March 2017



   

 
Upcoming
Industry Events

Light Rail 2017
Presented by RailwayAge and RT&S
April 18 - 20, 2017
Denver, CO
www.railwayage.com


ASLRRA 2017 Connections
April 22 - 26, 2017
Grapevine, TX
www.aslrra.org


Railway Interchange 2017
September 17 - 20, 2017
Indinapolis, IN


R EMSA Welcomes:

Elevate Infrastructure, LLC


Fugro


The Neel Company


 

Railroad Consultants, PLLC


SENSR Monitoring Technologies, LLC


www.sensr.com


St. Louis Screw & Bolt
 


Zetica Limited

In This Issue:

Railway Interchange 2017: 90% of Exhibit Space Sold - Reserve Your Booth Before They're Gone!

Washington Update: Record-setting Rail Day 2017

REMSA Grassroots Program: Axion Structural Innovations Hosts Rep. Bill Flores' staff for tour, discussion


Industry News


Member News

RI2017

Nearly 90% of REMSA exhibit space at Railway Interchange 2017 has been reserved.  Don't miss out and book your exhibit space today! 
The exhibition will be held September 17-19, 2017 with Technical & Educational Sessions taking place September 17-20, 2017 in Indianapolis, IN.
 
With over 350,000 square feet of combined indoor exhibit display space, this is the largest combined railway exhibition and technical conference in North America!   

If interested in exhibiting, please submit your Indoor Exhibit Space Application and Contract today. Booth assignments are made on a first come, first served basis.   REMSA cannot confirm exhibit space without a completed application and payment. REMSA member exhibitors must be in good standing at the time of signed contract to receive exhibit space at the member rate and must maintain membership with REMSA throughout Railway Interchange 2017.   If you have any questions with regards to your company membership, please contact Urszula Soucie at    soucie@remsa.org  or call 202-715-2921. 

For more information, please visit the REMSA Railway Interchange 2017 webpage or check out the new Railway Interchange Website.

Warning Warning: Railway Interchange Housing Scam

It has been brought to Show Management's attention that a few companies have begun contacting exhibitors regarding hotel reservations at Railway Interchange 2017.  They claim to have a relationship with Railway Interchange and are offering hotel reservation services.  these companies are not affiliated with Railway Interchange/ REMSA/ AREMA/ RSI/ RSSI and should not be used to make hotel reservations.

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

Conference Direct is the official housing bureau for Railway Interchange.  The official housing block for Railway Interchange will open early April 2017.  

 
WashUpdate
Washington Update
A record number of railroaders participate in Railroad Day on Capitol Hill

On March 2, 2017, the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) joined its industry peers at the annual  Railroad Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C . Over 35 REMSA member companies participated in the event, representing yet another year-over-year increase in REMSA's participation. 
 
In 2015, REMSA announced the launch of its Grassroots Program, which seeks to connect rail suppliers to their federal representatives in their home districts. The program has held over 20 events to date and grassroots host companies such as  NMC Railway Systems Encore Rail Systems , and  L.B. Foster  participated in this year's Rail Day.
 
"It's exhilarating to see our grassroots organizing successes lead to increased participation in our industry's efforts in Washington," said Sean Winkler, Director of Advocacy, REMSA. "We will continue to share the American manufacturing success story that is the rail supply industry."


Winkler Demonstrates Virtual Reality Glasses at Norfolk Southern Breakroom
 
Railroad Day on the Hill is the rail industry's annual Congressional advocacy effort, featuring representatives from over 450 railroads, rail contractors, and rail suppliers. The event is coordinated jointly by the American Association of Railroads (AAR), the American Short Line and Regional Rail Association (ASLRRA), the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) and others.

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If you are interested in learning more about REMSA's government affairs efforts, p lease reach out to Sean Winkler at winkler@remsa.org .

 
Grass REMSA Grassroots Program
Axion Structural Innovations Hosts Congressman Bill Flores (R-TX) and Mayor Kyle Deaver for tour and discussion

On March 13, 2017, U.S. Congressman Bill Flores' Staff (R-TX-17) and Waco Mayor Kyle Deaver joined representatives from Axion Structural Innovations LLC to tour their Waco manufacturing facility and discuss pressing rail and manufacturing issues with various rail stakeholders and local officials. The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) and the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) jointly coordinated the event.

Axion Composite Tie
 
Axion is a privately-owned technology and engineering company which produces large format structural products from common post-consumer and post-industrial recycled plastics for the railroad and construction industries. Axion has an array of domestic and international customers, a sampling of which includes Texas-based Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the Port of Houston and TG Mercer, as well as Union Pacific and CSX Rail along with New York City and New Jersey transits.   Axion exports significant levels of products to Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia servicing Arconic, KiwiRail and Queensland Rail among others.
 
The tour was led by Axion President Claude Brown.  Axion's Waco, Texas plant continues to ramp up production and expects to nearly double its growth rate in 2017.  Axion's distinctive and proprietary technology is utilized in the construction of military, vehicle and railroad bridges along with heavy crane mats, temporary roadways and extensive railroad applications with over 400,000 composite railroad ties in service worldwide.  
 
"We are honored to be joined by Congressman Flores' district team, Mayor Deaver, and members of our community to showcase Axion's technology and products made in America by American workers" said Brown.

Group on Facility Tour
 
Congressman Flores focused his remarks on encouraging economic development in greater McLennan and Falls Counties, and ensuring a strong, efficient, and safe freight and transit rail system to connect Texas' diverse energy and agricultural producers to the global market. 

You may read our full recap here.
 
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If you are interested in this exciting program, p lease reach out to Sean Winkler at winkler@remsa.org to schedule a visit or learn more. 

IndustryHeader Industry News 

CSX1CSX Agrees to Hire Hunter Harrison as CEO
CSX has a new CEO. The Jacksonville, Fla.-based   railroad in a release said it has agreed to a deal with hedge fund Mantle Ridge LP to name E. Hunter Harrison as chief executive, effective immediately, and to nominate people for five seats on its board. (Railway Age).  

CSX2CSX to Cut 1,000 Management Jobs
CSX Corp. announced it will eliminate about 1,000 management employees "through an involuntary separation program" that will be completed by mid- to late March. (Progressive Railroading).  

CSX3CSX's Ward, Gooden to Retire May 31
CSX Corp.  announced [February 21] that Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Ward and President Clarence Gooden will retire from the company effective May 31. (Progressive Railroading).  

RosenTrump Nominates Rosen for DOT No. 2 Role
Jeffrey Rosen has been nominated by President Donald Trump as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. If confirmed, Rosen would handle day-to-day operations as No. 2 at DOT after Secretary Elaine Chao. (Railway Age).

MoormanMoorman to Congress: "New Era" of Amtrak Investment Required
The head of Amtrak told lawmakers a new era of infrastructure investment is needed to ensure a healthy future for long-distance passenger rail travel in the U.S. (Railway Age).  

OLIOperation Lifesaver Announces First National Rail Safety Week
Operation Lifesaver Inc.  (OLI) announced that it will work with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and other organizations to observe the first national Rail Safety Week, which will be Sept. 24-30. (Progressive Railroading).  

P3sP3s Not Answer for Every Infrastructure Project, Secretary Chao Says
Relying heavily on private dollars to help finance public infrastructure projects is not a system that suits every state, the nation's top transportation officer told most of the country's governors on Feb. 26. (Transport Topics).

RailinRail Industry Optimistic about Trump's Pro-Business Stance
Rail-industry association representatives say they're optimistic about federal transportation policy under President Donald Trump's administration, according to a report in the February issue of   Progressive Railroading.  (Progressive Railroading).  

RailroadRailroads Outpace All U.S. Infrastructure in New Report Card
American railroads earned a grade of B for infrastructure while the rest of the U.S. sectors got a barely-passing D+ in the latest report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers. (Railway Age).  

ShortlineShort-line Tax Credit Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate
U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) announced they've introduced the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy, or BRACE Act, which would make permanent the 45G tax credit used by short lines and regionals for infrastructure improvements. (Progressive Railroading).  

SoftbankSoftBank Buys Florida East Coast Owner
SoftBank Group Corp. has acquired Fortress Investment Group LLC, parent of Florida East Coast Railway and TRAC Intermodal, for $3.3 billion in cash. Florida East Coast  was acquired by   Fortress  and taken private in 2007. (Railway Age).  


Brohm Brohm Named EVP of PNR RailWorks, Inc.
RailWorks Corporation named John Brohm as executive vice president with responsibility for the Ontario operations of PNR RailWorks Inc., its Canadian subsidiary. (RT&S).

Cal Caltrain Electrification Delay: Railway Suppliers Step Up
Balfour Beatty and Stadler U.S. Inc., the Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project's principal contractors, have provided Caltrain with the flexibility needed to survive   a deferred decision on a crucial federal grant imposed by the USDOT under pressure from California's Republican delegation. (Railway Age).
 
Ken Schmidt, motivational speaker and former Harley Davidson Co. director of communications, will give the keynote address at   Railway Interchange 2017, the USA-based combined exhibition and technical conference taking place   Sunday, September 17 through Wednesday, September 20  at the Indiana Convention Center.  Schmidt will address the joint general session on Monday, September 18. (Railway Interchange).

LightRail Light Rail 2017, Presented by Railway Age and RT&S
Light rail transit, the fastest-growing passenger rail mode, employs a full range of technologies and operating practices-unlike rapid transit, which is highly standardized. Light Rail 2017 will be held in Denver in April. (Railway Age).

Trimble Rail Supply Update: Trimble Corp.
Trimble Corp.  has partnered with   Railhead Corp.  to integrate video from Railhead's locomotive digital video recorder system with data feeds from multiple on-train devices that use Trimble's R2M system. (Progressive Railroading).

RailworksRailWork's Track Construction Brings New Fertilizer Plant Online
RailWorks constructed the track over 15 months at one of the Hawkeye state's largest-ever construction projects: Iowa Fertilizer. The new plant, on about 320 acres in southeastern Iowa, began production at the end of 2016. (RailWorks).