Tuesday morning rail news:
OmniTRAX CEO Shuba takes new role with parent company
Kevin Shuba, CEO of short line company OmniTRAX since 2013, has accepted a new role with parent company The Broe Group, and will lead development of a company-wide growth plan for the multi-billion-dollar organization. Sergio Sabatini, OmniTRAX president since joining the company in 2013 from Canadian Pacific, will assume interim CEO duties. OmniTRAX board chairman Cameron Scott will lead the search for a new CEO. “Developing the growth strategy for The Broe Group’s diversified holdings presents a dynamic challenge and a compelling opportunity,” Shuba said in a press release. “Like OmniTRAX, The Broe Group portfolio includes assets and operations that span multiple markets across the U.S. and I am confident that the fundamental approach to identifying strategic market opportunities at OmniTRAX will translate effectively to a successful growth strategy for The Broe Group.”
Metro-North adds real time capacity, train location information to smartphone app
Metro-North Railroad has added new real-time capacity tracking and train location features to its Train Time smartphone app. The app now shows the amount of space available on each car of an approaching train to aid in social distancing efforts. “The more information we can provide to help customers practice social distancing once they are on board, the better we can provide a safer and more pleasant ride for our customers,” Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi said in a press release. The app update also provides information on track assignments at Grand Central Terminal, allowing riders to spread out throughout the station rather than stand in close proximity at departure boards.
NS employee, severely injured in Chicago accident, sues railroad
A Norfolk Southern employee severely injured in an accident at a Chicago rail yard is suing Norfolk Southern, saying the railroad put workers at risk by openly disregarding safety rules. The Chicago Tribune reports that Ernest Staggers Jr., 31, was climbing onto a crane used to load containers onto railcars when he slipped and fell, and the crane rolled over him. He has had 16 surgeries and is scheduled to have a leg amputated next week. The suit claims the railroad did not offer proper training and regularly had workers ride on the loading equipment even though it did was against company rules. The railroad declined to comment when contacted by the Tribune.
