August 2015


 

 

Member News

 

Industry Events


Railway Interchange 2015
October 4-7, 2015
Minneapolis, MN

 
In This Issue:

Railway Interchange 2015 Updates
WARNING: Railway Interchange Housing Scam
Click Here for details
 
2016 NRC Conference & NRC-REMSA Exhibition

REMSA Grassroots Program Hosts Congressman McKinley

Industry News

                                                                                                             
 


 
 

New Study Analyzes Condition of Washington State's Shortline Railroads

 
 

 
 

Member News






 RI2015Railway Interchange Updates 

      

WARNING:

Railway Interchange Housing Scam

 

Several companies, two of which are calling themselves "Convention Housing Authority" and "National Travel Associates"  have been contacting exhibitors regarding hotel reservations at Railway Interchange 2015. They claim to have a relationship with Railway Interchange and are offering hotel reservation services at several hotels, including ones on our current room block, for a very low rate. These companies are not affiliated with Railway Interchange 2015/ REMSA/ AREMA/ RSI/ RSSI and should not be used to make hotel reservations.  

 

If you have received any communication from either one of these companies either via email or telephone, please delete or hang up immediately and ignore any further requests.

 

Conference Direct is the official housing bureau for Railway Interchange 2015. If you have questions regarding your room block please contact Conference Direct, the official RI15 Housing Bureau, at  (888) 538-3920 (international: (704) 909-7630) or railway@conferencedirect.com.  


 

Also, if you have not already, please book your hotel rooms for the show. Our room block is nearing capacity. You can book your room online here -
 
https://aws.passkey.com/event/12831372/owner/6893/home


Please select REMSA as your guest type. 

 

 

Over 640 Exhibitors at Railway Interchange

 

Attendees can look forward to a robust exhibit hall offering the best of what the railway supply industry has to offer in North America and abroad.  The exhibition will feature indoor and outdoor exhibits from over 600 companies in the maintenance-of-way, leasing, freight car, locomotive, signaling, and passenger rail industries.  


 

Registration & Room Block Filling Up Quickly!

Event registration and hotel blocks for Railway Interchange 2015 are now open.  Exhibitors will be instructed on their registration process separately.  Please note that in order to receive the Railway Interchange 2015 room rates you must book your room through the RI2015 online portal or by calling the hotel directly and mentioning that you are with the REMSA Railway Interchange group.

 

Sponsorship Opportunities at Railway Interchange

There are several opportunities for both general and event sponsorship at Railway Interchange 2015.


 
For more information regarding sponsorship ideas and opportunities, visit www.railwayinterchangesponsorships.org or contact Carol Steckbeck at csteckbeck50@gmail.com or call (919) 303-5140.

 

Learn More About Railway Interchange 2015

 

REMSA Railway Interchange Webpage

  

Or contact REMSA Director of Trade Shows & Operations Urszula Soucie at soucie@remsa.org or (202) 715-2921 to discuss this opportunity.       

 

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NRCREMSA


Please register now and make your travel plans for the 2016 NRC Conference & NRC-REMSA Exhibition - January 6-9, 2016 at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, CA.

Exhibit booths are now available for the 2016 NRC-REMSA Exhibition.  You may view the full floor plan and sign up up for a booth online here for  2016 NRC-REMSA Booth Reservations.

The exhibition begins with a reception the evening of Wednesday, January 6 and concludes the morning of Friday, January 8.  Please click on this link to view the Full Exhibitor Schedule

Please contact Urszula Soucie at 202-715-2921 or soucie@remsa.org for all exhibit related questions.

Register for the conference online now at: For any and all questions related to the NRC Conference, conference registration, sponsorships, etc., please contact Matt Bell with the NRC at 202-715-1264 or email at mbell@nrcma.org.

 
Grass REMSA Grassroots Program
Warwood Tool Company Hosts  Congressman 
David B. McKinley (R-WV-1)

On August 5, Congressman David B. McKinley (R-WV-1) joined representatives from REMSA member Warwood Tool Company and the Appalachian & Ohio Railroad, a short line railroad, to tour Warwood's steel tool manufacturing facility and discuss public policy priorities for the business and rail communities in West Virginia.

Congressman McKinley, Phil Carl, Matt Reese, and Logan Hartle
Left to Right: Congressman McKinley, Phil Carl, Matt Reese, and Logan Hartle

Congressman McKinley's tour was led by Warwood Tool Company's executive team: Logan Hartle, President, Phillip Carl, Vice President, and Michael Carl, CEO. Also in attendance were: Matt Reese, General Manager, Appalachian and Ohio Railroad and Sean Winkler, Grassroots Coordinator, REMSA.

Warwood's unique local history and commitment to using American sourced materials peeked Congressman McKinley's interest in learning more about West Virginia's contribution to the maintenance-of-way and rail industries:
 
"Warwood Tool Company has had a rich history in the Wheeling area for 160 years. We need to ensure they have a bright future as well. We need to make things in America, and with affordable, reliable energy and a skilled workforce, we can continue to grow our manufacturing base."
- Congressman David B. McKinley (WV-1).

Warwood Tool Forge
Warwood Tool forges claw bars
 
Local Media Coverage:
  1. WTOV 9 Interviews Congressman McKinley and Logan Hartle, President, Warwood Tool Company
  2. The Intelligencer: McKinley Visits Warwood Tool Co.
Industry Media Coverage:
  1. Progressive Railroading: REMSA Coordinates Congressman McKinley/Warwood Tool Co. Tour
  2. RT&S: Rep. McKinley Tours Warwood Tool Facility, Discusses Rail Issues
If you are interested in hosting an event or would like to discuss the program, please contact Sean Winker, REMSA Grassroots Coordinator, at 202-715-2917 or  winkler@remsa.org.
 
IndustryHeader Industry News 
  
AARSTBAAR to STB: Rail Revenue Caps a Terrible Idea
Testifying at a  July 22, 2015   Surface Transportation Board hearing on railroad revenue adequacy, the   Association of American Railroads, executives from its member railroads and economic experts urged federal regulators "to beware of upending numerous national economic goals" if they choose to pursue re-instituting revenue caps on freight rail companies. (Railway Age).
                                                                                                                 
The Senate Finance Committee met to debate legislation put forward by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) to extend expiring tax credits, including the Section 45G railroad track maintenance credit. (RT&S).

BNSF Railway Co.'s total revenue in second-quarter 2015 fell 6 percent to $5.4 billion compared with $5.7 billion in second-quarter 2014, but net income rose 5 percent to $963 million compared with $916 million a year ago, the Class I reported last week. (Progressive Railroading).
 
Net income of C$866 million, compared with net income of C$847 million in second-quarter 2014, combined with an operating income increase of 8% and a record-low quarterly operating ratio of 56.4%, resulted in a solid second-quarter 2015 for   CN, the railroad reported on July 20, 2015. (Railway Age).
 
Canadian Pacific Railway  on July 21, 2015 posted its highest-ever net income and lowest-ever operating ratio for a second quarter. (Railway Age).
 
Kansas City Southern  reported second-quarter 2015 revenue fell 10 percent to $586 million compared with second-quarter 2014 results, as overall carloads at 537,200 units were 6 percent lower than a year ago, the company announced this morning. (Progressive Railroading).
 
Most railroads will miss the federally mandated Dec. 31 deadline to implement positive train control (PTC), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) said in a   detailed report  to Congress late last week.

According to a recent study by the Washington Department of Transportation and the Washington State University Freight Policy Transportation Institute, more than half of the state's shortline rail miles aren't up to modern standards. (RT&S).
 
Strong headwinds created by weak coal demand and lower fuel surcharge revenues proved to be too much for   Norfolk Southern Corp.  to overcome in the second quarter, financially speaking. In addition, the Class I faced extremely difficult year-over-year comparisons because the railroad set several financial records in second-quarter 2014. (Progressive Railroading).
 
RailwayAge Railway Age Launches Dedicate Railway Interchange 2015 Coverage
Every Tuesday, you'll find us in your inbox with pre-show updates, live from the show floor coverage and post-show news surrounding Railway Interchange 2015. (Railway Age).
 
Union Pacific is making a major investment to improve the railroad system in northeast Kansas. Union Pacific Railroad plans to spend $10 million on the rail line between Delia and Onaga. (WIBW).

Union Pacific Railroad are investing $13.5 million into Wyoming's transportation infrastructure. The investment will be used to improve the rail line between Laramie and near Hanna and began on July 16th. The work is due to be completed by mid-September. (Railway-News).
 
Net income of $1.2 billion, compared with 2014 net income of $1.3 billion, combined with an operating revenue decrease of 10% and an operating income down 11%, resulted in a flat second-quarter 2015 for Union Pacific (UP), the railroad reported on July 23, 2015. (Railway Age).
 
Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to the Associação Nacional dos Transportadores de Passageiros sobre Trilhos (National Association of Passenger Rail, or ANPTrilhos). The grant will provide technical assistance to develop a roadmap and implementation plan for public and private passenger rail operators to integrate real-time video monitoring technologies into Brazil's passenger rail systems.                                                                            

 
AECOM AECOM Appoints Mendes to Top Design Post
AECOM  has appointed Diana C. Mendes, AICP, as director of transit/rail, Design and Consulting Services, Americas. (Railway Age).

For the second quarter of 2015, L.B. Foster reported net income of $5.4 million, or 52 cents per diluted share. The figure marks a decrease from the same period last year, when the company logged net income of $6.9 million, or 67 cents per diluted share. (Progressive Railroading).
 
Miner Enterprises  has introduced its newest railcar component, a long travel CCSB (constant-contact side bearing) with a wide range of applications. The bolt-on bearing, designated TCC-45 LTLP-C, features a low profile and simple design, allowing for easy installation and maintenance, Miner says. (Railway Age).

Lindsey Collins has joined the  NRC (National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association)  as Vice President of Grassroots Advocacy. (Railway Age).
 
Hanson Professional Services hired Chris Durden as vice president and senior railway principal. Harsco Rail plans to move all technology products and services under the Protran Technology brand. MERMEC delivered a ROGER 600 self-propelled car to Chilean rail operator Grupo EFE. RailPros has been awarded a contract by the Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority to provide preliminary engineering and final design services for a grade crossing improvement project in Ponoma, Calif. (Progressive Railroading).

On August 5, Rep. David B. McKinley (R-WV-1) joined representatives from Warwood Tool Company and the Appalachian & Ohio Railroad (A&O)  to tour Warwood's steel tool manufacturing facility and discuss public policy priorities for the business and rail communities in West Virginia. (Railway Age).

Staff of Denver's   Regional Transportation District (RTD)  recommended that the RTD Board of Directors move forward with a proposal from Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Inc. to design and build the Southeast Rail Extension  on July 14. (RT&S).

Nordco Inc. last week launched the RoadReady™ Surfacing Team at an open house at their headquarters in Oak Creek, Wis. Whitmore named Douglas Reid vice president of product development. (Progressive Railroading).

Miner Enterprises, Inc., an Illinois-based supplier of railcar components, announced that it has earned a Premier Supplier Award from railcar manufacturer Trinity Rail, the company announced June 16, 2015. Miner received the award based on its track record of providing high quality products, on time delivery, and superior customer service. (Railway Age).