcare team needs to provide the quality care our community deserves.”
Record
during a CHEO campaign online during February, which is heart
“Thismonth.eagerly anticipated week was beyond anything we imagined,” said Steve Read, Acting President and CEO, CHEO Foundation.“WhenGolf Canada and the LPGA brought this worldclass golf tournament to the historic Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club it was an exciting moment for everyone involved. When the generosity of this community, led by CP, turned enthusi asm and elite sport into care for young cardiology patients at CHEO, it became an inspiring reflec tion of what we can do when we work
“We congratulate Paula Reto on her masterful play to win the CP Women’s Open,” added Creel. “It was a tremen dous week of golf, but more importantly, together we have made a significant contribution to CHEO Foundation and to eastern Ontario, a key province in our network. CP is proud to continue to make a difference in communities across Can ada through CP Has Heart, our community investment pro gram supporting heart health initiatives.”
CHILDREN AND PAULA RETO BIG WINNERS AT CP WOMEN’S OPEN; $3m+ RAISED FOR HEART HEALTH
“Lorie has made outstanding contributions to women’s golf and the community, including as a CP Ambassador,” said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO.
together."My special thanks to Lorie Kane and Brooke Henderson who showed such kind ness to CHEO pa tient Aurora Amos as she represented all CHEO cardiology patients this week.”
The total donation is the result of several fundraising ef forts of the CP Has Heart campaign. Through CP Birdies for Heart, CP contributed for each birdie made by Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club members prior to the tournament and for each birdie made by LPGA players on the 15th hole during tournament play. CP also matched all donations made
headline newsheadline news
Perth & Smiths Falls District Hospital Foundation was the 2022 CP Women’s Open community partner.
headline newsheadline news
Vision, an Israeli technology company that is seeking to revolutionise railway safety and the data-related market, has recorded visits by Dr. Nicolas Lange, Chairman of the Management Board of Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems, the global market leader for braking systems and other systems for rail vehicles, and Dr Maximilian Eichhorn, Vice President and Global Head, Digital Products and Services of KnorrBremse. They visited Rail Vision’s offices to discuss their commitment to Rail Vision’s future and the ongoing role the Company will play in Knorr-Bremse’s strategy.
“Rail Vision’s technology has the potential to usher in a new era in rail safety and provides a great compliment to our extensive global network of customers,” added Dr Eichhorn.RailVision is a technology company seeking to revo lutionize railway safety and the data-related market. The Company has developed cutting-edge, artificial intelli gence-based, industry-leading technology specifically de signed for the rail industry. The Company developed its railway detection systems to save lives, increase efficien cy, and dramatically lowering downtime while drastically reducing expenses for the rail operators.
Knorr-Bremse is the global market leader for braking systems and other systems for rail and commercial vehi cles. Knorr-Bremse’s products make a decisive contribu tion to greater safety and energy efficiency on rail tracks and roads around the world. About 30,500 employees at over 100 sites in more than 30 countries use their compe tence and motivation to satisfy customers worldwide with products and services.
Rail Vision over the last several years working together,” said Dr. Lange. “Rail Vision’s innovative technology is a game-changer for the rail industry, and we remain com mitted to a successful future for both of our companies.”
Knorr-Bremse and Rail Vision first launched their part nership in 2019, with Knorr-Bremse acquiring an initial stake in Rail Vision. Knorr-Bremse increased its invest ment in Rail Vision in October 2020, and now owns rough ly 33% of Rail Vision.
Rail
“We were thrilled to welcome Dr Lange and Dr Eich horn and hear their vision for a fruitful partnership and commitment to our ongoing role in their future strategy,” commented Rail Vision CEO Shahar Hania. “In addition to discussing our partnership and meeting with our team and board, we also jointly met with Israeli Railway Com pany to explore potential future projects.”
Rail Vision hosts Knorr-Bremse executives
“We have formed a meaningful and strong bond with
26 n SEPTEMBER 12 2022 @freighttracks
headline newsheadline news
ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) has extended its previous co-operation with Mineral Bergbau GmbH – a subsidiary of Strabag. RCG will trans port around 25,000 tons of gravel and crushed stones per year by rail for the company in an environ mentally friendly way. This means that around 2000 truck journeys can be avoided.
The
New MOBILER for Strabag
www.freight-tracks.com SEPTEMBER 12 2022 n 27
How the MOBILER is used OBB operate the quarries in Bleiburg and Saalfelden with the MOBILER for Mineral Degradation GmbH. The wag ons with the containers are provided in the respective connecting tracks and loaded with gravel. After loading, they are taken by rail to the respective unloading stations (Vienna Breitenlee, Hall in Tirol/Fritzens Wattens). There, the MOBILER vehicles take over the containers and bring them directly to the asphalt mixing plants in the plant. These raw materials are then used to produce high-quali ty asphalt for motorways and expressways.
In the future, six carrier wagons with a total of 24 spe cially branded MOBILER containers will be used for trans port. Rail logistics by MOBILER combines the advantages of environmentally friendly rail with those of road freight transport and enables uncomplicated handling. Neither a crane nor a siding or a terminal are required. The contain er handling from the truck to the freight car works via a hydraulic system on the MOBILER vehicle. In this way, RCG
transported a total of around one million tonnes of a wide variety of goods last year.
Visitors clambering over the route will enjoy the garden’s diversity and ever-changing plant life, with more than fifteen distinct planting zones and 110,000 plants on show. The High Line’s planting design is inspired by the self-seeded landscape that grew wild for 25 years after the trains stopped running. Wandering through the gar dens, visitors find perennials, grasses, shrubs and trees that were chosen for their hardiness, sustainability and ev er-changing textures and colours in all four seasons.
from demolition by neighbourhood residents and the City of New York, the High Line opened in 2009 as a hy brid public space where visitors expe rience nature, art and design.
One of the most unlikely tourist destinations in the Big Apple has to be The High Line, a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side.
Saved
terminal at Spring Street, just north of Canal Street and north to 35th Street at the site of the Javits Center. Due to a decline in traffic along the rest of the viaduct, it was effectively abandoned in 1980 when the construction of the Javits Center required the demolition of the viaduct's northernmost portion. The southern portion of the viaduct was demolished in segments during the late 20th century.
However pretty the route, Freight Tracks readers will be more interested in the short and colourful railroad na ture of the line.
The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long (2.33 km) elevated linear park, gre enway and rail trail created on a for mer New York Central Railroad (NYCR) spur on the west side of Manhattan in New York City. The park is built on a disused, southern viaduct section of the NYCR’s West Side Line. Originating in the Meatpacking District, the park runs from Gansevoort Street – three blocks below 14th Street – through Chelsea to the northern edge of the West Side Yard on 34th Street near the Javits Center. The West Side Line formerly extended south to a railroad
30 n SEPTEMBER 12 2022 @freighttracks
What's behind the
What about the trains?
In 1847, the City of New York au thorised the construction of railroad tracks along Tenth and Eleventh Ave nues on Manhattan's West Side. The street-level tracks were used by the NYCR's freight trains, which shipped commodities such as coal, dairy prod ucts and beef. For safety, the railroad hired "West Side cowboys", men who
Railway Reading
Trucking robs rail
provement Project to be completed. The line was designed to go through the centre of blocks rather than over an avenue. As a result, the viaduct's construction necessitated the dem olition of 640 buildings. It connected directly to factories and warehouses, allowing trains to load and unload in side buildings. Milk, meat, produce, and raw and manufactured goods could be transported and unloaded
The viaduct was shut down in 1980, when owner Conrail, successor to NYCR, had to disconnect the via duct from the rest of the national rail system for a year. The closure was ne cessitated as a result of the construc tion of Javits Center at 34th Street, which required that the curve at 35th Street be rebuilt.
St John's Freight Terminal was abandoned in 1960 and the southern most section of the line was demol ished in the following decade due to lowByuse.1978, the High Line viaduct was used to deliver just two carloads of cargo per week.
The last train on the viaduct was a three-car consist carrying frozen tur keysThe curve to the viaduct from 35th Street was demolished during the construction of Javits Center and was replaced by the current curve at 34thTracksStreet.leading to the High Line were reconnected in 1981, but with no more customers along the route, the curve at 34th Street was never completed and the viaduct did not see any further usage
At this point, Conrail still owned the right of way and the tracks.
If you have any stunning photos of freight trains you might like to see on the cover, send them freighttracksto@gmail.com Publisher & Editor: James Graham editor@ freighttracksDesigner:Editorialfreight-tracks.comsupport:KimSmithAlexBrown @gmail.com Sales Manager: Martin Kingswell Sales Executive: Peter Dolan Webmaster: Natasha Antony Contributors: Neil Madden, Chris Lewis, Stuart Flitton, Johnathan Webb. Will Huskisson All rights reserved, No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the magazine without prior written consent is forbidden. Material sent to the editor, whether commissioned or freely submitted, is provided at the contributor’s own risk. Freight Tracks cannot be held responsible for loss of damage however cause. The opinions and views expressed by authors and contributors within Freight Tracks are not necessarily those of the editor or Freight Tracks. We are unable to guarantee the bona ideas of any advertisers. Copyright: 1435 Media London 2022 1435 Media London 259 Sydenham Road UnitedCR0Croydon2ETKingdom Press releases: editor@freight-tracks.com www.freight-tracks.com SEPTEMBER 12 2022 n 31
The first train ran along the struc ture in 1933. The elevated structure was dedicated on June 29 1934 and was the first part of the West Side Im
Railway Reading
during the 1950s led to a drop in rail traffic throughout the US.
the High Line?
The growth of interstate trucking
rode horses and waved flags in front of the trains. However, so many accidents occurred between freight trains and other traffic that the nickname "Death Avenue" was given to Tenth and Eleventh Avenues. In 1910, one organisation estimated that there had been 548 deaths and 1574 injuries over the years along Eleventh Avenue.Public debate about the hazard began during the early 1900s. In 1929 the city, the state and NYCR agreed on the West Side Improvement Proj ect, conceived by New York City park commissioner Robert Moses. The 13mile (21 km) project eliminated 105 street-level railroad crossings, added 32 acres (13 ha) to Riverside Park and included construction of the West Side Elevated Highway. The plans also included the construction of the St John's Freight Terminal at Spring Street, which was completed in 1936 and replaced the street-level St John's Park Terminal in present-day Tribe ca. The West Side Improvement cost more than $150 million, worth about $2.37 billion in 2021 dollars. The last stretch of street-level track was re moved from Eleventh Avenue in 1941.
without disturbing street traffic. This reduced the load on the Bell Laborato ries Building and the former Nabisco plant in Chelsea Market, served from protected sidings in the buildings.
16-22 September Europe European Mobility Week
15-17 November TBC Intelligent Rail Summit 2022
17th Conference on Critical Information Infrastructures Security
07-08 December Duisberg, Germany European Silk Road Summit
28-30 March Lille France
19-21 October Berlin, Germany Deutsche Logistik Kongress
November TBC Barcelona, Spain BCNRAIL Internacional Rail Forum
12-13 October Germany Rail Infra Forum
13-14 October Nis, Serbia Railcon
14-17 November Lisbon, Portugal Transport Research Arena
29 Nov - 01 Dec Malaga, Spain Rail Live 2022
27 September Worldwide World Freight Train Day
08 December Paris, France 101st UIC General Assembly
2023
07 February London, UK Rolling Stock Forum 2023
08-10 November Amsterdam, Netherlands Intermodal Europe
09 November Stockholm, Sweden Scandinavian Rail Optimisation
04-06 October Berlin, Germany EPCA Annual Meeting
If you would like your event listed here free of charge, just send details to freighttracks@gmail.com
20-23 September Berlin, Germany innoTrans
05 October London, UK RFG Annual Conference
19-20 October Debrecen, Hungary Rail Freight on Tour
05-07 October Prague, Chezchia International Rail Forum Conference
32 n SEPTEMBER 12 2022 @freighttracks
19-20 October Jakarta, Indonesia RailwayTech Indonesia
13th International Exhibition of Railway Technology
KEEP THE DATE: Railway industry calendar of events
06 December London, UK Rail Industry Forum 2022
09-11 May Birmingham, UK Railtex
14-16 September Munich, Germany
30 September Manchester, UK Rail in the North of England
03-05 October Milan, Italy Expo Ferroviaria
07-09 November Warsaw, Poland 9th International Transport & Logistics Exhibition
visit: tankcontainermedia.com BECAUSE NOT ALL FREIGHT ON A TRAIN MOVES IN A BOX
