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Industry Events
USA Pavilion at
InnoTrans 2016
September 20-23, 2016
Berlin, Germany
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REMSA Welcomes New Members:
Meyer Contracting
Spectrum Infrared
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In This Issue:
Industry News
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REMSA Hosting USA Pavilion at InnoTrans 2016 - Reserve Your Exhibit Space Today
REMSA will once again be hosting the USA Pavilion at InnoTrans 2016, to be held September 20-23, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. The USA Pavilion offers a turnkey service to exhibitors, which drastically simplifies exhibiting at an international trade fair.
The pavilion layout will hold a common exhibit area that includes internet, refreshments, seating, and meeting space along with booth space for each exhibition company; translators will also be present. Additional benefits to exhibitors include support and guidance on translation and shipping materials; transportation advice including airport, hotel, and expo center transfers,; and access to the USA Pavilion room block.
Space within the USA Pavilion is limited - only 3 spots remain! Space will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. Please contact Urszula Soucie at
[email protected] or (202) 715-2921 with any questions.
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AAR Supplier Survey
Your Response is Critical to our Success
Last year, we surveyed the collective membership of the six rail sister associations to develop a blueprint to tell the incredible story of the impact of the supply and service industry on our nation's economy. Unfortunately, the survey design and accompanying database contained several flaws that greatly compromised the data.
Collectively, our associations have come together again to re-launch this historic outreach project to survey our memberships that will ultimately result in telling the rail suppliers' story with context and accuracy. The survey has been shortened. It should only take a few minutes to complete, depending on how many locations your need to input.
Here is how you can help add your company's information to the database:
Step 1 - Set up an account with
AAR.org
(You may skip this step if you have an AAR.org account)
- Click here to visit the AAR.org account creation page
- Enter your corporate email address and create a password
- You must use an e-mail with a corporate domain (e.g. an "@rsiweb.org" account for RSI)
- The system will display your member company's name at the bottom of the page
- Click the "Submit" button
- Click the account confirmation link in an e-mail arriving from [email protected]
- Be sure to check your spam folder for the confirmation e-mail
Step 2 - Fill out the survey and add your company's locations to the database
- Click here to visit the survey page
- Log in with the account generated in Step 1
- Click on the "Outreach Survey" button
- Click the "New Survey" button and fill out the new shortened survey for your company
- Click the "New Location" button to add each of your company's locations to the database. Our database will automatically place your company in the proper congressional district based off your entries.
- If your company has more than 30 locations, you may upload a directory at the end of the location form or send a directory to [email protected] for processing.
- You may log in again at any time using your AAR.org credentials and edit your company's survey responses and locations by clicking in the "Edit Links" columns on the survey dashboard.
If you run into any technical difficulties or if you have any questions about this survey, please contact Bill Pzedpelski, Associate Program Coordinator at AAR, at
[email protected] or 202-639-2138.
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REMSA Announces 2016 Scholarship Program
Applications Due July 1
REMSA is excited to announce the 2016 Scholarship Program. For Undergraduates, REMSA is giving away one President's Scholarship in the amount of $7,500. In addition to this scholarship, REMSA is offering one (1) $5,000 runner-up scholarship, and five (5) individual scholarships at $2,500 each.
REMSA will also offer one Graduate Scholarship of $5,000.
Previous winners of REMSA scholarships are eligible to be considered for renewal of their scholarship assistance each year. A new application with all required accompanying documentation must be submitted.
A completed application and all accompanying materials must be sent to the REMSA Scholarship Committee and postmarked no later than
Friday, July 1
for consideration.
If you need assistance applying or having any questions, please reach out
to Urszula Soucie at
[email protected]
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REMSA Grassroots Program
Balfour Beatty Rail and UNITRAC Host Congressional Staff for Tours
On May 2, Senator Bob Corker's (R-TN) Legislative Assistant, John Haley joined representatives from UNITRAC to tour their manufacturing facility, learn about their various railroad products and track work services, and discuss public policy priorities for the business and rail communities in Tennessee. The Railway Engineering-Maintenance and Suppliers Association (REMSA), a non-profit trade group representing over 340 railway engineers, contractors, consultants, and suppliers across the country, coordinated the event. The $5 billion maintenance of way industry supports over 35,000 jobs nationwide.
The tour was led by UNITRAC's President Phil Pietrandrea. Also in attendance was Sean Winkler, Grassroots Coordinator, REMSA.
"A strong railroad industry, which continues to invest billions into its rail system, is critical to the wellbeing of our state and local community" said Pietrandrea. "We are honored to be joined by Senator Corker's office today and appreciate our Senator's willingness to learn more about our history and commitment to Knoxville, our role as a local manufacturer, and as a member of the larger rail industry."
L to R: Haley (Corker), Winkler (REMSA), and Pietrandrea (UNITRAC)
UNITRAC Railroad Materials, Inc. draws on more than 85 years of experience in the design, manufacturing and supplying of the nation's railroads with a full line of high-quality railroad products and track work services. They maintain a 35,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Knoxville, which employs approximately 110 people.
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On May 3, U.S. Congressman Mike Coffman's Chief of Staff and U.S. Senator Cory Gardner's Regional Director joined the
National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) and the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association, Inc. (REMSA) for a tour of a new commuter rail maintenance facility (CRMF), a project that was completed by NRC and REMSA joint member company, Balfour Beatty Rail, as a part of the Regional Transportation District (RTD) Eagle P3 Commuter Rail project managed by Denver Transit Partners (DTP).
L to R: Reed, Epstein, McCulloch, Winkler, Delgado, Stein
Davie McCulloch, DTP Deputy Project Manager, gave an overview of Balfour Beatty Rail and their operations.
Balfour Beatty Rail, a division of Balfour Beatty Infrastructure (BBII), is a rail infrastructure contractor specializing in construction and maintenance services for public and private railroad markets. In July 2015, BBII was awarded a $140 million contract to extend Denver's light-rail line to its southeast suburbs. This project is BBII's fifth major contact with RTD, representing over $3.6 billion of work for the transit agency.
"Balfour Beatty Infrastructure has enjoyed partnering with RTD in the development of the Eagle P3 project," said Mr. McCulloch. "We are proud to be a part of the team that delivered the nation's first transit public-private partnership to improve mobility throughout the Denver community."
"The LEED Gold-certified CRMF is something we are proud of," said Executive Project Director and CEO of DTP, Aaron Epstein. "The 230,000-sqaure-foot facility's sustainable features were evaluated based on the lasting impact they would have on the CRMF itself as well as on the local community."
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Industry News
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on [April 29] once again ruled that the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) of 2008 grants
Amtrak unconstitutional regulatory authority because it requires the passenger railroad to develop performance metrics for its freight counterparts.
(Progressive Railroading).
The
Federal Railroad Administration
(FRA) has begun accepting applications from local governments, states and railroads for $25 million in competitive grants to fund rail safety efforts, the agency announced. (Progressive Railroading).
House Transportation Committee Chairman Shuster Narrowly Survives Primary
A significant television ad presence in central Pennsylvania's 9th Congressional District helped incumbent Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the transportation committee in the House, barely shake off a challenge by a tea party-backed candidate on April 26. (Transportation Topics).
InnoTrans, the semi-annual global railway industry trade exhibition and the largest event of its type, is offering discounted tickets to North American attendees. As well, this year's event will have a strong Canadian presence. InnoTrans take place every 2 years in Berlin and show dates are Sept. 20-23, 2016. (Railway Age).
Kansas City Southern announced [on May 10] Patrick Ottensmeyer will succeed David Starling as chief executive officer effective July 1. Starling will serve as senior adviser to Ottensmeyer until Starling retires on Dec. 31. Ottensmeyer will retain the position of president, a title he's held since March 1, 2015. Starling will remain a member of KCS' board until May 2017. Ottensmeyer will join the board when he becomes CEO. (Progressive Railroading).
After five years of sustained growth, the market for new rail equipment in Central and South America is set for a period of decline, according to a new study by SCI Verkehr, Germany. (IRJ).
STB Proposes Requiring Class Is to Report Service Performance Weekly
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development passed $56.5 billion legislation to fund its programs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, including several allocations for rail. (RT&S).
Union Pacific has slated $78.8 million of its 2016 capital program to improve its Illinois rail network.
UP
said its multi-million dollar private investment will enhance employee, community and customer safety and increase rail operating efficiency, in addition to sustaining jobs and meeting growing demand for products used in the American economy. (RT&S).
Union Pacific to Invest over $78 Million in Nebraska
Union Pacific will spend $78.6 million improving its infrastructure in Nebraska this year. The planned spend is on top of the $200 million the railroad has invested in its infrastructure in the state between 2011 and 2015. (RT&S).
Union Pacific
plans to invest $121.6 million in 2016 in its transportation infrastructure in California, which will enhance employee, community and customer safety and increase rail operating efficiency.
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AECOM Awarded Metrolinx Contract
Metrolinx has awarded Aecom a seven-year contract worth up to C$100m to provide advisory services for the Hurontario and Hamilton light rail projects in the Greater Toronto area. (Railway Gazette).
Denver RTD Opens A Line Commuter-Rail Route to Airport
The
Regional Transportation District of Denver
(RTD) on [April 29] opened the 23-mile University of Colorado A Line commuter-rail route.
Under the P3 arrangement, a private team known as
Denver Transit Partners agreed to fund a share of the project, assuming much of the risks and allowing RTD to minimize public costs for construction. The team includes Balfour Beatty Rail, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Systra, Wabtec Corp. and others. (Progressive Railroading).
Parsons has hired Joseph Abruzzo as its railroad bridge practice leader, where he will be responsible for directing the pursuit and execution of railroad bridge projects worldwide. (RT&S).
Progress Rail Services Corp.
announced [on May 3] it has acquired Australia-based
Inspired Systems Pty Ltd.
in an effort to expand its signal technology portfolio. Inspired Systems provides asset protection and condition-based monitoring systems for the rail industry. Its headquarters are in Canning Vale, a suburb of Perth in Western Australia. (Progressive Railroading).
Paris public transportation operator RATP Group has tapped
MERMEC
to supply a multifunction diesel-electric measuring car.
Holland LP received TTX Co.'s Excellent Supplier designation for 2015 based on its overall supplier evaluation committee score.
L.B. Foster Co. reported a first-quarter 2016 net loss of $2.8 million compared with net income of $4.3 million for the period last year. (Progressive Railroading).
TranSystems Corporation celebrates 50 years in business on April 21 throughout its more than 30 offices nationwide. In 1966, Herbert Johnson, Gerald Brickell, and Edward Mulcahy formed JBM Associates Engineers and Planners as traffic experts to help the Kansas City area adapt to its growing transportation demands. (TranSystems).
Wabtec Corp. on May 9, 2016 completed its acquisitions of
Unitrac Railroad Materials. Based in Tennessee, Unitrac is a leading designer and manufacturer of railroad track products such as turnouts, panels and frogs. The company's customers include Class I and short line railroads, and transit agencies throughout North America. (Railway Age).
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