REMSA Mainline April 2018

REMSA will once again be hosting the USA Pavilion at InnoTrans 2018, to be held September 18-21, 2018 in Berlin, Germany, where over 120,000 attendees will gather for one common interest: Transportation. The USA Pavilion offers a turnkey service to exhibitors, which drastically simplifies exhibiting at an international trade fair.

Each exhibitor within the USA Pavilion receives:

Personal exhibit space for your company (with furniture package)
Exhibitor Badges (2)
Access to common lounge area
Private meeting room space within the Pavilion
Stand Construction
Catering and refreshments
Translator services
Designated WiFi access
Assistance with housing
Much more!

Space within the USA Pavilion is limited. Space will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. Please contact Urszula Soucie at [email protected] with any questions.

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REMSA 2018 Scholarship Program

REMSA is excited to announce its 2018 Scholarship Program. This year REMSA is awarding one President's Scholarship in the amount of $7,500 as well as one $5,000 runner-up scholarship, and five individual scholarships at $2,500 each.

The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, June 8, 2018.

To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must:

Be a full- or part-time employee of a REMSA member company; or the spouse, son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter of a current full-time employee of a REMSA member company. An employee who is the scholarship applicant does not have to be a full-time employee. Interns are not eligible;

Be enrolled and in attendance at the time of application as a full-time college student at an accredited two-year college offering an associate's degree or an accredited college or university offering a bachelor's degree; and

Demonstrate successful completion of the previous year of study and a willingness to continue.

Please visit www.remsa.org/scholarship for information on the scholarship program, or click to download the REMSA 2018 Undergraduate Scholarship Application.

This year's short essay question is:

Given the recent passenger train derailments and accidents on shared freight and passenger track, the federal government has mandated Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation to prevent future accidents. What challenges or opportunities does this present to the railroad industry? Do you support this mandate? Why or why not?

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If you are interested in learning about REMSA's program, please reach out to Urszula Soucie at [email protected].

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Washington Update

Omnibus Wins for Transportation, STB Nomination Hearings

On March 23, 2018, President Trump signed the $1.3 trillion FY 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act into law.

The spending package provides $70.3 billion for the US Department of Transportation (DOT), a $12.65 billion increase above FY 2017 levels. Key rail and transportation grant programs received a boost in funding:

Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER): Supports transformational, multi-modal projects of regional significance. Increased from $500m in FY '17 to $1.5b.
Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements (CRISI): Supports freight and passenger rail safety projects. Increased from $68m in FY '17 to $592m.
Capital Investment Discretionary Grants (CIG): Primary grant funding for major transit capital projects. Increased from $2.4b in FY '17 to $2.6b.

On April 11, 2018, the Senate Commerce Committee held a confirmation hearing for Republican Surface Transportation Board (STB) nominees Patrick Fuchs and Michelle Shultz. The cordial hearing featured Senators focusing in on STB efforts to ensure strong passenger rail on-time-performance and better processing of rail rate challenge petitions.

Senators found the nominees to be well-qualified and we expect that they will advance to the Senate floor.

A Democratic nominee for the remaining vacant STB seat has not yet been named.

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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 [email protected] .

REMSA Grassroots Program

Loram Hosts Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rail Advocates for Tour and Policy Discussion

On March 28, 2018, Senator Amy Klobcuhar (D-MN), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which oversees railroad policy, joined representatives from Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc., United Steel Workers Local 2002-9, Operation Lifesaver, Inc., Amtrak and local Minnesota railroads for a tour of Loram's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and a discussion on rail safety programs and continued economic development in greater-Minneapolis.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Rail Stakeholder Group

Founded in 1954, Loram Maintenance of Way started out as a small operation consisting of two simple machines, and a handful of employees. Today, Loram has become one of the leading suppliers of track maintenance machinery and services in North America and the global market. Loram provides maintenance of way services to Class I and short line railroads, transits, and commuter rails. They employ over 1,200 globally, with over 368 residing in Minnesota.

The facility tour was led by Loram President & CEO Phil Homan.

"Senator Klobuchar serves in a crucial oversight role and we appreciate her leadership advocating for increased infrastructure investments and encouraging the use of cutting-edge technologies on the rail network" said Homan. "The privately funded and maintained freight railroad network is one of the few bright spots in America's infrastructure network and recently received a 'B' grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers. It is critical that our lawmakers encourage policies that allow railroads to earn an appropriate return on their infrastructure investments so we can continue to safely expand and upgrade the network. Loram and our employees are extremely proud to provide railroads and transit systems innovative and reliable track maintenance machines and create jobs here in Minnesota."

Klobuchar, Homan on Tour

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar was elected in 2006 and is serving her second term. She is the first woman elected to represent the State of Minnesota in the United States Senate. As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Sen. Klobuchar has been a leader in working to implement a competitive agenda to ensure businesses have the tools they need to grow and create good jobs in their communities.

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Please contact Sean Winkler, Director of Advocacy, at [email protected] or (202) 715-2917 to schedule a 2018 tour today!

Industry News

Begeman Named Permanent STB Chairman

Ann Dawn Begeman was designated permanent chairman of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) March 19 by President Trump. She has been acting chairman since January 2017. (Railway Age).

BNSF Plans $230 Million Capex for California

BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) has announced a 2018 capital expenditure program for California valued at about $230 million. The plan includes several capacity expansion projects and scheduled maintenance projects to maintain safety and reliability, BNSF said. (Railway Age).

CSX Selling GA, AL Lines

CSX has begun the process of selling off rail lines, the latest chapter in the restructuring surrounding Precision Scheduled Railroading. The company is in the process of selling more than 175 miles of rail routes in Georgia and Alabama, according to filings with the Surface Transportation Board. (Railway Age).

FRA Increasing Field Strength

The Federal Railroad Administration, with a new leader in place and a confirmed budget, is seeking to fill nearly 100 key vacancies across the U.S. "to further strengthen and improve the organization's ability to carry out its safety mission." (Railway Age).

FRA Holding PTC Meetings with Railroads, Suppliers

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) leadership is stepping up its role in the journey toward positive train control (PTC) implementation by meeting with railroad and supply representatives to ensure progress is being made. (RT&S).

Oklahoma, Nevada on Union Pacific's To-Do List

Union Pacific plans to spend more than $100 million to upgrade track and related infrastructure in Oklahoma and Nevada in 2018. (Railway Age).

Transit, Rail Programs Get Funding Boost Under FY18 Omnibus Bill

The $1.3 trillion fiscal-year 2018 omnibus appropriations bill that President Donald Trump signed late last week includes "significant increases" for public transit, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). (Progressive Railroading).

UP Charts Wyoming, Utah Capex Projects Worth over $120 Million

Union Pacific Railroad will spend $85 million this year to maintain track and bridges in Wyoming. In Utah, UP plans $59.3 million worth of projects to improve safety, efficiency and customer service. (Progressive Railroading).

UP Slates $128 Million for Capex Projects in Nebraska, Oregon

Union Pacific Railroad has announced a $65 million capital expenditure program for Nebraska and a $63.3 million capex program for Oregon this year. (Progressive Railroading).

UP Slates $103.6 Million for Illinois Infrastructure

Union Pacific Railroad will spend $103.6 million this year to maintain track and bridges in Illinois.
The Class I's 2018 capital expenditures program includes $40.8 million to maintain track and $23.5 million to maintain bridges in the state, according to a UP press release. (Progressive Railroading).

UP Unveils Infrastructure Upgrades in AZ, WA

Union Pacific Railroad this year will invest nearly $60 million in its infrastructure in Arizona and Washington. (Progressive Railroading).

Member News

Chris Aadnesen Retires from GREX

Chris Aadnesen is retiring as Executive Chairman of the Georgetown Rail Equipment Company (GREX) board of directors, following a long and distinguished railroad industry career, 15 of them with GREX. (Railway Age).

InnoTrans: Associations Present the Combined Strength of their Countries' Rail Industries

Trade associations and federations combine the interests of their members, representing them in dealings with politicians, authorities and the media, and actively supporting member companies on international markets: and InnoTrans here has an important part to play. (InnoTrans).

John Murray Named President of Willamette Valley Company

Willamette Valley Co. has announced changes to its leadership. John Murray has been named president, while Bob Halligan was appointed chief operating officer. John Harrison, who formerly served as president and chief executive officer, will continue to serve as CEO and a board member. In addition, Willamette Valley named Rob Loomis business manager of the performance products and railroad divisions. (Progressive Railroading).

Pandrol Lands Chinese Heavy-Haul Contract

Shanxi Jingshen Railway Company Ltd., China, has awarded Pandrol a contract for FASTCLIP FC-16 fastening systems for a major national infrastructure project. Under the contract, Pandrol will manufacture close to 880,000 FC-16 fastening sets to cover 145 miles of heavy-haul track that stretches through Menghua to Central China. (Railway Age).