BNSF has announced a $3·96bn capital investment plan for 2023, which President & CEO Katie Farmer said ‘reflects our growth mindset and commitment to having the capacity and equipment we need’. The plan provides $2·85bn for maintaining the core network, $402m for equipment acquisitions, $700m for expansion and efficiency projects, in particular to support the growth of intermodal, automotive, agricultural and industrial customers. Double-tracking will include a second bridge over the Missouri River at Sibley, one of the last single-track segments on the Southern Transcon route between the West Coast and Midwest.
Hamburger Rail Service has leased a Siemens Mobility Smartron electric loco from Northrail, with a second Smartron and a Vectron electro-diesel to follow in Q2 2023. The lease includes full servicing by the manufacturer. ‘With these locomotives, we save energy and emissions during operation and at the same time have a high degree of flexibility and operational reliability’, said the operator’s Managing Director Niko Mahmoud on January 19.
Following regulatory approval, Patriot Rail announced on January 9 that it had completed the acquisition of Delta Southern Railroad, which operates the Monroe – Sterlington and Tallulah – Lake Providence routes totalling 60 km serving Mississippi river ports in Louisiana. ‘This strategic acquisition builds on Patriot Rail’s continuing expansion and exemplifies our growth focus on quality rail assets to meet customer needs’, said CEO John E Fenton.
Tenders have been called for the operation of a logistics terminal at La Llagosta between Martorell and Barcelona. The minimum bid is €16·6m plus investment commitments of €12m for a 20-year contract, which could be extended for a further 20 years should the operator make further major investments in the complex which is expected to be ready for use during Q2 2025.
OmniTRAX has promoted Lucy Grasso to Vice-President of Strategy. She joined the freight railway group in 2016 and ‘has demonstrated an exceptional ability to identify opportunities that make us stronger and collaboratively engage stakeholders’, President & CEO Sergio Sabatini said on January 19. ‘She’s been an integral part of our senior operations team and this expanded role leverages her strengths.’
Medway is to restart Setúbal – Entroncamento – Leixões services linking Portuguese ports and freight terminals in Q1 2023, in response to customer demand from maritime logistics companies.
Track renewals have been completed on the Ararat to Maryborough line in Victoria increasing the axle load to 21 tonnes. Design and planning approvals are continuing for the next stage of upgrading work on the Murray Basin freight network, including extending the passing loop at Emu, building loops at Tourello and Elmhurst and a mobile refuelling station at Ouyen and signalling upgrades at the Ouyen and Maryborough yards. This will increase the number of train paths from 28 to 49 per week.
