Newswire
CSX FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILS IN NORTHEAST D.C.: Eight cars on a CSX freight train with 61 cars derailed Saturday morning [Oct. 30], delaying Amtrak service, authorities said. The cars, carrying the rock ballast used to level railroad tracks, jumped the tracks at 5:08 a.m. near the intersection of Rhode Island Avenue and Fourth Street in northeast, according to Gary Sease, spokesman for the rail company. Three of the cars landed on their side and lost all or part of their contents. One track was restored at 7 p.m. and the other is expected to be fixed Sunday, Sease said. No one was injured, News4 reported. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 10-31-04, from News4, Washington, D.C., website]
GEORGE BENSON DIES, SEATTLE RAIL ACTIVIST: George Benson, 85, a long time Seattle-area rail activist who was primarily responsible for the construction of the Seattle Waterfront Streetcar, died October 25. Although the project was fraught with cost overruns andwas dubbed by some as "Benson's Folly," the trolleys have been wildly popular and a major stimulus to revitalization on the Seattle Waterfront. For his efforts and the two decades he spent on the Seattle City Council, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the American Public Transit Association in 1997. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 10-29-04]
CSX REPORTS THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS: CSX Corporation today [Oct. 28] reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2004. Net earnings were $123-million or 57 cents per share, including a net gain on the Conrail spin-off transaction. Consolidated operating income was $264-million. Surface transportation revenue, including rail and intermodal, increased $115-million to $1.94-billion. In the quarter, merchandise revenue was up six percent and coal revenue was up 10 percent. Third quarter net earnings include a favorable impact of $14-million or seven cents per share associated with the net gain from the Conrail spin-off transaction slightly offset by management restructuring charges. The 2003 third quarter had a net loss of $103-million or 48 cents per share, including after-tax charges of $219-million or $1.02 per share reflecting various expenses taken in that quarter for occupational, arbitration settlements and management restructuring. [CSX, 10-28-04]
NEW YORK'S PROJECT FOR PENN STATION IS MOVING AGAIN: The $910-million plan to transform the city's former central post office building into a grand new Pennsylvania Station is once again lurching forward. State officials said yesterday that they had lined up two anchor tenants and most of the financing and were close to picking a developer. The state has narrowed the list of potential developers to four from six and is now asking for specific proposals for converting the blocklong James A. Farley Building on Eighth Avenue into a gleaming Moynihan Station, named after the senator who was its champion. The state expects to choose a developer in March and to start construction next summer. Both New Jersey Transit and the Long Island Rail Road have told state officials that they want to have tracks and space at the station, replacing Amtrak as the anchor tenant. Earlier this year, Amtrak left the project because of money problems, choosing to remain in the existing Penn Station across Eighth Avenue. Amtrak has said it will cooperate with the project and allow access to the tracks and platforms below the Farley. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 10-28-04, from article by Charles V. Bagli posted on the New York Times website]
BROTHERHOOD OF MAINTENANCE OF WAY MEMBERS VOTE TO MERGE WITH TEAMSTERS: By a 76 percent majority, members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Wednesday [October 27] voted in favor of merging with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The BMWE now joins the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen as a member of the Teamsters' Rail Conference. With the addition of the BMWE, more than 40 percent of rail labor is now organized under the Teamster umbrella. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 10-27-04]
NJ TRANSIT RAIL STATION IN THE WORKS: Bayonne is getting a fourth station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit system - but don't look for trains pulling in anytime soon, according to the Jersey Journal. Mayor Joseph V. Doria Jr. said yesterday [Oct. 26] that NJ Transit, which operates the rail line for 21st Century Rail Corp., has put out architectural plans for the newest Bayonne station, at Eighth Street, where the old Central Railroad once operated a station. Doria, who made the disclosure at the annual meeting of the Bayonne Chamber of Commerce, said the new station is being designed to resemble that old facility, which served commuters for three generations. "Longtime residents will recall the elegant Central Railroad station that stood on West Eighth Street until a generation ago," Doria said in a prepared statement. "I would like to thank New Jersey Transit for planning to restore an important part of our community, which many people thought would never come back." Doria said that track would be extended south from the current light rail terminus at 22nd Street within 24 to 30 months, and that an elevator would carry passengers from street level to the elevated track and platform. Doria said engineering plans for the extension of track are about 30 percent completed. But it will likely take the "next few years" for NJ Transit to acquire all the land it needs for the new station, Doria said. Asked about the city's announcement yesterday, NJ Transit spokeswoman Janet Hines confirmed its accuracy, adding that it would probably be "several years" before the new station would be operational. Hines was unable to provide an estimate for how much it would cost to build the station. Central Railroad's Victorian style Eighth Street station, designed by architect Frank V. Bodine, opened in 1892, serving riders bound for Bayonne, other New Jersey communities, New York City and parts of the Northeast. [United Transportation Union, 10-27-04, from item in the Jersey Journal]
OMNITRAX LEASES CSXT'S FULCO BRANCH LINE: OmniTRAX, an affiliate of The Broe Companies, has announced that it has concluded a lease of CSXT's Fulco Branch Line near Atlanta, Ga., effective at 12:01 a.m., Saturday, October 23, 2004. Fulton County Railway, LLC, a subsidiary of OmniTRAX began operations at that time. David Lutz serves as President of Fulton County Railway, and Larry Davis is Director of Marketing and Sales. According to CSXT and OmniTRAX representatives, this new lease agreement will help enhance service to the Fulton Industrial District and expand opportunities for economic growth and development in the area. The agreement will advance the concept of Fulton as an integrated logistics center. It is another positive step toward providing the Fulton Business District the type of service it requires to become one of the Southeast's major transportation hubs. OmniTRAX will immediately embark on numerous infrastructure improvements including rail replacement, installation of 2000 ties, installation of three new switches, and surfacing. OmniTRAX is the largest privately held rail services company in North America. With its headquarters in Denver, Colorado, OmniTRAX owns and operates eleven short-line railroads in six states and three Canadian Provinces.[OmniTRAX, 10-26-04]
BNSF REPORTS THIRD-QUARTER EARNINGS: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation has reported third-quarter 2004 earnings of $0.01 per share which includes a net of tax charge of $288-million, or $0.76 per share to reflect changes in the way BNSF estimates asbestos and environmental liabilities. Third-quarter 2003 earnings per share were $0.55. "We achieved an all-time record for quarterly revenues which enabled BNSF to record its third consecutive quarterly double-digit revenue increase," said Matthew K. Rose, BNSF Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Substantial unit volume increases in three of our four business groups contributed to this strong performance." Third-quarter 2004 freight revenues increased $373-million, or 16 percent, to an all-time quarterly record of $2.74-billion compared with 2003 third-quarter revenues of $2.37-billion. Of the 16 percent increase, about 3 percent was driven by fuel surcharges and about 3 percent came from price increases. [BNSF 10-26-04]
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, TO EXPAND AMTRAK COMMUTER SERVICE: On Monday, October 25, the Orange County Transportation Authority announced that it had reached an agreement with Caltrans and Amtrak to expand commuter rail service between Orange County and Los Angeles. On November 17, two Amtrak trains will add weekday service between Los Angeles and the Laguna Niguel-Mission Viejo station. Another Amtrak train from Los Angeles will begin stopping in the afternoon at the transportation center in Orange. One Laguna Niguel train will depart for Los Angeles at 12:15 p.m. The other will head from Los Angeles to Laguna Niguel at 7:25 p.m. The third train will depart Los Angeles at 2 p.m. and arrive at the Orange station. Metrolink passengers who buy 10-day passes will be allowed to use those passes to ride any Amtrak commuter service. That convenience is now extended only to Metrolink's monthly pass holders. [United Transportation Union, 10-26-04, from article by Dan Weikel published by the Los Angeles Times]
UNION PACIFIC TRAIN ENGINEER FIRED FOLLOWING TEXAS ACCIDENT: Union Pacific Railroad has fired a train engineer who survived a deadly train derailment in south Bexar County, Texas, in late June, KSAT 12 News reported. U.S. Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, of San Antonio, told KSAT 12 News on Monday (Oct. 25) that a member of the National Transportation Safety Board told him that human error is likely the reason why Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe trains collided on June 28, rupturing a tanker filled with toxic chemicals that ended up killing three people and forcing hundreds more to evacuate. Union Pacific officials would not comment on the engineer's firing. Gonzalez said he wants to find out if railroad companies are behind the times when it comes to developing and utilizing new technologies. He said railroad companies need to have a backup system in place when human error occurs, so accidents can be avoided. [United Transportation Union, 10-26-04, from reporty by KSAT-12 News]
AMTRAK ANNOUNCES NEW TICKET EXCHANGE POLICY: Starting November 1, the railroad will eliminate its existing change fees as long as the customer buys another Amtrak ticket of equal or greater value or takes a credit toward future travel. Currently, ticket change fees are $30 for adults and $15 for children. Under the new policy, the only time a fee would apply is if the traveler asks for money back. In those cases, there will be a service charge equal to 10 percent of the ticket's value, up to a maximum of $100. The same service charge would apply to refunds for onboard accommodations as long as the reservation is canceled at least one hour before departure. If the reservation is not canceled within that time frame, the cost of the onboard accommodation still could be credited toward future travel within one year. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen 10-25-04, from article by Internet Broadcasting Systems]
TEXAS RAIL DISTRICT TRIES TO GET BNSF RAIL LINK: The Matagorda County Rail Transportation District (MCRTD) is considering hiring a consultant to develop a way to keep rail traffic flowing into northern Bay City, Texas. Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad Co. (BNSF) filed a petition this month to abandon about 13 miles of track that links Bay City and Lane City along Texas 60, plus an eight-mile segment from Lane City to Newgulf. BNSF officials maintain that the rail lines have had no local traffic in the past two years, according to a required environmental assessment. The abandoned lines could have a negative impact on the city's industrial park, said Andy Hawkins, MCRTD board member. "If other businesses want to set up by the rail spur, and it is abandoned, then we're dead in the water," he said. One option would be to contract with a company specializing in short freight trips to link lines north of the segment BNSF wants to close with rail traffic south of Bay City, Hawkins said. "What you would do is use a short-hauler to move cars between the two lines," Hawkins said. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 10-24-04, from article by Michael Smith posted on the Bay City Tribune website]
D.C. HAZMAT REROUTING DECISION DELAYED: D.C. lawmakers and environmentalists are accusing the Bush administration of waiting until after the November 2 election to decide whether to require railroads to route hazardous materials around Washington, charging that security is taking a back seat to politics. Since the District introduced legislation a year ago to bar hazardous material shipments from a CSX Corp. rail line through the city, the Transportation Security Administration has missed several self-imposed deadlines to address the issue. Each year, as many as 8,500 rail cars carrying chlorine, ammonia and hydrochloric and sulfuric acid roll through the city. About 6 million tons of chemical freight a year traverses the capital along the CSX route, passing within four blocks of the Capitol, south of the Mall and across the Potomac River, according to the National Capital Planning Commission, which wants to study moving the line. The city and the Bush administration have been grappling with how to regulate the highly toxic chemicals. Critics contend that the administration already has decided to allow the chemical industry to voluntarily reroute potentially dangerous chemicals but that it is withholding an announcement until mid-November. Department of Homeland Security officials said that no such decision has been made and that delays in funding and program planning are to blame for the timing, not politics. Administration and industry officials said that environmental groups, several of which favor Democrats, are the ones playing politics and that such groups as Greenpeace, which is lobbying for a ban, have longstanding positions against any use of some toxic chemicals. Administration sources said they face criticism either way; if they announced a ban on hazardous material shipments in the capital, Bush would be denounced for fanning terrorism fears before the election. At the request of Homeland Security, CSX has delayed or rerouted hazmat shipments during certain events, including the State of the Union address and last year's NFL season kickoff celebration on the Mall. But federal regulators and rail and chemical industry representatives said that a permanent ban on shipments through the District would trigger a rush by any number of cities and states to shift the risk elsewhere, disrupting the economy, raising costs and creating other security problems. CSX, the Association of American Railroads and the American Chemistry Council said they are working with government to add safeguards, many of them classified, including guards, surveillance, around-the-clock communication with federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies and stronger rail cars. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 10-25-04, from article by Spencer S. Hsu and Sari Horwitz posted on the Washington Post website]
DEMONSTRATORS PROTEST RESTART OF FREIGHT LINE IN NEW JERSEY: Demonstrators in Springfield, N.J., stayed clear of the police at a protest yesterday [October 24] against the resumption of freight rail service along the Rahway Valley Line, according to the Star-Ledger. The Coalition to Stop the Train had promised to block traffic on Mountain Avenue but abandoned that plan when Union County officials warned the group that it would have to buy liability insurance for demonstrators who put themselves in harm's way. The crowd of about 150 clung to a small patch of grass across from the Springfield Fire Department and yards from a planned rail crossing. Speakers used a microphone to draw attention to their "stop the train" message. "We will continue to fight to stop this train from coming through our municipalities," said Robert Sheehan of Summit. The coalition is attempting to derail Morristown and Erie Railroad's plan for the Rahway Valley Line from Cranford to Summit. The line has been dormant for more than 10 years but could see activity in a year. Service on the old Staten Island Railroad that stretches from Cranford to Linden is also being reactivated and could be ready by year's end. Protesters argue the trains are dangerous because the lines cut across major roads like Route 28 in Roselle Park, The Boulevard in Kenilworth, Mountain Avenue in Springfield andbehind hundreds of homes. The federal government has refused to kill the plan. The Union County freeholders agreed to the revitalization plan last year. Trains would run no more than three times a week in the first two years of operation. During the third year, the train traffic would increase to three to five times a week. [United Transportation Union, 10-25-04, from item appearing in the Star-Ledger]
RAILROADS SET TOTAL FREIGHT VOLUME RECORD: U.S. railroads moved more freight during the week ended October 16 than during any previous week on record, according to this release issued by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Total volume of 33.1 billion ton-miles broke the previous record of 32.7 billion ton-miles set just one week earlier. It also represented a 2.2 percent increase over total volume during the comparable week last year. Intermodal volume of 231,255 trailers or containers also set a weekly record, besting the old mark of 231,025 trailers or containers set during the week ended September 25. This week's volume was up 9.5 percent from the comparable week a year ago, with container volume was up 10.1 percent from last year and trailer volume gaining 7.7 percent. Carload freight, which doesn't include the intermodal data, totaled 354,224 units, up 2.0 percent from last year and was the highest weekly total in more than three years. Carload volume was up 2.2 percent in the East and 1.8 percent in the West. [Assn. of American Railroads, 10-21-04]
NJ TRANSIT OPENS MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY STATION: On October 20, New Jersey Transit opened the Montclair State University Station and parking deck on the Montclair-Boonton Line in Little Falls. The 1,500-space parking deck is part of the state's commitment to increase NJ Transit parking by 20,000 spaces by 2007. The agency has added more than 7,000 new spaces throughout the system during the past two years. The station features an elevated pedestrian overpass serving the deck and center island platform, four elevators, a climate-controlled pedestrian overpass, and a coffee and pastry shop. Agency officials expect the new station to add about 1,800 riders to the system. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 10-21-04]
CSX ADOPTS POLICY ON RIGHTS PLANS: Recently, the CSX board approved a policy regarding shareholder rights plans, or "poison pills." Under this policy, any future shareholder rights plan would only be adopted by a majority of the independent directors of CSX if they determine adoption is consistent with the exercise of their fiduciary duties. In addition, under this policy, any rights plan adopted by the board without shareholder approval would expire in one year unless ratified by shareholders. CSX does not currently have a shareholder rights plan. Last year its board took action to terminate the CSX rights plan. [CSX, 10-20-04]
UNION PACIFIC REPORTS THIRD-QUARTER RESULTS: Union Pacific Corp. has reported 2004 third-quarter income from continuing operations of $202-million or 77 cents per diluted share, down from $300-million or $1.15 per diluted share in the third-quarter of 2003. "Our $3.1-billion in third-quarter operating revenue marks the second consecutive quarter of railroad revenue over the $3-billion mark and our best total revenue ever as a company," said Dick Davidson, chairman and CEO. "However, unprecedented fuel prices and high operating costs resulting from our service inefficiencies outweighed the revenue growth."
NORFOLK SOUTHERN RESPONDS TO STB VOTE ON RATE CASES: Norfolk Southern Corporation said it is pleased that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has voted to uphold the Company's rates on certain coal movements in the two pending rate cases brought by Duke Energy Corp. and Carolina Power & Light Company. In the ruling, the STB invited Duke Energy and Carolina Power & Light to initiate proceedings to determine whether the phase-in constraints of the Constrained Market Pricing Guidelines should apply. Accordingly, the Company cannot determine the impact of the decisions at this time. Norfolk Southern will continue to monitor developments in the two cases. [Norfolk Suthern, 10-20-04]
FIRE IN CREW CAR DELAYS AMTRAK TRAIN: Fire broke out in the crew dorm car of an Amtrak passenger train headed east from Toledo early yesterday [October 19], but no one was injured seriously, and the train resumed its journey after a three-hour delay. Employees in the dorm car saw smoke and tripped the Lake Shore Limited's emergency brake about 2:05 a.m., bringing the train to a stop near Gypsum, Ohio, in Ottawa County, 37 miles east of Toledo. After the dorm car and the passenger car ahead of it in the train were evacuated, the engines uncoupled the rest of the train from those cars and pulled ahead while several local fire departments responded to the call. Several employees were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said. After a three-hour, nine-minute delay, the train reconnected to the empty passenger car and resumed its trip to New York and Boston with its estimated 198 passengers and crew of 12. The extent of the fire and its cause were not immediately known. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 10-20-04, from report on Toledo Blade website]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN 3RD-QUARTER PROFIT RISES: Rail transportation firm Norfolk Southern Corp. more than doubled its third-quarter profit, helped by surging railway revenue and a one-time gain from the reorganization of its Conrail unit, according to the Associated Press. The company's quarterly income was $288-million, or 72 cents per share, up from $137-million, or 35 cents, in the year-ago period. Excluding a gain of $53-million, or 13 cents per share, from reorganizing Conrail, Norfolk's earnings of 59 cents per share topped estimates of 54 cents from analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call. Total railway revenue rose 16 percent to $1.86-billion from $1.6-billion last year, with merchandise ship revenue rising 10 percent to $1-billion, coal revenue up 20 percent to $447-million and intermodal revenue climbing 29 percent to $404 million. Meanwhile, total railway operating expenses increased 8 percent for the quarter to $1.39-billion. [United Transportation Union, 10-20-04, from Associated Press]
INDIANA & OHIO COMPLETES PURCHASE OF CSX LINE IN OHIO: RailAmerica, Inc. yesterday (Oct. 18) said that its subsidiary, Indiana & Ohio Central Railroad, Inc. (IOCR), completed its $8.6-million purchase of 107 miles of railroad from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Columbus, Ohio (the Midland Subdivision), and the long-term lease of the related real estate from CSX Corporation's subsidiary, CSX Transportation, Inc., according to this release issued by RailAmerica. The line will be operated as part of the IOCR, which anticipates moving approximately 19,000 carloads annually over the line. The IOCR connects with the Midland Subdivision at Washington Courthouse, Ohio, and RailAmerica's Indiana & Ohio Railway (IORY) at Springfield, Ohio. Major customers on the line are Cargill, Sabina Farmer's Exchange, Lowe's and Weyerhaeuser. Primary commodities shipped on the line are agricultural & farm products, chemicals, and paper products. [RailAmerica, 10-18-04]
DEFECT FOUND IN CALIFORNIA RAIL LINE: Rail officials said a defect in a steel track was the probable cause of a break in the railroad line that sent a Union Pacific cargo train crashing into the backyards of a neighborhood on the edge of Whittier, California, where distraught residents were allowed Sunday (Oct. 17) to gather a few belongings from their homes as cleanup continued, according to this report by Richard Fausset published by the Los Angeles Times. A Union Pacific metallurgist discovered the imperfection in the rail line a few hours after the Saturday-morning derailment, said Mark W. Davis, a spokesman for the railroad. The crash sent boxcars and metal containers lurching into barbecues and garden plots, and caused a quarter-mile mess that was visible from the adjacent 605 Freeway. Four homes were damaged, one deemed uninhabitable, but no one was seriously injured. A 6-foot rail segment with the defect was being sent to Washington, D.C., to be further analyzed by the National Transportation Safety Board. Davis said he did not know the nature of the defect but ruled out foul play. The stretch of track, which is shared by Metrolink's Los Angeles-to-Riverside commuter train, was expected to reopen by Sunday evening. [United Transportation Union, 10-18-04, from report by Richard Fausset published by the Los Angeles Times]
BNSF REALIGNS DIVISIONS IN CALIFORNIA: The Northern California and Southern California divisions will be realigned into two new operating divisions in order to enable BNSF to better manage the increase in traffic through Pacific Southwest ports, it was announced today, October 18, by Dave Dealy, vice president, Transportation. The changes are effective November 1. The Los Angeles Division is responsible for operations on the Alameda Corridor and Harbor subdivisions and the San Bernardino Subdivision west of Bandini (Milepost 149.8), and includes the Hobart terminal and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Rob Reilly has been promoted to general manager of the Los Angeles Division; he previously served as the Southern California Division's general director transportation. The California Division will include the Northern California Division and the Southern California Division territory not included in the Los Angeles Division. Michael Shircliff has been named to lead the California Division; he was previously general manager of the Southern California Division. Steve Weatherby, general manager of the Northern California Division, is retiring from BNSF November 1. [BNSF Today, 10-18-04]
UNION PACIFIC DONATES WILLAMETTE BRIDGE TO CITY OF SALEM, OREGON: Union Pacific Railroad announced October 15 it is donating the former railroad branch line bridge over the Willamette River to the City of Salem, Oregon. The railroad also has agreed to establish a fund for maintenance of the bridge over the next four years. In addition, Union Pacific will donate land for a park and trail to access the bridge on the west side of Wallace Road. Union Pacific's predecessor in Salem, Southern Pacific, stopped using the bridge in the early 1970s. The bridge has been the focus of attention for recreational uses for many years. [Union Pacific, 10-15-04]
BNSF ADDED TO STANDARD & POOR'S TOP TEN PORTFOLIO: On October 11, Standard & Poor's Equity Research Group made changes to the S&P Top 10 portfolio - those issues it considers to be the best candidates for capital gains over the next 6 to 12 months. Standard & Poor's added BNSF and MBNA Corp. to the portfolio. "S&P's continued bullishness on BNSF reflects our view of its strong 45 percent market share in providing Western U.S. rail traffic to the consumer, industrial, coal, and agricultural sectors of the economy," says S&P, as reported in Business Week Online. "We see protracted revenue growth supported by economically sensitive shipping line volume gains. Our 12-month target price on BNSF is $49, applying a 16 price-earnings multiple to our 2005 earnings per share estimate of $3.05, revised from $2.96. BNSF also provides a 1.7 percent dividend yield," S&P continues. Year-to-date through September 30, 2004, the Top 10 has gained 8.71 percent, vs. a gain of 1.51 percent for the S&P 500 index on a total return basis. [BNSF Today, 10-14-04]
BOMBARDIER AWARDED ORDER FOR RAIL CARS IN NEW MEXICO: Bombardier Transportation has received a $22-million order for the design and manufacturing of new commuter vehicles for the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the company said. Bombardier will provide 10 Bi-Level commuter rail vehicles, six cab cars and four coaches which will be used to provide transportation between Belen and Bernalillo. The vehicles will be built at Bombardier's Thunder Bay, Ontario, manufacturing facility. Production will begin in the coming months and first deliveries are expected in the summer of 2005, the company said. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 10-14-04, from report in Canadian Press]
AMTRAK OPENS REPAIR YARD IN WEST OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA: Think of Jiffy Lube for trains and you'll get a sense for why Amtrak's big guns got excited Tuesday [October 12] about opening a new $71-million maintenance facility in the West Oakland rail yards. The operative word here is jiffy, and that's good news to Amtrak's California Zephyr tourists and routine riders on the inter-city Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin lines. A specially designed system of parallel tracks and trenches allow some of the 150 mechanics to replace a wheel set in an hour. A few hundred yards down the tracks, they can wash an entire train in three minutes. Inside a huge hangar just off Third Street, crews can scour over a locomotive from top to bottom, replenishing the diesel engine with mechanical fluids while co-workers repair the undercarriages. The entire 22-acre facility, visible just from the main line between Oakland's Jack London Square and Emeryville stations, replaces a 100-year-old shed in the heart - and in the way - of Union Pacific's freight rail yards. Amtrak is hiring an unspecified number of mechanics to work at the new maintenance yard. When the Amtrak Kirkham Maintenance Facility goes into full operation next month, Amtrak will service all of 20 locomotives and 78 rail cars on the Capitol Corridor and San Joaquins. Previously trains had to take a three-day detour to be serviced in Los Angeles. It means more reliable service and cleaner trains on Amtrak's third- and fifth-busiest inter-city rail lines. That's one of the reasons the Caltrans Rail Division, which pays for that Oakland-based service, poured $38-million into the new maintenance yard. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 10-13-04, from article by Sean Holstege posted on the Tri-Valley Herald website]
CONGRESS APPROVES KEY RAILROAD TAX MEASURES: The United States Congress has given final approval to a corporate tax package that includes two major railroad provisions: repeal of the 4.3 cent per gallon fuel tax paid by all railroads and a tax credit for the maintenance of track for Class II and Class III railroads, reports the Association of American Railroads. The Senate adjourned after voting 69-17 to send the corporate tax measure (HR 4520) to the President's desk for signature. The House of Representatives had passed the measure by a vote of 280 -141 October 7. The White House has stated that the President will sign the bill. The 4.3 cent per gallon fuel tax costs carriers $170-million annually in excise taxes directed to the general Treasury. The 4.3 cent tax will be phased out over two years, with a one-cent reduction effective January 1, 2005, two cents by July 1, 2005 and then full repeal on January 1, 2007. The railroad track maintenance credit is available for any Class II or Class III railroad, as well as any person who transports property using Class II or Class III rail facilities. The credit is limited to 50 percent of the amount of qualifying railroad track maintenance expenditures and is capped by the total of $3,500 times the number of miles owned or leased by the Class II or Class III railroad. Qualifying expenditures include such things as roadbed, bridges, related track structures and track signaling. [BNSF Today, 10-13-04]
AMTRAK SETS RECORD RIDERSHIP: For the second year in a row, Amtrak has posted its highest ridership ever. The federally subsidized railroad, a continual source of debate in Congress, carried 25,053,564 passengers nationwide in the fiscal year that ended September 30. That's a 4.3 percent increase over the previous year's ridership of 24,028,119 - the previous record-setting total for the 33-year-old Amtrak system. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 10-12-04, from Copley News Service article by Mike Ramsey]
BNSF TO ESTABLISH LOGISTICS CENTER IN CALIFORNIA: BNSF announced October 11 it will establish BNSF Logistics Center-Fontana at the Kaiser Commerce Center about 13 miles west of San Bernardino. Construction of the facility will begin in late 2004 and it is scheduled to open third quarter 2005. This facility will provide transload services for all types of commodities such as: Dimensional commodities such as lumber and steel; commodities that require warehousing such as consumer goods; and bulk commodities, which are loaded directly from rail to truck or truck to rail. When completed, the combined facilities will bring approximately 300 jobs to the area. [BNSF Today, 10-11-04]
TRAINS SIDESWIPE IN BALTIMORE: Two CSXT freight trains collided about noontime Sunday [October 10] about a block and a half south of M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens, would have been alive with activity at that time of day had the Ravens been playing an afternoon game there. Instead the Ravens were playing away that evening. According to news reports, two crew members were injured in the accident, and they were transported to the nearby Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Injuries were said not to be life-threatening. The trains involved were reportedly moving in opposite directions. One had just emerged from the Howard Street tunnel, and the other would have eventually taken its turn to pass through the tunnel, which is single-track, according to news reports. Units from the Baltimore City Fire Department responded to the scene, but there was no fire. The scene of the accident is along the route used by MARC Camden Line commuter trains between Baltimore and Washington, but MARC trains do not operate on Sundays. It is less than a quarter of a mile from the location known as "Baileys Wye," a junction used by the railroad connecting Locust Point to the east with the main line running geographically northeast and southwest between the north part of Baltimore and points northeast thereof, and the south and west toward Virginia and the Midwest. The Howard Street tunnel, about a mile north of the accident site, was the scene in July 2001 of a massive fire from a derailment that closed the tunnel for about a week and caused extensive disruption in Baltimore's downtown area.
AAR SELECTS VIRGINIA TECH TO HOST NEW RESEARCH LAB: Railroad traffic - both freight and passenger - has increased to record levels in the United States during the past few years, and the railroad industry is in need of new technologies to help ensure the future of railway infrastructure and operations. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has chosen Virginia Tech's College of Engineering to host an affiliated laboratory for research in critical technical areas. The AAR, whose members include Amtrak and the major freight railroads in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, is the world's leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers. The AAR agreement with Virginia Tech includes an annual grant of $200,000 that the engineering college will use to establish the Railway Technologies Laboratory. [Assn. of American Railroads, 10-8-04]
ILLINOIS RAILNET ACQUIRES TWO BNSF LINES IN ILLINOIS: Illinois RailNet will acquire two rail lines consisting of nearly 25 miles of track from BNSF in northern Illinois. The two rail lines being acquired by Illinois RailNet are between Oregon (Illinois), and Mt. Morris; and between Zearing and La Salle. Illinois RailNet will take control of operations on both lines on October 9. This additional Illinois RailNet trackage will serve customers in the towns of Oregon, Mt. Morris, Ladd, La Salle, Spring Valley and Peru, Ill. Illinois RailNet was created in 1997 and with this expansion will operate 113 miles of track. Illinois RailNet will interchange with BNSF at Oregon and/or Flag Center for traffic originating or terminating between Oregon and Mt. Morris, and at Zearing for traffic originating or terminating between Zearing and La Salle. [BNSF Today, 10-8-04]
DELAYED CSX PROJECTS TO BEGIN: The 100-mile railroad between Richmond and Washington will get a $65.7-million makeover now that its owner has agreed to get the project going, according to the Richmond Times Dispatch. CSX Corp. signed a construction agreement yesterday [Oct. 6] with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation that uses state rail funds to make long-needed improvements for a smoother and more predictable passenger rail network along the Interstate 95 corridor. While most of the work is north of Richmond, CSX officials said the agreement could spark other upgrades between the suburban Amtrak station on Staples Mill Road and Main Street Station downtown. Gov. Mark R. Warner also received a conciliatory note from the railroad's top executive, after months of often-tense negotiations between CSX and Virginia officials. "I want to stress that despite the frustration about the length of time it has taken to complete the many steps needed to get to this point, we have negotiated in good faith throughout the process," wrote Michael J. Ward, chairman, president and chief executive of CSX. Ward noted that "this agreement was the first of its kind for CSX, and many of the terms and conditions have set precedent that should make our business dealings easier in the future." He defended the company from recent criticism by Warner's top rail official over CSX's seeming reluctance to spend $65.7-million approved by the 2000 General Assembly. The state appropriation was meant to improve the rail system and make it easier for Amtrak passenger trains to run between the capital cities. "I can assure you that CSX is committed to learning from this experience and will work together with you to improve the process from both sides," he wrote. Ward asked to meet with Warner "to establish a common set of expectations and set the tone for our relationship." After they meet, Ward said, he wants senior CSX representatives to have "more in-depth discussions" with Virginia rail and public transportation officials. "I sincerely hope this gives you a clear signal that we are committed to strengthening the positive and productive relationship that has existed between CSX and the Commonwealth for many years." The state allocation will pay for six projects in the next few years that will add to CSX's track capacity. The improvements should give the railroad more places to move freight trains when passenger trains need to pass by on the main line. The first project could begin in mid-November in Stafford County, where $5.5-million has been earmarked to build a connection between two tracks, and new signals are to be installed between Quantico and Fredericksburg. [United Transportation Union, 10-7-04, from report by Richmond Times Dispatch]
AMTRAK WITHDRAWS FROM NEW YORK PENN STATION PROJECT: Amtrak's withdrawal from the new Penn Station project threatens to blow a massive budget hole in the plan and knock it off track, state officials said, according to the New York Daily News. Amtrak was expected to be a paying tenant in the new hub in the Farley Post Office, and pony up $50-million to upgrade the underground ventilation system for the current platforms and tracks west of Eighth Ave., state officials said. Amtrak, however, has told the state it is backing out because of budgetary problems, development officials said. An Amtrak spokesman said he couldn't confirm whether the heavily subsidized rail system had ever pledged the money. Either way, loss of the $50-million presents even bigger money problems for the project, which is being spearheaded by the Empire State Development Corp. The lack of full funding will - for legal reasons - stop officials from tapping into another $315-million in revenue streams, including proceeds expected from bond sales, state officials and project supporters say. "Unless they plug the hole, the project has high risk of mortality," said Lee Sander, director of the Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management at NYU. The new $910-million hub, championed by the late Sen. Daniel Moynihan (D-N.Y.), is designed to bring back the grandeur of the original station, demolished in the 1960s. It also would provide better access to and from platforms, increase train service, reduce overcrowding and boost local redevelopment, supporters say. [United Transportation Union, 10-7-04, from report published in the Daily News]
SALE OF TFM RAILWAY TO KCS APPROVED BY MEXICO: Kansas City Southern Inc. (KCS) said Wednesday (Oct. 6) that Mexican authorities reversed an earlier decision and approved the company's purchase of a stake in the country's main rail line, according to this Reuters report. Mexico's foreign investment commission approved the $412 million sale of Mexican transport company TMM's stake in TFM, which operates the country's main rail line, after TMM and U.S based Kansas City Southern (KCS) appealed a September decision to nix the deal. Kansas City Southern Chairman Michael Haverty said this week's decision "is consistent with previous decisions by the commission." TFM is currently 41 percent owned by TMM, KCS has 39 percent, and the Mexican government owns the rest. In Mexico, the approval of the foreign investment commission is needed before a foreign company can take control of a Mexican railway. Struggling with large debts, TMM agreed in April 2003 to sell its TFM stake to Kansas City Southern but then called off the deal in August last year. Kansas City Southern opposed the pullout and both sides eventually agreed to arbitration. A panel came down in favor of Kansas City Southern. [United Transportation Union, 10-6-04, from report by Reuters]
SOUTHWESTERN RAILROAD LEASING NEW MEXICO LINE FROM BNSF: Southwestern Railroad, Inc. (SWRR) is now serving rail customers on 263 miles of track between Loving Junction and Clovis, N.M. SWRR is leasing the line, known as the Carlsbad Subdivision, from BNSF and began operations over the line Sunday, Oct. 3. This additional SWRR trackage will serve customers at the stations of Cameo, Portales, Yerba, Delphos, Kermit, Elida, Tornero, Kenna, Boaz, Campbell, Acme, Melena, Poe, Roswell, South Springs, Chisum, Dexter, Hagerman, Espuela, Artesia, Atoka, Dayton, Lakewood, Avalon, Carlsbad, Otis, and Loving, N.M. SWRR will interchange with BNSF at Clovis, N.M. With the addition of the Carlsbad Subdivision, SWRR consists of three distinct operations, with lines in New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. SWRR began operations in June 1990 on lines purchased from the Santa Fe Railway, a BNSF predecessor. [BNSF Today, 10-5-04]
TRI-RAIL GETS FUNDING FOR DOUBLE-TRACK PROJECT: The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $13.6-million grant Monday [Oct. 4] to Tri-Rail to help pay for the agency's double-tracking project, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which runs the commuter train, has received $94.9-million so far to help pay for the $334 million project. The latest funding is part of a $110-million grant the Federal Transit Administration approved for the project in 2000. The second track is scheduled for completion by November 2005. Rush-hour trains will run every 20 minutes in early 2006 after a new high-level bridge carrying the tracks over the New River in Fort Lauderdale is finished. [United Transportation Union, 10-5-04, from item appearing in the Sun Sentinel]
SENATE APPROVES BILL STEMMING FROM MINOT DERAILMENT: The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that deals with railroad track and tanker car safety measures, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D) says. The measures were recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board after the January 2002 Canadian Pacific train derailment and chemical spill on the outskirts of Minot, N.D. The accident killed one man and injured hundreds of people who were subjected to anhydrous ammonia, a toxic farm fertilizer. If the legislation also passes the House, the Federal Railroad Administration would be required to create a program to review rail inspections, begin developing design standards for pressurized tank cars and study the safety of older tank cars. Federal safety investigators concluded that the Minot derailment was caused by inadequate track maintenance and inspections, which Canadian Pacific officials have denied. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 10-4-04, from Associated Press]
SEPTA RAIL PACT RATIFIED: By an eight-to-one margin, UTU-represented conductors and assistant conductors employed by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's rail division have ratified a new agreement. SEPTA's board of directors still must approve the new contract before it becomes effective. The agreement resolves the matter of longevity pay in favor of the UTU. "The agreement is an important recognition by SEPTA that the pay of conductors and engineers is wed together," said UTU International Vice President Bruce Wigent, who assisted UTU Local 61. General Chairperson Ralph Vazquez in the negotiations. The agreement was reached in September as a second presidential emergency board (PEB) was considering the last final offer of the two parties. In May, an earlier PEB agreed with the UTU position regarding the issue of longevity pay, but SEPTA rejected those PEB recommendations. Under special commuter provisions of the Railway Labor Act, up to two PEBs may be appointed when the parties are unable to reach agreement. The dispute began after SEPTA agreed to provide engineers, represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, with longevity pay, but declined to extend the same pattern to UTU-represented conductors. Wigent and Vazquez successfully argued before that first PEB that since engineers, conductors and assistant conductors must work together cooperatively as members of train crews - assuring trains run safely and efficiently - that the longevity pay pattern applicable to engineers apply as well to conductors and assistant conductors. If SEPTA's board of directors fails to approve this latest UTU-ratified agreement, the second PEB shall submit a report to the White House setting forth its determination of the most reasonable offer. SEPTA's commuter rail division, which employs 365 conductors and assistant conductors represented by UTU Local 61, includes 13 separate train routes providing 28.1 million passenger trips annually. [United Transportation Union, 10-2-04]
TRAIN STATION AT STURTEVANT, WISCONSIN, TO BE REPLACED: The long-planned project to replace the dilapidated Amtrak station in Sturtevant, Wisc. got the approval of Sturtevant's Village Board on Tuesday [September 28]. Legal issues between the Village, Amtrak, and Canadian Pacific Railway have been resolved, and the project can move forward. Construction on the $3.2-million project will begin in the Spring. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 10-1-04]
UNION PACIFIC ORDERS LOW-EMISSION LOCOMOTIVES: Union Pacific Railroad has ordered 315 diesel-electric locomotives designed to significantly decrease air emissions. This decision follows a testing program that Union Pacific began over a year ago. The new low-emission locomotives will satisfy U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "railroad Tier 2" emission regulations that become effective January 1, 2005. Currently, about 35 percent of Union Pacific's 7,861-unit locomotive fleet is certified under existing EPA Tier 0 and Tier 1 regulations which govern air emissions. That gives Union Pacific the most environmentally friendly locomotive fleet in the nation. The new 1ocomotives produce approximately the same horsepower as existing locomotives, but will reduce air emissions as much as 40 percent. Delivery is scheduled in the first half of 2005. [Union Pacific, 9-30-04]
MILLIONS FOR CSX RAIL UPGRADES UNSPENT: Virginia's top public rail official yesterday [Sept. 29] said she was "disappointed and frustrated" with CSX Corp. for delaying a $65.7-million upgrade of the rail system between Richmond and Washington. The improvements are a cornerstone of the state's efforts to make Amtrak more reliable and faster between the capital cities. Better service, in turn, is considered key to luring passengers back to Richmond's reopened Main Street Station. "Why isn't the railroad spending the $65-million?" asked Karen J. Rae, director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation at a conference at Main Street Station. The 2000 General Assembly allocation was meant to improve the rail system along the busy I-95 corridor. The goal is to give motorists an incentive to take an Amtrak train rather than add to traffic congestion. Only about $2-million of the allocation has been spent to date, mostly for environmental studies. The bulk of the work has been awaiting the final go-ahead from CSX. Rae delivered a frank assessment of the sometimes rocky relationship between Virginia transportation officials and CSX, which owns and operates the 100 miles of track from Richmond to Washington. Rae said she is concerned about Virginia's inability to get CSX, the nation's third-largest railroad, to stay on track to do the improvements. "We have some cooperation at CSX, but I'm not sure it's through the whole corporate structure," she said in an interview. In mid-July, Rae and CSX officials announced an agreement that allowed six projects to move forward. Since then, she said, CSX has raised new issues such as insurance coverage that have delayed the start of construction. Rae has requested a meeting with CSX's chairman and CEO, Michael Ward, to discuss her concerns. CSX spokesman Bob Sullivan, when asked about Rae's remarks, said his company remains committed to the work. The railroad has sustained widespread damage from the recent hurricanes and tropical storms that have hit the Southeast the core of CSX's operations. The railroad, though "very committed" to the Virginia projects, has been swamped by other concerns, he said. The hurricanes have "taken a lot of the focus of virtually everybody on this railroad," Sullivan said. Gov. Mark R. Warner's top transportation official said yesterday that he also wants to meet with CSX. "CSX has a unique opportunity to capitalize on the use of this $65.7-million," said Whitt Clement, secretary of transportation and Rae's boss. Clement praised the other major railroad operating in Virginia Norfolk Southern Corp. for "sending a clearer message than CSX" about its plans to work on joint projects geared toward taking trucks off the highway and restoring passenger rail service in western Virginia. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-30-04, from story by Chip Jones appearing on the Richmond Times-Dispatch website]
FIRE IN COMMUTER TUNNEL IS TRACED TO A WIRE IN QUEENS: It started with a single power line that somehow fell down. The line, one of a series of electrical wires that power trains and equipment, fell on another overhead wire along the railroad tracks that run from Queens into Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan. That mishap on Monday afternoon [September 27], railroad officials said, set in motion the chain of events that brought the station to a standstill and disrupted the trip home for more than 100,000 commuters. The crisis began just before 1 p.m. somewhere in Queens, according to the working theory that has emerged. There, a signal cable, carrying more than 2,000 volts, came down on the overhead wire that provides electric power to trains at 11,000 volts. Like a lightning strike, the contact between the two lines sent a surge of power down the line and into one of the four tunnels under the East River, setting off an explosion from a circuit breaker, overloading a transformer, knocking out power and leaving and an electrical fire and heavy smoke in its wake. Unsure of exactly what was going on, officials inside the Penn Station Control Center, which is near the station, tried to restore power, said Clifford Black, a spokesman for Amtrak, which owns Penn Station. They were able to briefly, but then lost it again, confirming that there was a serious problem underground. They were able, however, to bring in a train from Washington that was stranded inside a tunnel under the Hudson River. Meanwhile, responding to a 911 call, firefighters arrived at New York University Medical Center at 33rd Street and First Avenue and found smoke billowing from an emergency exit shaft leading into the hospital from the East River tunnel, said Michael Loughran, a Fire Department spokesman. A fire chief went halfway down the shaft, a narrow spiral staircase that winds 92 feet to the track bed, before retreating. After confirming that no passenger trains were stuck in the tunnel, they asked that power to all four tunnels under the East River be shut down. This was a crippling blow for the Long Island Rail Road, the biggest user of Penn Station, and its riders were most severely affected by the problems. The railroad was unable to run any passenger trains into or out of Penn Station for hours during the afternoon and evening. But because power was restored to tunnels under the Hudson River, New Jersey Transit and Amtrak were able to operate a limited number of trains, except for about an hour when the station was shut because of seeping smoke. Train schedules did not return to normal until Tuesday afternoon. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-29-04, from article by Michael Luo posted on the New York Times website]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN NAMES MOORMAN PRESIDENT, PROMOTES SIX OFFICERS: Norfolk Southern Corporation has announced changes to its senior management team, including the election of a new president and the promotion of six senior executives, to become effective October 1. David R. Goode, chairman and chief executive officer, said that Charles W. Moorman, currently senior vice president corporate planning and services, has been elected president. L.I. Prillaman, vice chairman and chief marketing officer; Stephen C. Tobias, vice chairman and chief operating officer; and Henry C. Wolf, vice chairman and chief financial officer, will report to Moorman. Moorman, a native of Hattiesburg, Miss., joined Norfolk Southern in 1970. He has served in senior positions in the corporation's transportation, personnel, labor relations, information technology and strategic planning areas. He was named president of NS' Thoroughbred Technology and Telecommunications subsidiary in 1999 and to his current position in 2003. Goode also announced the following executive changes: James A. Hixon, currently senior vice president legal and government affairs, was named executive vice president finance and public affairs, reporting to Wolf; Mark D. Manion, currently senior vice president transportation operations, was named executive vice president operations, reporting to Tobias; Kathryn B. McQuade, currently senior vice president finance, was named executive vice president planning and chief information officer, reporting to Moorman; John P. Rathbone, currently senior vice president administration, was named executive vice president administration, reporting to Moorman; Donald W. Seale, currently senior vice president marketing services, was named executive vice president sales and marketing, reporting to Prillaman; and James A. Squires, currently vice president law, was named senior vice president law, reporting to Wolf. [Norfolk Southern, 9-28-04]
RAIL BRIDGES AT RISK IN CONNECTICUT: Passengers riding the rails in the Northeast hardly notice the three busy drawbridges they cross in southeastern Connecticut. But Amtrak engineers say the bridges are in such dire condition that they threaten to sever service between New York and Boston and curtail access to three rivers, according to this report by Alison Leigh Cowan published by the New York Times. The tiny 291-foot drawbridge that has operated over the Niantic River here for 97 years is the busiest of the three. Its steel supports have holes so large, a person can stick a finger in them. To the east, bolts supporting a four-million-pound counterweight keep failing on the 85-year-old bridge that runs over the Thames River. To the west, structural support pins are wearing out on the bridge that ferries trains over the Connecticut River, much as it has for 97 years. Of the roughly 1,300 bridges that Amtrak owns, the three in southeastern Connecticut are among the most antiquated and least reliable in the system, Amtrak officials said on Tuesday [September 28]. "These bridges are worn out and have reached the end of their useful lives," said Jim Richter, Amtrak's deputy chief engineer for structures. "The time has come to replace them." He and his colleagues want Congress to approve a $1.5-billion appropriation for the fiscal year that begins on Friday, up from last year's $1.2-billion, so that they can mend or replace the bridges and do other repairs. But they are having so little success persuading Congress to budge much beyond $1.2-billion, that they passed out hard hats and invited reporters and an aide to Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, a Democrat from Connecticut, to tour the bridges on Tuesday so they could see their many flaws. Amtrak is heavily dependent on federal money and does not have the resources to address the infrastructure problems it inherited from the bankrupt Penn Central Railroad, which once owned the lines in this part of Connecticut. Six bridges in Connecticut are overdue for overhauls, according to Amtrak engineers. The three drawbridges pose the most immediate problems because of the wear and tear they each endure from having to open nearly 4,000 times a year to accommodate everything from commercial fishing boats to pleasure boats to submarines coming and going to their base in Groton. As part of its $1.5-billion request before Congress, Amtrak proposes to use $350 million to repair infrastructure like tracks, stations and bridges. In recent years, it has received an average of $71-million a year toward such projects, according to Mr. Hughes. That money has to cover any repairs needed in a system that encompasses 1,100 miles of track, 1,300 bridges, 1,000 miles of power lines, 18 miles of tunnels, and Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan. [United Transportation Union, 9-28-04, from report by Alison Leigh Cowan published by the New York Times]
TRUCKER IN BOURBONNAIS CRASH GETS TWO YEARS IN PRISON: The truck driver involved in a deadly 1999 Amtrak derailment near Bourbonnais, Illinois, was sentenced Tuesday [Sept. 28] to two years in prison for violating driving time limits and logbook rules - the only criminal charges he faced. The crash killed 11 people and injured 122 others aboard Amtrak's City of New Orleans. John R. Stokes, 63, was driving a truck loaded with steel the night of March 15, 1999, when the train hit it. The impact derailed the train, sending it smashing into other rail cars loaded with steel on an adjacent track. Stokes was found guilty last month by Kankakee County Judge Clark Erickson of a willful violation of the maximum time limit for commercial truckers and willfully violating laws requiring him to keep an accurate logbook. In sentencing Stokes, Erickson said that while it couldn't be proven a lack of rest led to the accident, Stokes might have been able to avoid it if he hadn't been fatigued. Stokes did not make any comment in court, and Erickson ordered him immediately taken into custody. The defense had argued that Stokes suffered from a variety of medical problems including diabetes, and that he should not serve jail time because he is not a danger to society. The National Transportation Safety Board ruled that Stokes' failure to heed railroad crossing signals and gates had caused the accident. Federal investigators also said Stokes had had just three to five hours of sleep in the 38 hours before the accident; federal rules at the time required an eight-hour break after 10 hours of driving. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-28-04, from Associated Press article]
DELAYS MOUNT AT CALIFORNIA PORTS AS SHIPPING SURGES: Despite relief efforts, congestion at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach is getting worse as the holiday shipping season kicks into high gear, according to the Los Angeles Times. At any given time in recent weeks, there have been as many as 83 vessels waiting to be unloaded - an international flotilla of cargo ships bigger than most of the world's navies. Moreover, it is taking six to eight days to empty each of those ships, twice as long as when the ports are hosting their normal complement of 35 to 50 vessels. Although no one is predicting empty shelves, the tie-up could thin the supply of some hot-selling items. And it's having other, more far-reaching consequences. Some manufacturers and retailers have changed the way they do business to protect themselves from shipping delays. Truck drivers have quit by the hundreds after waiting as long as seven hours to pick up one load. Blame abounds. Truckers fault the terminal operators for early gate closings and late fees they contend are unreasonable. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union blames the shipping lines and the railroads for waiting too long to hire more dockworkers, locomotive engineers and conductors. John Bromley, director of public affairs for Union Pacific Corp., had a short answer when asked if the railroad had anticipated the current volume of cargo traffic. "No," he said. Union Pacific plans to hire 5,000 employees primarily in the Southwest, add 700 locomotives and 6,500 freight cars by the end of the year, and lay about $225-million in new track, Bromley said. "We intend to keep the workforce up to a point where we can handle these kind of surges in the future," he said. The only other major Southern California railroad, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., is doing much the same, including the laying of a third main line for seven miles near the Cajon Pass, where the railroad has had to share track time with Amtrak and Metrolink. [United Transportation Union, 9-27-04, from Los Angeles Times]
AMTRAK SAYS TURBO PROJECT A DEAD ISSUE: A $185-million high-speed rail contract between Amtrak and the state should be declared legally dead, the railroad contends in legal papers filed Thursday in federal court. Amtrak's response to a lawsuit filed last month by the state Department of Transportation is the strongest statement yet that Amtrak doesn't believe it is possible to salvage any portion of the ambitious plan that was to cut the trip from Rensselaer to New York City by 20 minutes, to two hours. Amtrak officials said in December that they were "unable to participate in the high-speed rail agreement as originally conceived," and had been warning the DOT of their doubts for more than a year. The deal with the DOT was to include the reconstruction of seven 1970s-era trains by Super Steel Schenectady and an array of track and signal improvements. Three of the Turboliners were rebuilt at a cost of tens of millions of dollars but sat idle all summer at Amtrak's Rensselaer yard because of faulty air conditioning. On Tuesday [September 21], Amtrak had the trains towed to Delaware for storage, further dimming hopes that they would ever be put in service. Since Gov. George Pataki announced the high-speed plan in 1998, the DOT and Amtrak have been at odds over how to deliver faster service to New York City. The cash-strapped railroad has never been enamored of the Turbo trains, citing fuel costs and limited seating capacity. In addition, Amtrak has failed to complete needed track improvements that would allow the trains to approach their top speeds of 125 mph. Last month, DOT filed a federal lawsuit asking that Amtrak be forced to carry through on its contract commitments or pay the state $477-million in damages. That is the amount the state estimates would be Amtrak's full contribution to the program, including the $300-million cost of operating the seven refurbished Turboliners for 15 years. A member of the Assembly Transportation Committee chastised state officials Thursday for failing to adequately safeguard New York's investment in the high-speed rail program. Assemblyman Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, who is also chairman of the Energy Committee, said the whole program was "so loosely defined" that it's difficult to determine whether the Turboliners will ever be used. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-24-04, from article by Cathy Woodruff posted on the Albany Times-Union website]
SOUNDER TICKETS NOW HONORED ON AMTRAK TRAINS: Amtrak and the Sounder commuter rail service in Seattle now have a cross-honoring agreement on all Amtrak trains (except the Empire Builder) between Seattle, Edmonds, and Everett, expanding options for Sounder commuters. The current single Sounder trip per day is supplemented by the two Amtrak round trips (Trains 510 and 517 to/from Vancouver, B.C. and trains 516 and 516 to/from Bellingham). [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-24-04]
UNION PACIFIC ANNOUNCES LOCATION OF PARK TO DISPLAY BIG BOY AND CENTENNIAL ENGINES: Union Pacific Chairman and CEO Dick Davidson and Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey today [Sept. 23] unveiled plans for a new John C. Kenefick Park south of downtown Omaha. Davidson and Fahey announced the park will be built just south of Lauritzen Gardens, located at 100 Bancroft Street. Davidson also announced that two of the original park's major attractions, a Big Boy steam locomotive and 6900 Centennial diesel locomotive, will relocate to the new park. "Once, Kenefick Park and its historic locomotives greeted people driving from Eppley Airfield to downtown Omaha," Davidson said. Kenefick Park's Big Boy steam locomotive and 6900 Centennial diesel locomotive were moved from the original Kenefick Park along Abbott Drive to the Western Heritage Museum in 2002 to accommodate redevelopment. Since then, Union Pacific and the City of Omaha have searched for the proper location to relocate the park and display the pair of locomotives. The park bears the name of former Union Pacific Chairman and CEO John C. Kenefick. Though he retired in 1986, Kenefick still maintains an office at the railroad. [Union Pacific, 9-23-04]
THREE TURBO TRAIN SETS MOVED TO DELAWARE FOR STORAGE: The new era of high-speed rail service between New York City and the Albany area has been derailed. Three Turboliner trains that the state paid $185-million to refurbish have been towed to a rail yard Delaware, where Amtrak says they'll be more secure. The trains were among seven that were to be rebuilt by a Schenectady County factory and operated by Amtrak under a rail contract with the state Department of Transportation. But the trains were pulled from service in June when their air conditioning systems malfunctioned. The high-speed trains were supposed to cut the travel time between Manhattan and the Amtrak station in Rensselaer by 20 minutes. But Amtrak never conducted the track upgrades necessary to handle the trains' top speed of 125 miles an hour. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-22-04, from Associated Press report]
RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD CLARIFIES POSITION ON TRUST FUND: The Legal Department of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board has come forth and denied a major falsehood being spread by the United Transportation Union regarding the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Railroad Retirement Trust Fund. In particular, the Board has provided a legal opinion that denies the UTU's allegation that the Teamsters will be able to divert funds from the Railroad Retirement system to Teamster pension plans by merging with rail labor unions. "A merger between any rail labor union and the Teamsters would not make railroad retirement benefits available for payment of benefits under the Teamsters' pension plan," wrote Steven A. Bartholow, General Counsel of the Railroad Retirement Board. "Historically, changes to the Railroad Retirement Act have been based on joint recommendations of rail labor and rail carriers. Rail labor and rail management have worked hard over the years to ensure that the railroad retirement system is financially sound any change in the system that would jeopardize the current and future payment of benefits under the Act must be seen as extremely unlikely." [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-22-04]
UNION PACIFIC TO INSTALL CAB CAMERAS, MICROPHONES: Following the lead of Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific said it will install digital cameras and microphones on UP locomotives to record every trip for accident investigation purposes. The newest member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicated support for these actions. UP said it would install Track Image Recorders (TIR) to verify train crew and motorist/ pedestrian actions in accidents. The TIR will be linked to the locomotive's existing event recorder so that each trip may be duplicated in detail with the sound of the locomotive's air horn and crossing bell and pictures of the track ahead of the locomotives. Depending upon the model, event recorders record speed, throttle and brake settings, electrical power levels and horn use. The TIR image file and the event recorder data will be time synchronized, UP said. The small cameras will be mounted inside the locomotive cab at the top of the engineer's windshield, looking down the track in front of the locomotive. A microphone will be mounted outside to record the locomotive's air horn. The video image disk, which can record up to five days, will be retained onboard each locomotive in a lockbox, accessible only to authorized personnel for review. [United Transportation Union, 9-21-04]
BLET RESPONDS TO UTU WEB ATTACKS: The following is a letter dated September 16 from BLET National President Don Hahs to UTU President Paul Thompson regarding recent postings on the UTU website: "This letter is in response to your recent articles on the UTU website. Once again, you have chosen to attack this organization and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The articles are full of the same old rhetoric you have used in previous articles posted on the UTU website. It is unfortunate for your members that you choose to spend your time and the resources of the UTU in attacking other labor organizations. I believe labor organizations exist to represent their members. Apparently, you believe the UTU exists to attempt to destroy or discredit other labor organizations. No one should wonder why the UTU is no longer an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. As usual, these most recent articles are once again full of inaccurate and untrue statements. I will not even give such articles the respect of responding to all of the false statements and allegations contained therein. You may refer to my letter dated July 16, 2004, addressed to you and posted on our website for my position as to your rhetoric. The UTU has many good members and they are deserving of a leadership that focuses on representing them. Why don't you get back to doing your job and providing representation for UTU members? In the meantime, if you choose not to do so, we will continue accepting the applications of former UTU members who are joining the BLET. Keep it up; our total membership is growing on a steady basis due to the UTU's lack of leadership and total nonsense letter writing campaign. Sincerely, /s/Don M. Hahs, President" [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-16-04]
LIRR TO DETAIL $2.4-BILLION EXPANSION PLAN: Long Island Rail Road officials today [September 14] are expected to detail a $2.4-billion capital plan for the next five years that calls for millions in track work, expanding the railroad and building a new rail yard east of Huntington. But some transit advocates are questioning why the LIRR would consider expansion at a time when its parent agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, is looking at closing down lines, raising fares and cutting service. In July, the cash-strapped MTA warned of the possibility of ending service completely on the West Hempstead and Oyster Bay branches, and east of Ronkonkoma in 2006. The MTA also said that service reductions and a 5-percent fare hike are possible for commuter railroads next year. The MTA raised fares an average 25 percent last year. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-14-04, from article by Joie Tyrrell posted on the Newsday website]
SEPTA WARNS OF DEEP CUTS: SEPTA said September 9 it would have to eliminate all weekend service, increase fares an average of 25 percent, and fire 16 percent of its employees by January 1 if the State Legislature did not increase the agency's funding and erase a $62-million deficit, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "This is not a bluff," SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon Sr. said at a news conference at the agency's headquarters in Center City. "We've made all the cuts we can make... . This is the worst crisis to face SEPTA in its... history." In June, SEPTA adopted a $920-million budget for 2005, but with a $62-million deficit. The agency said if it did not receive money to close that gap by October, it would propose service cuts and fare increases. Area transit and development officials agreed that SEPTA is not crying wolf. But Governor Rendell and some legislative leaders said they expected to come up with a solution to the financial problems of the state's public transit agencies. In the past, SEPTA has detailed dramatic service cuts to cope with funding shortfalls, but those measures never included reducing the workforce. And the agency eventually received or found enough money to avert the worst-case scenarios, such as last year's threat to eliminate four Regional Rail lines and the C bus route. This time, however, SEPTA officials insisted that there are no bandages or one-time fixes left. [United Transportation Union, 9-10-04, from Philadelphia Inquirer]
LAS VEGAS MONORAIL CLOSES AGAIN: The Las Vegas monorail was closed one day after it reopened when a piece of a train's undercarriage fell off Wednesday [September 8] and landed in a busy street. No one was injured when a slip disk - similar to a large washer - came loose and fell about 25 feet to the pavement, monorail spokesman Todd Walker said. The 6-inch disk weighing one to two pounds first struck a power rail, causing electrical arcing but no serious damage to the track. The monorail had reopened Tuesday after being closed for six days following a September 1 incident in which a 60-pound wheel fell off one of the trains. Nobody was hurt. The wheel apparently was installed improperly at an assembly plant. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-9-04, from Associated Press]
NELSON BOWERS DIES, FORMER NRHS PRESIDENT: Nelson W. Bowers, 73, who served as president of the National Railway Historical Society from 1983 to 1987, died on September 5. Mr. Bowers joined NRHS in 1947, and was associated with the Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Lancaster chapters. He joined the Baltimore Chapter in 1964, serving as its vice president in 1966, and as its president from 1967 to 1969. He transferred to the Lancaster Chapter in 1972. At the time he was a cost and materials engineer with the Penn Central Railroad. He served the national society as vice president membership from 1972 to 1976 and senior vice president from 1976 to 1983. In addition, he served in a number of positions within the Lancaster Chapter, and was involved in the joint Lancaster-Philadelphia NRHS Reading FP7 Committee, formed in the 1980's to oversee the restoration of former Reading EMD FP7 diesels 902 and 903. Mr. Bowers is survived by his wife, Cindy, an active member of Lancaster Chapter and chair of the FP7 Committee, and by two stepdaughters. [Reported by Alexander Mitchell IV, 9-8-04]
RAILROADS AIM TO SMOOTH FREIGHT TRAFFIC: Senior executives from the biggest U.S. and Canadian railroads presented their plans for handling freight during the peak season this fall at a forum Thursday [September 9] in Kansas City, according to Randolph Heaster of the Kansas City Star. About 470 railroad customers from around the country attended the program sponsored by the Association of American Railroads at the Kansas City Airport Marriott hotel. The program, the first held by the association since 2000, was in response to shipper complaints for the past several months that deliveries are bogging down and being delayed. Union Pacific and CSX are among the railroads that have faced the biggest congestion issues. After their presentations, rail executives answered questions from the customers, representing 340 companies that rely on railroads to move their goods. Most of the questions came from shippers reporting problems in the Gulf Coast and Southwest, where much of the congestion has been reported. In both regions, a Union Pacific executive said, operations are beginning to improve. "You'll see continuous improvement in train velocity during the peak season in California, Arizona and Nevada," said Dennis Duffy, the company's executive vice president of operations. "It'll continue into 2005." [United Transportation Union, 9-10-04, from Kansas City Star]
CSX REPORTEDLY SELLING WORLD TERMINALS DIVISION: The South China Morning Post recently reported that CSX Corp. is selling its global container terminal division to pay for upgrades to its core U.S. railroad network, according to this report by Gregory Richards published by the Florida Times-Union. Such a move would come as the division, CSX World Terminals, faces intense competitive pressure, including the loss of business from two key customers of its Hong Kong terminals to rival operators earlier this year. It is a small part of CSX's overall operation, supplying $226-million out the company's total $7.8-billion in operating revenue in 2003, according to CSX's annual report. CSX spokesman Adam Hollingsworth said he could not comment on any possible World Terminals sale, calling such talk "rumors." [United Transportation Union, 9-8-04, from item by Gregory Richards published by Florida Times-Union]
AMTRAK TO END RUNS THROUGH FOSTORIA, AKRON AND YOUNGSTOWN: Passenger train service to Fostoria, Akron, and Youngstown will end March 1, with sleeping cars on the route to be discontinued November 1, Amtrak will announce today [September 3]. Marc Magliari, an Amtrak spokesman, said yesterday [September 2] that the service cancellation is associated with Amtrak's decision to stop handling bulk mail on its trains - a decision that also will be made public today, although Amtrak notified its employees about it last month. Elimination of the New York-Chicago "Three Rivers" train west of Pittsburgh will reduce Amtrak's service in Ohio to two pairs of nightly trains running across the state's northern tier and a route through Hamilton and Cincinnati that runs three times a week in each direction. Early last year, Amtrak ended a third pair of trains through Toledo and Cleveland after the rail line stopped handling expedited cargo. Amtrak also plans to shorten its New York-Tampa-Miami "Palmetto" train to a southern terminus of Savannah, Georgia, because mail service on that run too is ending, Mr. Magliari said. No other service cuts are anticipated, he said. Mr. Magliari noted that both the Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited trains, which stop in Toledo, will have faster schedules once mail handling ends because car-switching delays will be eliminated. Such delays have been an irritant for passengers, especially when trains were already late and fell further behind schedule because of mail handling. Bulk mail has been "a marginal business for us," he said. "It does not justify the toll it takes on our passenger operations." [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-3-04, from item by David Patch in the Toledo Blade]
RAIL TRAFFIC UP IN AUGUST: U.S. railroads originated 1,364,950 carloads of freight in August 2004, up 1.5 percent (19,770 carloads) over August 2003, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported September 2. U.S. rail intermodal traffic, which is not included in carload figures, totaled 876,056 trailers and containers in August 2004, up 10.8 percent (85,429 units) compared to August 2003. [Assn. of American Railroads, 9-2-04]
AMTRAK, CSX HIT BY POWER OUTAGES IN RICHMOND: Paul Higgs usually helps Amtrak keep its trains running on time. Yesterday [September 1], he just wanted to get its lights back on, according to the Richmond Times Dispatch. Staples Mill Station has been plunged into darkness since Monday night. "I'm hoping we have limited power soon," said Higgs, general foreman for the passenger railroad's mid-Atlantic division. By afternoon, a contractor had installed generators that powered up Amtrak's computers, phones and limited lighting in restrooms. Until then, green glow sticks cast a ghostly light around the station's sinks and commodes. But Amtrak still was waiting for regular electrical service to be restored by Dominion Virginia Power. Meanwhile, miles of damaged or washed out track forced Amtrak to cancel all service between Richmond and Newport News until at least tomorrow. In addition, Main Street Station, the downtown stop for limited Amtrak service, remained closed because of flooding in Shockoe Bottom. North-south trains still stopped at Staples Mill Station but faced delays from continuing problems along CSX Corp. railroad, which the passenger service also uses. Acca Yard reopened as CSX started what spokeswoman Misty Skipper called "limited operations" yesterday. About 30 percent of CSX's track was damaged by the storm. "We're repairing some areas that could reopen by tonight, but other track could take a week or more to repair," Skipper said. [United Transportation Union, 9-2-04, from Richmond Times Dispatch]
CHRISTIANA RIVER RAIL BRIDGE REOPENING IN DELAWARE: A vital link in Delaware's railroad system will reopen Thursday, September 9, bringing more business to the Port of Wilmington and area shipping companies, officials said. The $13.9-million renovation of the Shellpot Bridge over the Christina River will allow freight trains to travel through Delaware and around the port more freely, avoiding congested passenger rails and reducing train traffic through some residential areas. Port officials and area freight operators said the return of the bridge, closed since 1994, will make rail access more efficient and the port more competitive. The Port of Wilmington handles about 4.5 million to 5 million tons of cargo a year. More than 90 percent of it is now transferred to trucks, said Eugene Bailey, executive director of the port. The 116-year-old swing bridge was closed 10 years ago after its owner, Conrail, discovered serious problems in the foundation. Passenger rail service also is expected to benefit from opening the bridge. The shift of freight trains away from rai ls on the Amtrak-owned Northeast Corridor means more room for passenger trains, particularly in the early morning and late evening hours. It also will mean less stress on the historic Wilmington train station, said John Rago, communications director for Wilmington Mayor James Baker. [From report by Sean O'Sullivan, 9-1-04, from News Journal website]
WHEEL FALLS OFF LAS VEGAS MONORAIL: The $650-million Las Vegas Monorail was shut down Wednesday [September 1] after a mechanical problem caused a wheel to come off one of the cars, a company spokesman said. Nobody was hurt in the incident, which happened as a train was traveling north toward the Las Vegas Convention Center, spokesman Todd Walker said. The train limped slowly into the convention center station, and riders were let off, he said. Walker said the monorail would reopen after inspectors deemed it safe. The company was offering refunds to people who bought tickets. The monorail opened July 15 and averaged more than 30,500 passengers in its first 17 days of operation. The monorail follows a Z-shaped, 3.9-mile route behind the Las Vegas Strip, stretching from the MGM Grand to the Sahara hotel-casino. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-1-04, from Associated Press article]
BNSF AND CHINA FORGE STRONGER BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP: In recent years China has emerged as a major participant in world trade. According to the Congressional Research Service, U.S.-China trade grew from $5 billion in 1980 to $147 billion in 2002. While China's emergence as a major participant in world trade is fairly recent, BNSF's relationship with this nation is not. At least since the 1980s, BNSF and its predecessor railroads have been exporting grain to China. "With some of the shortest and fastest routes between Asia and major U.S. destination and raw material markets, BNSF plays an important role in ensuring the fluidity of U.S.-Asia trade," says Matt Rose, BNSF chairman, president and chief executive officer. BNSF has been at the forefront of this growth. BNSF's Asia-related business has doubled in the last six years accounting for more than $1.3-billion in revenue for 2003; about two-thirds of that growth is attributed to China. [BNSF Today, 9-1-04]
SEPTA TO UPGRADE NORRISTOWN LINE: SEPTA this month will begin a major effort to upgrade the R6 Norristown line between Norristown and 16th Street Junction in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The work will include the replacement of 22,000 wood ties, brushcutting, and resurfacing of the entire 15-mile line over the next 15 months. [Philadelphia Chapter NRHS Cinders, 9-04]
AMTRAK TO CANCEL MAIL ON PASSENGER TRAINS: Amtrak plans to stop carrying mail in October as it refocuses on its core business of transporting passengers. "The profit margin is small and we feel that making these changes will improve our bottom line, make the trains more efficient," Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black said. The U.S. Postal Service has used passenger trains to carry mail since 1831, when some of the first regular passenger rail service started in the United States. The national passenger railroad carries mostly bulk mail under a $60-million per year contract with the U.S. Postal Service. Most of the mail, which Mr. Black calls "a lot of magazines," is carried on long-distance routes. Some first-class mail is carried shorter distances. Amtrak informed the Postal Service of its decision last week. The Postal Service yesterday did not return phone calls on the issue. Mr. Black said "interference with passenger train operations" compelled Amtrak's management to curtail the contract. The interference includes delays from coupling and uncoupling freight rail cars to passenger trains. Amtrak also has to divert some of its resources to maintenance of the rail cars. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-31-04, from story by Tom Ramstack appearing on the Washington Times website]
PROPOSAL TO LEASE TRACKS FROM CSX IN VIRGINIA WORRIES AMTRAK: Amtrak and a railroad workers' union are expressing concern about a short-line railroad operator's ability to maintain 200 miles of track it wants to lease from CSX. The federal Surface Transportation Board is considering a CSX Transportation plan to transfer control of its main line between Richmond and Clifton Forge while retaining the right to run most of its current trains along the route. Amtrak's primary concern is that a small, family owned rail company operating 17 miles of track isn't equipped to take over maintenance and operation of a 200-mile stretch of CSX lines, according to a filing Amtrak made with the transportation board last week. Under CSX's agreement, Dillwyn-based Buckingham Branch Railroad would take over the tracks that run through Waynesboro and Staunton. Amtrak called it a "formidable task" for Buckingham Branch to operate the line well enough to maintain passenger service. Citing an expected reduction in the number of workers along the line, already deteriorating track conditions, and Buckingham Branch's ability to make capital improvements, Amtrak and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees took issue with proposed agreement. Amtrak's Cardinal, which connects New York, Washington, D.C., Staunton, Cincinnati and Chicago, runs across 125 miles of the track that would be leased. For many residents in the rural stretches between Charlottesville and Indianapolis, there are few options other than the Cardinal for transportation, according to the filing. In an additional filing, Norfolk Southern raised concerns about a 9.1-mile section of track between Gordonsville and Orange that is included in the lease agreement. Norfolk Southern owns the line but has a lease dating to 1890 with CSX. That 1890 lease expired over a decade ago, and Norfolk Southern does not have any records indicating it was renewed, but CSX has continued to operate the line under the agreement. Norfolk Southern asked that a new lease be worked out between Norfolk Southern and CSX before CSX sub-leases the track to Buckingham Branch. CSX and Buckingham Branch have asked the Surface Transportation Board to make its final ruling by November 8. The lease agreement is set to take effect December 20. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-31-04, from story by Jonathan D. Jones appearing on the Staunton News Leader website]
GENESEE & WYOMING ACQUIRES BRANCH LINE FROM CSX: Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) announced August 30 that its subsidiary, Golden Isles Terminal Railroad Inc. (GITM), has acquired the Savannah Wharf Branch rail line located in Savannah, Georgia, from CSX Corporation's subsidiary, CSX Transportation, Inc. The transaction includes the acquisition of 6.5 miles of track and related assets and a 20 year lease of the related real estate along the rail line. The Savannah Wharf Branch is expected to switch approximately 4,500 cars on an annual basis. [Genesee & Wyoming, 8-30-04]
CSX FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH OMNITRAX: OmniTRAX, a North American transportation services company, announced Friday (Aug. 27) its partnership with CSX Transportation (CSXT), a business unit of CSX Corporation (CSX), to provide more efficient switching to the Fulton Industrial Business District, just outside Atlanta, Ga., according to this release issued by OmniTRAX. OmniTRAX, Inc. is the largest privately held rail services company in North America, the company said. An affiliate of The Broe Companies, Inc., it offers a broad range of transportation services to clients in the industrial and transportation sectors. The partnership was created following CSXT's most recent phase of improvements in the Fulton area, which included the design of more frequent and customer responsive switching, along with joint commercial and development efforts between CSXT and its Fulton Partners. OmniTRAX was commissioned by CSXT to continue that positive trend and elevate the level of service even further. [United Transportation Union, 8-27-04, from OmniTRAX press release]
AMTRAK CONDUCTOR RESIGNS AFTER MAKING KERRY COMMENTS: An Amtrak conductor said Tuesday [August 24] that he will resign rather than face a company investigation for suggesting to train passengers that they should vote against Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Conductor Leslie Farr had been suspended without pay following an August 5 incident in which he used the public address system to tell passengers on a Kansas City-to-St. Louis train that they would be delayed while waiting for Kerry's locomotive to head west from St. Louis. Farr said he then quipped that passengers should vote accordingly in November. In its investigation letter to Farr, Amtrak accused him of violating company policies by making "inappropriate and denigrating announcements" to customers that "caused embarrassment to the corporation and the loss of good will of our passengers." [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-24-04, from Associated Press report by David A. Lieb]
SENATOR JOINS UTU IN PLEA TO CSX ON LINE SALES: On August 19, UTU National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer wrote Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va) regarding a CSX initiative to dispose of rail lines within West Virginia - a move that could adversely affect UTU members employed there by CSX. Within 24 hours, Sen. Rockefeller sent off a letter to CSX President and CEO Michael Ward - with copies to members of the Surface Transportation Board, which must approve lines sales and leases - expressing Rockefeller's "concerns" and desire that CSX employees not be adversely affected. CSX recently indicated it might seek to sell or lease to short line operators some 535 miles of CSX track along two sections of the former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad from Cumberland, Md., to New Martinsville, W.Va., and from Grafton to Cowen, W.Va. "My primary reason for writing," Rockefeller said in his letter to Ward, "is to do whatever I can to protect the jobs and benefits of approximately 250 railroad employees currently working these lines. The potential loss of even a single job in West Virginia is of the utmost concern to me, and this situation has caused enormous anxiety for the workers and families that might be affected." Rockefeller said that if economics require CSX to dispose of any of its lines, he favors their transfer to a short line operator who would agree "to assume CSX's responsibilities to its workers under existing contracts. On the other hand, I would also ask that CSX carefully consider whether the livelihoods and retirement security of hundreds of West Virginians would be better secured by CSX itself retaining control of the track in question." [United Transportation Union, 8-20-04]
RAILS PLEDGE FASTER SERVICE TO N.D. GRAIN SHIPPERS: North Dakota's farmers and grain dealers can expect faster railroad service this harvest season, officials with the state's two major railways say. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway say they are revamping their shipping strategies and making equipment upgrades to curb costly delays that plagued farmers and grain dealers in getting their 2003 crops to market. State officials, agriculture leaders and grain dealers, who have long been at odds with the railroads, are skeptical. The BNSF and Canadian Pacific have their own unique challenges in providing the service that North Dakota's farmers and grain dealers deserve, Public Service Commissioner Tony Clark said. Like last year, North Dakota farmers are expected to harvest a large wheat crop, setting the stage to again magnify the railways' shipping problems, said Neal Fisher, administrator of the North Dakota Wheat Commission. The railways were overwhelmed by North Dakota's 317-million-bushel wheat crop last year, and backlogs quickly included late season crops like corn and soybeans. Grain dealers piled a record 18 million bushels of wheat, soybeans and other crops on the ground because the BNSF and Canadian Pacific couldn't haul it away fast enough, Clark said. "The stars are kind of lining up again for the same situation as last year," Fisher said. "That's the kind of thing that will keep you up at night." The delays are more than an inconvenience. They can cost farmers and grain elevators a great deal of money. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Enginners & Trainmen, 8-23-04, from story by Jeff Zent on The Forum website]
SALE OF CSX TRACK NOT LIKELY TO AFFECT MINES, SAYS CONSOLIDATED COAL: CSX Transportation is reviewing nine bids for 530 miles of track in West Virginia. But the sale of that track is not likely to affect local coal mines, said Thomas Hoffman, vice president of investor and public relations for Consolidation Coal. "Our understanding is that there will not be an impact on us," Hoffman said. The Robinson Run Mine in Harrison County is the only mine in the area run by Consolidation Coal, he said. That mine transports 70 percent of its coal by conveyor belt to the Harrison Power Station, leaving 30 percent to be taken by train over the current CSX line. That translates into 1.5 million tons of coal transported by rail each year, Hoffman said. "We are a significant customer of CSX in general," he said."Obviously, we communicate with them on a regular basis. The only thing that may change here is the shipping rates." The line from Cumberland, Md., to Brooklyn Junction, W.Va., just south of New Martinsville, is being sold in hopes that the track will be more profitable for a smaller company, CSX spokesman Gary Sease has said. A decline in business may affect decisions on which track to sell, said Lewis Halstead, assistant director of the state Division Mining and Reclamation. But that is not likely the case in Harrison County, where coal production has increased in the past few years, according to statistics from the Office of Miner's Health and Safety Training. Local union officials say that if CSX Transportation does sell the track in West Virginia, they will be forced to relocate or lose their jobs. The possibility also exists that none of the bids will be accepted, at which point CSX would continue to operate the railroad as it does now, said Jane Covington, CSX spokeswoman. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Enginners & Trainmen, 8-21-04, from article by Gary A. Harki posted on the Clarksburg Exponent and Telegram website]
TUNNEL FIRE CONTINUES TO CUT CALIFORNIA RAIL LINK: A fire burning inside a key rail tunnel southeast of Eugene, Oregon, has disrupted Amtrak passenger service between the Northwest and California and is causing freight delays for West Coast shippers, officials say. The Union Pacific-owned tunnel between Eugene and Chemult caught fire on Saturday [August 14], shutting down a key railroad corridor serving 18 to 20 trains a day. "We don't know how long it will be until this is out," said Ed Immel, rail planner with the Oregon Department of Transportation. Amtrak halted all Coast Starlight trains north of Oakland, Calif., and south of Eugene late Saturday, affecting hundreds of travelers. The line serves an average of 1,200 passengers a day between Seattle and Los Angeles. Amtrak is not offering alternate transportation at this time, said spokeswoman Sarah Swain. Immel said Amtrak hopes to eventually bus passengers between Eugene and Klamath Falls, but Swain could not say when a backup plan might start. Amtrak's Cascades service between Seattle and Eugene has not been affected, Immel said. The 3,164-foot-long, timber-lined tunnel, high on a mountain pass between Oakland, Ore. and Chemult, caught fire Saturday. Sparks from a locomotive's engine or brakes are the likely cause, Immel said. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-20-04, from Associated Press]
CSXT RANKED TOP RAIL CARRIER ON WASTE HAULING: CSX Transportation (CSXT) has been ranked the top rail carrier on Waste News' Hauling and Disposal Ranking list. The annual list, which ranks all waste shippers according to revenue generated from the hauling, disposal and transfer of waste, ranked CSXT 20th out of the nation's top 100 waste product shippers. "Shipping waste by rail is a market that is growing at a strong pace," said Henry Connors, director-emerging markets unit. "We continue to see opportunities for market growth as we work hard to convert these shipments off of the highway onto the rails and demonstrate the economic benefits to customers." CSXT provides waste hauling services for municipalities, waste companies and various industries including steel, automotive, paper and chemical. CSXT's waste hauling services include multi-modal transport service, transfer operations, premium equipment, marketplace expertise, project management, industrial development capabilities and superior customer service. In the second quarter of 2004, CSXT generated a six percent increase in waste revenue versus the second quarter of 2003. Carloads of waste hauled by CSXT also increased by nine percent during this same period. [CSX, 8-18-04]
CSX RECEIVES NINE BIDS FOR B&O CLUSTER: CSX Transportation has received nine bids for 530 miles of railroad track, mostly in West Virginia. The line from Cumberland, Md., to Brooklyn Junction, just south of New Martinsville, is up for sale or lease by CSX. The bidding deadline was August 12. CSX spokesman Gary Sease has said smaller companies may be able to make the stretch of track more profitable. The rail company hopes to have the bids evaluated by mid-September before the finalists are selected for further evaluation, said CSX spokeswoman Jane Covington. It's possible that none of the bids will be accepted, at which point CSX would continue to operate the railroad, she said. About 250 CSX employees in the area may be affected by the lease or sale, Sease said. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-15-04, from Associated Press report]
SHORT LINE RAILROAD FINDS SUCCESS IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA: For years, a stretch of rail track between Mount Hope and Thurmond, W.Va., was silent, serving only as a shortcut to local fishing holes or as bleachers for parents watching their children play at nearby soccer fields. That changed a year ago, when Roger Lipscomb and Jon Dragan launched West Virginia Southern Railroad, a short-line freight company. Lipscomb and Dragan operate the railroad on 12 miles of track for which they had purchased the right of way from CSX in 2002. West Virginia Southern Railroad now rumbles back and forth between the two Fayette County communities at least five days a week, hauling wood, chemicals and other products for local industries, including Georgia Pacific and Austin Powder. "In the past, CSX could only service these customers every few days or every other day. We can carry out their products every day," Lipscomb said. West Virginia Southern Railroad has one engine and six employees and is in the black after its first year of operation. Lipscomb and Dragan hope to someday expand the railroad to Pax, where it could link up with tracks owned by Northern Southern. But that cannot happen until an 1,800-foot-long tunnel between Mount Hope and Pax is rehabilitated. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-16-04, from Associated Press report]
INDIANA & OHIO CENTRAL TO PURCHASE CINCINNATI-COLUMBUS LINE FROM CSX: RailAmerica, Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Indiana & Ohio Central Railroad (IOCR), notified the Surface Transportation Board of its intent to purchase 107 miles of railroad from Cincinnati, Ohio to Columbus, Ohio (The Midland Subdivision) and to lease the related real estate from CSX Corporation's subsidiary, CSX Transportation, Inc., subject to negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement. The line will be operated as part of the IOCR, which anticipates moving approximately 18,000 carloads annually over the line. [RailAmerica Inc., 8-13-04]
TRUCKER IN 1999 AMTRAK CRASH CONVICTED: The trucker involved in a 1999 Amtrak derailment that killed 11 people was convicted Wednesday [August 11] of felony charges for violating rules governing hours truckers can be on the road. The crash near Bourbonnais, Illinois, also injured 122 others aboard Amtrak's City of New Orleans and pushed federal officials to change truckers' hours-of-service rules for the first time since 1939. John R. Stokes was found guilty by Circuit Judge Clark Erickson of willfully violating the maximum time limit for commercial truckers and of willful failure to keep an accurate logbook, said prosecutor Bill Elward. Stokes faces a possible prison term of one to three years, Elward said. Stokes was driving a truck carrying steel that ran into the path of the train at a crossing March 15, 1999. The impact derailed the train, sending it smashing into rail cars loaded with steel beside the tracks. The National Transportation Safety Board ruled his failure to heed crossing signals and gates caused the accident. Investigators also said Stokes had gotten just three to five hours of sleep in the 38 hours before the accident; federal rules at the time required an eight-hour break after 10 hours of driving. Stokes' phone number is unlisted and his attorney, Leonard Sacks, declined to comment on the verdict. When Stokes spoke to an investigator the day after the crash he said the crossing lights didn't give him enough warning to stop. Within months of the crash, the Federal Highway Administration began pushing for stricter driving limits, but trucking interests fought them. New rules that finally took effect in January allow truckers to stay on the road an hour longer, up to 11 straight hours, but require they then take 10 hours off. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-11-04, from Associated Press]
CSX TO DELIST FROM LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE: CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) announced August 10 that it intends to delist its common shares from the London Stock Exchange. The decision to discontinue the company's secondary listing was based on the low trading volumes and the costs associated with the maintenance of the listings. CSX's delisting from the London Stock Exchange will be effective at close of business on Wednesday, September 8, 2004. [CSX, 8-10-04]
RAIL INDUSTRY ANNOUNCES NEW SAFETY INITIATIVE: The nation's freight railroads have announced an initiative that will use innovative trackside technology to improve safety and efficiency on the rail network by giving freight car owners advance warning when freight car wheels are deteriorating, according to this release issued by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Through a series of proposed changes to the AAR Interchange Rules, it is anticipated that the new Advanced Technology Safety Initiative (ATSI) will be implemented on October 1, 2004. ATSI is a predictive and proactive maintenance system that uses the best available technology to detect and report potential safety problems and poorly performing equipment before they result in accidents or undue rail damage. The first effort under the new initiative is the use of data from wheel impact load detectors (WILD) to monitor the health of railcar wheels. When a freight car wheel exerts a peak impact load of 90 kips or above as measured by a WILD site, it is not operating effectively, is considered "out of round" and on the path to failure. The program provides a window of opportunity that opens when a wheel reaches a peak impact load of 65 kips. There are currently 67 WILD sites in the rail network and data collected at those sites is integrated into rail industry equipment health management systems. [Assn. of American Railroads, 8-6-04]
JAMAICA STATION HUB GETS UPGRADE: Some long-envisioned changes are finally visible at the Long Island Rail Road's busy Jamaica station, according to the Daily News. The hub's new mezzanine walkway has opened, featuring direct access to all LIRR station platforms and the AirTrain, the rail link to Kennedy Airport. The partially open new structure is located above the platforms at the eastern end of the station. It's part of the MTA's ongoing reconstruction project. Initially, the mezzanine will be served by escalators and stairs from the platform level. In addition, three high-occupancy elevators on the north side of the mezzanine will offer service from the street level and the subway. The MTA expects that later this year construction will be completed on the elevators between the mezzanine and the station platforms, along with a second set of stairs. Until it's finished, commuters who need an elevator may use the existing LIRR pedestrian overpass, which gives them access to elevators near the center of the station. [United Transportation Union, 8-5-04, from report published by the Daily News]
RAIL TRAFFIC UP IN JULY: U.S. railroads originated 1,299,916 carloads of freight in July 2004, up 1.0 percent (12,255 carloads) over July 2003, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today [August 5]. U.S. rail intermodal traffic, which is not included in carload figures, totaled 837,317 trailers and containers in July 2004, up 7.5 percent (58,494 units) compared to July 2003. U.S. railroads originated 516,259 carloads of coal in July 2004, up 2.1 percent (10,811 carloads) over July 2003. Other commodities showing carload gains in July included metallic ores (62,652 carloads, up 9.2 percent or 5,263 carloads); nonmetallic minerals (33,749 carloads, up 15.9 percent or 4,642 carloads); and metals and metal products (54,914 carloads, up 8.6 percent or 4,359 carloads. Carloads of chemicals totaled 118,853 in July 2004, up 2.9 percent (3,394 carloads) over 2003. Commodities showing declines in U.S. rail car loadings in July included motor vehicles and equipment (59,644 carloads, down 9.2 percent or 6,029 carloads) and crushed stone and gravel (85,758 carloads, down 6.0 percent or 5,482 carloads). Carloads of grain totaled 78,488 in July 2004, down 5.8 percent (4,867 carloads) from last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 8-5-04]
CN TERMINATES ROADRAILER SERVICE: CN's RoadRailer intermodal service has ceased its commercial operations between Montreal, Toronto and Chicago. Louise Fillion, spokesperson for CN, confirmed to Today's Trucking that the service has been for the most part discontinued mainly due to the financial fallout of 5,000 mechanics, clerks, and intermodal yard workers who went on strike in February of this year. As Today's Trucking reported throughout the strike, many shippers began shifting freight from rail and intermodal on to trucks in order to keep delivery times. Moreover, some of the new-found truck freight extended into longer contracts, provided carriers were able to provide the extra capacity. CN introduced its Toronto-Montreal RoadRailer service in September 1999 and extended it to Chicago in October 2000. In 2001, about 600 Wabash National RoadRailer 53-foot trailers were put into service. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-4-04, from report by Today's Trucking published on its website]
EXPANSION SET FOR NEW JERSEY'S EXPRESSRAIL: The Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Wednesday [August 4] authorized $5-million in planning and design funds to expand the new ExpressRail Elizabeth Intermodal Facility at the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal from 10 to 18 tracks, according to this report by Peter T. Leach published by the Journal of Commerce Online. That facility is scheduled to commence operations in September. The authorization also provides for planning and design of a second lead track that will allow trains to arrive and depart the facility simultaneously, and the partial relocation of Bay Avenue to increase safety by minimizing the possibility of road/rail conflicts. The Board also authorized a 10-year agreement with Millennium Rail, under which the firm will operate and maintain ExpressRail Elizabeth starting on or about September 1 of this year. Created especially to operate the new facility, Millennium Rail is a joint venture of APM Terminals North America, Inc. and Maher Terminals, Inc., the port's two largest tenants. [United Transportation Union, 8-4-04, from report by Peter T. Leach published by the Journal of Commerce Online]
HIAWATHA SERVICE MAY BE EXPANDED: The number of passengers riding Amtrak's Hiawatha service between Milwaukee and Chicago has climbed to record levels, fueling talks of expanding the number of trips on the route and increasing the speed of the trains. Also under consideration by state and federal officials is extending the Hiawatha service west to Madison. A total of 453,611 passengers traveled on the Hiawatha line for the 12-month period ended June 30, an increase of 13 percent compared with the prior fiscal year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. State and Amtrak officials are seeking funds for improvements to the rail line, owned by Canadian Pacific Railway, that would allow trains to travel at higher speeds. Preliminary engineering and environmental work on the Milwaukee-to-Madison segment already has been completed. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-2-04, from article by Rich Rovito on Business Journal of Milwaukee website]
TEXAS EAGLE'S ON-TIME PERFORMANCE IMPROVES: There's something different lately about Amtrak's Texas Eagle, a long-distance train that serves Fort Worth daily. More often than not, it's punctual. "One thing I've noticed informally from my office is that the Texas Eagle appears to have been running fairly much on time," said Temple businessman Dean Chandler, who frequently rides the train to Chicago. A year ago, the Texas Eagle was running on schedule about 22 percent of the time, according to the nation's only coast-to-coast passenger rail service. This year, the on-time rate is about 62 percent, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said. Freight railroads, which own most of the tracks that Amtrak uses, are doing a better job of dispatching the passenger trains through congested corridors, he said. Railroads have been under pressure from political leaders to help Amtrak get to its destinations on time. Also, ridership has increased dramatically in the past year. Despite the good news, Amtrak is again in financial straits. It is subsidized by federal funding and has requested a minimum of $1.6-billion to continue operating in 2005. But a House committee and the Bush administration are recommending $900-million, an amount that Amtrak officials say would cause them to shut down in February. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-1-04, from story by Gordon Dickson on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram website]
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