Thursday afternoon rail news in brief:
— Fiona Murray of Canadian National has been named as board chairperson for the Railway Association of Canada, becoming the first female to hold that position in the organization’s 103-year history. Murray, vice-president of public and government affairs at CN, joined the railroad in 1992. “As a career railroader, I’m honored and grateful for this opportunity to serve the industry,” Murray said in a press release. “Over the last 28 years, I have seen railroads evolve to be more diverse workplaces and I’m proud that my nomination is a testament to that evolution.”
— The South Dakota Railroad Board is considering which projects to recommend for federal grants after hearing proposals from railroads at a Wednesday meeting. KELO reports proposals include one from the Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern for a Federal Railroad Administration grant covering half the cost of a $12 million project to install heavier rail on a 17.15-mile segment of its line between Fort Pierre and Midland; another RCP&E proposal for a $2.8 million project to extend track 4 miles into Midland; a Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western proposal for a $2.8 million project to upgrade the roadbed on its state-owned line between Britton and Aberdeen; a D&I Railroad proposal for slightly more than $1 million to replace a bridge on its state-owned line in the southeastern portion of the state; a South Dakota Department of Transportation proposal for a new siding to cost $2.5 million in the Kimball area, and one from Dakota Biofuels for a project totaling $4.5 million to put in heavier rail on the state-owned line between Napa and Platte.
— VIA Rail Canada has extended the suspension of its Jasper-Prince George-Prince Rupert, British Columbia, train to August 1, citing “continued infrastructure issues.” That train joins the Canadian and the Ocean in facing long-term shutdowns. The Canadian and Ocean have both been suspended until at least Nov. 1 because of coronavirus concerns.
I assume that “extending 4 miles of track into Midland” means double tracking the main line that already goes through Midland.