Newswire
CHINA PLACES BLAME ON JULY RAIL CRASH: China's chief administrative authority issued a statement December 28 placing the blame for a fatal high-speed rail crash in July on design flaws and poor management, condemning the Chinese Rail Ministry in a critical, public rebuke. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 12-30-11]
FIRST RUN MADE ON AFGHANISTAN'S NEW RAIL LINE: Train operators have made the first run on Afghanistan's new railroad, the country's first major rail corridor. The first 47-mile run between the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif and the Uzbekistan border began what many hope is the first phase in a project to connect the land-locked nation to the rail networks of neighboring countries. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 12-30-11]
AMTRAK TO LEAD NEXT PHASE OF LANCASTER STATION RENOVATIONS: Amtrak will lead the next phase of renovations at the Lancaster, Pa., train station in Pennsylvania. The Capstone project is designed to rehabilitate passenger areas, including interior and exterior work to improve stairways and platforms, Amtrak said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-29-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: Gains were reported in rail freight traffic for the week ending Dec. 24, 2011, with U.S. railroads originating 287,137 carloads, up 11.9 pct compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-29-11]
WASHOUT DERAILS 33-CAR TRAIN IN AUSTRALIA: A train operated by Genesee & Wyoming Australia Pty. Ltd. derailed near the Edith River bridge north of Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia, Dec. 27. Flood waters associated with heavy rainfall from Cyclone Grant washed away the southern abutment of the bridge while a 33-car intermodal train heading north to Darwin was passing over the structure. One of the two crew members sustained non-life-threatening injuries. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-29-11]
COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL REOPENS IN HOUSTON: The Columbia Tap Trail is a rails-to-trails project consisting of four miles of a 10-foot wide, concrete hiking-and-biking trail along the old Columbia Tap railroad in Houston. The trail has now reopened following construction of the Southeast line of the Harris County light-rail system expansion project. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-29-11]
GE TRANSPORTATION TO BUILD NEW PLANT IN PENNSYLVANIA: GE Transportation has plans to build a new plant in Grove City, Pa. GE expects to spend $35-million to create capacity at a new diesel engine remanufacturing plant and an additional $37-million in 2011 and 2012 on improvements at the existing Grove City plant. To be located at an existing site, the new plant will employ up to 250 people by early 2013, including 100 GE workers who will transfer from the current Grove City facility. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-28-11]
PLANS FOR DOWNEASTER LAYOVER FACILITY MOVE FORWARD: The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority is moving ahead with plans to build a $9-million layover and maintenance facility for the Amtrak Downeaster in Brunswick, Maine, despite the loss of a federal grant that would have paid for the project. [Canadian Press website report, 12-28-11]
CHINA TESTING 310-MPH TRAIN: China’s official news agency, Xinhua has announced that the Ministry of Railways launched a test train capable of achieving 500 km/h (310 mph) cruising speeds. CSR Corp. Ltd. built the train. [Railway Age website report, 12-28-11]
BOMBARDIER GETS ORDER FOR 130 ELECTROSTAR EMU CARS IN U.K.: Bombardier Transportation has announced that it has secured an add-on order, worth $296-million, for 130 ELECTROSTAR e.m.u. cars for the UK's Southern rail operation. [Railway Age website report, 12-28-11]
RAILCOMM TO PROVIDE REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BNSF YARD AT LONGVIEW, WASHINGTON: RailComm’s Domain Operations Controller System will be used to remotely control switches at BNSF Railway’s facility in Longview, Washington. It will include a workstation that will enable the user to control and monitor devices and review operation logs of all system activity. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-28-11]
TITAN WINS AMTRAK MARKETING CONTRACT: Advertising company Titan has landed the exclusive right to sell Amtrak's media in the Northeast Corridor from New York to Washington D.C., beginning Jan. 1, 2012. The contract encompasses station dominations in Washington D.C.’s Union Station, Penn Station in Baltimore, 30th Street Station Philadelphia, and New York's Penn Station. In addition to those main hubs, there are more than 40 additional stations with Amtrak media that Titan will now also sell for Amtrak. [Railway Age website report, 12-27-11]
MASSENA, N.Y., INDUSTRIAL PARK TO GET CSX RAIL ACCESS: An industrial park in Massena, N.Y., will get rail access after the Business Development Corporation for a Greater Massena agreed to supply the rest of the funds needed for the project. The first phase is expected to begin next summer and include a switch to a nearby CSX line. [Daily Courier-Observer website report, 12-27-11]
BOMBARDIER TO SUPPLY 90 EMU TRAINS FOR FRANKFURT, GERMANY: Bombardier Transportation will supply 90 of its 430 series electric multiple unit (EMU) trains to Germany’s DB Regio AG, worth $648-million, to serve the Frankfurt metropolitan area. The new 90 four-car electric multiple units of the 430 series are to be used in the suburban-network Kleyer.The trains are able to accelerate rapidly and can reach speeds of up to 87 mph during operation. [Railway Age website report, 12-27-11]
VEOLIA AWARDED SPRINTER CONTRACT EXTENSION: Veolia Transportation has been awarded a two-year contract extension for operations and maintenance of the North Country Transit District Sprinter service in northern San Diego County, California. [Railway Age website report, 12-27-11]
BNSF TO PAY $1.5-M OVER SEATTLE STORMWATER POLLUTION: BNSF Railway Co. has agreed to pay $1.5-million for Puget Sound restoration projects to resolve a lawsuit over stormwater pollution at its Seattle facility. The Puget Soundkeeper Alliance had sued BNSF, alleging it violated federal clean-water laws with stormwater discharges from its Balmer Yard facility. Last August, a federal judge found BNSF responsible for numerous federal clean-water violations at that facility. [Associated Press report, 12-23-11]
BNSF DEVILS LAKE LINE TO BE RAISED IN SPRING: A 17-mile stretch of flood-threatened railroad tracks and two bridges in the Devils Lake Basin of North Dakota will be raised out of danger. BNSF Railway CEO Matt Rose said construction will begin in the spring on the $97.4-million project along the BNSF track. Amtrak’s Empire Builder passenger train service was suspended through the affected area several times earlier this year because of flooding and high water. [Grand Forks Herald website report, 12-23-11]
AMTRAK’S ANNIVERSARY TRAIN TOUR: Amtrak has announced the January leg of its Fortieth Anniversary Train’s tour of the country, with stops in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. The schedule is: Jan. 7-8, Forth Worth; Jan. 14-15, Oklahoma City; Jan. 21-22, San Antonio; and Jan. 28-29, New Orleans. Amtrak will be selling merchandise on the train, including a 144-page commemorative book that chronicles the history of the railroad with rare photographs, and a documentary DVD that provides an exclusive look at Amtrak’s history. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 12-22-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: Gains were reported in rail freight traffic for the week ending Dec. 17, 2011, with U.S. railroads originating 304,377 carloads, up 11.7 pct compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-22-11]
NEW TRAMS FOR ESSEN, GERMANY: Bombardier Transportation says the Essen, Germany, Transport Authority has ordered 27 FLEXITY Classic trams in a contract worth $94-million. [Railway Age website report, 12-22-11]
DETROIT CANCELS LIGHT-RAIL PLAN: Detroit has canceled a roughly $528-million plan to build 9.3 miles of a light rail network. The line was the product of activity by Detroit’s corporate leaders who are trying to breath life back into the city’s downtown. Instead the, city will now focus on a Bus Rapid Transit system that will connect the suburbs to downtown through a series of dedicated bus lanes. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 12-22-11]
BOSTON-N.Y. AMTRAK SERVICE AFFECTED BY TRESPASSER FATALITY: Amtrak Northeast Corridor and Shore Line East service was impacted Dec. 21 by a trespasser fatality involving Northeast Regional train 137 just after 3:30 p.m. in Old Lyme, Ct. Service was restored about two and one-half hours later. [Amtrak, 12-21-11]
CHARLOTTE LIGHT RAIL BLUE LINE TO GET $18-M UPGRADE: Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line light-rail will get an $18-million upgrade, allowing station platforms to be extended to handle three-car trains, boosting system capacity. Construction work is expected to commence in 2013 and be finished in 2015. [Railway Age website report, 12-21-11]
VIA RAIL INTRODUCING NEW SCHEDULE FOR MONTREAL-OTTAWA-TORONTO SERVICE: VIA Rail Canada plans to introduce new schedules in the Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto triangle starting Jan. 24. The changes are anticipated to attract 100,000 new passengers per year and increase revenue by several million dollars annually. Riders on new Ottawa-Toronto express trains will make a nonstop trip in 3 hours, 57 minutes. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-21-11]
AFGHANISTAN OPENS FIRST MAJOR RAILROAD: Operators ran the first train down Afghanistan’s first major railroad DEC. 21, clearing the way for service from the northern border that should speed up the U.S. military’s crucial supply flow and become a hub for future trade. [Washington Post website report, 12-20-11]
PITTSBURGH TO BEGIN TESTING CARS ON LIGHT-RAIL EXTENSION: The Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pa., will soon begin testing the first T cars along a new 1.2-mile light-rail extension. Set to open in spring 2012, it will extend the existing 25-mile T system to the North Shore from downtown Pittsburgh, Station Square and the South Hills. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-20-11]
SIX NEW ‘MIDDLE CARS’ FOR TORONTO: Sumitomo Corp. of America, in conjunction with Nippon Sharyo, has obtained a $22-million contract from Metrolinx in Toronto to supply six additional diesel multiple units (DMU). The current contract called for 12 DMUs. The companies will provide middle flat-nose ‘C-Cars,’ which connect both ends of the slanted-nose ‘A-Cars.’ Although Metrolinx will use the additional six cars as middle cars, the C-Cars can be operated individually. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-20-11]
UNION PACIFIC ORDERED TO REINSTATE TERMINATED WHISTLEBLOWER: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has ordered Union Pacific Railroad Co. to immediately reinstate an employee in Idaho who was terminated after reporting a work-related injury. OSHA also has ordered the company to pay the employee more than $300,000 in back wages, compensatory damages, attorney's fees and punitive damages. [U.S. Dept. of Labor, 12-20-11]
TWO NEW TRAM LINES IN U.K.: A Tramlink Nottingham consortium that includes Alstom has obtained a $893-million contract to build and operate two new tram lines in the United Kingdom. The project will expand the existing network by about 11 miles. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-20-11]
TEXAS EAGLE TO BE IMPACTED BY TRACK WORK JAN.3-FEBR.1: Track work will affect Amtrak’s Texas Eagle from January 3 through February 1, 2012. Between Longview and Fort Worth, in both directions, passengers will be conveyed by motor coach. For current updates, contact Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL. [Amtrak]
NEW LOCOMOTIVES FOR TASMANIA: Downer Rail, in partnership with Progress Rail USA, has obtained a contract from TasRail to design and build 17 new PR22L locomotives for the Tasmanian rail network. The first locomotives are expected to start arriving by mid-2013. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-20-11]
GO TRANSIT COMPLETES IMPROVEMENTS TO CLARKSON STATION: Provincial and GO Transit officials have marked the completion of a $14-million project to improve the Clarkson Station in Mississauga, Ontario. The project included expansion of a pedestrian tunnel, construction of new stairs and elevators, a new platform canopy, new shelters and a covered mini-platform. The facility is one of the busiest stations across the system. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-19-11]
N.C. COMMISSIONS LOCOMOTIVE FOR PIEDMONT SERVICE: The North Carolina Dept. of Transportation has commissioned an upgraded 3200-hp commuter locomotive that earlier this month entered service for the state’s daily Piedmont passenger-rail service. The “City of Burlington” locomotive was painted to incorporate the colors and symbols of North Carolina’s state flag. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-19-11]
FEDS GRANT $10-M TOWARD MINNEAPOLIS RAIL INTERCHANGE PROJECT: A rail interchange project at Target Field in Minneapolis has received $10-million in funding to be used to help build a new passenger platform, storage and staging tracks and a public plaza at the station. The interchange serves commuter and light-rail systems, and will serve future systems when those projects are completed. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-19-11]
COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF UNION PACIFIC IN SMUGGLING CASE: A U.S. district court has ruled that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials overstepped their authority in imposing fines on Union Pacific. The Department of Homeland Security had imposed fines and seized equipment after finding illegal drugs from Mexico were being smuggled in rail cars. UP argues that because their security officials have no authority in Mexico, the company should not be held responsible until after trains cross the border. [Washington Post website report, 12-19-11]
AMTRAK HAD RECORD RIDERSHIP THANKSGIVING WEEK: Amtrak made it official, announcing that it carried 724,051 passengers over the Thanksgiving holiday week, marking the most successful week in the railroad’s 40-year history. And with 138,736 passengers on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Amtrak also broke its previous single day ridership record. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 12-16-11]
RAIL FATALITIES IN 2010: Rail fatalities in 2010 increased from 742 to 813, with the majority at grade crossings. Deaths on light, heavy and commuter rail rose from 229 to 253. [National Transportation Safety Borad, 12-16-11]
TONY INGRAM, EDMOND HARRIS ADDED TO CP BOARD: Canadian Pacific has announced the appointment of Tony L. Ingram and Edmond L. Harris to the company’s board of directors. Ingram was from 2004 to 2009 executive vice president and chief operating officer at CSX Transportation; Edmond Harris from 2010 to 2011 was chief operations officer at Canadian Pacific. [Canadian Pacific, 12-15-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: Gains were reported in weekly rail traffic, with U.S. railroads originating 297,400 carloads for the week ending Dec. 10, 2011, up 3.7 pct compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 240,899 trailers and containers, up 3 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-15-11]
BORDER DEAL TO IMPROVE AMTRAK CASCADES SERVICE BETWEEN CANADA & U.S. : Amtrak Cascades passengers will enjoy more reliable southbound service into the U.S. because U.S. border agents will conduct security inspections before the train leaves Vancouver, B.C., rather than along the tracks in Blaine. Details of the new procedures will be negotiated and worked out by the end of 2012. [Bellingham Herald website report, 12-15-11]
TIGER-III GRANT ANNOUNCED FOR W.VA. INTERMODAL FACILITY: The West Virginia Ports Authority will receive a $12-million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery III (TIGER III) grant to help fund construction of a long-planned intermodal terminal along Norfolk Southern’s Heartland Corridor near Prichard, W.Va. Construction is slated to begin next year. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-15-11]
NEW ORLEANS STREETCAR EXPANSION PROJECT: AECOM Technology Corp. has obtained a $10.6-million contract for the second phase of the New Orleans Streetcar Expansion Project in the Rampart/St. Claude Corridor. AECOM will prepare final design documents for the phase, which spans more than a mile from an existing Rampart/St. Claude transit corridor in the heart of New Orleans and serves the French Quarter. AECOM also will provide two environmental assessments for proposed future extensions of the St. Claude and Loyola lines. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-15-11]
BOMBARDIER GETS LIGHT-RAIL & TRAM ORDERS FOR FRANKFURT: Bombardier Transportation has received orders to supply 78 additional Flexity Swift high-floor light-rail vehicles and 10 Flexity Classic trams to the Frankfurt Transport Authority, VGF, in Germany. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-15-11]
EVANSVILLE WESTERN RWY SEEKS APPROVAL FOR WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA, RAIL TERMINAL: CSX subsidiary Evansville Western Railway has applied for site plan approval for a rail terminal project in Winter Haven, Fla. The project is needed to handle traffic from the Orlando-area line and the Polk County line. Initial construction is anticipated to start as early as mid-2012. [Lakeland Ledger website report, 12-15-11]
TRACE & RELEASE FEATURES NOW AVAILABLE FOR UNION PACIFIC CUSTOMERS THROUGH MOBILE APPS: Union Pacific Railroad reports that mobile versions of the company's Secured Equipment Trace and Equipment Release applications are available. The applications provide customers the flexibility to access information from smartphones and are available from any mobile web browser. [Union Pacific, 12-14-11]
CP UPGRADING ITS NORTH MAIN LINE THROUGH THREE PROVINCES: Canadian Pacific says that it has completed the first year of infrastructure improvements under a three-year plan to upgrade its North Main Line between Winnipeg and Edmonton. The $250-million program, designed to increase capacity, spans 850 miles in three provinces. [Railway Age website report, 12-14-11]
DART AWARDS CONTRACT FOR AIRPORT LIGHT-RAIL LINE: Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has awarded a design-build contract for a 5.2-mile extension of the Orange Line from the future Belt Line Station to the airport. A joint venture of Kiewit, Stacy and Witbeck, Reyes, Parsons was selected to complete the $149.7-million project known as Irving-3 (I-3). [Railway Age website report, 12-14-11]
GRANT WILL HELP REPOWER TWO LOCOMOTIVES IN N.Y.: New York City and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have released a $2-million grant toward repowering two conventional freight locomotives. A CSX locomotive based in Oak Point yard in Port Morris and a New York & Atlantic Railway locomotive based in Fresh Pond yard in Glendale will be retrofitted with Genset technology to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-14-11]
MOYNIHAN STATION CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CONTRACT: A joint venture between AECOM Technology Corp., its Tishman Construction arm and STV have obtained a $19-million contract from the Moynihan Station Development Corp. The contract calls for the joint venture to provide construction management services and rail expertise for the station’s first phase of construction. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-13-11]
ELECTRIFICATION CONTRACT FOR METRO SYSTEM IN LIMA, PERU: Siemens Infrastructure & Cities will be responsible for electrifying the new double-track metro line on behalf of train consortium Consorcio Tren Electrico in Lima, Peru. The line will run from the city’s northern suburbs to the downtown area, and will include 10 new stations. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-13-11]
FTA GRANTS $116-M TOWARD UTAH LIGHT-RAIL EXTENSION: The Federal Transit Administration has announced $116-million grant to Utah Transit Authority to extend UTA’s TRAX ligh-rail transit line 3.8-miles from Sandy to Draper. [Railway Age website report, 12-13-11]
AMTRAK, BNSF PROVIDE FUNDS FOR N.D. RAIL REHABILITATION: Amtrak and BNSF have provided a combined $65-million to help rehabilitate a 17-mile long line and two bridges near Churchs Ferry, N.D., that were damaged by floods. The estimated cost of the project is pegged at $97.4-million, and it has won a $10-million grant from the Department of Transportation. [Grand Forks Herald website report, 12-13-11]
MONTANA INTERMODAL HUB GETS FEDERAL GRANT: An estimated $10-million grant for the construction of the Intermodal Hub project in Shelby, Montana, has been awarded by the Department of Transportation. Part of the grant will be directed to track projects based on train specifications of BNSF, which also serves certain ports in the state. [KRTV-TV website report, 12-13-11]
CHICAGO-QUAD CITIES PASSENGER RAIL PROJECT GETS FEDERAL GRANT: The Federal Railroad Administration has given more than $177-million to the Illinois Department of Transportation for a passenger rail project that will operate twice daily round-trip service between Chicago and the Quad Cities with intermediate stops at Geneseo, Princeton, Mendota and Plano. [Railway Track & Structures website report, 12-13-11]
FEDS GRANT $15-M TOWARD EXPANSION OF NORFOLK SOUTHERN’S RUTHERFORD YARD : The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded Pennsylvania a $15-million grant to expand capacity at the freight processing facility in Rutherford, near Harrisburg, Pa. The area's freight market is expected to begin new services from Memphis, Birmingham and Charlotte in the next few years, and this project will ensure that the Rutherford facility is able to handle the increase. [Norfolk Southern, 12-13-11]
‘HYBRID’ MERCED-FRESNO HIGH-SPEED RAIL ROUTE APPROVED: The California High-Speed Authority approved a hybrid route for the Merced-to-Fresno route during its meeting Dec.13 in Merced. The route, a blend of the Union Pacific and BNSF tracks, would bypass the towns of Le Grand and Planada. [Merced Sun-Star website report, 11-13-11]
FALLEN TREE DISRUPTS AMTRAK N.Y.-BOSTON SERVICE: Northeast corridor rail traffic was impacted after a tree fell into the overhead wire system and adjacent tracks earlier this morning [Dec. 12]. Amtrak service between New York and Bostonwas restored in the afternoon, with some associated congestion related delays. [Amtrak, 12-12-11]
CSX SPENDS $1.1-M LOBBYING IN THIRD QUARTER: CSX Corp. spent almost $1.1-million lobbying the federal government in the third quarter, according to a report from the Associated Press. That's down slightly from the $1.14-million it spent a year ago and up slightly from the $1.08-million it spent in the second quarter of this year. [Associated Press report, 12-12-11]
STREETCAR TURNTABLE FOR DALLAS: Dallas will celebrate the debut of a streetcar turntable Thursday, Dec. 15, complete with holiday lights coordinated to dazzle viewers when the turntable itself is in use. The turntable will allow for the eventual introduction of new and modern streetcars to supplement the current heritage operation. Most modern streetcar designs are not double-ended. The current service includes a loop track at one end. [Railway Age website report, 12-12-11]
KCS TAKES DELIVERY OF SEVEN GE LOCOMOTIVES: Kansas City Southern has taken delivery of seven new Evolution Series 4400-hp locomotives from GE Transportation. The company has ordered a total of 25 Evolution Series units for operations in the U.S. and Mexico, and the remainder will be delivered by year’s end. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-12-11]
D.C. GETS GRANT TO STUDY CSX’S LONG BRIDGE OVER POTOMAC RIVER: The D.C. Dept. of Transportation has received a $2.9-million federal grant to evaluate rehabilitation or replacement of CSX’s Long Bridge over the Potomac River. The bridge, more than 100 years old, is the sole railroad bridge between Virginia and Washington, carrying approximately 90 trains daily. Rail service over the bridge is expected to grow to nearly 150 trains per day in the next 20 years. CSX will contribute $100,000 to the study. [U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 12-12-11]
GEORGIA GETS GRANT TO STUDY ATLANTA-CHARLOTTE PASSENGER RAIL CORRIDOR: The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has received a $4.1-million federal grant to complete a service development plan and environmental study for the 250-mile passenger rail corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte. GDOT is contributing $1.125-million for this phase of the project. [U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 12-12-11]
SIGNAL CUTOVER IN BRUNSWICK, MD.: A CSX signal cutover project took place in Brunswick, Md., Dec. 9-11. Included were updated signal systems, new signal masts, conversion of signals from the B&O-style aspects to those of the former Seaboard system, and the retirement of WB Tower. The tower, the last active interlocking tower in the state of Maryland, is slated to close officially within the next several days. [Posted 12-11-11]
ILLINOIS TO BUY NEW EQUIPMENT FOR HIGH-SPEED TRAIN PROJECT: Illinois plans to buy bullet train equipment worth $233.8-million consisting of 12 locomotives and 30 two-level passenger cars. The state is also working with other states that have high-speed rail projects to access more than $782-million in federal grants to buy equipment. [Associated Press report, 12-11-11]
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA TRACTION ACQUIRES LOW-EMISSION SWITCHER :The Central California Traction Co. has begun using an Ultra-Low Emissions Locomotive (ULEL) manufactured by Brookville Equipment Corp. The ULEL is designed to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, diesel particulate matter and other pollutants. It is a GP-38 platform powered with three Cummins QSK-19 Liter diesel engines. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-9-11]
BART SOUTH BAY EXTENSION CONTRACT AWARDED: Joint venture group Skanska-Shimmick-Herzog has been awarded a $772-million contract by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to extend BART 10 miles south, into Santa Clara County, California. The project will extend BART service to San Jose’s Berryessa neighborhood. [Railway Age website report, 12-9-11]
MASSACHUSETTS TABLES COMMUTER RAIL PROPOSAL THROUGH CAMBRIDGE: Massachusetts transportation officials are backing off a proposal to extend the Worcester/ Framingham commuter rail line 8 miles through Cambridge to North Station. The project had drawn opposition in Cambridge where residents were concerned about noise and traffic that would be created by additional trains. [Boston Globe website report, 12-9-11]
MAYOR OF COLUMBUS, GA., FORMS PASSENGER RAIL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION: The mayor of Columbus, Georgia, has formed a Passenger Rail Commission to develop train service between the town and nearby Atlanta. Mayor Teresa Tomlinson believes that Atlanta-Macon is the most likely first segment of any state rail development plan in Georgia and is working to ensure that Columbus is included in future considerations. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 12-9-11]
MODERNIZED METRO TRAINS FOR SAO PAULO: Bombardier Transportation has unveiled the first of 26 six-car modernized metro trains for Companhia Metropolitana do Metro de Sao Paulo (CMSP). The train is ready to commence service on Line 1 of the Sao Paulo metro network, with all necessary tests having been completed, Bombardier said. [Railway Age website report, 12-8-11]
ENERGY PARK RAIL LOOP APPROVED BY STUTSMAN COUNTY, N.D.: Stutsman County, N.D., officials have approved a proposed rail loop for the Spiritwood Energy Park Association. The $7.5-million project calls for combining land owned by Great River Energy and the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. The park and rail loop will be built provided Great River Energy’s plan to build the Dakota Spirit AgEnergy ethanol plant comes to fruition, county officials said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-8-11]
NOVEMBER 2011 RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: Gains were reported in November 2011 rail traffic compared with the same month last year, with U.S. railroads originating 1,476,635 carloads, up 2.3 pct, and 1,162,249 trailers and containers, up 3.8 pct. November 2011 saw the largest year-over-year percentage increase in carload traffic since March 2011. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-8-11]
BNSF NAMES ZAK ANDERSEN VP COMMUNITY & PUBLIC AFFAIRS: Zak Andersen has been named by BNSF assistant vice president, Community and Public Affairs, effective January 16, 2012, reporting to John Ambler, vice president, Corporate Relations.[BNSF, 12-8-11]
UNION PACIFIC SELLING SESQUICENTENNIAL MERCHANDISE: Railroad fans will be able to purchase commemorative Union Pacific Railroad 150th anniversary merchandise on line as the railroad kicks off its year-long sesquicentennial celebration. More than 50 items are available as part of the collection including apparel, hats, gifts and collectibles. The anniversary-themed merchandise contains a specially designed logo.[Union Pacific, 12-7-11]
CANADIAN PACIFIC EXPANDS BAKKEN RAIL SHIPMENTS: CP is now increasing volumes of crude oil movement by rail out of the Saskatchewan Bakken oil formation through a new CP transload facility, operated by Bulk Plus Logistics in Estevan. This is in addition to railcar loads already moving out of the Dollard transload facility, located on the Great Western Railway. The oil is destined to various refineries in Canada and U.S. [Canadian Pacific, 12-7-11]
CSX ENHANCES WEBSITE FOR THE DISABLED: CSX has entered into an alliance with eSSENTIAL Accessibility to provide online tools that will allow people with disabilities or language barriers easier access to the company web site. [CSX, 12-7-11]
IMPROVEMENTS TO LAWRENCE, KANSAS, TRAIN STATION COMPLETE: On Dec. 3, Amtrak, Kansas and local officials marked the completion of more than $1.5-million in improvements to the Lawrence, Kansas, station, including a 500-foot passenger boarding platform. About 6,410 passengers used the station in a 12-month period ending Sept. 30, Amtrak said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-6-11]
UNION PACIFIC REMINDS PHOTOGRAPHERS TO FOLLOW SAFETY GUIDELINES: With snow beginning to accumulate in mountain areas, and soon across much of the north and northwestern part of the Union Pacific network, these locations become prime scenic and train photography locations. Union Pacific Railroad urges photographers to resist the temptation to take photographs of trains from railroad property. Union Pacific urges photographers to read and understand the company's policy for photographers as they follow their passion or work. [Union Pacific, 12-6-11]
CANADIAN PACIFIC ADDS 61 GE EVOLUTION SERIES AC LOCOMOTIVES: Canadian Pacific has added 61 new high horsepower GE Evolution (EVO) Series AC locomotives, and has initiated a program to modernize its low and medium horsepower yard locomotives. The new EVO locomotives are currently in transcontinental service on priority series trains. [Canadian Pacific, 12-6-11]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN SEEKS FEDERAL FUNDS TOWARD PORTAGE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT: Norfolk Southern is upgrading its old Southern Tier route in New York state to take advantage of economic opportunities in the area and from Marcellus Shale drilling. It wants to replace its 135-year-old Portage Bridge, which crosses Letchworth Gorge and the Genesee River. Together with Canadian Pacific and the state's Dept. of Transportation, NS applied for $17.7-million in federal funding to help with costs. [Batavia Daily News website report, 12-6-11]
SHOOTOUT ABOARD TEXAS EAGLE, ONE KILLED: One person was killed and a bystander and a plainclothes Dallas narcotics officer were wounded in a shooting Dec. 5 aboard Amtrak’s Texas Eagle at Union Station in Dallas. The shooting occurred on train 22 awaiting departure for Chicago. One witness said he saw a disagreement over a seat. [Dallas Star-Telegram website report, 12-5-11]
WATCO TO ACQUIRE CONTROLLING INTEREST IN BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN RWY.: On Dec. 1, Watco Transportation Services LLC announced its Birmingham Terminal Railway (BHRR) subsidiary reached an agreement to purchase the assets of Birmingham Southern Railway (BSRR). Watco currently owns 23 short lines in the United States. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-5-11]
EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS ON BUCKINGHAM BRANCH R.R.: The Buckingham Branch Railroad Company’s board has promoted R. Mark Bryant to chief executive officer; Steven Powell to president; and Gale Wilson to senior vice president. The Buckingham Branch Railroad operates more than 200 miles of track in Virginia, including segments between Dillwyn and Bremo, and Richmond and Clifton Forge. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-5-11]
FEDS APPROVE $280-M LOAN TOWARD DENVER’S EAGLE P3 COMMUTER RAIL PROJECT: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has approved a $280-million infrastructure loan to help fund construction of Denver’s Eagle P3 commuter-rail project. The P3 entails the western segment, known as the Gold Line, which will serve Arvada and Wheat Ridge; and the East Line, which will operate from Union Station to Denver International Airport and connect to existing light-rail and bus service. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-5-11]
TRESPASSER FATALITY ON AMTRAK SPRINGFIELD SHUTTLE LINE: At approximately 11:00 a.m. Dec. 5, Train 470, Amtrak's Springfield Shuttle service, traveling between New Haven and Springfield struck and fatally injured a trespasser in Wallingford, Ct. There are no reported injuries to the 40 passengers or crew members on-board. [Amtrak, 12-5-11]
AAR WELCOMES ALASKA R.R. TO MEMBERSHIP: The Alaska Railroad has become the newest member of the Association of American Railroads. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-5-11]
CANADIAN PACIFIC EXPANDING SIDINGS TO ACCOMMODATE LONGER TRAINS: Canadian Pacific will further develop its long train strategy in 2012. The Company’s installation of new and extended sidings in several key regions throughout its network will allow CP to further benefit from current double digit increases in train lengths. By the end of 2013, the railway is targeting an 11 per cent increase in transcontinental train lengths by adding growing volumes into existing trains. [Canadian Pacific, 12-5-11]
TRACK WORK AFFECTING AMTRAK SERVICE AT LODI, CALIFORNIA: On Monday Dec. 12, Trains 701, 703 and 704 will not stop at Lodi, Calif., due to track work being performed. [Amtrak]
CP BUILDING RAIL YARD FOR WIND TURBINE PARTS IN PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.: Canadian Pacific is building a new rail yard in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Wind-turbine components from Canada would arrive by rail in Plattsburgh, and then be loaded onto trucks bound for the wind-project site near Scranton, Pa., said Canadian Pacific. [Press-Republican website report, 12-4-11]
KANSAS CONSIDERS OPTIONS FOR RAIL SERVICE TO TEXAS: The Kansas Dept. of Transportation has narrowed the routes of a proposed train to Fort Worth from five to two: a daytime service between Kansas City and Fort Worth, or a nighttime service between Newton, Kansas, and Fort Worth. The ridership projections for the daytime train are the highest of the two, with an estimated 270,500 passengers annually. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-2-11]
MAN ARRESTED IN BID TO STEAL R.R. TRACKS USING A BLOW TORCH: California authorities say they arrested a man who was using a blow torch on top of some railroad tracks in Modesto in an apparent attempt to steal the tracks. [CBS News website report, 12-2-11]
RAIL STRIKE AVERTED WITH AGREEMENTS, EXTENSION: The nation’s major freight railroads have reached tentative agreements with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the American Train Dispatchers Association, which together represent about 26,500 employees in collective bargaining. The last remaining union without a settlement, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE), has agreed with the railroads to extend the ‘cooling off’ period until Febr. 8, 2012, eliminating the immediate threat of a national rail strike. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-1-11]
CANADIAN PACIFIC AND IOWA NORTHERN SIGN TRACKAGE RIGHTS AGREEMENT: Canadian Pacific has announced a trackage rights agreement with the Iowa Northern Railway (IANR). The agreement expands CP’s market reach in Iowa and increases rail business options for customers’ agricultural commodities via CP and IANR track. The agreement also provides Iowa Northern rights to operate over CP’s line between Garner, Iowa and Nora Springs, Iowa. [Canadian Pacific, 12-1-11]
FRA ISSUES SAFETY ADVISORY FOR R.R. BRIDGE WORKERS: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a Safety Advisory to remind railroads, contractors and railroad bridge workers of safety practices intended to prevent accidents and casualties to employees. FRA regulations require standards related to scaffolding and for railroads and railroad contractors to provide, and employees to use, fall protection and personal protective equipment, including head, foot, eye, and face equipment for employees as they work on railroad bridges. [Federal Railroad Administration, 12-1-11]
FLORIDA TO SPEND $118-M TOWARD AMTRAK SERVICE VIA FEC: Direct Amtrak service between Florida's two largest cities is just a few years away. The state will spend about $118-million to restore passenger service to the Florida East Coast Railway. That money will help build eight new stations in coastal towns between Stuart and Jacksonville, build a connector just north of West Palm Beach along with other improvements to the line. [Palm Beach Sun Sentinel website report, 12-1-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: The Association of American Railroads reports gains in rail traffic, with U.S. railroads originating 265,304 carloads for the week ending Nov. 26, 2011, up 4 pct compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-1-11]
VTG RAIL ASSUMES BUSINESS OF SC RAIL LEASING: VTG Rail Inc. has assumed the business activities of SC Rail Leasing America Inc. The VTG-subsidiary, formerly known as Texas Railcar Leasing, will operate as VTG Rail in the North American market. [Progressive Railroading website report, 12-1-11]
KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN PURCHASING BORATE PRE-TREATED CROSSTIES: Gross & Janes Co. has signed a three-year contract with Kansas City Southern to supply borate pre-treated crossties. KCS is the first major railroad to purchase Gross & Janes’ new borate pre-treatment method crossties, which can reduce the cost and environmental impact of preservative-treated wood ties, according to the supplier. The ties represent a substantial portion of KCS’s overall tie needs over the next three years.[Progressive Railroading website report, 11-30-11]
CSX TO WIDEN PRESENCE AT PORT OF VIRGINIA: CSX expects its partnership with Maersk Line to increase its visibility in the Port of Virginia because it will handle a bigger share of intermodal activity. Norfolk Southern also serves the rail terminal there.[Virginia Business website report, 11-30-11]
CN TO CONTINUE RAIL SERVICE TO DALHOUSIE, N.B.: The Port of Dalhousie, N.B., has reached an agreement with Canadian National that will ensure rail service is available to Dalhousie. Earlier, the railway had indicated that it would abandon the branch line from Dalhousie Junction to the town, but port manager Brian Hyslop has confirmed that it has signed an agreement under which CN will continue to operate the line. [New Brunswick Business Journal website report, 11-30-11]
DRIVERLESS METRO LINE FOR HONOLULU: Ansaldo has announced that its Honolulu Joint Venture, a consortium comprising Finmeccanica companies Ansaldo STS and AnsaldoBreda, has signed a contract with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to supply the technology and vehicles for the driverless metro line being advanced in Honolulu. [Railway Agewebsite report, 11-29-11]
WATCO TO ACQUIRE CONTROLLING OWNERSHIP OF WISCONSIN & SOUTHERN: Watco Transportation Services, L.L.C. and The Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co. have announced that they have mutually agreed for Watco to acquire controlling ownership of the Wisconsin & Southern. Milwaukee-based Wisconsin & Southern will retain its existing corporate structure, including its name, and operations to serve its customers. [Watco, 11-29-11]
METRO-NORTH OPENING FAIRFIELD METRO STATION: Metro-North plans to begin providing service to the recently-built Fairfield Metro Station on the New Haven Line December 5. Fairfield Metro is the first new station on the New Haven Line since the State Street Station opened in 2002. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-29-11]
FEDS GRANT $900-M TOWARD HOUSTON LIGHT-RAIL EXTENSION: The Federal Transit Administration has signed two agreements to provide $900-million in grants to extend Houston’s light-rail system by 12 miles. The light-rail expansion plan, featuring 18 new stops, is part of the city’s efforts to connect its workforce with major downtown employment centers, including the Texas Medical Center and the University of Houston. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-29-11]
CSX INTRODUCES ‘CARBON CALCULATOR’: CSX has launched an improved Carbon Calculator aimed at helping consumers and businesses better understand the key role freight rail plays in a sustainable supply chain. To demonstrate the efficiencies of CSX's network, the calculator compares the carbon emissions generated by freight rail to those of long-haul trucks over similar routes. Consumers are able to choose from a number of variables to estimate the average carbon emissions reduced by shipping via rail. [CSX, 11-29-11]
RAIL FACILITIES IN ILLINOIS SEE BOOM IN GRAIN EXPORTS: Two intermodal facilities in Illinois - the BNSF Logistics Park in Elwood and Union Pacific's Global Four in Joliet - will see more than 60 million bushels of grain this year. That's double what was shipped five years ago. Customers like getting their grain in cargo containers because it's easier to distribute to end users, according to Prairie Creek Grain Co. [Food Logistics website report, 11-29-11]
VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON, TO EXPAND PORT RAIL CAPACITY: The Port of Vancouver, Washington, will launch a key piece of its planned expansion of rail tracks by the end of this year. Six train tracks will run underneath a new overpass which will carry cars and trucks to port terminals. The idea is to simultaneously speed rail cargo while providing quicker, easier auto access to the port’s cargo operations. Construction on the $11.28-million project is expected to be completed by May 2013. [The Columbian website report, 11-28-11]
CLASS I RAIL WORKFORCE CONTINUES INCREASE: The U.S. Class I workforce grew a bit larger last month. As of mid-October, the large roads employed 160,251 people, up 0.1 percent from September’s level and 3.9 percent from October 2010’s count, according to Surface Transportation Board data. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-23-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: Gains were reported in rail traffic, with U.S. railroads originating 301,919 carloads for the week ending Nov. 19, 2011, up 1.1 pct compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 243,234 trailers and containers, up 3pct. Eleven of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2010. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-23-11]
FEDS GRANT $16.7-M TOWARD RESTORATION OF SEATTLE’S KING STREET STATION: A $16.7 million federal High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail grant to the state of Washington allows the complete restoration of Seattle’s ornate King Street Station by late 2013. Work on the station will begin in the spring. State funding will cover 20 percent of the cost. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 11-23-11]
FEDS GRANT $1-B TOWARD CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded a California High-Speed Rail Authority $1-billion for initial construction of its High-Speed Rail. Construction will begin next year in Fresno. California’s 220-mph high-speed rail system will connect to the rest of the state’s transportation network, improving local, regional and international mobility. [U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 11-22-11]
MICHIGAN GETS $150-M GRANT TOWARD DETROIT-CHICAGO RAIL SERVICE: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded $150-million to the Michigan Department of Transportation for a high-speed rail project for Amtrak’s Wolverine and Blue Water services between Detroit and Chicago. The grant will enable MDOT to acquire ownership over much of the Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac Rail Corridor within the State of Michigan and pave the way to allow for speeds up to 110 mph on 77 percent of the affected route. [U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 11-22-11]
MESA, AZ, LIGHT-RAIL EXTENSION FUNDED: A three-mile extension of light-rail transit deeper into Mesa, Ariz., has received $35.5-million in fiscal year 2012 appropriations to fund right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation for the approximately three miles along Main Street from the Sycamore Street station through Mesa's downtown. [Railway Age website report, 11-22-11]
NEW FARE SYSTEM FOR SEPTA: ACS Transport Solutions Group has obtained a $129.5-million contract from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to equip and install a modernized fare system under the New Payment Technologies (NPT) program, SEPTA said. The new system will replace tokens, paper tickets and magnetic strip passes with fare-paying options, such as bank cards, identification cards and smart phones. NPT will be rolled out first on buses and trolleys, then on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines, and finally the regional rail system. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-22-11]
‘GREEN CERTIFIED’ TRI-RAIL STATION FOR POMPANO BEACH: The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority will receive a $5.7-million grant through the Federal Transit Administration’s Transit Investment in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction program to build Tri-Rail’s first ‘green-certified’ station in Pompano Beach, Florida. The rebuilt station will generate 100 percent of its energy demands through solar panels. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-22-11]
EXTENSION APPROVED FOR CONTAINER FACILITY IN GEORGIA: The Georgia Ports Authority has approved a $6.5-million, 6,000-foot extension of the Mason Intermodal Container Transfer Facility. The project calls for combining 46,921 linear feet of track between two on-site rail yards served by CSX and Norfolk Southern. The project will enable locomotives to pull cars through the facility instead of having to back cars into it. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-22-11]
AVENIO TRAMS FOR THE HAGUE: Siemens Rail Systems Division has obtained a $134.8-million contract to manufacture 40 four-unit Avenio trams for the HTM Materieel B.V. operator in The Hauge, the first city in the world to purchase the Avenio trams, according to Siemens. The agreement also includes an option for the purchase of up to 40 additional Avenio trams. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-22-11]
GENESEE & WYOMING UNVEILS NEW LOCOMOTIVE FOR AUSTRALIAN SERVICE: Genesee & Wyoming Australia has commissioned the first of 16 new 4300-horsepower Downer Rail locomotives, GWA001, the first unit to be delivered. It will be used in GWA’s intermodal service between Adelaide and Darwin. [Adelaide Now website report, 11-22-11]
PERSHING SQUARE HIKES STAKE IN CP RAIL TO 12.4 PCT.: Pershing Square Capital Management has invested another $90-million in Canadian Pacific Railway, raising the fund’s stake in Canada’s second-largest railroad to 12.4 percent from 12.2 percent. [Financial Post website report, 11-22-11]
UNION PACIFIC RELEASES APP FOR TRACKING ITS STEAM PROGRAM: A free app for fans of historic rail equipment is available at Apple's App Store in iTunes for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Features include: Real-time GPS location of Union Pacific's steam locomotives and steam excursion schedules; Photos, videos, descriptions, and history of UP steam locomotives; and Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare functionality. [DC Velocity website report, 11-22-11]
STB AWARDS $63-M TO UTILITY IN RAIL OVERCHARGE CASE: The Surface Transportation Board has granted an estimated $63-million in reparations and rate reductions to the Arizona Electric Power Cooperative. The STB found that BNSF and Union Pacific were overcharging the utility for shipments of coal from New Mexico, Wyoming and Montana to AEPCO's power generating station near Cochise, Arizona. [Surface Transportation Board, 11-22-11]
STB AUTHORIZES 35-MILE ALASKA RAIL EXTENSION: The Surface Transportation Board has issued a decision authorizing the Alaska Railroad Corp. (ARRC) to build a 35-mile line connecting Port MacKenzie in south-central Alaska to a point on ARRC’s existing main line near Houston, Alaska. The line would provide a rail transport option where trucking is now the only mode of surface freight transportation. [Railway Age website report, 11-21-11]
WABTEC ACQUIRES FULMER COMPANY: Wabtec Corp. has acquired Fulmer Co., a manufacturer of motor components for rail, power generation, and other industrial markets. Based in Export, Pa., Fulmer has annual sales of about $15-million. [Railway Age website report, 11-21-11]
PRESIDENT SIGNS $10.6-B PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BILL: President Obama signed a fiscal-year 2012 appropriations bill that will include $10.6-billion for public transportation, which represents a 3 percent increase over FY2011 funding levels. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-21-11]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN HOSTS TOUR OF PENNSYLVANIA INTERMODAL SITE: Norfolk Southern hosted a tour of their 200-acre intermodal facility site near I-81 exit 3 for the media Nov.21. At the end of 2012, the company expects to open the facility, where 650 trucks will drop off and pick up containerized freight each day. Norfolk Southern presented Antrim Township officials with a $300,000 check for improvements they’ll need to make to nearby roads. [Hagerstown Herald-Mail website report, 11-21-11]
WIND TURBINE BUSINESS COMES TO RAILS: Some wind-turbine manufacturers are increasing their use of freight rail to transport wind-turbine equipment. Deliveries from the factory to remote wind-farm areas by truck can mean 10 truckloads to get all the pieces there, which is why manufacturers are contracting with railroads to reduce the amount of travel time. [Quad City Times website report, 11-20-11]
AMTRAK REORGANIZING INTO SIX BUSINESS LINES: New Amtrak business lines are: Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Investment Development; Northeast Corridor Operations; State Supported Services; Commuter Services; Long-Distance Services; and Corporate Asset Development. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 11-18-11]
CHICAGO-TWIN CITIES HIGH-SPEED LINE SHOULD FOLLOW MISSISSIPPI RIVER, STUDY SAYS: The planned higher-speed intercity rail corridor between the Twin Cities and Chicago should be routed along the Mississippi River, according to a study released by the Minnesota DOT and the Federal Railroad Administration. The Mississippi River alignment was selected as the preferred alternative, beating out a competing corridor that would have followed Interstate 94. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 11-18-11]
FEDS ISSUE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ON PROPOSED RJ CORMAN LINE IN PA.: The Surface Transportation Board‘s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) has issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the R.J. Corman Railroad Company/Pennsylvania Lines‘ proposed construction of a 20-mile line between Wallaceton and Gorton, Pa. It is recommending a ‘Modified Proposed Action’ toward the project. [Railway Age website report, 11-18-11]
SOUND TRANSIT TO BEGIN FINAL DESIGN OF EAST LINK LIGHT-RAIL PROJECT: Sound Transit’s board has voted to launch work on the final design for the route between Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond, Washington. The agency plans to begin East Link construction in 2015 and begin rail service in 2023. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-18-11]
MODERN TRAMWAY SYSTEM FOR ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA: Alstom and its partner Transmashholding (TMH) have signed a memorandum of understanding with the city of Saint Petersburg, Russia, to develop a modern tramway network. Terms call for Alstom and TMH to develop a new, modular express tramway that’s adapted to the region’s climate conditions. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-18-11]
CUMMINS TO EXPAND INVESTMENT IN ITS S.C. TECHNICAL CENTER: Cummins Inc. announced plans to invest $24-million over three years to expand research and development at its North Charleston, S.C., technical center. The center will be capable of running a variety of engines and test a range of fuels, according to the company. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-18-11]
FEDS AWARD $21-M FOR CALTRANS PROJECTS: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded $21-million for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for engineering to begin on three double-track projects to improve Southern California’s Pacific Surfliner. The projects involve Oceanside, Del Mar, and Elvira-Morena [U.S. DOT, 11-18-11]
BNSF, UP SEE RISE IN EXPORT GRAIN FROM ILLINOIS: An estimated 60 million grain bushels are expected to be handled by BNSF and Union Pacific's facilities in Illinois this year. Export shipments originating from the facilities has doubled since 2006, and grain volumes passing through them account for 20 percent of corn and soybean exports from the state, said Jeremy Grey, CenterPoint Properties vice president for infrastructure and transportation. [Southtown Star website report, 11-18-11]
DESERT XPRESS GETS BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT APPROVAL: The $6.5-billion DesertXpress bullet train project has received authorization from the Bureau of Land Management for right-of-way construction on BLM-administered public property. The Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Railroad Administration gave the same approval to the 185-mile, double-track project earlier this year. [Las Vegas Sun website report, 11-18-11]
UNION PACIFIC HIKES DIVIDEND 26 PCT: Union Pacific Corporation’s Board of Directors has voted to increase the quarterly dividend on the company's common shares by 26 pct to 60 cents per share. The increased dividend is payable January 2, 2012, to stockholders of record on November 30, 2011. [Union Pacific, 11-17-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: Gains in rail traffic were reported for the week ending Nov. 12, 2011, with U.S. railroads originating 299,591 carloads, up 0.5 pct compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 244,972 trailers and containers, up 5.2 pct compared with the same week last year. Ten of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2010. Petroleum products were up 22 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-17-11]
BNSF PROFIT RISES 8.5 PCT: BNSF Railway’s profit rose 8.5 percent year-over-year to $766-million in the second quarter, as the railroad's revenue rose 13 pct despite traffic falling 1.9 pct. Revenue rose to $4.9-billion and operating expenses increased 14 percent year-over-year to $3.5-billion. [Journal of Commerce website report, 11-17-11]
JOHN RINK NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF PATCO: The Delaware River Port Authority board has named John D. Rink as the new general manager of PATCO, the rapid transit line linking Philadelphia with its New Jersey suburbs. He succeeds Robert Box, who retired last April. [Railway Age website report, 11-17-11]
RAILS GAIN LEVERAGE ON CRUDE OIL TRAFFIC: The freight railroad industry is seeing crude oil transportation among the rapidly growing market areas as railroads gain from a huge influx of crude oil in North America. As the oil pipeline sector struggles to meet rising oil production and deals with government policies, railroads are predicted to capture 5 to 10 pct of market share in North America in the near future, according to rail officials. [Calgary Herald website report, 11-17-11]
LABOR AGREEMENTS REACHED FOR 50 PCT OF RAIL EMPLOYEES: Since the Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) issued its recommendations on November 5, 2011, the major freight railroads have been actively engaged with its unions to implement the recommendations. Tentative agreements have been reached with four unions. Including the agreement that was reached with the largest union prior to the convening of the PEB, there are now agreements covering over 50 pct of the rail employees in this bargaining round. [BNSF, 11-16-11]
GE TRANSPORTATION TO ACQUIRE SOFTWARE PROVIDER RMI: GE Transportation announced its intent to acquire software provider RMI from The Carlyle Group. Pending regulatory approval anticipated for early 2012, the acquisition would expand GE’s Software and Optimization Solutions business to serve railroad customers worldwide. RMI generates annual revenue of $45-million and provides transportation management software for railroads, rail shippers, rail-car leasing companies and intermodal services in North America. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-16-11]
CONGRESSIONAL NEGOTIATORS SLASH AMTRAK OPERATING FUNDS: House and Senate negotiators have agreed on a fiscal 2012 ‘minibus’ spending bill that funds Amtrak at $1.42-billion and protects short distance services. But there is no new funding for the High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Program of grants to states for infrastructure and equipment investments. The Senate had included $100-million for this, the House nothing. The Amtrak operating number is $466-million, which is 17 percent below the 2011 level. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 11-15-11]
AMTRAK SERVICE RESTORED AT MINOT, N.D.: Passenger train service has been restored to Minot. The service was discontinued when the Souris River flooded in late June and damaged the depot. In the interim, the Empire Builder has been stopping in Minot for fueling, but passengers have had to go to Stanley, Rugby or Williston to board the train or disembark. Repairs have been made to the station, with a waiting area and ticket counter set up in the former baggage area. Checked baggage service remains suspended until more repairs are made to the building. [Minot Daily News website report, 11-15-11]
SERVICE TO BE RESTORED TO PORT JERVIS LINE NOV. 28: Metro-North will restore full service on the Port Jervis line on Nov. 28. The railroad had to rebuild a 14-mile section of the line, which was heavily damaged by flooding associated with Tropical Storm Irene in August. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-15-11]
LOAN APPROVED FOR PURCHASE OF FORMER YOUNGSTOWN & SOUTHERN LINE: The Ohio Rail Development Commission has approved loan term revisions for the Columbiana County Port Authority for the rehabilitation of a former Youngstown & Southern line. The $2.1-million loan will enable a buyer to purchase both the rail line and a landfill. The buyer also plans to develop a bulk transload facility on the line. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-15-11]
HIGH-SPEED RAIL STUDY RELEASED FOR QUEBEC-WINDSOR CITY CORRIDOR: The Government of Canada and the provincial governments of Quebec and Ontario have released the final report of the high-speed rail study for the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. HSR is technically feasible in the corridor, the report concludes, but will require significant public expenditure. With these study findings, Canada will take the time necessary to carefully consider possible next steps. [Railway Age website report, 11-15-11]
CANADIAN PACIFIC READIES FOR WINTER SERVICE: Canadian Pacific is confident that reliable service will be available even in the winter, now that it has added snowplows and additional crew to boost its rail lines and secondary networks. The company also plans to deploy 61 locomotives by year's end in an effort to strengthen efficiency. [Canadian Press, 11-15-11]
FLORIDA EAST COAST ADDS VALDOSTA, GA., TO RELAY RAIL NETWORK: Florida East Coast Railway Co. (FEC) will add Valdosta, Ga., to its so-called relay rail network, which allows truckers to drop off trailer loads with the FEC and have the railroad transport the freight down the Florida peninsula to Miami. The expansion will take place early next year, the railroad said. [Florida East Coast, 11-15-11]
UNION PACIFIC IMPROVING TRACK IN GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA: Union Pacific Railroad will continue improving Nebraska's transportation infrastructure with more than $6-million in investment to enhance the rail line that runs through Grand Island. The five-mile project includes removing and installing nearly 13,500 concrete ties, five-miles of rail and renewing the surfaces at seven road crossings. Four switches were replaced in May. [Union Pacific, 11-15-11]
RAILROADS RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO MILITARY VETERANS: The freight railroad industry has been recognized for the seventh consecutive year by G.I. Jobs magazine, the nation’s premier career guide for military job-seekers, for their commitment to hiring military veterans. The magazine named five Class I railroads to their annual ‘Top 100 Military Friendly-Employers’ list. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-15-11]
STB TO STREAMLINE ROUTINE DECISION PROCESS: The Beginning Dec. 15, the Surface Transportation Board will implement a ‘grant stamp’ procedure for routine, unopposed decisions issued by the Director of the Board’s Office of Proceedings. Rather than preparing a separate decision, the director will apply a stamp to the filed pleading, and the stamped pleading will constitute the Board's decision granting the relief sought. [Railway Age website report, 11-14-11]
AGREEMENT REACHED TO FUND PHASE 2 OF DULLES RAIL LINE PROJECT: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation says that an agreement, pending approval, has been reached to fund the second phase of the Dulles Silver Line Rail project, which has been proposed to extend rail service from Reston, Va., to eastern Loudoun County via Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Va. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-14-11]
NEW MONORAIL CARS FOR GERMANY: Vossloh Electrical Systems has obtained a contract with Wuppertaler Stadtwerke to provide 31 new suspension rail cars for the Wuppertal Schwebebah, a high-rail mounted suspension monorail in Germany, to be delivered by the end of 2015. The new cars will replace units that date back to the 1970s. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-14-11]
FORMER UTU LOCAL TREASURER INDICTED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT: A former treasurer of UTU local in Brownsville, Pa., has been indicted on charges of embezzling more than $9,300 from his local, reports the PittsburghTribune-Review. The indictment alleges the individual 'wrote and cashed unauthorized union checks for his personal benefit.' So far this year, four former UTU local treasurers - and seven more from other rail unions - have faced federal indictments alleging they unlawfully converted union funds for personal use. [United Transportation Union, 11-14-11]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN NEEDS ADDITIONAL LAND FOR VIRGINIA INTERMODAL YARD: Norfolk Southern needs to acquire 49 acres of farmland to realize its dream of building an intermodal freight yard in eastern Montgomery County, Va. The railroad says the yard is slated to sit on nearly 78 acres in the Elliston-Lafayette area, has so far bought 32 acres from four owners, while 45.8 acres remain to be acquired. [Roanoke Times website report, 11-13-11]
METRA TO HIKE FARES 25 PCT: The Metra board has approved a fare hike package that will increase the cost of commuting on Metra trains an average of 25 pct starting in February 2012. [Chicago Sun-Times website report, 11-12-11]
GENESEE & WYOMING CARLOADS UP 14.2 PCT IN OCTOBER: Genesee & Wyoming Inc. reported traffic volumes for October 2011 of 84,331 carloads, an increase of 10,464 carloads, or 14.2 pct compared with October 2010. [Genesee & Wyoming, 11-11-11]
CSX TO BUILD INTERMODAL TERMINAL IN WINTER HAVEN: CSX plans to construct a terminal in Winter Haven, Florida, to replace one in the Orlando area. CSX subsidiary Evansville Western Railway Inc. will begin building the new terminal by year’s end or early 2012. CSX purchased a 318-acre property from the city of Winter Haven in 2007. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-11-11]
BNSF TO SERVE ETHANOL TERMINAL IN BIRMINGHAM: Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc. subsidiary BlendStar L.L.C. has announced plans to build a BNSF-served ethanol unit train terminal in Birmingham, Ala. To be completed in third-quarter 2012, the it will be designed to store 160,000 barrels of ethanol and receive 96-car unit trains. The facility will be the eastern-most point for direct rail shipments of ethanol received from the Midwest. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-11-11]
RAILAMERICA REPORTS OCTOBER 2011 TRAFFIC: RailAmerica subsidiary lines last month handled 71,418 carloads, down 1.9 percent compared with October 2010. Same-railroad carloads declined 2.6 percent for the company, which owns 43 regionals and short lines in the United States and Canada. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-11-11]
SARATOGA & NORTH CREEK RWY SEEKS TO OPERATE N.Y. ROUTE: Saratoga and North Creek Railway L.L.C. recently filed with the Surface Transportation Board to operate the 29.7-mile Tahawus Line, between North Creek and Newcomb, N.Y. The track is owned by NL Industries Inc., which plans to sell the line to the carrier in the near future. It plans to provide rail service over the line connecting to its existing track at North Creek and extending to a connection with Canadian Pacific in Saratoga Springs. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-11-11]
MISSOURI GETS $3.6-M GRANT FOR THIRD TRACK PROJECT FOR AMTRAK: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has announced a $3.6-million grant to Missouri to build a third main track on the St. Louis Grand Avenue-to-Gratiot Street Rail Corridor. The project will allow the existing track near the Gateway Intermodal Station to be used primarily for the Amtrak train access to the station. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-11-11]
RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC TO RECOVER BY 2013, BNSF CHIEF SAYS: Freight rail traffic equal to pre-recession levels won't be achieved until 2013, according to BNSF CEO and Chairman Matthew Rose. He says last year volumes grew at about 10 percent, and so it looked like we were in a normal V- or U-shaped type recovery. But he explains that even though volume is still growing, the pitch of the line has slowed down, and that's a troubling sign for what we're seeing out there. [Dallas Business Journal website report, 11-11-11]
PHOENIX’S VALLEY METRO SETS RIDERSHIP RECORD: Phoenix’s Valley Metro transit agency said its light-rail system set a new single-month ridership record in October 2011. Metro is a 20-mile, 28-station light-rail network that began service in December of 2008. It saw 1.3 million boardings in October, an 8 percent increase over the same period last year. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 11-11-11]
DURHAM COUNTY, N.C., VOTERS APPROVE HALF-CENT TAX BOOST TO FUND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Voters in Durham County, N.C., voted 60 percent to add an extra half-cent to their own county sales taxes exclusively to fund public transportation improvements, including the development of rail transit service linking the three cities of the Research Triangle. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 11-11-11]
NEW DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR FRA: The Federal Railroad Administration has announced that Karen Hedlund would be taking over as the new Deputy Administrator. She previously served as the FRA’s Chief Counsel. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 11-11-11]
CANADIAN PACIFIC HOLIDAY TRAIN BEGINS NOV. 25: The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train hits the rails visiting over 140 communities across the CP networkbeginning Nov. 25. The goal is to collect food and money for local food banks and to raise awareness in the fight against hunger. At each event, the Holiday Train provides a box car stage, a line up of great musical talents and a corporate contribution to the local food bank. The community, in turn, is encouraged to donate food and funds, all of which stays in the community. [Canadian Pacific]
INDIANA R.R. MOVES TWO MILLIONTH CARLOAD: Indiana Rail Road Company on Nov. 10 celebrated a major milestone in its history as a regional railroad, officially moving its two-millionth carload of revenue freight at INRD’s Senate Avenue Terminal in Indianapolis. [Railway Age website report, 11-10-11]
CORADIA NORDIC TRAINS FOR SWEDEN: Alstom has obtained a $135-million contract to supply 20 Coradia Nordic regional trains to Skanetrafiken in Sweden. The new trains will serve rail lines in the Skane region. The Coradia Nordic train offers a maximum of 235 seats and can reach a speed up to about 99 mph. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-10-11]
IOWA APPROVES $5.5-M TOWARD RAIL PROJECTS: The Iowa Transportation Commission has approved more than $5.5-million in funding for nine rail infrastructure improvement projects. The monies come from the state’s Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant program, which provides funding assistance to rail projects that create jobs, spur economic development and improve or preserve rail transportation. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-10-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: Gains were repoorted in rail traffic, with U.S. railroads originating 298,465 carloads for the week ending Nov. 5, 2011, up 3.4 pct compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 239,180 trailers and containers, up 3.5 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-10-11]
UNION PACIFIC DELAYS CALIFORNIA GRAIN TERMINAL OPENING: Union Pacific Railroad has pushed back the opening of its grain transloading facility at Yermo, Calif., to late 2011 or early 2012 due to the vagaries of the grain export market. [Journal of Commerce website report, 11-10-11]
RAIL FREIGHT SERVICE MAY BOOST ECONOMY OF YOUNGSTOWN: Officials in Youngstown, Ohio, say use of freight service from railroasd could help develop their economy. One factor that could increase traffic in the area is the rising number of gas and oil projects in energy fields, including the Utica and Marcellus shale regions, with developers bound to seek rail service on sand shipments for fracking operations, according to experts. [WYTV-TV website report, 11-10-11]
TRESPASSER FATALITY DISRUPTS NEC SERVICE: A fatal accident involving a trespasser forced Amtrak to suspend service on the Northeast Corridor between New York and Philadelphia the afternoon of Nov. 9. Officials said a trespasser was hit by an Acela train near Hamilton, N.J., causing delays of around 30 minutes. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers]
CINCINNATI VOTERS ELECT TO KEEP STREETCAR PROJECT: A majority of Cincinnati voters have stood by current plans to reintroduce streetcars to the city, rejecting Issue 48, a ballot measure that would have banned any city funds to be spent on passenger rail implementation. [Railway Age website report, 11-9-11]
R.R. CONDUCTOR CERTIFICATION TO BE IMPLEMENTED JAN. 1: Conductor certification, mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, has a clear track for Jan. 1 implementation. In a final rule, published by the Federal Railroad Administration Nov. 9, railroads must implement, by Jan. 1, a formal training program for certifying conductors and a formal process for training prospective conductors. [United Transportation Union, 11-9-11]
NEW CHICAGO TRANSIT CARS UNVEILED: The Chicago Transit Authority has unveil new 5000-series rail cars, marking the first time the agency has added new cars to its rail fleet since 1992. After a prototype test period, the first of the 706 Bombardier Transportation-built cars will enter service on the agency’s Pink Line. The new cars will allow CTA to retire some of the oldest cars in its fleet. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-9-11]
COLTON CROSSING PROJECT BEGINS IN CALIFORNIA: Officials have marked the start of construction on the Colton Crossing grade separation project in Colton, California. To be completed in 2014, the $208-million project calls for elevating two east-west Union Pacific tracks over two north-south BNSF tracks, which currently cross at street level. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-9-11]
CN GETS COAL TRANSPORT DEAL: Canadian National will transport thermal coal products from Coalspur Mines' planned coal mine in Alberta to a rail terminal in the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia, under an initial agreement to take effect in 2015. The railroad will also partner with Coalspur for the construction of a rail siding at the mine. [Canadian Press website report, 11-9-11]
GT LOGISTICS INSTALLING RAIL LINES AT TEXAS PORT: GT Logistics is working on rail line installations at its Union Pacific-serviced OmniPort terminal in Port Arthur, Texas. The 300-acre facility is expected to become a multimodal terminal for oil shipments and other products handled by freight carriers once it opens in January 2012. [Oil & Gas Journal website report, 11-9-11]
AMTRAK PRIVATIZATION PLAN DEAD IN HOUSE: Privatization plans for Amtrak's Northeast Corridor will not be pursued further after congressional lawmakers refused support for the idea, said House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman John Mica, R-FL. Mica is now suggesting that any returned high-speed rail funds go toward the Northeast Corridor. [Wall Street Journal website report, 11-8-11]
UP, CSX LAUNCH NORTH-SOUTH INTERMODAL ROUTE: Union Pacific and CSX have launched an intermodal service between Detroit and Laredo connecting the Upper Midwest and Canada to southern Texas and Mexico. Using the UMAX container fleet, the two railroads say they deliver three days faster than the next best intermodal service, making fourth-day delivery to Laredo and fifth-day delivery to Detroit. [Railway Age website report, 11-8-11]
VRE ACHIEVES RECORD ON-TIME PERFORMANCE: During October 2011, Virginia Railway Express’s on-time performance was 98 percent, a first-time achievement in the rail service’s 19-year history. The commuter-rail agency operated 600 trains with 11 total delays. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-8-11]
MASS BAY REOPENS SCIENCE PARK WEST STATION: The Massachusetts Dept. of Transportation marked the completion of a $22-million project to upgrade the Science Park/West End Station on the Massachusetts Bay Green Line on November 5 after being closed six months. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-8-11]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN NOTES SUCCESS WITH IMPROVED ENTHANOL DELIVERY SYSTEM: Norfolk Southern recently marked the one-year anniversary of a virtual inventory management and delivery system for ethanol shippers that can cut in half the time it takes to transload shipments at Thoroughbred Bulk Transfer (TBT) facilities, according to the Class I. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-8-11]
UTU DEVELOPING TRAINING GUIDE FOR AMTRAK: About 8,000 Amtrak employees will undergo training once the Emerging Incidents Procedures manual of the United Transportation Union is completed. "The manual will be used as part of Amtrak's 2012 Block Training cycle to assist front-line employees aboard trains, in stations and on platforms in developing skills related to situational awareness, observation, communication and response," said Bruce Feltmeyer, UTU's training and education coordinator. [Railway Track & Structures website report, 11-8-11]
TRACK UPGRADES ON VIA MONTREAL-OTTAWA-TORONTO LINE COMPLETED: Major improvements have been completed between Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto that will improve passenger-rail service. The project included $55-million in infrastructure upgrades between Ottawa and Montreal, and track and safety improvements on the Ottawa and Brockville route, completing a major part of a $300-million expansion of VIA’s Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto corridor. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-7-11]
ST. LOUIS BEGINS LIGHT-RAIL IMPROVEMENTS: Metro Transit-St. Louis has begun a new light-rail improvement project at the University of Missouri-St. Louis South MetroLink Station. The $1.2-million project is being funded by federal stimulus money. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-7-11]
AMTRAK RAISES AGE FOR UNACCOMPANIED MINORS: Amtrak passengers between the age of 8 and 12 are no longer allowed to ride the national passenger railroad without being accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older. Amtrak had previously allowed passengers as young as 8 years to ride unaccompanied. [Railway Age website report, 11-7-11]
CN MARKS OPENING OF ‘MATTESON CONNECTION’: Canadian National recently unveiled its $30-million rail connection in Matteson, Illinois, the biggest component of the company's $100-million plan to connect the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway and its rail network in Chicago. The Matteson rail link integrates two CN rail lines via a four-point link, allowing trains to reach eastern, northern, southern and western destinations. [Railway Track & Structures website report, 11-7-11]
DOT ‘HERO’ AWARDS PRESENTED TO TWO AMTRAK CONDUCTORS: Amtrak conductors Richard d’Alessandro and Loxie Sanders have been given ‘hero’ awards by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation for their courage under pressure in evacuating passengers from burning equipment of the California Zephyr following the collision of a truck into their train in Nevada June 24. The awards were presented in Washington November 3. [United Transportation Union, 11-4-11]
CALIFORNIA BULLET TRAIN AGENCY REQUESTING BILLIONS TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION: The California High Speed Rail Authority has formally requested $3.3-billion in federal grants and $2.7-billion in state bonds to start construction. The request now goes to Governor Brown’s administration and then the Legislature, where it will face scrutiny by lawmakers concerned about more than $90-billion to finish the system. The authority also said it hopes to get private investments, additional federal funding and proceeds from a U.S. bond program that will require congressional approval. [Los Angeles Times website report, 11-4-11]
MITT ROMNEY SAYS HIS GOAL, IF ELECTED PRESIDENT, IS TO STRIP AMTRAK OF FEDERAL SUBSIDIES: If elected president, one of Republican Mitt Romney's top goals would be to strip Amtrak of federal subsidies. Romney said that unless the U.S. takes drastic action, it is headed for a fiscal crisis equal to that in Greece. And he said the fight to cut spending will affect both America’s national security and its moral standing in the world. [Washington Post website report, 11-4-11]
WABTEC ACQUIRES BEARWARD ENGINEERING: Wabtec Corp. has acquired Bearward Engineering, a leading manufacturer of cooling systems and related equipment for power generation and other industrial markets. [Railway Age website report, 11-4-11]
FUNDING APPROVED FOR TWO CHICAGO TRANSIT RAIL PROJECTS: Illinois and Chicago officials have announced the state will provide $646-million to repair and rebuild the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line, and improve the agency’s Purple Line. Combined with other state, local and federal funds, the latest state allocation brings the total investment to $1 billion to overhaul ‘a critical piece’ of the region’s transit system. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-4-11]
METRO LINE OPENS IN ALGIERS: Siemens officials announced that the president of the Algerian Republic recently inaugurated the first metro line in Algiers. Siemens, a consortium leader for the project, installed the complete rail system as a turnkey project. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-4-11]
INVENSYS RAIL LANDS CONTRACTS IN THREE COUNTRIES: Invensys Rail has obtained contracts worth $967.7-million in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and United Kingdom. In Saudi Arabia, the company will provide signaling and train control systems for the Haramain high-speed line. In Turkey, Invensys obtained a $269.4-million signaling contract for Istanbul’s Bosphorus crossing rail link. And in the United Kingdom, the company obtained a $4.8 million contract to provide signaling for the next phase of the Reading Station remodeling project. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-4-11]
DRIVERLESS TRAINS ENTER METRO SERVICE IN PARIS: The first driverless trains recently entered service on Paris Metro’s oldest line, which is equipped with Siemens’ automatic Trainguard MT communications-based train control system. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-4-11]
FEDS ANNOUNCE 2010 ‘REVENUE ADEQUACY’ FOR CLASS I RAILROADS: The U.S. Surface Transportation Board has issued a decision on Class I railroads’ revenue adequacy for 2010. The board-determined rates of return on net investment included UP, 11.54 pct; Norfolk Southern, 10.96 pct; CSX, 10.85 pct; Kansas City Southern, 9.77 pct; BNSF, 9.22 pct; CN (all U.S. affiliates), 9.21 pct; and Canadian Pacific (all U.S. affiliates), 8.01 pct. Only UP had a revenue adequacy of at least 11.03 pct, the benchmark for the adequacy standard; the others are considered ‘revenue inadequate.’ [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-4-11]
COURT UPHOLDS NORFOLK SOUTHERN FREIGHT TERMINAL IN VIRGINIA: The Virginia Supreme Court has upheld a state grant to Norfolk Southern for a freight terminal in Montgomery County. The court unanimously rejected the county's claim that the grant was unconstitutional, clearing the way for development of the truck-to-rail transfer facility adjacent to Interstate 81. [Associated Press report, 11-4-11]
ELECTRONIC TICKETING NOW AVAILABLE ON DOWNEASTER: Passengers on the Downeaster train are participating in Amtrak’s pilot program for eTicketing. The new program will allow more flexibility for passengers, who can now print out their tickets at home, use their smartphone to present their ticket to the conductor, or print their ticket at the station. The eTicketing program is scheduled to go nationwide by the end of 2012. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 11-4-11]
AMTRAK ADDS THE VILLAGES, FLORIDA, WITH THRUWAY BUS CONNECTION WITH SILVER STAR: The Villages - a retirement community in Florida - will now have a daily connection to Amtrak’s Silver Star via Thruway bus service. The new bus stop is located at the Spanish Springs Shuttle Station at 1150 Paige Place. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 11-4-11]
RAIL RUNNER EXPRESS CARRIES FIVE MILLIONTH PASSENGER: New Mexico‘s Rail Runner Express has reached a milestone by carrying its five millionth passenger on October 26. The commuter service, which runs between Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Belen, opened in 2006. It carries 4,000 passengers every weekday between 13 stations. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 11-4-11]
UNION PACIFIC UNVEILS AUTOFLEX CONVERTIBLE RAIL CAR: Union Pacific's employee-designed and built AutoFlex rail car was rolled out of the fabrication shop door Nov. 4. The 90-foot long car is a convertible, multi-level that can be easily transformed from two to three decks based on the customer's vehicle shipment needs. [Union Pacific, 11-4-11]
STB DEFERS ACTION ON SHIPPER RAIL ACCESS: The Surface Transportation Board, meeting a deadline to respond to a petition from the National Industrial Transportation League, says it will defer consideration of the shipper group’s request for tougher switching rules. The board said the ‘reciprocal switching’ issue is part of a broader set of rail competition and shipper issues it is already reviewing. The NITL had filed a limited proposal in July aimed at making some freight switching more competitive. [Journal of Commerce website report, 11-4-11]
MARC TO PURCHASE 54 CARS: The Maryland Transit Administration will spend $153-million to acquire 54 new multi-level passenger rail cars from Bombardier for the MARC system. MARC, meanwhile, will retire 26 single-level passenger cars and 12 galley-style cars. The cars to be acquired include 15 cab cars, 34 trailer cars and five other cars. The acquisition will expand MARC’s existing fleet by 16 cars. The new cars will be designed to operate at speeds up to 125 mph, where allowed. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-3-11]
OCTOBER 2011 RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: Gains in U.S. rail freight traffic were reported for October compared with the same month last year. U.S. railroads originated 1,215,627 carloads, up 1.7 pct, and 975,566 trailers and containers, up 3.6 pct. October 2011 saw the highest weekly carload average of any month since October 2008, as well as the highest weekly intermodal average since October 2006. Twelve of the 20 carload commodity categories saw increases on U.S. railroads compared with October 2010. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-3-11]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN PLANS TO HIRE 500 WORKERS IN EIGHT STATES: Norfolk Southern Corporation plans to hire 500 employees in eight states by the end of 2011 to meet the growing demand for freight rail service and to replace employees retiring. The railroad is seeking applicants as conductors, freight car repairers, machinists, signal maintainers and track workers in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and Pennsylvania. [Norfolk Southern, 11-3-11]
CSX SELLING 61-MILE FLORIDA LINE FOR SUNRAIL: CSX Corporation has completed the previously announced transaction with the state of Florida to sell a 61-mile rail corridor for the SunRail commuter railroad. The commuter system is expected to begin initial operations in 2014 in a corridor along Interstate 4. SunRail will serve the Orlando area as well as Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties. Under the agreement, CSX will retain an exclusive freight easement to operate on the SunRail line. [CSX, 11-3-11]
U.S. AWARDS $7.9-M TOWARD NEW TRAIN STATION IN TUKWILA, WASHINGTON: U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded $7.9-million to Washington state to construct a new station in Tukwila, replacing the current, temporary wooden structure and creating enhanced intermodal and parking facilities. The improvements will provide enhanced access to the Amtrak Cascades and ST Sounder services [U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 11-3-11]
BNSF TO PROVIDE ONE-THIRD FUNDING TO RECONSTRUCT NORTHERN N.D. LINE USED BY AMTRAK: BNSF will fund a third of the $100-million, 20-mile track and bridge reconstruction near Churchs Ferry, N.D., while another third will be committed through a partnership with Amtrak, according to BNSF CEO and president Matthew Rose. The line provides a route for the Empire Builder to Devils Lake, Rugby, Fargo and Grand Forks. [Railway Track & Structures website report, 11-3-11]
GRANT SOUGHT TO RESTORE 40 MILES OF 2006 FLOOD-DAMAGED TRACK IN UPSTATE N.Y.: An application to the New York state DOT for $4,724,000 to revitalize the Utica Main Line railroad has been submitted. The grant would cover 90 percent of the costs to repair the sections of the line that were damaged by floods in June 2006, as well as replace deficient cross-ties, the agency said. The main line’s operator, New York Susquehanna and Western Railroad (NYS&W), would absorb 10 percent of costs for repair. [Utica Observer-Dispatch website report, 11-3-11]
MASS BAY REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH CONCRETE TIE MANUFACTURER: The MBTA has reached a settlement in its $91.5-million lawsuit against the manufacturer of the faulty concrete railroad ties that had to be replaced on the Old Colony commuter rail lines. Federal Judge Douglas Woodlock entered an order to terminate the case, subject to both parties filing their stipulations for dismissal with the court by Dec. 1. [Patriot Ledger website report, 11-3-11]
CSX MAKING PROGRESS ON MASSACHUSETTS STORM CLEANUP: CSX service operating in Massachusetts continues to make progress on recovery from the weekend’s severe weather. CSX customers with freight that originates, terminates or passes through Massachusetts should expect improved traffic flow as crews have cleared all trees and other storm debris from the tracks. Although multiple power outages are still impacting the region, critical CSX locations have been equipped with generators. [CSX, 11-3-11]
AMTRAK CREATES NEW NEC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION: Amtrak has created a new Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Investment Development business line to streamline the railroad’s funding, policy and planning decisions for the corridor. It is part of Amtrak’s new strategic plan, which aims to align the railroad’s organizational structure and resources with the company’s goals and priorities. Stephen Gardner has been named to the newly-created position of vice-president of the division. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-2-11]
RHODE ISLAND TO EXPAND SERVICE ON PROVIDENCE-STOUGHTON LINE: Rhode Island officials announced plans to expand commuter-rail service Nov. 14, including a stop at T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick. The new schedule nearly doubles the number of weekday stops on the Providence/Stoughton Line, state DOT officials said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-2-11]
LANCASTER COMMUTERS FORCE THROUGH LOCKED DOOR TO CATCH TRAIN: About 75 to 100 frustrated commuters broke through a door at the Lancaster, Pa., Amtrak train station Nov. 1 to get to the platform after they found a dark, locked station upon arriving before 5:30 a.m. Because of what Amtrak called a ‘scheduling error,’ no one had arrived to open the station. The station is used by more than 500,000 passengers a year and is the second busiest station on the Keystone line. [Lancaster Intelligencer Journal website report, 11-2-11]
WILLIS BELL DIES, SIGNAL & COMMUNICATION ENGINEER: Willis Edward Bell, 93, of Port Charlotte, Florida, died Oct. 31, 2011. He was the Chief Signal Engineer of the Erie Lackawanna Railway and later the Chief Engineer for Communications and Signals at the U.S. Railway Association. He completed his career as a Project Manager at Gibbs and Hill Inc. in Washington D.C., designing and implementing the signaling and train control system for the Metrorail system. [Railway Age website report, 11-2-11]
HILTON & ALBANY R.R. IS A NEW SHORT LINE IN GEORGIA: Genesee & Wyoming reached a deal to lease and operate 56 miles of track from Norfolk Southern in Georgia. It then created a a new short-line subsidiary under GWI's management, the Hilton & Albany Railroad Inc., which should be operational in January and will have an estimated capacity of 12,000 rail car shipments, [Railway Age website report, 11-2-11]
COST OF CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT NEARLY DOUBLES: California's bullet train will cost an estimated $98.5-billion to build over the next 22 years, a price nearly double any previous projection and one likely to trigger political sticker shock, according to a business plan scheduled to be unveiled today. [Los Angeles Times website report, 11-1-11]
UNION PACIFIC BOLSTERS STEAM LOCOMOTIVE AWARENESS VIA APP: Transportation company Union Pacific Railroad is letting historic railroad fans track the company’s famous steam locomotives 844 and 3985 on Apple devices. The app follows the trains, which each make several trips beginning from Cheyenne across the southwest each year. Using GPS, users can access the location and schedules. [Mobile Commerce Daily website report, 11-1-11]
FREIGHTCAR AMERICA REPORTS 3-Q LOSS: FreightCar America Inc. reported a third-quarter net loss of $2.4-million or 20 cents per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $200,000 or 2 cents per diluted share in third-quarter 2010. The company delivered 1,515 new rail cars to customers in the quarter. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-1-11]
SIGNALING CONTRACT IN GREAT BRITAIN: Invensys Rail has obtained a $44-million signaling contract from Network Rail for the Reading Western Mainlines program in Great Britain. The program’s scope covers the remodeling of the Reading Station area from Sonning to Pangbourne, a new train care depot and four new platforms to increase capacity at and through the station, Invensys Rail officials said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-1-11]
SIN BUNDANG LINE IN SOUTH KOREA IN REVENUE SERVICE: The Sin Bundang Line now is in revenue service, operating from Gangnam, Seoul, to Bundang, Seongnam, in Korea. The line was built via a public-private investment involving Doosan Engineering & Construction Consortium and the government sector. [Progressive Railroading website report, 11-1-11]
GENESEE & WYOMING REPORTS 3-Q EARNINGS: Genesee & Wyoming Inc. has reported third-quarter net income of $32.9-million, compared with net income of $24.8-million in the third quarter of 2010. [Railway Age website report, 11-1-11]
SENATE APPROVES $15-M FOR DESIGN & ENGINEERING WORK ON AMTRAK’S GATEWAY TUNNEL: A bill that includes $15-million funding for Amtrak to begin design and engineering work on the Gateway Tunnel project has been approved by the Senate. The project calls for a new Hudson River tunnel expected to be open in 2020. [Wall Street Journal report, 11-1-11]
INVESTORS SHOULD ‘TREAD LIGHTLY’ ON R.R. STOCKS IN THE NEAR TERM, ANALYST SAYS: An analyst said that he believes railroad stocks are poised to grow in the long run, but investors should tread lightly in the near term. Because economic growth is expected to remain muted in the near future, shares of railroads don't have much room to run, BMO Capital Markets analyst Fadi Chamoun said. [CNBC website report, 11-1-11]
AMTRAK SERVICE IN NEW ENGLAND IMPACTED BY STORM: The Springfield line between New Haven and Springfield resumes normal operations Nov. 1 following this weekend’s storm in the Northeast. Vermonter trains will originate and terminate in New Haven, and Lake Shore Limited trains 448 and 449 are canceled between Albany and Boston with alternate bus transportation. [Amtrak, 10-31-11]
AMTRAK ADDS FREE WI-FI TO MORE TRAINS: Amtrak is launching a major expansion of its free ‘AmtrakConnect’ Wi-Fi service to 12 East Coast routes. As a result, trains that carry nearly 60 percent of all Amtrak passengers now have Wi-Fi connections. [Amtrak, 10-31-11]
CSX UPGRADES METHOD FOR CUSTOMERS TO TRACK SHIPMENTS: CSX has announced the release of a new iPhone application, 'ShipCSX.' The application allows CSX customers to track freight shipments and trains across the network. It also provides customers with specifications of rail cars such as equipment dimensions and weights. The app is a highly anticipated addition to CSX's e-commerce tools, and bolsters the company's commitment to customers. [CSX, 10-31-11]
ACTIVIST HEDGE FUND INVESTS IN CANADIAN PACIFIC: Pershing Square Capital Management, an activist hedge fund, reportedly has compiled a stake in Canadian Pacific Railway exceeding 12 percent. Pershing Square said CP Rail shares are undervalued and an attractive investment, and that it expected ‘to engage in discussions’ with company about a wide swath of its business. [Railway Age website report, 10-31-11]
PATH MARKS COMPLETION OF 340-CAR ORDER: PATH officials hosted a ceremonial ride employing the final seven PA-5 rapid transit cars of a 340-car delivered by Kawasaki Rail Car Corp. to the agency. The cars replace earlier equipment in service since the 1980s, with some gear dating back to the 1960s, officials said. [Railway Age website report, 10-31-11]
FLORIDA SET TO BUY SUNRAIL TRACKS FROM CSX: Florida's much-delayed SunRail project could reach another milestone this week when the state buys 61 miles of track from the CSX railroad company for $150-million. Orlando Sentinel website report, 10-31-11]
SOUND TRANSIT APPROVES MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR EAST LINK TUNNEL: Sound Transit’s board has endorsed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines an agreement to fund construction of a rail tunnel under downtown Bellevue, Washington. The pact also outlines a partnership for the agency and city to work together on East Link’s final design, scheduled to get under way next year. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-31-11]
SEPTA OPENS UPGRADED CROYDON STATION: SEPTA has officially opened the Croydon regional rail station following major upgrades including new platforms, stairways and passenger shelters, and an expanded parking area for commuters. The station, which is located about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia on the Trenton Line, averages 300 riders per weekday. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-31-11]
CONTRACT SIGNED FOR SECOND METRO LINE IN VENEZUELA: Alstom-led consortium Grupo de Empresas has obtained a contract worth $741-million to build the second line of Los Teques metro in Miranda State, Venezuela. Alstom will undertake the project’s global coordination, including engineering, integration and commissioning of the electromechanical works on a turnkey basis. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-31-11]
‘COW-POWERED’ LOCOMOTIVE TESTED ON AMTRAK’S HEARTLAND FLYER: Amtrak said that a mix of beef tallow and diesel fuel has effectively powered the Heartland Flyer’s 3,200-horsepower engine. After a yearlong test on the rails between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth evaluation found that the fuel blend met industry standards, engine wear was limited and emissions were below federal limits for the type of engine using it. [NewsOK website report, 10-31-11]
NEW RULES GOVERNING R.R. CAMP CARS: The Federal Railroad Administration has issued new regulations to improve conditions of rail camp cars. They will now have to comply with requirements for potable hot and cold water, an increase in minimum square footage of living space per occupant, improved sanitation provisions, and restrictions against locating the cars in the immediate vicinity of switching and humping of placarded rail cars carrying hazardous materials. Norfolk Southern is the only Class I railroad in the country still utilizing camp cars. [International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 10-31-11]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN PROJECTS TO DOUBLE CAPACITY AT TOLEDO TERMINAL: The handling capacity of Norfolk Southern's intermodal terminal in Toledo, Ohio, will double once the railroad completes track and signal upgrades nearby in the next few months, said Lee Cochran, NS manager of strategic planning. [Toledo Blade website report, 10-31-11]
CSX & JACKSONVILLE LOOK TO FEDS FOR TIGER GRANT: CSX, the state of Florida and the Jacksonville Port Authority are applying for a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Discretionary Grant to help build a new intermodal container transfer facility. The grant could fund $25-million of the estimated $45-million facility. The state would pick up the rest. CSX has already undertaken track upgrades leading to the site at Dames Point. [American City Business Journals website report, 10-31-11]
MICHIGAN GOVERNOR CALLS FOR IMPROVED RAIL CONNECTIONS TO CANADA: Michigan Governor Rick Snyder hopes to seamlessly connect freight and commuter train systems with Canada, he told officials at a Michigan Rail Summit in Lansing. He said Michigan requires commuter and freight rail systems as the center of what he views as a trade corridor that stretches from Montreal to Chicago and St. Louis. Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, said the biggest obstacle to moving forward with Michigan's rail system is funding. [Detroit News website report, 10-31-11]
NTSB REPORTS ON 2009 DISNEY WORLD MONORAIL COLLISION: On July 5, 2009, two monorails collided near the concourse station within Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The accident occurred when the Pink monorail backed through an improperly aligned switch-beam and struck the Purple monorail. The operator was fatally injured; the six passengers were not injured. The only occupant of the Pink monorail, the operator, was taken to a nearby hospital and treated and released. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the collision was the shop panel operator's failure to properly position switch-beam 9 and the failure of the monorail manager to verify the position of switch-beam 9 before authorizing the reverse movement of the Pink monorail. [NTSB, 10-31-11]
CSX STARTS WORK ON PORT OF MOBILE BRIDGE UPGRADES: CSX is making a $72-million investment in the improvement of its bridge in the Port of Mobile, Ala. Construction of the vertical-lift bridge is expected to enhance the clearance for barges. [Mobile Press-Register, 10-29-11]
EXTENSION OF N.Y. NO. 7 SUBWAY LINE TO N.J. TO BE STUDIED: N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced a $250,000 feasibility study to extend the No. 7 subway train under the Hudson River to New Jersey this week, with N.J. Governor Chris Christie indicating through a spokesman that he is intrigued by the idea. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 10-28-11]
EAST PEORIA TO NORMAL, ILLINOIS, LINK WOULD COST $134-M, AMTRAK SAYS: It would cost $106-million in railway improvements and $28-million in capital purchases to link East Peoria to Normal, Illinois, according to findings from an Amtrak feasibility study. The link would use tracks owned by Norfolk Southern. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 10-28-11]
LOCOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING PLANT OPENS IN INDIANA: Caterpillar Inc. subsidiary Progress Rail Services Corp. has opened a locomotive manufacturing plant in Muncie, Indiana. The new facility is the first locomotive assembly plant to open in the United States in many years, Progress Rail officials said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-28-11]
AMTRAK CALIFORNIA LOCOMOTIVES TO EXCEED EPA EMISSION STANDARDS: The Caltrans intercity passenger-rail program will be the first in the nation to start converting a fleet of locomotives to emission-control standards exceeding current U.S. Environmental Projection Agency requirements, Caltrans said. The retrofitted locomotives will operate on the San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor routes. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-28-11]
SAN FRANCISCO MUNI NAMING STREET CAR YARD IN HONOR OF CAMERON BEACH: The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) board has renamed Muni Geneva Yard, which is home to the F Market & Wharves historic streetcar fleet, for the late Cameron Beach, a transit advocate and former board member. Beach, who died earlier this year, served SFMTA’s board for more than four years and was recognized for his transit experience and passion for public transportation. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-28-11]
CANADIAN PACIFIC TO UPGRADE RAIL NETWORK IN N.D.: Canadian Pacific Railway is investing more than $90-million to develop its North Dakota network, to bolster capacity as oil production increases in the Bakken field, said spokesman Mike LoVecchio. "It's all being driven by the increase in demand that we are witnessing for the transportation service that we provide," LoVecchio said. "They are, in part, related directly to the demand for Bakken crude and the transportation of Bakken crude." [Minot Daily News website report, 10-28-11]
CREWS GET SAFETY ADVISORY ON AUTORACK CARS: A safety advisory on autorack cars has been issued by the Association of American Railroads. Some of these cars have been found to have cut convenience handles, ladder rungs and/or fasteners missing from these devices. Workers are advised to make a thorough visual inspection of all convenience handles, steps, ladder rungs, grab handles and other hand holds prior to use. [United Transportation Union, 10-28-11]
FEDS APPROVE DESERT XPRESS ROUTE: The U.S. Surface Transportation Board has approved construction of a 190-mile high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and southern California. The project is being proposed by DesertXpress Enterprises L.L.C., a group of California and Nevada companies. The group would build a non-stop rail line on a corridor between Victorville and Las Vegas, operating along Interstate 15. Trains would reach speeds up to 150 mph. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-27-11]
CONTRACT AWARDED IN TORONTO AIR-RAIL LINK PROJECT: Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have chosen a joint venture formed between Aecon Group Inc.’s infrastructure division and Dufferin Construction Co. as the preferred bidder to design, build and finance a 1.9-mile line for the Air Rail Link (ARL) and an ARL passenger station at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Metrolinx will own and operate the ARL, an express rail line between Toronto Union Station and the airport. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-27-11]
LONG BRIDGE PARK TO OPEN NOV. 5: Long Bridge Park opens Nov. 5. The park has substantial railroad history. Its name is a reference to the railroad bridge over the Potomac just southwest of Washington. The location marks the northern end of the RF&P at RO Tower (CFP110), where the Rosslyn Branch of the PRR once turned west on a routing that passed the Pentagon and terminated in a yard in old Rosslyn. [John Fuller, 10-26-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: The Association of American Railroads reported mixed results for weekly rail traffic, with U.S. railroads originating 301,864 carloads for the week ending Oct. 22, down 0.5 pct compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 245,404 trailers and containers, up 4.2 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 10-26-11]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN REPORTS 3-Q EARNINGS: Norfolk Southern Corporation reported record third-quarter net income of $554-million, 24 pct higher than the same period of 2010. Diluted earnings per share were a record $1.59, up 34 pct from the third-quarter of 2010. Railway operating revenues of $2.9-billion rose 18 pct compared with the same period last year. [Norfolk Southern, 10-26-11]
UNION PACIFIC ANNOUNCES OPERATING DEPARTMENT APPOINTMENTS: Kurt Zalar has been appointed general superintendent-transportation services for the Fort Worth Service Unit, replacing Jeff Jones, who is retiring in January. Jay Everett has been promoted to general superintendent-transportation services for the Denver Service Unit, replacing Zalar. [Union Pacific, 10-26-11]
UNION PACIFIC UPGRADING LINE IN IOWA: Union Pacific Railroad will continue improving the transportation infrastructure in Iowa by investing $6.6-million in the line that runs from Tama to Ames. Various projects on nearly 50 miles include removing and installing 45,500 ties, and renewing the surfaces at 40 road crossings. Crews will also spread about 21,800 tons of ballast and replace more than a half mile of rail in various curves. [Union Pacific, 10-26-11]
NEW TRAM-TRAINS FOR GERMANY: Vossloh AG has obtained a contract worth $104.5-million from Germany’s Verkehrsbetriebe Karlsruhe and Albtal-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft to supply 25 low floor Tram-Trains. The contract includes an option for 50 additional vehicles. The Tram-Trains will have a capacity for a maximum of 224 passengers; delivery is scheduled to begin in October 2013. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-26-11]
RAILAMERICA REVENUE & EARNINGS RISE: RailAmerica, Inc. third-quarter revenue increased 7 percent to $104.7-million with average revenue per car up 14 percent and carloads down 6 percent, the company said. Non-freight revenue increased 14 percent. [Railway Age website report, 10-26-11]
RUNAWAY RAIL CARS TAKE RIDE THROUGH 3 COUNTIES IN TENNESSEE: Norfolk Southern Railway officials are investigating how three top-loading gondola train cars loaded with scrap metal rolled onto the company’s main track line in Jonesborough, Tennessee, traveled 10 miles and through numerous crossings before losing momentum in Piney Flats Wednesday night, Oct. 26. The cars traveled into and through downtown Johnson City, through a portion of Carter County and on over to Piney Flats before stopping. No injuries were reported. [Johnson City Press website report, 10-26-11]
CANADIAN NATIONAL REPORTS 3-Q EARNINGS: CN has reported its financial and operating results for the third-quarter period ending Sept. 30, 2011. Net income increased 19 per cent from the year-earlier quarter to $659-million, with diluted earnings per share rising 23 per cent to $1.46. The results included an after-tax gain of $38-million or $0.08 per diluted share, on the sale of substantially all of the assets of IC RailMarine Terminal Company. [CN, 10-25-11]
FEDS GRANT $75-M TOWARD UPGRADING MASS BAY’S FITCHBURG LINE: The Federal Transit Administration has sealed a $75-million grant agreement to fund upgrades to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s 50-mile Fitchburg line. The project is designed to increase the line’s maximum speed by 20 mph, improve safety and on-time performance at 18 stations, and reduce travel times and improve connections between Fitchburg and MBTA’s Red Line at Porter Square outside Boston. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-25-11]
CANADIAN PACIFIC REPORTS 3-Q EARNINGS: Canadian Pacific Railway Limited reported its third-quarter 2011 results with net income of $186.8-million and diluted earnings per share of $1.10, inclusive of $0.04 per share of expenses related to the early redemption of its 2013 Notes. Total revenues were $1.3-billion, an increase of $55.4-million. [Canadian Pacific, 10-25-11]
FRA DEPUTY CHIEF RAE RETURNING TO NYDOT: Deputy Federal Railroad Administrator Karen Rae has been picked to serve as the DeputySecretary of Transportation to the New York Governor. Rae had previously served as Deputy Commissioner of Policy and Planning at the New York State Department of Transportation. [Railway Age website report, 10-25-11]
UNION PACIFIC TO IMPROVE LINE IN MISSOURI: Union Pacific Railroad will continue improving the transportation infrastructure in Missouri by investing $4-million in the rail line that runs from Jefferson City to west of Marshall. Various projects on nearly 80-miles of this line include removing and installing more than 24,500 ties and replacing more than a quarter of a mile of rail in various curves. [Union Pacific, 10-25-11]
CANADIAN NATIONAL LAUNCHES LARGE STOCK BUYBACK PROGRAM: The Canadian National Railway board has authorized the company to buy back up to 17 million shares of common stock, or 3.82 percent of those outstanding as of Oct. 14, 2011. [Journal of Commerce website report, 10-25-11]
CANADIAN PACIFIC BOLSTERS FOR WINTER SEASON: Canadian Pacific is bolstering its manpower and equipment resources as it braces for the difficult conditions of the winter season. The railroad's contingency plan involves employing another 500 crew members and 91 new locomotive units, the company said. [Toronto Global News website report, 10-25-11]
MASSACHUSETTS TO REVITALIZE ‘KNOWLEDGE CORRIDOR’ RAIL LINE: Massachusetts state officials and transportation leaders have unveiled plans for the revitalization of the ‘Knowledge Corridor- along the Connecticut River rail line in western Massachusetts. The improvements will occur on the Connecticut River mainline of the Pan Am Southern railroad, a joint venture between Pan Am Railways and Norfolk Southern to improve freight service for customers along the line and within western Massachusetts. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-24-11]
NEW TRAIN STATION FOR SMITHS FALL, ONTARIO: Smiths Fall, Ontario, and VIA Rail officials officially opened a new station along the Ottawa-Toronto route Oct. 21. The facility, which began serving passengers in August, was designed to blend in with the ‘historic character’ of Smiths Falls. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-24-11]
ASHMONT MASS BAY STATION COMPLETED: Officials have marked the completion of a reconstructed Ashmont Station on Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Red Line in Dorchester. The $84-million facility was the last of four Dorchester stations to be modernized as part of MBTA’s Red Line rehabilitation project. Built in 1928 and modernized in 1976, the station now features two entrances; a new lobby and new platforms to accommodate six-car trains. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-24-11]
MARYLAND TO PURCHASE 54 RAIL CARS FOR MARC: The Maryland Transit Administration has agreed to purchase 54 bi-level commuter coaches for MARC from Bombardier at a cost of $153-million. MARC plans to replace 38 older cars and expand its fleet by 16 cars. The order will be piggybacked with one from N.J. Transit, according to MARC. [Baltimore Sun, 10-21-11]
KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN REPORTS 3-Q EARNINGS: Kansas City Southern has reported third-quarter 2011 revenues of $545-million, a 24 percent increase compared to the corresponding 2010 period. Operating income of $182-million was an increase of 57 percent, or 19 percent adjusted for hurricane-related impacts and a 2010 post-employment expense benefit. [Kansas City Southern, 10-21-11]
CORN EXPORTS TO CHINA EXPECTED TO DOUBLE, RAILS WILL BENEFIT: China may double its corn imports from the U.S. this season, adding to a burgeoning year for American exporters and giving railroads and ocean carriers a boost in grain shipments until about August 2012. [Journal of Commerce website report, 10-21-11]
AMTRAK ACTIVATES RAILCOMM SYSTEM IN CHICAGO: RailComm says its Yard Automation System at Amtrak’s Chicago Union Station is now operational. The system operator is in control of over 100 GETS Hydra-Switches and dozens of power derail devices, blue flag indicators, switch heater locations, and two diesel generators. [Railway Age website report, 10-21-11]
SAN ANTONIO COMMITS TO STREETCAR PLAN: The San Antonio City Council has voted to help fund the city’s first modern streetcar line. The city will also pursue creation of a special assessment district along the streetcar route, which is critical to the line’s advancement. [Railway Age website report, 10-21-11]
CONTRACT AWARDED FOR SECOND-PHASE OF DALLAS LIGHT-RAIL EXTENSION: AECOM Technology Corp. has obtained a $17-million contract extension from Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) to complete the second phase of its light-rail expansion. Under the extension, AECOM will provide a variety of project control, system integration and staff support services as DART completes a 20-mile expansion of its Orange and Blue light-rail lines. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-21-11]
UNION PACIFIC TO IMPROVE 161-MILE RAIL LINE IN WYOMING & NEBRASKA: Union Pacific Railroad will improve its rail line that runs from Egbert, Wyoming, to Hershey, Nebraska. Various projects on the 161-miles of this line include removing and installing more than 124,000 ties and renewing the surfaces at 113 road crossings. Crews will also spread nearly 72,000 tons of ballast and replace more than a half mile of rail in various curves. [Union Pacific, 10-21-11]
UNION PACIFIC REPORTS 3-Q EARNINGS: Union Pacific Corporation has reported 2011 third-quarter net income of $904-million or $1.85 per diluted share, compared to $778-million or $1.56 per diluted share in the third-quarter 2010. Diluted earnings per share improved 19 pct to $1.85. Severe heat and extended drought conditions in Texas and the resulting damage to large sections of track structure negatively impacted operating efficiencies, driving operating expenses up by $18-million during the quarter. [Union Pacific, 10-20-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: Mixed results were reported for the week ending Oct. 15, 2011, with U.S. railroads originating 303,363 carloads, flat compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 244,389 trailers and containers, up 3 pct compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 10-20-11]
CONSTRUCTION ON NORFOLK SOUTHERN’S WEST VA. INTERMODAL TERMINAL MAY BEGIN IN SPRING 2012: Construction on Norfolk Southern’s new intermodal facility in Prichard, W.Va., might begin in spring 2012, according to the West Va. Department of Transportation. The facility is part of NS’ Heartland Corridor, a double-stack intermodal route between the Port of Virginia in Norfolk, Va., and Chicago. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-20-11]
PORT JERVIS LINE REPAIR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: MTA Metro-North Railroad says its efforts to repair its Port Jervis Line, providing West-of-Hudson service to New York’s Rockland and Orange counties, is ahead of schedule and, so far, under budget expectations. Projected cost of the repair now is at $37-million, less than the initial estimate of $50-million. [Railway Age website report, 10-20-11]
GATX RAIL EARNINGS RISE: GATX Corp. has reported rail segment profit of $63.0-million for the third-quarter of 2011, compared with third-quarter 2010 rail profit of $32.7-million. As of Sept. 30, 2011, GATX Rail’s North American fleet totaled approximately 109,000 car,s with a fleet utilization of 98.2 percent. [Railway Age website report, 10-20-11]
R.R. RETIREMENT BOARD ANNOUNCES 2012 BENEFIT INCREASES: Most railroad retirement annuities are scheduled to increase in January 2012 on the basis of the rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the third quarter of 2008, the last year a cost-of-living adjustment was determined, to the corresponding period of the current year. Tier I benefits, like social security benefits, will increase by 3.6 percent; tier II benefits will increase by 1.2 percent. [U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, 10-20-11]
CSX UPGRADES CUMBERLAND LOCOMOTIVE SHOP: More than $6-million spent by CSX during the past two years to update the Cumberland Locomotive Shop was capped recently with the installation of a new turntable. The old turntable - estimated to have been in use for 90 years or more - was cut into three pieces and is being dismembered even more before being scrapped. The shop also has a new equipment crane that can lift 125 tons, replacing one that could lift 100 tons. There is also a new wash rack for locomotives. [Cumberland Times-News website report, 10-19-11]
CSX TOPS NEWSWEEK’S ‘GREEN’ RAIL LIST: CSX Corporation ranked first among Class I freight railroads in the Newsweek Green Rankings. CSX has consistently placed first among all Class I railroads in these rankings since the awards launched in 2009. Newsweek’s Green Rankings are based on four criteria: green score, environmental impact, environmental management, and disclosure. [CSX, 10-19-11]
CSX PLANS $2.2-B INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IN GEORGIA: CSX plans to invest $2.2-billion to enhance rail infrastructure in Georgia. "The intent of this significant investment is to serve thousands of shippers and to prepare for an approximately 60 percent increase in demand for freight transportation over the next 30 years," said CSX. [Savannah Morning News website report, 10-19-11]
WABTEC AWARDED DENVER PTC CONTRACT: Wabtec Corp. has signed a $63-million contract with Denver Transit Partners to provide Positive Train Control equipment and services for three new commuter rail lines planned for Denver. Known as Eagle P3, Denver's commuter rail project includes three new lines with more than 36 miles of track and is expected to be completed in 2016. [Railway Age website report, 10-19-11]
AMTRAK TO LEASE POUGHKEEPSIE-SCHENECTADY TRACK CORRIDOR FROM CSX: Amtrak plans to lease 100 miles of track and right-of-way between Poughkeepsie and Schenectady, N.Y., from CSX Corp., essentially taking control of the corridor. Under the agreement, expected to take effect early next year, Amtrak would be responsible for operations, maintenance and for capital improvements along the rail line. [Albany Times-Union website report, 10-18-11]
NEW NORFOLK SOUTHERN INTERMODAL FACILITY IN PENNSYLVANIA TO OPEN BY END OF NEXT YEAR: Work continues on Norfolk Southern's $95-million intermodal facility in Antrim Township, Pa., connecting directly with U.S. 11. It is expected to open by the end of next year. NS estimates a million long-haul trucks would be taken off the roads in just the first phase of the project. [Chambersburg Public Opinion website report, 10-18-11]
CANADIAN NATIONAL GETS $4-M TOWARD RELOCATION OF INDIANA RAIL FACILITY: Gary, Ind., will get $4 million in funding that it will use to help Canadian National move its locomotive repair station from Markham, Ill., to Kirk Yard in Gary, Ind. The money comes from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority. CN is also planning a $163 million investment in its Kirk Yard project, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. [Hammond Times website report, 10-18-11]
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, BEGINS RAIL-HIGHWAY BRIDGE PROJECT: A $600-million bridge-construction project has started in Orange County, Calif. The overpasses and underpasses will enhance safety and reduce drivers' idling time at seven Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail crossings. [Equipment World website report, 10-18-11]
NEW BUS SERVICE EXPANDS AMTRAK ACCESS IN WISCONSIN: Amtrak is providing riders access to more destinations in Wisconsin by adding bus connections to the Empire Builder. The connection from Columbus will provide service to and from Madison, Beaver Dam, Waupun, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton and Green Bay; the connection from Portage will provide service to and from Westfield, Stevens Point, Mosinee and Wausau. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-18-11]
AMTRAK’S CAPITOL CORRIDOR BREAKS RIDERSHIP RECORD: Northern California’s Capitol Corridor Amtrak service posted ridership of more than 1.7 million passengers and generated $27.2-million in revenue in fiscal-year 2011. The numbers ‘shattered’ ridership and revenue thresholds set in previous fiscal years, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority officials said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-18-11]
GE TRANSPORTATION TO UPGRADE ERIE PLANT AND ADD A PLANT IN FORT WORTH: GE Transportation will invest $231-million in improvements and upgrades to its Erie, Pa., site and a new manufacturing plant in Fort Worth, Texas. In Erie, GE will invest in research and testing technology, facilities, and equipment to reduce engine emissions and improve fuel efficiency of GE locomotives and as well as engines used in the marine and stationary power industries. The company also intends to build a 236,000 square-foot facility adjacent to its new manufacturing plant in Fort Worth to complement its operations in Erie. [Railway Age website report, 10-18-11]
CN ADDING 200 ECOTHERM CONTAINERS: Canadian National has purchased 200 EcoTherm containers. CN will use the equipment to transport food, beverages, paints, and pharmaceuticals that require protection against low temperatures. The acquisition brings CN’s EcoTherm fleet to almost 500 units, which CN says is the largest in North America. [Railway Age website report, 10-18-11]
CSX REPORTS 3-Q EARNINGS: CSX Corporation has announced third-quarter net earnings of $464-million or $0.43 per share, versus $414 million or $0.36 per share in the same period last year. This is a 19 pct improvement in earnings per share and a record third-quarter for the company. [CSX, 10-18-11]
FEDS FORM PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS: The U.S. departments of Transportation and Commerce will partner to encourage the creation of domestic manufacturing jobs and opportunities for U.S. suppliers through transportation investments. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership will leverage over 1,300 expert manufacturing assistance field staff in over 350 locations to provide knowledge of local manufacturing capabilities from across the nation, and ensure maximum economic benefit for taxpayer-funded transportation investments across all modes. [Joint announcement, 10-18-11]
RAIL KEY PLAYER IN NORTH DAKOTA OIL BOOM: Rail infrastructure in North Dakota continues to be upgraded as the amount of crude oil from the Bakken Region keeps setting records. BNSF's Gavin Yard project in Minot, N.D., is designed not only for better capacity of oil shipments but also for coal, grain and construction goods as well, said BNSF. The benefits of CP's capacity improvements "accrue to our grain customers as well," said CP. [Minot Daily News website report, 10-17-11]
CP & CONTRANS CONVERT FLATBED FREIGHT TO INTERMODAL: Canadian Pacific Railway is partnering with truck and logistics provider Contrans by using collapsible containers to convert some flatbed-type shipments to double-stack rail intermodal service. The loads can be double-stacked when loaded for the long-distance haul, and collapsed on the return so that four fit into a single slot. [Journal of Commerce website report, 10-17-11]
CSX BEGINS VIRGINIA-OHIO CONTAINER SERVICE: CSX Transportation began offering a container service between the Port of Virginia and its North Baltimore, Ohio, intermodal terminal on Oct. 10. The service connects port customers to markets in Findlay and Toledo, Ohio, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-17-11]
DOUBLE-TRACK RAILROAD PROJECT IN NORWAY: Skanska has obtained a $236-billion contract from the Norwegian National Rail Administration to build double track on the Vestfold Line. The line will provide a more efficient flow of traffic between Drammen and Porsgrunn, according to Skanska. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-17-11]
BOMBARDIER WINS LIGHT-RAIL SUPPLIER AWARD: Bombardier Transportation, for the second year running, has received the Worldwide Supplier of the Year Award. Bombardier was recognized at the 2011 Light-Rail Awards, held in London on Oct. 5. [Railway Age website report, 10-17-11]
WINDSOR-QUEBEC CITY HIGH-SPEED RAIL COULD BOOST CANADA’S ECONOMY: Canada's economy should reap benefits if a high-speed rail route between Windsor and Quebec City is built, according to an EcoTrain study. The feasibility report revealed the bullet train's cost estimate would be $18-billion to $21-billion based on the technology type used. [Assn. of American Railroads, 10-17-11]
DETROIT SEEN AS ‘INLAND PORT’: An initiative known as Great Lakes Global Freight Gateway wants to create 210,000 jobs over the next 10 years, and Canadian National plays a major role in its plan. The group wants to push shipment of goods from abroad between the deep-water port in Halifax and Detroit via CN's track. The group says that shipping this way would save time and money. [Crain’s Detroit Business website report, 10-16-11]
AMTRAK’S MICHIGAN SERVICE RIDERSHIP UP OVER 18 PCT.: Train routes in Michigan have set new ridership records for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, and collected $27.7-million in ticket revenue. Each of the three Amtrak routes in the state had increased revenue and ridership despite track work and freight slowdowns on one route. In figures for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, ridership was up 18.6 percent. [Flint Journal website report, 10-15-11]
CSX NAMES ANNE REINKE VP-FEDERAL LEGISLATION: CSX Corporation has appointed Anne Chettle Reinke as vice president-federal legislation, effective upon the retirement of Michael J. Ruehling. Ms. Reinke, who joined CSX in 2003 as director-federal affairs, will report to Ellen M. Fitzsimmons, senior vice president-law and public affairs. [CSX, 10-14-11]
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES INDEX SLIPPED SLIGHTLY IN AUGUST: In August 2011, the Transportation Services Index (TSI) clocked in at 110.5, down 0.1 percent from July’s level but up 4.1 percent from August 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-14-11]
AMTRAK CARRIED 30.2 MILLION PASSENGERS IN FY-2011: Amtrak has made it official by announcing they carried 30.2 million passengers in fiscal year 2011, earning $1.9-billion in ticket revenues in the process. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 10-14-11]
PASSENGERS RECOGNIZE L.A. METRO & METROLINK FOR EXCELLENCE: Metrolink and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority were honored with the National Association of Railroad Passengers’ Tracks to the Future award Oct. 14 in recognition of their outstanding work creating an efficient, attractive public transportation system. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 10-14-11]
AMTRAK WINS BRUNEL AWARD FOR WILMINGTON STATION: Amtrak’s historic Wilmington, Delaware, rail station on the Northeast Corridor was honored at the 2011 Brunel Awards International Railway Design Competition. The Wilmington station renovation was recognized for balancing the need to modernize the station while retaining its historic features and feel. [Railway Age website report, 10-14-11]
AMTRAK TRAIN COLLIDES WITH ANOTHER TRAIN IN CALIFORNIA: Eighteen people suffered minor injuries on Oct. 12 in a slow-speed crash between two Amtrak passenger trains at a railway station in northern California. Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole told Reuters that the locomotive of Amtrak's San Joaquin train, with eight passengers aboard, ran head-on into the locomotive of the stationary Coast Starlight train, which was carrying 137 passengers. [Reuters website report, 10-13-11]
CALTRAIN TO REPLACE JERROLD AVENUE BRIDGE IN SAN FRANCISCO: Caltrain work crews will remove a 100-year-old railroad bridge that spans Jerrold avenue in San Francisco and replace it with a modern single-span steel bridge on Oct. 15. The project will begin shortly after midnight and be completed before trains start operating Saturday morning, Caltrain said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-13-11]
BOMBARDIER TO SUPPLY TRAFFIC CONTROL EQUIPMENT FOR POLISH RAIL NETWORK: Bombardier Transportation has obtained a four-year, $11-million contract from PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe SA to supply rail traffic control equipment and spare parts for the Polish rail network. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-13-11]
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY LAHOOD SAYS HE WILL NOT SERVE ANOTHER TERM: Ray LaHood, head of the U.S. Department of Transportation, told the Chicago Tribune that he is staying in that job for one term only and will not run for public office again. [Chicago Tribune website report, 10-13-11]
NEW RAIL SERVICES WILL HELP VIRGINIA PORTS: New services from CSX and Norfolk Southern will help the Virginia Port Authority expand its trade business for boxed cargo into the Southeast and the Midwest markets. NS has started double-stack rail service between the Virginia ports and Greensboro, N.C., and CSX will extend its current service from the Portsmouth Marine Terminal to APM Terminals Portsmouth, allowing for the transfer of containers to and from APM's intermodal hub in Ohio. [Journal of Commerce website report, 10-13-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: A gain in weekly rail traffic for the week ending October 8, 2011, was reported with U.S. railroads originating 302,500 carloads, up 2.1 pct compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 241,999 trailers and containers, up 2.4 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 10-13-11]
WASHINGTON METRO PURPLE LINE ADVANCES TO PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING PHASE: The Federal Transit Administration has given approval for the Purple Line to enter the preliminary engineering phase. The line is a proposed 16-mile, east-west light-rail route that would run between Bethesda and New Carrollton, Md., and connect to four branches of the Washington Metro system. The approval means that work on the project now can advance to preparation of more detailed plans, schedules and cost estimates, and completion of environmental studies. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-12-11]
RAILROADS PREDICT THEY WILL HIRE 15,000 NEW WORKERS IN 2012: Due to an improving economy and an aging workforce, the railroad industry is estimating that it will hire 15,000 people in 2012. [ABC News website report, 10-12-11]
AMTRAK RANKS FLORIDA EAST COAST LINE ‘MOST PROMISING FOR EXPANSION’: Long-discussed plans for returning passenger rail service to Florida's East Coast got new life from an Amtrak report that ranks the dormant West Palm Beach-Jacksonville segment as the most promising initiative for expansion. Passenger service on the 350-mile coastal stretch was abandoned in 1968. [Sunshine State News website report, 10-12-11]
BALTIMORE’S RED LINE PROJECT GETS BOOST: The Obama administration has announced a number of infrastructure projects - including Baltimore’s Red Line - will be expedited through permitting and environmental review processes. The announcement is part of the administration’s efforts to speed up federal reviews of job-creating infrastructure projects. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-12-11]
‘CANADA DIRECT’ IS NEW CROSS-BORDER INTERMODAL SERVICE: Schneider National, a provider of transportation, logistics, and intermodal services, has introduced a new intermodal, cross-border shipping service, entitled ‘Canada Direct.’ Through its partnership with Canadian National, shipments will arrive to their destinations promptly by receiving priority placement on CN trains. [Supply Chain Management Review website report, 10-12-11]
CSX UPDATES NATIONAL GATEWAY PROGRESS: CSX has work completed or construction underway at one-third of the clearance projects included in the National Gateway. Work is complete at five of the locations, and crews are working at 15 others. Work has begun on other projects in its phase one of construction, with five tunnel improvement projects underway in Confluence, Pa.; Hansrote, W. Va.; and Magnolia, Md., where tunnel linings are being modified to provide the necessary clearance for double-stacked freight rail containers. In Ohio, CSX is also raising four highway bridges and lowering the tracks at three others to improve clearances. Bridges in Kent and Ravenna, Ohio, and Paw Paw, W. Va., are being replaced with newer structures. [CSX, 10-11-11]
BNSF’S OMAHA SUBDIVISION BACK IN SERVICE: The BNSF Omaha Subdivision has returned to service, leaving only a portion of the Napier Subdivision out of service as a result of spring and summer flooding across the northern and central sections of BNSF's network. [BNSF, 10-11-11]
FRA ISSUES SAFETY ADVISORY IN SWITCHING PROCEDURES: The Federal Railroad Administration has issue an advisory to the railroad industry to help prevent injuries and fatalities from employees working between rail cars during switching operations and other dangerous workplace behaviors. Highlights include reviewing and revising existing switching operation safety rules as needed, ensuring the use of sound communication protocols to notify employees when going between two pieces of rolling equipment, emphasizing the shared obligation and responsibility of managers and employees in following established rules and procedures, and encouraging heightened situational awareness and vigilance. [Federal Railroad Administration, 10-11-11]
NEW TRAIN STATION AT PLAUDERVILLE, N.J., OPENED: N.J. Transit opened a new Plauderville Station on the Bergen County Line October 10. The station features a high-level platform and serves about 400 riders daily. Plauderville Station is the first NJ Transit facility to incorporate platforms built with a structural polymer composite system instead of concrete to save maintenance costs. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-11-11]
DISPUTED UTU MERGER ORDERED IMPLEMENTED: An arbitrator has ruled that a merger of the United Transportation Union and the Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) - now viewed by many as a takeover of the UTU - be implemented at the ‘earliest possible date.’ In a decision announced Oct. 11, Arbitrator Michael H. Gottesman ordered the current leadership of the two unions to meet within two weeks to decide how the implementation is to take place. [Railway Age website report, 10-11-11]
DESERT XPRESS NEEDS FEDERAL GRANT TO BEGIN WORK: Infrastructure work on the DesertXpress, a proposed high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Southern California, could begin in late 2012 if it receives a federal grant, said DesertXpress Enterprises Chief Operating Officer Andrew Mack. The rail line, which could cost up to $6.5-billion, would cover 185 miles, with trains running at 150 mph once it becomes operational in 2016. [Las Vegas Sun website report, 10-10-11]
AMTRAK MAY RETURN TO DAYTONA BEACH: The Florida Department of Transportation has set aside $118-million for a passenger line that would run from Jacksonville to Miami with a stop in Daytona Beach, and Amtrak recently released a report strongly in favor of a new coastal route through Volusia and Flagler counties. [Daytona Beach News-Journal website report, 10-10-11]
FREIGHT SHIPPING INDEX REACHES 3-YEAR HIGH: The Cass Freight Index for U.S. shipments jumped to its highest level in more than three years in September, growing 7.5 percent over the same month a year ago and defying suggestions of a new downturn in the American economy. [Journal of Commerce website report, 10-10-11]
GROUND BROKEN ON ENGLEWOOD FLYOVER: Ground was broken October 10 on the ‘Englewood Flyover’ project, a critical component to the Chicago hub of the Midwest high-speed rail network. The construction project will build a bridge to separate traffic along two railroads, allowing 130 trains per day to move more quickly through one of the worst bottlenecks in North America. The investment will improve on-time performance of passenger trains and reduce freight congestion. [Federal Railroad Administration, 10-10-11]
MUDSLIDE IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON, DISRUPTS AMTRAK SERVICE: A mudslide in Tacoma, Washington, canceled Amtrak’s Cascades service between Seattle and Portland on October 4 and 5, 2011, and terminated the Seattle-Los Angeles Coast Starlight at Portland. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 10-7-11]
NEW TRANSIT STATION TO OPEN IN CLEVELAND: Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority officials plan to dedicate a new East 55th Street station on Oct. 11. The $9.4-million facility is unique because it is one of the few stations that serves the Red, Blue and Green lines, as well as eastside and westside transit and bus-to-rail service. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-7-11]
FEDS APPROVE SAN DIEGO LIGHT-RAIL EXTENSION: The Federal Transit Administration has approved San Diego’s proposed extension of its Mid-Coast Corridor Transit light rail line, running from the city’s Old Town Transit center to the University of California-San Diego and Westfield University Town Center. The move allows the city to vie for federal funding support. [Railway Age website report, 10-7-11]
RAILS EXPAND SHIPPING CAPACITY IN COLUMBUS: Columbus, Ohio, has seen expanded shipping capacity to and from the area, in part because of Norfolk Southern's Heartland Corridor, which allows double-stacked trains. But another reason has to do with CSX's high-tech intermodal terminals, where ‘wide-span’ cranes that are controlled by a computer allow containers to be double-stacked, which doubles the amount of containers the terminal can hold. [Columbus Dispatch website report, 10-6-11]
RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT FOR SEPT. 2011: Gains were reported for rail traffic in September 2011 compared with the same month last year. U.S. railroads originated 1,195,671 carloads, up 1.1 percent, and 949,606 trailers and containers, up 2.3 pct. Thirteen of the 20 carload commodity categories saw increases on U.S. railroads compared with September 2010. [Association of American Railroads, 10-6-11]
CALIFORNIA BULLET TRAIN ROUTE TO UNDERGO MAJOR CHANGES: The proposed California bullet train will undergo major design changes, involving more than half of the route that traverses the Central Valley. The plan for building a 114-mile segment of the system between Fresno and Bakersfield was released in August, but encountered heavy criticism from citizens groups, local cities, major land owners and financial experts. The California High-Speed Rail Authority, responding to public feedback, said it would issue a new plan for that section next spring. [Los Angeles Times website report, 10-6-11]
FRIENDS OF BNSF ATTRACTS MORE THAN 8,500 MEMBERS IN FIRST MONTH: More than 8,500 employees, retirees and members of the public have joined the Friends of BNSF ranks since the new site launched one month ago. Friends of BNSF is a special members-only website for rail advocates and BNSF enthusiasts. The site offers its members access to historic photos and videos, free downloads and company updates. [BNSF, 10-6-11]
BNSF FLOOD-CONTROL MEASURES TO BE WORTH $375-M: The estimated cost to BNSF of repairs and disruption from flood damage is expected to be about $375-million. The company has restored normal service to some major rail lines and has "worked hard to communicate with" its customers to address service concerns, BNSF CEO Matthew Rose said. "We undertook extensive rebuilding and hardening efforts, including raising miles of track by up to eight feet," he said. [Journal of Commerce website report, 10-5-11]
UNION PACIFIC LOADS 1,093 COAL TRAINS IN SOUTHERN POWDER RIVER BASIN IN SEPT.: In September, Union Pacific loaded 1,093 coal trains in the Southern Powder River Basin compared with 1,009 trains in September 2010. The company averaged 36.4 train loadings per day in the basin and met 97.2 percent of National Coal Transportation Association demand for the month, UP said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-5-11]
CHICAGO-DETROIT HIGH-SPEED LINE WINS $196-M GRANT: Michigan will get $196.5-million in federal funding from the Department of Transportation for rail signaling and line upgrades for a Chicago-Detroit high-speed rail service. "Investing in rail service will spark economic development in communities along a corridor linking Detroit and Chicago, two vital Midwest cities," said Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, noting that the rail improvements will also help freight rail speeds. The state will buy 135 miles of track from NS for $140 million. [Associated Press report, 10-5-11]
RAIL CREW VAN OPERATOR FINED FOR SAFETY LAPSES: Shuttle van operator Coach America Crew Transport has been fined more than $13,000 by the State of Washington for alleged safety lapses in the wake of a train-van accident in March 2011 that killed a BNSF engineer, a conductor trainee and the van driver, and seriously injured a conductor. The van, transporting crew members to an away-from-home terminal, was struck by a BNSF train at a private crossing in Kelso. [United Transportation Union, 10-4-11]
NS DEDICATES YARD OFFICE TO LATE COAL EXECUTIVE: At a dedication ceremony Oct. 4, Norfolk Southern named its new yard office building in Williamson, W.Va., after the late John William (Bill) Fox Jr., who retired from Norfolk Southern as senior vice president coal services in 2003 after a 35-year career with the company. Fox, who died in January 2011, headed the railroad's coal group for seven years, during which he has been credited with improving revenues, customer service and cost controls. [Norfolk Southern, 10-4-11]
NOVA SCOTIA TO HELP FUND SHORT LINE FOR THREE MORE YEARS: The province of Nova Scotia has extended a funding agreement with the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway (CBNS) through Sept. 2014. Owned by RailAmerica Inc., CBNS will continue to receive up to $2-million annually from the province for working capital and track maintenance costs. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-4-11]
SIXTEEN RAILJET TRAINS FOR CZECH RAILWAY: Siemens Mobility has obtained a $264-million order from Czech railway company Ceske Drahy for 16 seven-car Railjet trains to modernize its fleet. The Railjets will be deployed on a mainline between Prague and Brno, and in cross-border traffic to Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-4-11]
KOPPERS GETS CSX CONTRACT FOR RAIL JOINT ASSEMBLIES: Koppers Inc. has received a three-year contract from CSX Transportation worth $12-million to $13-million for bonded rail joint assemblies. Koppers will produce the bonded rail joint assemblies at its Huntington, W.V., plant. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-4-11]
RAIL SERVICE ADDS TO SAVANNAH PORT’S COMPETITIVENESS: CSX and Norfolk Southern's on-dock rail services are seen as one of the assets of Georgia's Port of Savannah and have helped it outpace the Port of Miami in terms of trans-Pacific cargo that eventually goes to Florida. However, the Miami port is now considering strategies it learned from the Savannah port to ‘win back’ business it has lost to the only Class I-served port on the East Coast, said Port of Miami Director Bill Johnson. [DC Velocity website report, 10-4-11]
R.R. COST OF CAPITAL IS 11 PCT, STB SAYS: The Surface Transportation Board has announced its decision calculating the railroad industry's cost of capital for 2010. The board found that the rail industry's after-tax cost of capital was 11.03 pct, up from 10.43 pct. STB noted that the figure represents it estimate of ‘the average rate of return needed to persuade investors to provide capital to the freight-rail industry.’ [Railway Age website report, 10-4-11]
CANADIAN PACIFIC HOLIDAY TRAIN BEGINS LATE NOVEMBER: North America’s longest-running rolling food bank fundraiser begins its unique trek across Canada and the U.S. Midwest and Northeast the last weekend of November. For the 13th year, two specially decorated freight trains will launch their unique journeys across six Canadian provinces and eight U.S. states: The U.S. Holiday Train on Friday, November 25; the Canadian train on Sunday, November 27. [Canadian Pacific, 10-4-11]
NS TO BEGIN INTERMODAL SERVICE BETWEEN VIRGINIA & N.C.: Norfolk Southern is scheduled to provide a new double-stack rail service between the Port of Hampton Roads in Virginia and Greensboro, N.C. The service will begin in the middle of the month and will operate six days a week, according to the Virginia Port Authority. [Norfolk Virginian-Pilot website report, 10-3-11]
OREGON’S COAST-TO-VALLEY RAIL LINE TO REOPEN: Sometime in the next two weeks, the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay will reopen a 110-mile rail line that was abandoned four years ago by the Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad. The Port District purchased the line, between the Bay's North Spit to Danebo in West Eugene, after the state’s economic development arm approved $12.6-million in loans to help pay for it. The port also got $7.8-million in federal grant money through the Oregon Transportation Commission’s ConnectOregon program [Eugene Register-Guard website report, 10-3-11]
ANALYST DOWNGRADES CANADA’S RAIL SECTOR: Canada’s two largest railways have been downgraded to ‘market perform' by Steve Hansen, Raymond James analyst. Mr. Hansen said there is evidence that the North American economy is slowing - save for some notable pockets of strength such as metallic ores and metals, chemicals and motor vehicle and equipment shipments. As a result, he lowered his price target for Canadian National Railway Co. to $76 a share from $81, and his target on Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. to $55 a share from $73 a share. [Financial Post website report, 10-3-11]
COLTON CROSSING PROJECT TO BEGIN NEXT MONTH: Work on BNSF and Union Pacific's $202-million rail overpass in Colton, California, is expected to begin next month. The overpass will unclog a freight bottleneck in the area, where the east-west tracks of UP would be raised above BNSF's north-south rail lines. The railroads have agreed to support other projects being planned by San Bernardino Associated Governments, including a quiet zone. [Press-Enterprise website report, 10-3-11]
BRITISH COLUMBIA TO HELP FUND UPGRADES TO VANCOUVER PORT RAIL LINK: British Columbia has announced $50-million in funding to improve a provincially owned corridor that connects Deltaport to Canada's rail network. Port Metro Vancouver’s largest container terminal, Deltaport is located in Roberts Bank, B.C. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-3-11]
CONNECTICUT TO HIKE COMMUTER FARES SLIGHTLY: The Connecticut Dept. of Transportation doesn’t plan to cut commuter-rail or bus service next year, but does intend to initiate a series of ‘modest’ fare increases starting Jan. 1, CDOT officials said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 10-3-11]
U.S. RAIL ACCIDENTS/INCIDENTS CONTINUE TO DECLINE: In this year's first seven months, 743 large and small U.S. railroads reported 6,229 accidents and incidents, down 7.3 pct from the same period in 2010, according to the Federal Railroad Administration's Office of Safety Analysis. [Railway Age website report, 10-3-11]
CSX SIGNS PACT WITH GARY, INDIANA, AIRPORT: CSX has signed off on a contract that will allow a new portion of expansion work to start at the Gary/Chicago International Airport. The contract provides right-of-entry with a 50-foot perimeter around the area. [Merrillville Post-Tribune website report, 10-3-11]
DOZENS SUFFER MINOR INJURIES IN AMTRAK CRASH IN CALIFORNIA: Thirty-seven passengers and two crew members suffered minor injuries when an Amtrak passenger train collided with a truck in Northern California Oct. 1. The train was carrying 191 passengers from Oakland to Bakersfield when it collided with a truck at a rural crossing east of Brentwood, according to Amtrak. [Google website report, 10-1-11]
GEORGIA SEEKS NEW ATLANTA TRAIN STATION: The state of Georgia wants to build a train station at a good location along the Norfolk Southern mainline in Atlanta. Peachtree Station is inadequate to the needs of over 100,000 passengers a year. The facility is cramped and access to the platform is limited. There is no long-term parking. The state would like to put Amtrak in a major downtown intermodal terminal, a project some 10 years away, but Amtrak has resisted this because it would be impractical for the Crescent to serve such a station. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers]
KEYSTONE SERVICE GETS $40-M FEDERAL GRANT: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded a $40-million grant to Pennsylvania to eliminate delays in and out of Harrisburg on Amtrak’s Keystone Corridor. The project consists of replacing aging track and signals with modern technologies. The DOT had previously funded $23-million to the Keystone Corridor to improve safety and allow future train speeds to increase from 110 mph to 125 mph. [U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 9-30-11]
AMTRAK ENDS FISCAL YEAR WITH RECORD RIDERSHIP: Amtrak ends its fiscal year Sept. 30 and celebrates an annual record ridership that surpassed 30 million passengers. The agency operates more than 315 trains a day over 43 routes that run through 46 states. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review website report, 9-30-11]
FEDS CLAIM $274-M FOR SCRAPPED N.J. RAIL TUNNEL: Officials say New Jersey owes the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) nearly $274-million for the Hudson River rail tunnel project that Gov. Chris Christie scrapped nearly a year ago. That figure includes more than $2.6-million in interest and penalties that the FTA is tacking on while the Christie administration fights repayment. [Associated Press report, 9-30-11]
ONE MILLION PASSENGERS RODE SAN JOAQUIN SERVICE IN ONE YEAR: Ridership on Amtrak’s San Joaquin corridor in California reached one million in fiscal-year 2011, the first time ridership topped the million mark on the route, Amtrak officials said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-30-11]
HOUSTON METRO APPROVES PURCHASE OF 39 LIGHT-RAIL VEHICLES: The Metropoolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, has approved a $153.1-million plan to purchase 39 light-rail vehicles from CAF USA lines under construction in Houston, agency officials said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-30-11]
RUSSIAN RAILWAYS ORDERING 200 ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES: Alstom and Transmashholding (TMH) have signed a contract worth $1.4-billion to develop and produce 200 class 2ES5 electric locomotives for the Russian Railways (RDZ). Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2012. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-30-11]
FALLING CHUNK OF CONCRETE HITS LOCOMOTIVE IN CHICAGO UNION STATION: Amtrak said it believes the train platforms on the north concourse at Chicago’s Union Station are safe for passengers after a large piece of concrete fell from the overhead structure and struck a Metra locomotive engine Sept. 29. No one was hurt in the incident. [Google website report, 9-30-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: Gains were reported for rail freight traffic for the week ending Sept. 24, 2011, with U.S. railroads originating 305,133 carloads, up 1.1 pct compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 248,402 trailers and containers, up 3 pct compared with the same week last year. This weekly intermodal volume is the highest since Week 39 of 2007. [Association of American Railroads, 9-29-11]
PACIFIC HARBOR LINE REDUCES POLLUTION WITH ‘GREENER’ LOCOMOTIVES: California's Pacific Harbor Line operates 18 miles of track in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and is known for its eco-friendliness. Now, it's poised to do even more. Sixteen of its locomotives are being outfitted with ‘advanced engines and special exhaust systems that will sharply reduce some key components of air pollution.’ [Los Angeles Times website report, 9-29-11]
CSX RECEIVES SECOND FREEDOM AWARD FROM PENTAGON: CSX received its second Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in honor of its support for U.S. Guard and Reserve service members. The company helps injured military members secure employment after service through its participation in the Warriors to Work project. [American City Business Journals website report, 9-29-11]
NORFOLK RAIL TERMINAL PROJECT GETS SUPPORT FROM STATE: A $100-million multi-modal transportation facility to be built in Norfolk, Va., has received state approval. The facility will offer access to daily Amtrak trains en route to Washington that run from Norfolk through Richmond on track owned by Norfolk Southern. [WTKR-TV website report, 9-29-11]
INDUSTRY BLAMES REGULATIONS AS COAL PRODUCTION SLIPS: Platt's reports that U.S. coal production slipped 2.8 percent from year-ago levels in the week ending Sept. 24. An Associated Press report stated production could drop even further in the Central Appalachians. However, the industry says regulations, not quantity of coal, are to blame. [Beckley Register-Herald website report, 9-29-11]
CANADIAN PACIFIC DONATES $1-MILLION TO HELP PREVENT BEAR-TRAIN COLLISIONS: Each year a few bears die in Banff National Park in Canada when bears run toward trains rather than away from them. Canadian Pacific has donated $1-million to help fund research to prevent such collisions. One solution appears to be installation of ‘wooden peg boards screwed to the railway sleeper,’ about every 300 feet or so. [PostMedia News website report, 9-29-11]
ATLANTA-CHATTANOOGA TRAIN SERVICE BEING STUDIED: While the idea for the Atlanta-Chattanooga train has been around since at least 1998, there hasn’t been significant movement on the project. However, the city of Atlanta has committed to providing a $250,000 match for a study to determine potential alignments, environmental impacts, ridership, costs, and economic benefits. The money would match $13-million in federal funds. In addition to Atlanta’s contribution, the Georgia Department of Transportation is chipping in $1.5-million, and the City of Chattanooga is in for $1.7-million. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers]
CSX ADDRESSES CLIMATE CHANGE: CSX has announced the results of the company's participation in the Environmental Defense Fund's 2011 Climate Corps program, which places specially-trained graduate students in a three-month fellowship to address climate change-related issues. This year, CSX and a graduate student examined both the company's railyard air compressors and the CSX Data Center in Jacksonville. Using data from both the railyard and the data center, he helped CSX to identify potential cost savings of more than $1.2-million and greenhouse gas emissions savings of nearly 3,000 metric tons annually. [CSX, 9-28-11]
FEDS GRANT $13.6-M TO OREGON TOWARD PASSENGER RAIL PROJECTS: U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded a $13.6-million grant to Oregon to modernize the Portland Union Station, upgrade passenger rail service along Amtrak’s Cascades route and continue further development of an integrated, statewide rail network. Amtrak’s Cascades Service, which operates between Eugene, Oregon, to Vancouver, B.C., is one of the railroad’s fastest growing routes. [U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 9-28-11]
MICHIGAN APPROVES FUNDING FOR NEW ANN ARBOR TRAIN STATION: The passage of Senate Bill 237, in part, allows the state to spend $2.8-million in federal funding for a new train station in Ann Arbor, which would eventually accommodate 110-mph trains running between Detroit and Chicago. The total project could cost more than $120 million, according to estimates by the city. [Ann Arbor website report, 9-28-11]
SIGNAL, SWITCH PROBLEMS DELAY AMTRAK SERVICE IN N.Y. CITY: Problems with Amtrak’s signal feeds and switches on Sept. 27 caused delays throughout the Mid Atlantic region and stymied New Jersey commuters. While Amtrak crews were able to repair the signaling systems by the evening, thousands of people trying to leave New York City were delayed for hours while operators manually directed train traffic. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers]
DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT BUDGET LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR RAIL EXPANSION: Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s board has approved a $1.5-billion budget for fiscal-year 2012 that provides support for the opening of the first section of the Orange Line light-rail project to Irving, Texas, in July 2012. In addition, the budget will prepare the agency for additional rail expansions to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and Rowlett later in the year, officials said [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-28-11]
STB EYES BNSF PURCHASE PRICE REGULATORY EFFECTS: The Surface Transportation Board says that it has instituted a public proceeding to examine the regulatory effects of the price Berkshire Hathaway paid when it acquired BNSF Railway last year. “This formal proceeding will allow stakeholders and the public to bring their perspectives to the Board,” said STB Chairman Daniel R. Elliott III. “This complex issue should be examined in a transparent way, with the inclusion of as many views and voices as possible.” [Railway Age website report, 9-28-11]
BNSF, UNION PACIFIC EARN NEW CUSTOMER AWARDS: BNSF Railway has added Michael Scores’ Domestic Carrier of the Year Award to its honor roll. Union Pacific also picked up another prestigious award, this one from Owens Corning, which named UP its Enterprise Carrier of the Year for Rail. This is the second consecutive year Union Pacific received the award. [Railway Age website report, 9-28-11]
VIRGINIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT GETS $44.3-M IN FEDERAL FUNDING: A planned high-speed rail route from Richmond, Va., to Washington, D.C., moves closer to reality with a $44.3-million federal grant from the Transportation Department. The goal is to develop high-speed rail in Southeast regions and connect it to the proposed Northeast Corridor high-speed rail project. [Washington Post website report, 9-27-11]
FEDS AWARD $48-M TOWARD HIGH-SPEED RAIL BETWEEN RALEIGH & WASHINGTON: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has announced $48.3-million for North Carolina and Virginia to advance the development of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor, which will link Raleigh, NC, to Washington, DC via Richmond, Va. These grants will ultimately spur high-speed and intercity passenger rail development as far south as Charlotte, NC, and Atlanta, Ga., and to the Tidewater Region of Hampton Roads and Norfolk, Va. [Federal Railroad Administration, 9-27-11]
DELAWARE GETS $13.3-M FOR ADDITIONAL TRACK SOUTH OF WILMINGTON: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has announced a $13.3-million grant for the Delaware to add a 1.5-mile third track immediately south of the Wilmington station. The additional track will eliminate a chokepoint on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. The project also includes two additional crossovers, and a bridge replacement. [U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 9-27-11]
LONG ISLAND R.R. TO LAUNCH BRIDGE REHAB PROJECT: The MTA Long Island Rail Road plans to launch a $26.2-million project designed to rehabilitate three bridges in Hampton Bays. Work on the North Highway, Montauk Highway and Shinnecock Canal bridges, all built a century ago, is expected to take two years to complete and extend the life of each bridge by 35 to 40 years, officials said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-27-11]
METRO-NORTH COMPLETES FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT OF PORT JERVIS LINE: About $50-million in repairs to the Port Jervis Line will allow train service to be restored by year’s end, according to an assessment of Hurricane Irene-related flood damage. Metro-North plans to seek a contractor through an expedited bidding process to rebuild the line. After service resumes, occasional busing will continue in select off-peak periods to allow completion of flood mitigation and riverbank stabilization work. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-27-11]
AMTRAK TO REPLACE TRACK IN EAST RIVER TUNNELS: Amtrak is about to begin a multi-year project to replace track in all four of the East River tunnels. The project, which is scheduled for completion in 2015, calls for total track structure work in each tunnel. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-27-11]
ALASKA R.R. BEGINS TO BUILD TANANA RIVER BRIDGE: The first phase of the Northern Rail Extension project is under way with construction beginning on a bridge over the Tanana River in Salcha. The multi-phased project will eventually expand track infrastructure from North Pole/Eielson 80 miles southeast to Delta Jct. The project is expected to take three years to complete. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-27-11]
NEW TRANSLOAD FACILITY FOR LOUISIANA & NORTH WEST R.R.: Patriot Rail, whose holdings include the Louisiana & North West Railroad (L&NW), is investing $3.3-million in new tracks, equipment, and a 340-acre transload facility as part of a revitalization program for L&NW. The faculty will open officially on Oct. 5. L&NW operates from Gibsland, La., to McNeil, Ark. [Railway Age website report, 9-27-11]
BROOKHAVEN RAIL TERMINAL OPENS SEPT. 27: Brookhaven Rail Terminal will celebrate the grand opening of Brookhaven Rail Terminal, located in Yaphank, N.Y., on Sept.27. The terminal is projected to handle approximately one million tons of freight per year by 2016 [Railway Age website report, 9-27-11]
PATRIOT RAIL IMPROVES LINE IN ARKANSAS: Patriot Rail Corp. has announced a $3.3-million investment in new tracks, equipment and a transloading facility that will officially open Oct. 5. The move will allow oil and gas companies working in the Haynesville Shale to move freight and cut down on the number of trucks, officials said. The 68-mile rail line between Gibsland and McNeil, Arkansas, connects the shale region through the Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific rail lines. [Shreveport Times website report, 9-27-11]
MIAMI TRANSPORTATION CENTER CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN: Construction of south Florida’s first complete ground transportation hub will begin Sept.27 during a ceremony to be attended by state and transportation officials. Covering 16.5 acres, the $147-million station will be “a major transfer point between rail and bus systems for commuters and visitors alike,” officials said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-26-11]
UNION PACIFIC IMPROVING RAIL LINE IN CENTRAL IOWA: Union Pacific Railroad will be investing nearly $10.5-million in the rail line that runs from Des Moines to Iowa Falls. Various projects over the almost 65 miles of the line include removing and installing 52,500 ties, replacing more than two miles of rail in various curves, renewing the surfaces at 91 road crossings and spreading nearly 22,000 tons of ballast. [Union Pacific, 9-26-11]
UPSTATE N.Y. RAIL PROJECT TO PROCEED: The construction of a second track between Albany and Schenectady, boosting the reliability of track signals, and improving service along Amtrak’s Empire Corridor will move ahead after an agreement was reached with CSX Transportation, which owns the tracks. Work likely will get under way by next spring. [Albany Times-Union website report, 9-24-11]
BNSF UNVEILS MASTER PLAN FOR BELEN, N.M.: BNSF recently presented its master plan for the Southwest region and detailed how Belen will fit into that picture. BNSF plans to create a multi-modal logistics center in Rancho Cielo, which will include distribution, warehousing and manufacturing facilities. The industrial park facility would include transload operators that move products by rail and truck, making the service available to additional customers. The hub will have rail, road, air and seaport distribution service to local, national and international customers. [Valencia County News-Bulletin website report, 9-24-11]
SENATE COMMITTEE BILL WOULD FUND $1.48-B FOR AMTRAK: The Senate Committee on Appropriations passed a transportation bill that would fund Amtrak at $1.48-billion, and was successfully amended to include $100-million for the High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail program. Under the Senate proposal, Amtrak would receive $544-million for operations and $937-million for capital and debt servicing. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-23-11]
FEDS GRANT $82.3-M FOR RAIL IMPROVEMENTS IN NORTHEAST: The U.S. Dept. of Transportationis granting $82.3-million for high-speed and intercity passenger rail improvements in the Northeast. The money will fund infrastructure upgrades in Rhode Island, Maine, Connecticut and Vermont, improving service on the Northeast Corridor, Connecticut’s New Haven-Springfield line, Maine’s Downeaster route, and the Vermonter service. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-23-11]
FEDS GRANT $22-M TOWARD SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BRIDGE REPLACEMENT: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation announced $22-million for the Maryland Dept. of Transportation to finish up the preliminary engineering and environmental work for the replacement and expansion of the 105 year-old Susquehanna River Bridge on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-23-11]
FASTER FUELING SYSTEM FOR LOCOMOTIVES: MPL Technology Inc. demonstrated its SpillX fueling system during a demonstration in Minneapolis. The system delivered fuel into a locomotive at a rate of 600 gallons per minute. Current fueling rates for the industry typically range from 180 to 250 gallons per minute, MPL officials said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-23-11]
NEW SHORT LINE IN SASKATCHEWAN: Big Sky Rail, which officially opened Sept.22 in Saskatchewan, will receive a $5.6-million interest-free provincial loan toward the purchase of 220 miles of track from CN between Laporte and near Macrorie, and between Beechy and Delisle. The short line assumed operations of the two track segments from CN in early September. Formal purchase agreements and land title transfers are expected to be finalized later this year. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-23-11]
ADVANCED TRAIN CONTROL FOR SOUTH KOREA LIGHT-RAIL LINE: Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit Co. Ltd. (BGL) in South Korea has launched revenue service on a line incorporating Thales’ SelTrac advanced communications-based train control (CBTC) technology. Thales has installed CBTC on 25 Hyundai Rotem trains operating at 114-second headways in unattended/driverless mode along the 14-mile, 21-station double-elevated track. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-23-11]
BNSF’S BELEN YARD GETS NEW BLUE-FLAG INDICATOR SYSTEM: BNSF’s Belen Yard in New Mexico will be adding RailComm’s Blue Flag Indicator System to its facility. The system will allow a user to apply blue flag protection, with keypad security, to the fueling tracks through the use of strategically located field control panels. [Railway Age website report, 9-23-11]
POWER PROBLEMS SLOW N.E.C. TRAINS BETWEEN NY & NJ: A power outage on the busy rail line between New York City and New Jersey stranded 1,500 commuters under the Hudson River for more than two hours on Thursday morning Sept.22. The outage was repaired by the afternoon and normal service resumed. [Washington Post website report, 9-22-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: Mixed rail freight traffic results were reported for the week ending Sept. 17, 2011, with U.S. railroads originating 299,914 carloads, down 1.4 pct compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 242,250 trailers and containers, up 0.9 pct compared with the same week last year. This weekly volume is the highest since Week 40 of 2008. [Assn. of American Railroads, 9-22-11]
BOMBARDIER GETS $96-M TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM ORDER IN BRAZIL: Bombardier Transportation has obtained a $96-million order to supply its CITYFLO 650 communications-based train control system for Line 5 of the Sao Paulo Metro in Brazil. The new system is designed to enable trains to circulate safely with a 75-second headway. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-22-11]
NY’S SECOND AVE. SUBWAY’S SECOND TUNNEL BORED THROUGH: The tunnel boring machine underneath Manhattan’s Second Avenue has completed its work on the second subway tunnel running from 92nd Street to 63rd Street, breaking through to an existing MTA New York City Transit tunnel near the Lexington Avenue/63rd Street station, and marking the completion of major tunneling for the first phase of the Second Avenue Subway. [Railway Age website report, 9-22-11]
BNSF HONORED FOR EXCELLENCE BY HONDA: BNSF Railway was recently presented with the Rail Origin of the Year Performance Excellence Award at the American Honda Automotive Logistics Conference in Torrance, California. The award criteria included the percentage of loaded cars without damage, rail cars ordered versus supplied and the quarterly audits on following standard operating procedures. [Railway Age website report, 9-22-11]
UNION PACIFIC SPENDING $10-M FOR LINE IMPROVEMENTS IN COLORADO: Union Pacific Railroad will be investing more than $10-million in the rail line that runs from near the east portal of Moffat Tunnel to near Kremmling, Colo. Various projects over almost 70 miles of the line include removing and installing more than 55,600 ties, as well as renewing the surfaces at 51 road crossings. Crews will also spread nearly 33,600 tons of ballast and replace more than two miles of rail in various curves. [Union Pacific, 9-22-11]
FEDS GRANT $15.8-M TOWARD TWO MISSOURI RAIL PROJECTS: Missouri has won a $15.8-million federal grant for two railway projects in the St. Louis area. The funding will go toward the replacement of a line on the Chicago-St. Louis passenger rail corridor and the Webster Universal Crossover at the Kirkwood Junction. The projects will improve the corridor efficiency and allow more trains to operate. [St. Louis Business Journal website report, 9-22-11]
SENATE BILL WOULD GRANT $15-M TOWARD HUDSON RIVER TUNNELS: Amtrak stands to gain $15-million for preliminary engineering of two new Hudson River rail tunnels next year under a bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The new tunnels would allow Amtrak and NJ Transit increase service during peak hours. [Assn. of American Railroads, 9-22-11]
CALTRANS DECORATING TWO LOCOMOTIVES WITH SAFETY MESSAGES: The California Department of Transportation will be joining its associates and employees in an effort to decorate two locomotives as a tool to help spread rail-safety messages - “Be Track Smart - Tragedies Touch All Of Us” - as well as observe the state's Rail Safety Month. [Fontana Herald News website report, 9-22-11]
CANADIAN PACIFIC TO MAKE ABOUT $1-B IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BY NEXT YEAR: Canadian Pacific expects to add 91 locomotives and 3,300 employees and make about $1-billion in capital improvements by next year. [Assn. of American Railroads,, 9-21-11]
FEDS GRANT WASHINGTON STATE $31-M FOR RAIL ENCHANCEMENTS : The U.S. Department of Transportation is giving Washington state $31-million for rail enhancements, including $16-million for mudslide-prevention projects. The rest of the money will go to help build a new rail access route to the Port of Vancouver, Washington. [Assn. of American Railroads,, 9-21-11]
CHICAGO TO REPAIR 100 TRANSIT STATIONS BY FALL 2012: The city of Chicago and the Chicago Transit Authority have announced a new initiative aimed at repairing 100 stations during the next 12 months. Work performed at each station will be determined by the facility’s specific needs and configurations, but could include painting, new lighting, repairs, power washing walls and ceilings, replacing signs and landscaping. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-21-11]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN EXHIBIT CAR BEGINS FALL TOUR: The Norfolk Southern Exhibit Car rolls out of the company's Juniata Shops this week for a multistate public tour, newly equipped with enhanced displays showcasing the railroad transportation network. It is a restored 1926 Pullman passenger car that was converted to a mobile museum in 1971. The car includes a locomotive simulator -complete with throttle, brake, and horn - putting guests in control of a virtual freight train. [Norfolk Southern, 9-21-11]
CANADIAN PACIFIC IMPROVING WINNEPEG-EDMONTON NORTHERN MAINLINE: Canadian Pacific Railway is spending $300-million to improve its northern mainline across the Canadian Prairies to take advantage of strong global demand for potash and grains. The upgrades between the grain-trade center of Winnipeg, Manitoba, through Saskatchewan to Edmonton, Alberta, will allow it to handle longer, heavier freight trains, and will provide a better back-up if bad weather shuts down the railway's southern cross-Canada mainline, CP said. [Reuters website report, 9-21-11]
UNION PACIFIC WORKING ON DOUBLE-TRACK PROJECT IN NEBRASKA, IOWA: Union Pacific Railroad is investing nearly $300-million over the next several years on its central corridor between Fremont, Nebraska, and Missouri Valley, Iowa. "When complete, this multi-year double-track project will help us operate more efficiently, increase train velocity and support our ability to add capacity as our customers' freight transportation needs grow," the company said. [Union Pacific, 9-20-11]
CSX HONORED WITH FREEDOM AWARD: CSX will accept the 2011 Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in Washington, D.C., on September 22, 2011. CSX is the only two-time recipient, having first received the award in 1998. The award, given by the Department of Defense's Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve agency, is the highest recognition for companies that provide exceptional support for employees serving in the Guard and Reserves. [CSX, 9-20-11]
ETHANOL UNIT TRAIN PROJECT FOR TAMPA: CSX, the Tampa Port Authority and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P. have announced they are pursuing a public-private partnership project designed to transport ethanol into the Tampa, Fla. in a unit train-to-pipeline distribution system. Under the partnership, the TPA will build track and rail support infrastructure to handle 100-car unit trains and a multi-product unit train offloading yard at Hooker’s Point in the Port of Tampa. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-20-11]
WINNEPEG UNION STATION RENOVATION COMPLETED: VIA Rail Canada recently completed upgrades to Union Station in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The project included major repairs to the station roof and train shed, and upgrades to make the more than century-old station energy efficient while maintaining its historic design. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-20-11]
CHARLOTTE GETS $25-M STREETCAR GRANT: The Federal Transit Administration has awarded a $25-million grant to Charlotte, N.C., to build the first phase of a streetcar system. The 1.5-mile initial segment will include six stops, and the city plans eventually to expand the streetcar system to 10 miles, serving the entire Charlotte region. The city has acquired three vintage streetcars to operate on the line. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-20-11]
CLASS I RAILROADS BOOST EMPLOYMENTS LEVELS: Class I railroads hired 1,191 more workers between the middle of July and the middle of August. The increase comes as carload traffic recovered from a growth lag during the early summer period. BNSF, CSX, CN, CP, KCS and NS all strengthened their workforces, according to a government report. [Journal of Commerce website report, 9-20-11]
FEDS GRANT $83-M FOR AMTRAK NEW ENGLAND ROUTE UPGRADES: Amtrak was awarded an $83-million grant from the Department of Transportation for upgrades to tracks in New England. Passenger and freight railroads commonly use the same tracks in the region, so the upgrades and additional side tracks should be beneficial for freight railroads as well, according to DOT officials. [Journal of Commerce website report, 9-20-11]
BUCKEYE YARD EXPANSION EXPECTED TO DOUBLE CAPACITY, CSX SAYS: CSX said its $59-million expansion project at the Buckeye Yard in Columbus, Ohio, will give it twice the capacity once the project is complete. The yard will become a spoke to the North Baltimore, Ohio, hub and will provide convenience to shippers. [American City Business Journals website report, 9-20-11]
MAJOR TRACK UPGRADE PLANNED FOR TEXAS-NEW MEXICO RR: Iowa Pacific Holdings LLC has announced plans to complete extensive track upgrades on a Permian Basin oilfield line operated by subsidiary Texas-New Mexico Railroad. The short line operates the 100-mile line between a Union Pacific Railroad connection in Monahans, Texas, and Lovington, N.M. The line was built in the 1920s. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-19-11]
OTTAWA’S OC TRANSPO ORDERS SIX DIESEL MULTIPLE UNITS: Alstom Transport won a $34-million contract from Ottawa’s OC Transpo to supply six new diesel multiple units (DMUs). The order is part of OC Transpo's plan to continuously upgrade O-Train rolling stock and infrastructure. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-19-11]
4,500 EVOLUTION SERIES LOCOMOTIVES HAVE ENTERED SERVICE: GE Transportation announced that its 4,500th Evolution Series Locomotive recently entered revenue service. Now, the locomotives operate in rail markets worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Egypt, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and Australia. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-19-11]
CN SPEEDS UP CONTRAINER MOVES THROUGH MONTREAL: CN and Montreal Gateway Terminals Partnership (MGT), the operator of two container terminals at the Port of Montreal, have achieved dramatic performance metrics through closer collaboration and innovation, CN announced. “Since August 2010, ocean terminal dwell - the average time it takes for a container to be placed on a railcar from a vessel - has declined by almost 40 percent. [Railway Age website report, 9-19-11]
LORAM TO ACQUIRE TRANERGY CORP.: Loram Maintenance of Way Inc. and Tranergy Corporation have reached agreement for Loram to acquire all assets of Tranergy. The new subsidiary will manufacture friction management products that include CurvGlide top of rail friction management systems, SwitchEnhancer switch lubrication devices and YardGlide for friction modification in yards. Tranergy, Inc. will also solely develop and market TracGlide, a train mounted top of rail friction management system. [Railway Age website report, 9-19-11]
KEYSTONE SERVICE GETS FEDERAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT: The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded $1.35-million to the Pennsylvania Transportation Department for rail development work on Amtrak's Keystone route. [WHP-TV Harrisburg website report, 9-19-11]
FLORIDA EAST COAST PROJECT BOOSTS MIAMI PORT’S POTENTIAL: The Florida East Coast Railway, along with the Port of Miami and the Florida Department of Transportation, is reconstructing a 4.4-mile length of FEC track in an effort to boost business once the Panama Canal expansion is complete. The line will make it possible to load cargo directly onto trains from the ships, instead of needing to transfer it by way of trucks. [Miami Herald website report, 9-18-11]
GE TRANSPORTATION TO SPEND $200-M ON LOCOMOTIVE OPERATIONS: GE Transportation plans to invest $200 million to build a locomotive factory in Fort Worth, Texas, and upgrade technology at a 100-year-old plant in Erie, Pa. The General Electric unit aims to meet growing domestic and global demand. [Reuters report, 9-18-11]
AMTRAK FACES BUDGET CUTS: Amtrak ridership is increasing, but it faces the elimination of 150 weekday trains if a bill passed by a House subcommittee is approved. The bill would give Amtrak $227-million for its 2012 budget, but it would require that no federal funds be used on short-distance lines. "The GOP plan penalizes states that have made investments in passenger rail, some of which have contributed toward costs for nearly 40 years," said Amtrak Board Chairman Tom Carper. [Fort Worth Star-Telegram website report, 9-17-11]
AMTRAK INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORTS ON AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Amtrak Inspector General Ted Alves, before a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing Sept.15, gave a detailed overview of areas in which the railroad still has work to do. They include implementing daily Sunset Limited and Cardinal service, combining the Pennsylvanian with the Capitol Limited west of Pittsburgh, and running more special trains to maximize revenue. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-16-11]
UNION PACIFIC WORKING ON DOUBLE-TRACK PROJECT IN IOWA, NEBRASKA: Union Pacific is working on a double-track project in Iowa and Nebraska to facilitate travel through the area, at a cost estimated to be $300-million to $400-million, said UP Chairman and CEO Jim Young. "The major project under way is the double tracking of our railroad from Fremont over to Missouri Valley," said Young. The infrastructure work, which is part of UP's $3.3-billion capital spending budget, will reach completion by 2014. [Fremont Tribune website report, 9-16-11]
CSX TO PROVIDE RAIL SERVICE FOR EHTANOL SHIPMENTS TO FLORIDA PORT: CSX entered a business venture with the Tampa Port Authority and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners to bring Midwestern ethanol to the Tampa, Fla., area. The venture will create the nation's first ethanol unit train-to-pipeline distribution system. The company and the port will spend nearly $11-million for the project. The distribution system is set to be in operation next year. [American City Business Jounals website report, 9-16-11]
NORFOLK’S NEW LIGHT-RAIL LINE DOING WELL: Norfolk’s new light-rail transit line, ‘The Tide,’ is proving a huge success with daily ridership almost doubling initial predictions with more than 5,600 trips taken daily. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-16-11]
UNACCOMPANIED PATRONS MUST BE AT LEAST 13 YEARS OF AGE TO RIDE AMTRAK: Starting November 1, Amtrak will require that minors be at least 13 years of age to travel unaccompanied. Under the new policy, children 12 and under will need to be accompanied by a guardian 18 years of age or older. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-16-11]
FEDS UPDATE RULE FOR ACCOMMODATING PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES AT TRAIN STATIONS: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has issued a new rule that calls on commuter, intercity and high-speed rail operators to better accommodate passengers with disabilities on new or renovating station platforms. At new or altered stations where track is shared with existing freight-rail operations, preventing rule compliance, passenger railroads will be able to choose from a variety of options to help passengers with disabilities board trains. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-16-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: A slight increase in weekly rail traffic was reported for the week ending September 10, 2011, with U.S. railroads originating 278,382 carloads, up 0.1 pct compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 208,090 trailers and containers, up 0.6 pct. [Association of American Railroads, 9-15-11]
FULL CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR SERVICE RESUMES: Beginning with the Sept. 15 eastbound departure from Emeryville and the Sept. 16 westbound Chicago departure, Amtrak's California Zephyris now serving its entire route. Flood damage and the resulting backup of freight traffic caused chronic delays between Chicago and Denver, and eventually forced Amtrak to run the train only between Denver and Emeryville for several weeks. Quick repair work by host BNSF Railway crews allowed full service to resume slightly earlier than expected. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-15-11]
CSX RECOGNIZED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE: CSX says that the company is the only Class I railroad named to the Carbon Performance Leadership Index (CPLI), part of the Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) 2011 S&P 500 Report. This is the second consecutive year that CSX has been featured as a leader in its industry sector by the CDP with the highest level of reporting. [CSX, 9-15-11]
SOUND TRANSIT OPENING NEW TACOMA STATION: A new Commerce Street light-rail station in downtown Tacoma, Washington, opens Sept.15. Located at 11th and Commerce streets, the station marks the sixth stop on the 1.6-mile Tacoma Link that serves as a major transit connector in the downtown area. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-15-11]
ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT SIGNED FOR SALT LAKE CITY STREETCAR PROJECT: HDR obtained a contract from the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) to provide preliminary engineering services for the $37-million, two-mile Sugar House Streetcar project in Salt Lake City and South Salt Lake City. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-15-11]
TWENTY NEW FREIGHT LOCOMOTIVES FOR SERVICE IN AUSTRALIA: UGL Ltd.’s rail business has obtained two new orders valued at $88-million to supply 20 freight locomotives in the Australian market. The orders include the supply of seven C44ACi locomotives in New South Wales, and 13 new GE Transportation Evolution Series locomotives in western Australia, UGL officials said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-15-11]
CENTENNIAL OF BALTIMORE’S PENN STATION: Baltimore’s Penn Station is 100 years old Sept. 14. The Beaux Arts style building, designed by Kenneth MacKenzie Murchison, played a key role in emphasizing Baltimore’ importance as a dominant rail hub. [Amtrak, 9-14-11]
METRO-NORTH BEGINS PORT JERVIS LINE REHAB: Affirming its commitment to repair the damage to its Port Jervis Line Inflicted by Hurricane Irene last month, MTA Metro-North Railroad Sept.15 publicly heralded the beginning of construction work on the line in Orange County, N.Y., while unveiling limited service restorations involving shuttle bus service, to commence Sept.19. [Railway Age website report, 9-14-11]
HOUSE PASSES EXTENSION OF SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL: The U.S. House has approved a combined bill that would provide a short-term extension of the surface transportation bill (SAFETEA-LU) and maintain current funding levels for transit, highway and aviation programs. The highway and transit side of the bill would extend funding at current levels until March 31, 2012. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-14-11]
IDLED RAIL CARS REACH 2-YEAR LOW: Owners of railcars across North America pulled 5,539 units of various types out of storage during August, shrinking the idled fleet to its lowest level since the 2008-2009 recession. That was the strongest monthly drawdown of parked railcars since April. It left 271,404 still idle as of Sept. 1, said the Association of American Railroads, or 17.8 percent of the total fleet of available cars across the continent. [Journal of Commerce website report, 9-14-11]
CSX’S BULK-MATERIAL TRANSFER FACILITY APPROVED FOR WESTBOROUGH: CSX's plan to construct a bulk-material transfer terminal in Westborough, Massachusetts, is slated to move forward after selectmen recently approved the construction project. [Framingham MetroWest Daily News website report, 9-14-11]
METRO-NORTH TO BECOME NATION’S BUSIEST PASSENGER RAIL CARRIER: After more than three decades of gradual growth, Metro-North Railroad's total ridership is expected to surpass that of the Long Island Railroad in 2012 to become the nation's busiest passenger rail line. [Stamford Advocate website report, 9-14-11]
BNSF LAUNCHES ‘FRIENDS OF’ WEBSITE: BNSF Railway has launched a website - 'Friends of BNSF' - that will provide exclusive content to advocates interested in BNSF or freight rail transportation. The URL is https://www.friendsofbnsf.com/. [BNSF, 9-13-11]
PEAK RAIL INTERMODAL VOLUME APPROACHING: The peak season for intermodal volume could begin this week, according to Union Pacific Chief Financial Officer Robert Knight. The anticipated peak season for intermodal follows volume growth of 0.4 percent to about 1.18 million containers and trailers in August compared to the same period in 2010, according to the Association of American Railroads. [Journal of Commerce website report, 9-13-11]
NEW ORLEANS TO EXPAND STREETCAR SYSTEM: Parsons Brinckerhoff has obtained a contract from the Regional Transit Authority of New Orleans for construction management of the three-phase expansion of the city’s streetcar system. The authority has a $25-million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to build a 1.4-mile streetcar loop on Loyola Avenue from Canal Street to the Union Passenger Terminal. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-13-11]
GENESEE & WYOMING TRAFFIC UP IN AUGUST: Genesee & Wyoming Inc. reported August traffic volume of 87,383 carloads, up 15.7 percent compared with August 2010. Excluding carloads from Australia’s FreightLink, which GWI acquired in December 2010, same-railroad traffic rose 6.1 percent in August. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-13-11]
FEDS GRANT $32.5-M TOWARD EXPANSION OF BOSTON’S SOUTH STATION: U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded the Massachusetts Department of Transportation $32.5-million to expand and enhance the historic South Station in Boston. The station currently operates beyond its capacity and expects an estimated 50 percent increase in high-speed intercity passenger rail travel in the coming years along the Northeast Corridor. [U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 9-13-11]
NEW MARC STATION SLATED FOR EDGEWOOD: Maryland MTA will soon begin construction on a new MARC commuter-rail station in Edgewood. The $4.3-million station will feature restrooms, ticket vending machines, two ADA accessible ramps and a new platform shelter. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-12-11]
SEPTA’S QUEEN LANE RAIL STATION RENOVATION COMPLETED: SEPTA has marked the completion of a $4.1-million renovation project at its Queen Lane Regional Rail station. The station, which serves SEPTA’s Chestnut Hill West Line, was built in 1885. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-12-11]
BOMBARDIER UNVEILS FIRST OF 32 NEW LOCOMOTIVES FOR PROGRESS RAIL: Bombardier Transportation has unveiled the first of 32 Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. model SD70ACe diesel-electric locomotives manufactured for Progress Rail Services Corp. Production began in April, following the contracting signing in November 2010. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-12-11]
DELAWARE PROPOSING STUDY FOR AMTRAK MAINTENANCE CENTER: Delaware officials are proposing a feasibility study to examine a maintenance center Amtrak's fastest trains, which would focus on the heavy locomotive maintenance yards at Wilmington or another suitable spot in northern Delaware. [Associated Press report, 9-10-11]
WOLVERINE TRAINS 352 & 353 CANCELED SEPT.12 THROUGH 15: Due to track work being performed, Trains 352 and 353 will be canceled from Monday, September 12 through Thursday, September 15. Motorcoach service will not be provided. Passengers traveling between Chicago and Pontiac may make reservations aboard other Wolverine Service trains. [Amtrak, 9-9-11]
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL WOULD SLASH AMTRAK FUNDING: A House appropriations subcommittee has approved a FY-2012 funding bill that would zero-out high-speed rail, slash Amtrak funding by $357 million, and prohibit Amtrak from using federal dollars to fund operating expenses for state-supported routes. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-9-11]
MINNESOTA GETS $5-M TOWARD HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT : The Minnesota Dept. of Transportation (MNDOT) will receive $5-million from the U.S. DOT to complete initial engineering and environmental reviews for the Northern Lights high-speed rail project between Minneapolis and Duluth. The 155-mile corridor will accommodate top speeds of 110 mph, with stops in Coon Rapids, Isanti, Cambridge, Hinckley, Boylston and Duluth, Minnesota, along with a station in Superior, Wisconsin. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-9-11]
PARIS-SWITZERLAND HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT MOVES FORWARD: French and Swiss officials on Sept.8 at Belfort, France, celebrated a new high-speed rail station and track upgrades that will join Paris to Switzerland by state-of-the-art rail system. The upgrades to the rail corridor will cut travel times by around 30 minutes. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-9-11]
CSX ADDED TO DOW JONES SUSTAINABILITY INDEXES: CSX Corporation has been added to the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes in recognition of its leadership in creating and adopting sustainable practices, the company said. CSX is an industrial transportation sector leader among 143 companies named to the North America list this year. [CSX 9-9-11]
PRESIDENT SEEKS $50-B FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS: The Journal of Commerce is reporting that the jobs plan President Obama is sending Congress will include a $50-billion spending request for new investments in highways, transit, rail and aviation. [Journal of Commerce website report, 9-9-11]
BNSF FLOOD RECOVERY UPDATE: Portions of BNSF’s Napier and Omaha Subdivisions remain out of service, resulting in some traffic remaining on alternate routes. The company still anticipate reopening those subdivisions in October, pending receding flood waters. [BNSF, 9-9-11]
CSX CONDUCTOR DIES IN SHOVING ACCIDENT: CSX conductor Dennis A. Hemme, 59, died in an on-the-job accident September 8 when he reportedly was crushed to death in Botkins, Ohio, during a mainline shove of a stalled train. Botkins is some 110 miles north of Cincinnati. [United Transportation Union, 9-9-11]
AAR RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT FOR AUGUST 2011: The Association of American Railroads reported mixed results for rail traffic in August compared with the same month last year. U.S. railroads originated 1,482,570 carloads, down 0.3 percent, and 1,179,838 trailers and containers, up 0.4 percent. Compared to August 2010, grain carloads in August 2011 were down 17.1 percent, and coal carloads were down 1.7 percent. Twelve of the 20 carload commodity categories saw increases compared with August 2010. [Assn. of American Railroads, 9-8-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: The volume of freight shipments carried by North American Class I and regional railroads increased by 1.4 percent in the seven-day period through Sept. 3, despite Hurricane Irene. For the week, 397,320 rail carloads originated at North American freight railroads, up 5,467 shipments compared with the previous week. [Association of American Railroads, 9-8-11]
BNSF FLOOD REPAIRS COSTING $300-M: BNSF Railway has been working for six months to repair flood damage on its rail network in the Midwest and Northern Plains and expects to spend more than $300-million to complete the project, an official said. Record runoff from the Missouri and Surri rivers flooded lines this spring in states including Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. [Dallas Business Journal website report, 9-8-11]
BNSF REOPENS ST.JOSEPH SUBDIVISION: BNSF Railway has reopened its St. Joseph Subdivision along the Missouri River in Nebraska following flood repairs, the company said. [Dallas Business Journal website report, 9-8-11]
TRAIN SERVICE IMPACTED BY HEAVY RAINS: Trains have been cancelled due to potential flood waters and a downed tree has knocked out part of SEPTA's service as heavy rains continue to pound Philadelphia and other regions along the East Coast. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-8-11]
MEDIATION BOARD PROFFERS ARBITRATION IN NATIONAL RAIL CONTRACT DISPUTE: The National Mediation Board has urged the unions comprising the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition and the carriers represented by the National Carriers’ Conference Committee to submit their unresolved national contract dispute to binding arbitration. The RLBC has been bargaining for new national agreements since November of 2009. The proffer of arbitration is a mandatory step in the RLA bargaining process. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-8-11]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN APPEALS OSHA FINDINGS OVER DISMISSED EMPLOYEE: Norfolk Southern has filed objections with the Chief Administrative Law Judge of the U.S. Department of Labor to findings of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In the findings, OSHA concluded that Norfolk Southern's 2009 dismissal of a maintenance-of-way employee was retaliation for his reporting a workplace injury. Norfolk Southern has set forth in its objections the bases for its disagreement with OSHA's decision. [Norfolk Southern, 9-8-11]
NORFOLK LIGHT-RAIL RIDERSHIP STARTS STRONGLY: Hampton Roads Transit officials have expressed satisfaction over ridership numbers notched by The Tide as light-rail transit notched its first week of revenue service in Norfolk. HRT predicted 2,900 trips per weekday on the 7.4-mile system in its first year. But ridership exceeded that level each day between Aug. 29 and Sept. 5, including weekends, averaging 6,500 trips. Ridership on Saturday, Sept. 3, was the highest, at 9,158 trips. [Railway Age website report, 9-8-11]
CALTRAIN TO INSTALL CAMERAS ON TRAINS: Railhead Vision Systems has obtained a contract to install cameras on the front and back of Caltrain’s trains to provide information to investigators if an accident occurs on tracks. Metrolink contracted Railhead to install the cameras inside train control rooms to monitor engineers, as well as outward-facing cameras. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-8-11]
MOTIVEPOWER TO BUILD 10 LOCOMOTIVES FOR COMMUTER LINES: Wabtec Corp. subsidiary MotivePower Inc. has obtained contracts worth $30-million to build commuter locomotives for delivery in 2012 and 2013. MotivePower will provide seven remanufactured, 3,000-horsepower locomotives to the Florida Department of Transportation for the SunRail commuter line and three 4,000-horsepower locomotives to Sound Transit. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-8-11]
CSX ESTIMATES UP TO $15-M IMPACT BY HURRICANE IRENE Hurricane Irene's net hit to CSX Corp's earnings came to $10-million to $15-million, Oscar Munoz, the railroad's chief financial officer, estimated. [Reuters website report, 9-7-11]
NEW RAIL LINE TO BE BUILT IN AUSTRALIA: Australian freight-rail service porovider QR National Ltd has signed an agreement with eight coal companies to build a more than $950-million rail line to a new coal export terminal at a port in Gladstone, Queensland. The line will be used to transport export coal to the proposed Wiggins Island coal terminal from Australian coal mines in the southern Bowen Basin. Construction on the terminal is scheduled to start in early 2012 and conclude in mid-2014. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-7-11]
UNION PACIFIC RR MUSEUM LAUNCHES IMPROVED WEBSITE: The Union Pacific Railroad Museum website has a bold new design that incorporates fresh content, picture slide shows and easy-to-find information. The site better serves a broader audience, including rail fans, history enthusiasts, teachers, and students interested in Union Pacific Railroad history and how the railroad helped shape America. [Union Pacific, 9-7-11]
GARY, INDIANA, ADVANCES FINANCING AGREEMENT WITH CANADIAN NATIONAL: The Board of Public Works and Safety in Gary, Ind., agreed with Canadian National's plan for developing the Gary rail yard. The project is estimated to cost $165-million and create 250 jobs. The company agrees to use its best efforts to recruit qualified city of Gary residents for employment and training. [Merrillville Post-Tribune website report, 9-7-11]
TWELVE SEPTA CARS DAMAGED BY HURRICANE COULD TAKE WEEKS TO REPAIR: Twelve of the 16 SEPTA railcars stuck in Trenton during Hurricane Irene will be sidelined for weeks due to water damage. The 12 sustained damage to electrical motors and suffered extensive corrosion throughout the trains. [Philadelphia Inquirer website report, 9-6-11]
U.S. FREIGHT SHIPMENTS UP IN AUGUST: The The volume of U.S. freight shipments in August was 4.4 percent higher than a year earlier, according to the Cass Freight Index. However, the year-on-year growth was down from 11 percent in July and was the lowest growth rate since February 2010. [Journal of Commerce website report, 9-6-11]
FEDS OK ENGINEERING FOR MORE TWIN CITIES LIGHT-RAIL: The Federal Transit Administration has granted approval to begin preliminary engineering for the Southwest Corridor, the third proposed light-rail transit line for Minnesota’s Twin Cities. The 15-mile line would link downtown Minneapolis with Eden Prairie. [Railway Age website report, 9-6-11]
DELHI METRO ORDERS 76 MOVIA CARS FROM BOMBARDIER: Bombardier Transportation has obtained a $120-million contract to supply 76 additional Bombardier MOVIA metro cars to the Delhi Metro Rail Corp. Ltd. The order is a follow-up to the orders for 114 vehicles announced in 2010. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-6-11]
ALL AMTRAK EAST COAST SERVICE RESTORED: Amtrak has restored all service to the East Coast following the damage from Hurricane Irene. Amtrak thanks its passengers for their patience as we worked to restore service along the East Coast. [Amtrak, 9-2-11]
UPDATE ON CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR ACCIDENT: Train 6, the eastbound California Zephyr, hit a construction crane at a grain elevator that was obstructing the BNSF Railway-owned tracks. The two locomotives derailed, along with five passenger cars. The remainder of the ten-car train remained upright and on track. No serious harm was reported among the 175 passengers or the train’s 17 crew members, but a number of passengers were transported to a hospital to treat minor injuries. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-2-11]
UTU RATIFIES NATIONAL RAIL CONTRACT: A new national rail contract, delivering a 17 percent wage increase over 60 months, a 78-month cap on health care insurance contributions, plus improvements in health care benefits, has been ratified by solid margins by UTU members in each of the six crafts eligible to vote. [United Transportation Union, 9-2-11]
AAR FILES SUIT OVER AMTRAK’S RULES WITH FREIGHT RAILROADS: The Assn. of American Railroads has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Transportation and Federal Railroad Administration over a provision of the Passenger Rail Rehabilitation and Improvement Act that they claim gives Amtrak 'improper authority to promulgate binding rules governing the conduct of its contractual partners, the freight railroads.’ The issue seems to hinge on a provision which empowers Amtrak and the FRA to jointly develop new ‘metrics and minimum standards for measuring the performance and service quality of intercity passenger train operations.’ [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-2-11]
CALTRAIN CONTRACTS WITH TRANSIT AMERICA TO OPERATE TRAINS: Caltrain’s board has approved a contract with Herzog subsidiary TransitAmerica Services Inc. to operate the commuter-rail system. The new five-year contract, which will go into effect next year, will represent the first time in 20 years that Caltrain will not be operated by Amtrak. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-2-11]
GENESEE & WYOMING COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF ARIZONA EASTERN: Greenwich, Conn.-based Genesee & Wyoming Inc. has completed its acquisition of the Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER) from Iowa Pacific Holdings, LLC for $90.1-million in cash, subject to adjustment for final working capital. AZER is composed of two rail lines operating 265 track miles in southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico that are connected by 52 miles of trackage rights over the Union Pacific Railroad. [Railway Age website report, 9-2-11]
FTA APPROVES DETROIT’S LIGHT-RAIL PLANS: The Federal Transit Administration has given the go-ahead to Detroit to proceed with its plans for light rail transit. Detroit still needs to secure up to $300-million in federal funding support for the proposed $550-million project, to be funded in part by private-sector partners. [Railway Age website report, 9-2-11]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: A slight dip in rail traffic was reported for the week ending August 27, 2011, with U.S. railroads originating 299,943 carloads, down 0.8 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 236,051 trailers and containers, down 0.5 percent. Eleven of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases from the comparable week in 2010. [Assn. of American Railroads, 9-1-11]
TOWER 55 CONTROL POINT IN TEXAS TO BE REBUILT: The Associated Press is reporting that a congested freight railroad control point in Fort Worth called Tower 55 should be rebuilt by early 2014. The U.S. Department of Transportation is expected sign an agreement to rebuild with work set to begin in April on the $91-million project. [Associated Press report, 9-1-11]
VERMONT RAIL SYSTEM RESTORES SERVICE: Since Hurricane Irene struck the area last weekend, Vermont Rail System worked around the clock to repair damaged tracks. Now, some freight operations have resumed and VRS expects Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express to operate today. To restore the line from Whitehall to Rutland, the railway needed to repair washed-out track in 19 locations. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-1-11]
ENGINEERING DESIGN CONTRACT AWARDED FOR EDMONTON LIGHT-RAIL EXPANSION: AECOM Technology Corp. has obtained a $35.5-million contract from the city of Edmonton, Alberta, for a light-rail transit expansion project. The company will provide preliminary engineering design services for the Southeast LRT line from downtown Edmonton to Mill Woods, and the West LRT line from Lewis Estates to downtown Edmonton. The new 29-station LRT system will include 17 miles of double track, with more than half a mile to be built in tunnels and one mile on an elevated structure. [Progressive Railroading website report, 9-1-11]
UNION PACIFIC IMPROVING EASTERN WYOMING LINE: Union Pacific Railroad will continue improving the transportation infrastructure in Wyoming by investing nearly $31-million in the rail line that runs from Lusk to Shawnee. Various projects over almost 37-miles of the line include removing and installing more than 28 miles of rail and nearly 75,000 concrete ties, as well as renewing the surfaces at seven road crossings. Crews will also spread nearly 48,000 tons of rock ballast and replace three switches. Most of these projects begin September 2 and are scheduled to be completed by mid-November. [Union Pacific, 9-1-11]
UNION PACIFIC, BNSF GETTING BACK TO NORMAL AFTER MISSOURI RIVER FLOODING: Union Pacific and BNSF have lifted embargoes and are getting back to more normal freight operations as flooding from the Missouri River subsides. The companies have spent millions of dollars to raise track, build levees and strengthen bridges in the wake of the flood. Both expect their flood-related work to be completed by fall. [Omaha World-Herald website report, 9-1-11]
RAIL ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS DOWN IN SIX MONTHS: With 736 railroads reporting, the Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Safety Analysis has issued a preliminary report showing that 5,257 accidents/incidents were recorded during the first six months of 2011, 7.9 percent fewer than in the corresponding period of 2010. There were 11 employee fatalities, the same as in the 2010 period. [Railway Age website report, 9-1-11]
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