|
Bull Sheet Newswire
NORFOLK LIGHT-RAIL SYSTEM ADDING NEW CROSSOVER: Hampton Roads Transit says it ill add a new crossover on The Tide light-rail transit system this weekend along the route between Harbor Park and EVMC/Ft. Norfolk. HRT says the crossover will improve capacity and traffic flow. [Railway Age website report, 2-1-12]
NEW RAIL CAR CLEANING FACILITY OPENED IN TEXAS: The Rescar Cos. has opened a new rail-car cleaning system in Channelview, Texas. The new system is designed to process eight cars simultaneously, speeding their return to rail-car owners and leasing customers, and helping to reduce lost-income days for car lessors. [Progressive Railroading website report, 2-1-12]
HOUSE COMMITTEE PROPOSES TO DELAY POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL UNTIL 2020: Railroads would get five more years to install crash-avoidance technology - a project estimated to cost about $12 billion - under a proposal by the U.S. House transportation committee. The deadline would move to Dec. 31, 2020, from Dec. 31, 2015, according to a draft copy of legislation to provide long- term funding for highway and transit programs. [Bloomberg News website report, 1-31-12]
PERSHING SQUARE SCHEDULES MEETING TO STRESS NEED FOR CP MANAGEMENT CHANGES: On Febr. 6, Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. plans to hold a town hall meeting in Toronto to provide Canadian Pacific shareholders and other interested parties an opportunity to meet its slate of five nominees for the board, who will stand for election at CP’s annual general meeting May 17 in Calgary, Alberta. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-31-12]
WISCONSIN & SOUTHERN WORKING ON NEW TRANSLOAD SITE: Thousands of tons of plastic pellets and animal feed will begin flowing to local companies on the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad in the coming year. The railroad has begun work on a site just south of Janesville where the products will be unloaded. The new 'transload' site in the same place where Amtrak briefly established a passenger stop to ferry people between Janesville and Chicago. The railroad expects to start using the site in early summer. [Janesville Gazette website report, 1-31-12]
SIXTY FLEXITY TRAMS FOR BASEL, SWITZERLAND: Bombardier Transportation will deliver up to 60 FLEXITY trams, worth roughly $241-million, to Basel Transport Authority (BVB) in Switzerland. Bombardier notes it is the largest order placed by BVB in the agency’s 116-year history. [Railway Age website report, 1-31-12]
FEDS GIVE ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL FOR MILWAUKEE STREETCAR PROJECT: The Federal Transit Administration gave the city of Milwaukee environmental approval for an initial streetcar line. The move clears the way for Milwaukee to begin final design this summer, with construction targeted to commence in the spring of 2014. The initial phase would link Milwaukee’s intermodal station, served by Amrak and buses, to the city’s lower east. [Railway Age website report, 1-31-12]
CP MANAGEMENT BOOKS ROAD TRIP TO TOUT PROGRESS TO INVESTORS: Beginning this week, members of CP’s board and management team are ‘going on the road’ to meet with investors and discuss the progress they have made toward the company’s multi-year plan. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-31-12]
GO TRANSIT OPENS ALLANDALE WATERFRONT STATION: GO Transit and government officials marked the launch of service at the new Allandale Waterfront Station in Barrie, Ontario. The $9.2-million station will enable the agency to extend service into downtown Barrie and increase ridership on the line. The station includes a side rail platform with heated shelters, a mini-platform and a platform snowmelt system. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-31-12]
GROUND BROKEN FOR PHILADELPHIA TRANSIT CENTER: On Jan. 30, officials launched a $50-million project designed to expand and renovate a major transit center connecting Amtrak, commuter rail and buses. The renovation of Dilworth Plaza will improve transit into Philadelphia’s Center City by upgrading connections and accessibility around the City Hall transit hub. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-31-12]
FREIGHT RAILROADS PLAN TO SPEND $13-M THIS YEAR IN CAPITAL EXPENDITURES: The Association of American Railroads says that the nation’s major freight railroads are projected to invest a record $13-billion in capital expenditures in 2012 to expand, upgrade, and enhance the nation’s freight rail network. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-30-12]
FREIGHT RAILROADS EXPECT TO HIRE MORE THAN 15,000 WORKERS IN 2012: The Association of American Railroads says that the nation’s major freight railroads expect to hire more than 15,000 employees this year, replacing retiring workers and adding new positions nationwide. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-30-12]
PADUCAH & LOUISVILLE GETTING NEW TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM: RailComm has been chosen to install its Domain Operations Controller train control system for the Paducah & Louisville Railway Co. The DOC system will feature functionality for Track Warrant Control and Centralized Traffic Control through RailComm’s web-enabled software-as-a-service delivery method, RailComm officials said [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-30-12]
HIAWATHA SERVICE SETS RIDERSHIP RECORD IN 2011: Ridership on Amtrak’s Hiawatha service between Milwaukee and Chicago rose 4 percent to 823,163 in 2011 compared with 792,848 in 2010. Ridership records were set in each month except for August, officials said. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-30-12]
RUSSIA TO REPLACE 5,000 OBSOLETE SLEEPING CARS: Talgo has obtained a framework agreement with the Russian Railway Institute VNIIZht (RZD) for the development of a Talgo train with Spanish technology tailored for the Russian market. RZD plans to replace 5,000 obsolete sleeping cars during the next five years. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-30-12]
FREIGHT CAR ORDERS INCREASE IN 4-Q: Railroad freight car orders increased 51.4 pct in the fourth quarter 2011 to 16,434, compared with 10,853 car orders for the same quarter last year, according to the Railway Supply Institute. Orders in the quarter fell relative to the third quarter, which totaled 20,165 orders. [Railway Age website report, 1-30-12]
FREIGHT VOLUME GROWING, BNSF CHIEF SAYS: The head of Burlington Northern Santa Fe said that the U.S. economy is growing at a modest pace and the railroad will add jobs and new rail cars and locomotives this year to keep abreast of rising freight volume. Matthew Rose said in an interview Jan. 30 in Florida that BNSF will hire about 4,000 people in 2012, including train operators and maintenance personnel, and also is expanding its rail capacity with new terminals, rail cars and locomotives. Some of the new hires will make up for job losses from attrition, so the net gain will be lower. [Fox Business website report, 1-30-12]
AMTRAK PLANS 160 MPH SPEED WITH N.J. STRETCH UPGRADE: Amtrak plans to break its own top speed when it spruces up a 24-mile stretch of track in New Jersey for trains running at 160 mph. Around Rhode Island, the train currently hits 150 mph for about 35 miles. But with $450-million in federal high-speed-rail money, Amtrak plans to upgrade the New Jersey section of track to top that current highest speed by 10 mph. [Journal News Lower Hudson website report, 1-29-12]
COALSPUR’S PLANNED COAL MINE WOULD RELY ON CN: Coalspur's planned $1.23-billion coal mine in Canada is expected to have an annual production capacity of 11.2 million tons, surpassing an earlier projection of 9 million, according to the company. A definite shipping deal between Canadian National is being sought by the company in the following year. The company has an initial haulage deal with Canadian National and hopes to turn it "into a definitive agreement over the coming year." [Marketwatch website report, 1-29-12]
DIRT CLEARING WORK NEARING COMPLETION AT UNION PACIFIC PROJECT IN N.M.: Union Pacific's dirt-clearing project for its $400-million rail facility in Santa Teresa, N.M., is expected to be finished this summer. The project's second stage is set to begin this year and will deal with infrastructure aspects, the company said. Construction of the whole project is expected to last until 2015. [El Paso Times website report, 1-28-12]
READING & NORTHERN CARRIED RECORD TRAFFIC, EXPANDED OPERATIONS IN 2011: Last year, the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad handled about 24,000 carloads, the most annual carloadings in the company’s 20-plus-year history. The 300-mile regional also expanded operations to accommodate natural gas supplies for the Marcellus Shale and growing anthracite coal business. The company invested in port facilities along the Delaware River near Philadelphia, where the Port of Fairless Hills could export anthracite coal to international customers. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-27-12]
BART TRANSBAY TUBE UPGRADE CONTRACT APPROVED: Bay Area Rapid Transit has awarded a $7.7-million contract to California Engineering Contractors to install steel plating inside the 3.6-mile long Transbay Tube as part of the agency’s 10-year earthquake safety program. The tube was not damaged during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, but it is part of the program designed to shore up BART’s system to withstand a major quake. The program began in 2001, and significant work to strengthen the tube already has been completed. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-27-12]
HUB GROUP TARGETS MORE INTERMODAL RAIL ACTIVITY FROM EASTERN U.S.: More truckloads are expected to be shifted onto trains as railroads expand their reach in the Eastern U.S., according to Hub Group. "There's a tremendous opportunity for us to continue to grow volume through modal conversion in the local East," said Mark Yeager, Hub Group's president, chief operating officer and vice chairman. [Journal of Commerce website report, 1-27-12]
CN, TEAMSTERS CANADA RAIL CONFERENCE RATIFY 3-YEAR LABOR DEAL: Canadian National's three-year collective labor agreement was ratified by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference's 1,800 locomotive engineers. The ratified agreement "bodes well for the future of our relationship and ability to address issues of mutual interest in a constructive way that benefits CN's customers and all of its other stakeholders," said CN Chief Operating Officer Keith Creel. [Canadian Press website report, 1-27-12]
CANADIAN PACIFIC REPORTS 2011 EARNINGS: Canadian Pacific Railway Limited announced its full year 2011 results. The company reported net income of $570-million and diluted earnings per share of $3.34. Total revenues were $5.2-billion, an increase of $196 million [Canadian Pacific, 1-26-12]
CANADIAN PACIFIC’S 4-Q OPERATING EFFICIENCY WEAKENS: CP, Canada's second largest railway, said its operating ratio rose to 78.5 percent in the fourth-quarter, from 77 percent in the year-ago period. That compares with a ratio of 64.7 percent for Canadian National Railway, the country's largest. On this measure, CP is one of the less efficient of the major North American railways. [Reuters Canada website report, 1-26-12]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: The Association of American Railroads reported an increase in weekly rail traffic for the week ending January 21, 2012, with U.S. railroads originating 287,734 carloads, up 1.6 pct compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-26-12]
WAVES DAMAGE RAIL LINE ALONG PUGET SOUND: BNSF Railway says waves crashing over the seawall at four spots between Everett and Mukilteo, Washington, have washed rocks away from one of two sets of mainline tracks in the area. The track closest to Puget Sound has been closed for repair, but passenger and freight trains continue to run on the second main track that is farther from the water. [News Tribune website report, 1-26-12]
DESIGN CONTRACT FOR HONOLULU RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT: AECOM Technology Corp. has obtained a $38.8-million contract to design the airport segment of the Honolulu Rail Transit project. AECOM will design a 5.2-mile portion of the elevated rail guideway from Aloha Stadium to the Middle Street Transit Center in Kalihi. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-26-12]
SIGNALING CONTRACT FOR ANKARA-ISTANBUL HIGH-SPEED RAIL LINE: In Turkey, Ansaldo STS has obtained contracts from Italo-Turkish joint venture Salini-GCF-Kolin to install signaling, automation and telecommunications systems for high-speed rail track between Ankara and Istanbul. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-26-12]
R.R. WORKER DIES IN FALL FROM ST. LOUIS BRIDGE: A railroad employee fell to his death from the MacArthur Bridge Jan. 25, authorities said. Carter Perry, 57, who worked for the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, was working on the bridge when he stepped onto an unsecured metal walkway, according to St. Louis police. The walkway gave way and Perry fell. He had worked for the railroad since 1975. [St. Louis Today website report, 1-26-12]
‘FORGOTTEN’ UNION PACIFIC PHOTOS ON EXHIBIT AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY: University Libraries at Utah State University has created an exhibit shown at the university’s Merrill-Cazier Library, ‘Forgotten Photographs of the Union Pacific Railroad.’ The exhibit, assembled by Special Collections and Archives Photograph Curator Daniel Davis, can be seen in the Merrill-Cazier Library atrium through Febr. 17. A reception for the exhibit is planned Feb. 15 in conjunction with a lecture by Davis for the Friends of Merrill-Cazier Library. [Utah State University, 1-26-12]
BNSF OPENS CAR SHOP IN NORTH DAKOTA: BNSF Railway officials and local leaders celebrated the opening of a new $30-million car shop and two 9,200-foot inspection tracks at Gavin Yard, east of Minot, N.D. The new investments are expected to serve the growing freight volumes along BNSF's Great Northern Corridor. [Minot Daily News, 1-26-12]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN CLEARS VIRGINIA SITE OF OLD CROSSTIES: The cleanup of almost 2 million railroad ties from a site in Radford, Va., brings to an end a multi-year effort to clear the location and eliminate a potential environmental concern. Norfolk Southern completed removal of the ties earlier this month, delivering on an offer to the Va. Dept. of Environmental Quality to transport the ties for free if a suitable disposal site could be found. Seven acres of industrial property with rail service and utilities are now available for revitalization. The ties date to the 1980s, when they were sold and stockpiled for reuse on a private site known as the Hammond property. The owner eventually declared bankruptcy, leaving the property abandoned and the ties posing fire and other concerns. [Norfolk Southern, 1-26-12]
FRA WARNS OF COVERALLS SAFETY HAZARD: The Federal Railroad Administration has called attention to an injury where a conductor, while lifting the operating lever on a freight car, was dragged four car lengths after the lever became tangled in the hammer loop of his coveralls. The FRA recommends cutting off the hammer loop on coveralls or securing the hammer loop to the pants leg so that it does not create a hazard. [United Transportation Union, 1-25-12]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN ANNOUNCES CAPITAL SPENDING FOR 2012: Norfolk Southern says it has budgeted $2.4-billion for capital spending in 2012, up 12 percent compared with 2011’s budget. Replacement and core spending will total about $1.6-billion, or 67 percent of the total budget. Included is the purchase of 35 new locomotives. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-25-12]
VIA RAIL INTRODUCES NEW MONTREAL-OTTAWA-TORONTO SCHEDULES: VIA Rail Canada has introduced new schedules in the Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto triangle as part of an effort to attract more than 100,000 new riders per year. Riders on the new Ottawa-Toronto express trains will now be able to make the non-stop trip in just under four hours; and riders traveling from Montreal to Toronto will be offered two new trains, bringing the total number of weekday departures to 10. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-25-12]
ACTIVIST INVESTOR TO INDEMNIFY HUNTER HARRISON AGAINST LOSS OF CN PENSION BENEFITS: Activist investor Bill Ackman said he will indemnify Hunter Harrison against any losses of his Canadian National Railway Co. pension benefits, hoping to ensure that Mr. Harrison continues to pursue the top job at rival Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. Mr. Ackman, Canadian Pacific's largest shareholder, wants former Canadian National Chief Executive Mr. Harrison to succeed current Canadian Pacific CEO Fred Green. [Wall Street Journal website report, 1-25-12]
BOMBARDIER PARTNERSHIP EYES ‘GREEN TRAIN’: New-generation trains running on existing track can easily combine higher speeds, lower energy consumption, reduced noise, and lower costs, according to findings by Swedish researchers released Jan. 25 in Stockholm. The four-year project was supported by three major partners, including Bombardier Transportation, Bombardier said. [Railway Age website report, 1-25-12]
UNION PACIFIC TO INVEST $3.6-B IN CAPITAL IN 2012: Union Pacific plans to invest $3.6-billion in capital during 2012, which supports America's current and future freight transportation needs and enhances the safety and efficiency of the railroad's 32,000-mile network. These investment projects are examples of Union Pacific's continuing efforts to improve transportation infrastructure and support its customers through strategic investments. [Union Pacific, 1-24-12]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN REPORTS 2011 EARNINGS: For 2011, Norfolk Southern’s net income increased to an all-time record $1.9-billion, 28 pct higher compared to 2010. Diluted earnings per share for the year increased 36 pct, or $1.45, to a record $5.45, compared with 2010. [Norfolk Southern, 1-24-12]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN INCREASES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND: Norfolk Southern Corporation’s Board of Directors has voted to increase the regular quarterly dividend on the company’s common stock by 9.3 percent, from 43 to 47 cents per share. The increased dividend is payable on March 10, to stockholders of record on Feb. 3. [Norfolk Southern, 1-24-12]
CANADIAN NATIONAL REPORTS 2011 EARNINGS: CN reported its financial and operating results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2011. Revenues increased nine pct to a record $9.028-billion, while full-year 2011 carloadings rose four pct and revenue ton-miles increased five pct. [Canadian National, 1-24-12]
CANADIAN NATIONAL HIKES DIVIDEND 15 PCT: CN’s Board of Directors has approved a 15 pct increase in the Company's quarterly cash dividend. A quarterly dividend of thirty-seven-and-one-half cents (C$0.375) per common share will be paid on March 30, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 9, 2012. CN has now declared increases in its cash dividend 16 consecutive times since the Company's initial public offering of shares in 1995. [Canadian National, 1-24-12]
CSX FORECASTS STRONG DEMAND FOR U.S. COAL EXPORTS IN 2012: CSX executives forecast continued strong U.S. coal exports in 2012, although they said the railroad's coal shipments likely will be down overall because of slack demand from domestic electric utilities. [Fox Business website report, 1-24-12]
CANADIAN NATIONAL SUSPENDS RETIRED CEO’S PENSION PAYMENTS, LAUNCHES LEGAL PROCEEDINGS: Canadian National Railway Co. has suspended Hunter Harrison’s pension payments, alleging that the former chief executive officer has breached provisions of his retirement deal and poses a serious threat to CN if he joins rival Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. Montreal-based CN has launched legal proceedings in Illinois against Mr. Harrison, who retired from CN in 2009. [Globe & Mail website report, 1-24-12]
DEVELOPERS SEEK TO CONVERT FORMER ARMY BASE INTO A FREIGHT TRANSFER FACILITY: Developers hope to convert the 330-acre Oakland Army Base in California into a freight transfer facility for trains, ships and trucks. Infrastructure work alone could cost as much as $1 million per acre. Developers will invest $300-million for the $800-million project, but raising the balance will depend on a state grant and the approval of a sales tax by Alameda County voters. [San Francisco Chronicle website report, 1-24-12]
UNION PACIFIC TO UPGRADE TRACKAGE IN SAN ANTONIO: Union Pacific Railroad will improve the transportation infrastructure in San Antonio by investing $4-million in one of two rail lines that parallel Frio City road. The project includes the installation of 2,350 feet of rail, 1,000 railroad ties and four track switches. More than a thousand tons of rock ballast will be used. [Union Pacific, 1-24-12]
CSX REPORTS 2011 EARNINGS: For 2011, CSX generated record performance in revenue, operating income, operating ratio and earnings per share. Revenues increased 10 pct to $11.7-billion, operating income 11 pct to $3.4-billion, the operating ratio improved to 70.9 pct, and earnings per share improved 24 pct to $1.67. [CSX, 1-23-12]
CSX NAMES NEW CHIEF OPERATING AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS: CSX Corporation announced the appointments of Oscar Munoz as executive vice president and chief operating officer, and Fredrik Eliasson as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective immediately. Eliasson replaces Munoz, and Munoz replaces David Brown. Brown is no longer with the company. [CSX, 1-23-12]
KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN REPORTS 2011 EARNINGS: For the full year 2011, Kansas City Southern’s revenue was a record $2.1-billion, up 16 pct over 2010. This is the first time that KCS generated annual revenue above $2 billion. Carloads for 2011 were 2 million, the first time annual volumes reached the 2 million threshold. [Kansas City Southern, 1-23-12]
AMTRAK SERVICE TO NORFOLK WILL BEGIN BY END OF 2012: Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced that the expected start date of the Amtrak extension to and from Norfolk will begin by Dec. 31, about 10 months earlier than originally planned. The round-trip train will bring intercity passenger-rail service to Norfolk for the first time since 1977. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-20-12]
CANADA CONSIDERS VIA RAIL ROUTE CUTS AS COSTS MOUNT: The Canadian transport ministry is assessing several options for future support for passenger-rail services, including “significant reductions” in service and privatizing part of the network, according to a briefing note prepared for Transport Minister Denis Lebel. VIA had an operating loss of $261.5-million in 2010. Annual revenue fell 5.3 pct from 2005 to 2010, while operating expenses rose 15 pct. Transport Canada has been reviewing the federal government’s support for passenger rail since 2008, according to the note. [Bloomberg website report, 1-20-12]
SAN FRANCISCO GETS OK FOR CENTRAL SUBWAY PROJECT: The 1.7-mile Central Subway sought by San Francisco has received a ‘letter of non-prejudice’ from the U.S. Department of Transportation, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee says. The move clears the way for construction on the $1.6-billion underground LRT route from San Francisco’s downtown to Chinatown. [Railway Age website report, 1-20-12]
AMTRAK FILES COMPLAINT WITH STB OVER ON-TIME PERFORMANCE BY CANADIAN NATIONAL: Between October 1, 2010, and September 30, 2011, eight Amtrak routes that operated over tracks owned by CN failed to meet the new legal standard for on-time performance requiring trains to arrive at the end-point station within 15 minutes of schedule at least 80 pct of the time. After its efforts to deal directly with CN failed, Amtrak filed a formal Petition for Relief with the Surface Transportation Board seeking an investigation, recommendations for improvement, and damages levied against CN. [National Assn. of R.R. Passengers, 1-20-12]
UNION PACIFIC'S EXPORT COAL BUSINESS NEARLY QUADRUPLES: Union Pacific said its US export coal volume jumped by 271.4 pct over its 2010 volume. UP serves the burgeoning Southern Powder River Basin and Colorado/Utah coal mines, which produce coal that is popular among Asian customers but difficult to get to international markets due to a lack of port capacity. Jack Koraleski, executive vice president of marketing and sales, said that export coal volumes will climb even higher this year. [Platts website report, 1-19-12]
FALLEN TREES DISRUPT PORTLAND-SEATTLE TRAIN SERVICE: Fallen trees and debris temporarily shut down Amtrak passenger rail service between Portland and Seattle Jan. 19, BNSF Railway announced. BNSF said crews were clearing trees and debris, and passenger service was suspended until conditions improved [The Columbian website report, 1-19-12]
CONSTRUCTION ON NEW CANADIAN NATIONAL FOX RIVER BRIDGE TO BEGIN: Construction of a new Canadian National rail bridge over the Fox River in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is scheduled to begin this month. The structure will reduce congestion and allow trains to move more quickly, according to the company. [Oshkosh Northwestern website report, 1-19-12]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: The Association of American Railroads reported an increase in rail traffic for the week ending January 14, 2012, with U.S. railroads originating 298,560 carloads, up 5.5 pct compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 229,091 trailers and containers, up 7.4 pct compared with the same week last year. Seventeen of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2011. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-19-12]
UNION PACIFIC REPORTS 2011 EARNINGS: For the full year 2011, Union Pacific reported net income of $3.3-billion or $6.72 per diluted share. This compares to $2.8-billion or $5.53 per diluted share in 2010, increases of 18 and 22 pct, respectively. Operating revenue totaled a record $19.6-billion versus $17.0-billion in 2010. Operating income increased 15 pct to $5.7-billion, up from $5.0-billion in 2010. [Union Pacific, 1-19-12]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN OPENS EXTENSION OF ‘HEARTLAND CORRIDOR’: Norfolk Southern has cleared the way for more double-stack intermodal trains on its Heartland Corridor with the opening of a newly improved double-stack rail line between Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio. The Heartland Connector will reduce transit times by one to two days and increase service reliability for double-stack freight traveling to and from the Port of Virginia. [Norfolk Southern, 1-19-12]
PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, MULTI-MODAL STATION: Illinois will provide $3-million for a new multi-modal station near downtown Rockford that will serve Amtrak’s new Chicago-Rockford-Dubuque corridor. The capital plan funding will help cover costs to design and engineer the new station. The funding is in addition to $60-million that was allocated to build the rail corridor. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-19-12]
DAVID STARLING NAMED RAILWAY AGE ‘RAILROADER OF THE YEAR’: David L. Starling, president and chief executive officer of Kansas City Southern, has been named 2012 Railroader of the Year by railroad industry trade journal Railway Age. [Railway Age website report, 1-19-12]
CANADIAN PACIFIC ANNOUNCES 2012 CAPITAL BUDGET: Canadian Pacific says its 2012 capital plan calls for spending between $1.1-billion and $1.2-billion on infrastructure renewal, network enhancements and expansion projects. Last year, the company budgeted between $950-million and $1.05-billion for capital expenditures. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-18-12]
CANADIAN PACIFIC OPENS LOCOMOTIVE ‘SUPER CENTER’ IN TORONTO: Canadian Pacific has completed the capital investments made to enhance the Locomotive Reliability Centre in Toronto. This now completes the second phase of CP’s Locomotive Reliability Center strategy which will reduce the number of locomotive repair facilities from eight to four with improved repair capabilities. The Toronto facility joins similar centers in Calgary, Winnipeg and St. Paul. [Canadian Pacific, 1-18-12]
CLASS I RAIL EMPLOYMENT IN DECEMBER UP FROM SAME MONTH LAST YEAR: U.S. Class I railroads employed 159,717 workers in mid-December 2011, up 3.44 pct from a year earlier, though off 0.25 pct from November due to a seasonal drop in track maintenance employees. [Railway Age website report, 1-18-12]
SCHNEIDER NATIONAL EXTENDS CSX CONTRACT: Schneider National Inc. has signed a new, multiyear agreement with CSX Transportation, under which the railroad will serve as one of Schneider’s primary rail providers. The agreement sets the stage for sustained, long-term service within the Eastern U.S. as Schneider’s intermodal freight volumes continue to increase, the company said. [Railway Age website report, 1-17-12]
THREE MORE UNIONS RATIFY NATIONAL RAIL CONTRACTS: the National Carriers’ Conference Committee reported that three more rail labor unions have ratified national contracts with the nation’s major freight railroads: the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Blacksmiths, Iron Ship Builders, Forgers and Helpers; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; and Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association. The only union now without a settlement - the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) - has agreed with the NCCC to extend a ‘cooling off’ period until Febr.8. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-17-12]
AMTRAK’S CRESCENT TO BE CANCELED WEST OF ATLANTA ON CERTAIN DATES: Trains 19 and 20, which normally operate between New Orleans and New York, will not operate between Atlanta and New Orleans on selected dates, due to track work being performed by Norfolk Southern Railway. Alternate transportation will not be provided between Atlanta and New Orleans. Dates include Jan. 23-26, Febr. 2, Febr. 6-9, Febr. 13-15. For further information call 800-USA-RAIL. [Amtrak]
RAILROAD DAY ON CAPITOL HILL IS MARCH 8: Registration is now open for this year’s Railroad Day on Capitol Hill, set for Thursday, March 8. Attendance is open to railroad personnel, shippers, state and local government representatives, and members from the supplier community. Additionally, a student registration category has been added for middle and high school students who wish to attend with a parent. Registration is free, but does not include the Thursday evening reception or the dinner. For further information call 202-585-3443. [Railway Age website report, 1-17-12]
TRACK TO BE ADDED IN NORFOLK SOUTHERN’S PORTLOCK YARD TO ACCOMMODATE AMTRAK: Norfolk Southern is preparing to expand its Portlock rail yard in Chesapeake, Va., to accommodate the planned Amtrak passenger rail service to Norfolk. "We're adding a track to allow passenger trains to run through the yard without interfering with coal trains," said a spokesman for the railroad. The state is spending $101-million to upgrade the rail corridors between Norfolk and Petersburg and Richmond. [Virginian-Pilot website report, 1-14-12]
AMTRAK INCREASING GUEST REWARDS POINTS NEEDED FOR MOST TRAVEL: For point redemption reservations booked on or after April 1, 2012, a higher number of points will be required for most types of award travel. Coach reservations will generally cost 1,000 more points; bedroom reservations will generally cost 10,000 more points, and Acela Express First-Class will cost 2,500 more points. Significantly, though, the number of points required for a roomette will not change. [National Assn. of R.R. Passengers, 1-13-12]
MEMPHIS GIVES CN THE GREEN LIGHT FOR LOGISTICS PARK: The Memphis-Shelby County Port Commission voted unanimously to grant Canadian national a 10-year option to buy up to 800 acres in Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park in southwest Memphis. The logistics park would complement the railroad's Memphis Intermodal Gateway, where containerized freight carried by CN and CSX trains is transferred to or from trucks. [Commercial Appeal website report, 1-13-12]
RAILROADS NEED 67,000 HIRES IN FIVE YEARS, NORFOLK SOUTHERN SAYS: Norfolk Southern is still recruiting and hopes to hire 2,600 people this year. Across the industry, about 30 pct of our workers - that's about 67,000 people - are going to need to be replaced because of retirements over the next five years, said an NS spokesman. An increase in demand for rail services is also pushing the hiring spree. [KDKA website report, 1-13-12]
U.K. APPROVES LONDON-BIRMINGHAM HIGH-SPEED LINE: The British government has approved the construction of a $50-billion high-speed rail line from London north to Birmingham, connecting the United Kingdom’s two biggest cities. British Transport Secretary Justine Greening said the 140-mile line, known as HS2, would be the backbone of a new transport system for the 21st century. [National Assn. of R.R. Passengers, 1-13-12]
WEEKLY RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: The Association of American Railroads has reported a decrease rail traffic for the week ending January 7, 2012, with U.S. railroads originating 274,862 carloads, down 3.7 pct compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 193,812 trailers and containers, down 9.3 pct compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-12-12]
RAILAMERICA’S CARLOADS DROP IN 4-Q: In the fourth quarter 2011, RailAmerica’s carloads totaled 211,848, down 1.7 pct compared with fourth-quarter 2010 volume. Same railroad traffic declined 2.4 percent. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-12-12]
TWO CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL CHIEFS RESIGNING: Roelof van Ark, chief executive of California’s high-speed rail project, announced Jan. 12 that he will leave his post. At the same time, Thomas Umberg, chairman of the California High Speed Rail Authority board, which is directing the project, said he will be stepping down as chairman. Van Ark said he will leave in two months; Umberg in February. Also announced was the departure of bullet train board member Matthew Toledo, who submitted his resignation on Jan. 4. [Los Angeles Times website report, 1-12-12]
NTSB ISSUES RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO REAR-END TRAIN COLLISIONS: The National Transportation Safety Board has issued safety recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration related to five rear-end collisions in which crewmembers failed to operate their trains at the required restricted speed. The recommendations focus on the need for railroads to disseminate information related to accidents to their employees and to emphasize the need for crewmembers to operate trains in accordance with restricted speed operating rules. [NTSB, 1-12-12]
LAMBERTS POINT PIER 6 SETS LOADING VOLUME RECORD: Norfolk Southern has loaded the largest volume cargo in the history of its Pier 6 coal transloading facility at Lamberts Point in Norfolk. Early Jan. 12, the facility finished loading 159,941.45 net tons (145,097.931 metric tons) of metallurgical coal into the M/V Cape Dover, destined for China. That quantity can be used to make about 207,000 tons of steel - enough to build 230,000 automobiles. [Norfolk Southern, 1-12-12]
AMTRAK PLANS ‘AGGRESSIVE EXPANSION' IN 2012: Amtrak says it will be aggressive in efforts to improve and expand this year. It will continue to work on its plan to increase the speed of its trains to 220 miles per hour in 30 years. Amtrak CEO Joseph Boardman said the agency is building the equipment, infrastructure and organization needed to ensure its strong growth continues, including upgrading tracks in the Northeast rail corridor. He said the agency would also work on bridges and other infrastructure and seek to expand its existing Acela high-speed service. [The Hill website report, 1-11-12]
HUNTER HARRISON SEES ‘LONG TERM ROLE’ WITH CP, IF HE GETS THE JOB: Hunter Harrison, William Ackman’s choice to lead Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd., said, “If the opportunity presents itself, I am ready to be in there for the long term.” Ackman, the founder of New York-based Pershing Square Capital Management LP, invests in companies he deems undervalued and seeks changes to improve shareholder returns. He disclosed his stake in Canadian Pacific in late October and has since sought to oust CEO Fred Green and replace him with Harrison. [Bloomberg website report, 1-11-12]
CONTRACT SIGNED FOR HONOLULU RAIL GUIDEWAY: AECOM Technical Services Inc. has obtained a $38.8-million contract from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit (HART) to design the airport section of the Honolulu Rail Transit project, which involves an elevated rail guideway. AECOM will design the 5.2-mile section of the guideway from Aloha Stadium to the Middle Street Transit Center in Kalihi. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-11-12]
FORTY-THREE NEW LOCOMOTIVES FOR TRANSNET IN SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet SOC Ltd. and GE South Africa Technologies Ltd. have marked the signing of a contract for 43 new Model C30ACi locomotives for Transnet. The order brings the total number of GE Transportation locomotives to be acquired by Transnet since December 2009 to 143. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-11-12]
PATRIOT RAIL DONATES 21-MILE LINE FOR TRAIL USE: Patriot Rail Corp. has donated the 21-mile Mississippi & Skuna Valley Railroad to Mississippi’s Calhoun and Yalobusha counties for the creation of the Skuna Valley Trail. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-10-12]
CSX INTRODUCES ‘SELECT SITES’ PROGRAM: CSX has introduced a new program, CSX Select Sites, offering customers an easy way to access certified, rail-ready properties for a variety of industrial uses. The company invites interested parties to view its new web page with easy-to-use, GIS-enabled search features that show high-resolution views of topography, rail and road layouts, and other significant characteristics of each Select Site parcel. [CSX, 1-10-12]
INDIANA TRAIN CRASH RESPONDERS SICKENED: About 20 emergency workers who responded to a three-train crash in Northwest Indiana Jan. 6 became violently ill over the weekend, and authorities said it might have been the food served to them - and not the chemicals spilled in the crash - that sickened them. [Chicago Sun-Times website report, 1-10-12]
BNSF EMPLOYEE KILLED IN AMARILLO RAIL YARD ACCIDENT: A Burlington Northern Santa Fe worker was killed Jan. 9 in Amarillo, Texas, after he was struck by a moving rail maintenance car. Employees were moving a rail grinder from one track to another when the car struck the man, throwing him under the car. [Amarillo Globe-News website report, 1-9-12]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN FACILITATES INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT: Norfolk Southern Corporation participated in the location of 73 new industries and the expansion of 27 existing industries along its rail lines in 2011. New plants and expansions announced in 2011 represented an investment of $9.5-billion by Norfolk Southern customers and are expected to create 6,800 jobs in the railroad's territory, in future years potentially generating more than 152,000 carloads of new rail traffic annually. [Norfolk Southern, 1-9-12]
GREENBRIER COS. 1-Q EARNINGS: The Greenbrier Cos. reported net income of $14.5-million, or 48 cents per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal-year 2012 compared with a net loss of $2.3-million in the same period a year ago. Revenue rose from $199-million to $398-million, according to a company earnings statement. New rail-car deliveries during the quarter were 3,300 units, up from 1,050 units a year earlier. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-9-12]
CANADIAN PACIFIC STANDS BY ITS CEO: Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd is confident it can improve its performance early this year without replacing its chief executive, Fred Green, as advocated by activist shareholder William Ackman. The company released a combative open letter to shareholders criticizing Ackman and highlighting its pre-existing plan to improve efficiency. Ackman, whose Pershing Square Capital Management owns a 14.2 percent stake in CP, wants it to replace Green with Hunter Harrison, credited with turning around CP's rival Canadian National Railway. Pershing was not immediately available for comment. [Reuters Canada website report, 1-9-12]
MASS BAY REJECTS DIRECT CONTROL OF RAIL OPERATIONS: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will continue contracting out its regional rail passenger services, rejecting the option to operate trains itself. MBTA instead may opt for longer-term contracts with any operator involved. [Railway Age website report, 1-9-12]
OFFICIALS INVESTIGATE INDIANA TRAIN COLLISION: Investigators say a train had stopped on the tracks about 1:18 p.m. Jan. 6 in Jackson Township, Indiana, to allow another train to run around it. A second train came up behind the stopped train and struck it from behind. The third train, which was supposed to go around the first train, struck the wreckage from the first two trains, investigators said. [Duneland Community website report, 1-7-12]
THREE CSX TRAINS COLLIDE IN INDIANA: Three CSX trains collided in Porter County in Northwest Indiana, about 2:15 p.m. Jan.6. Two employees on one train had non-life threatening injuries and have been taken to an area hospital. The trains carried a wide variety of freight including three rail cars of flammable products. Also in the incident are a number of empty hazardous materials cars. [CSX, 1-6-12]
TRESPASSER INCIDENT DISRUPTS AMTRAK’S SPRINGFIELD LINE SERVICE: Amtrak's Springfield Line service (Springfield, MA- New Haven, Ct) was temporarily suspended early Jan.6 due to a trespasser fatality involving train 490 at Wallingford, Ct. There are no reported injuries to the 25 passengers and crew on-board. [Amtrak, 1-6-12]
BNSF TO HOSE SPECIAL TRAIN EXCURSIONS THIS YEAR: The New Mexico Centennial Foundation has announced the participation of BNSF Railway in New Mexico's Statehood Centennial commemoration. BNSF's Platinum Level Sponsorship will include a contribution to the Centennial Children's Legacy Fund, in addition to special rides in BNSF vintage business cars for Native America Tribes and Pueblos in July and August 2012, and the BNSF Holiday Express for military veterans in December. [BNSF 1-6-12]
GAINS REPORTED IN ANNUAL U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC: The Association of American Railroads reported gains in 2011 rail traffic compared with last year, with U.S. railroads originating 15.2 million carloads, up 2.2 percent over 2010 and up 9.7 percent over 2009. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-5-12]
CUSTOMERS LOCATE ON CSX IN 17 STATES IN 2011: Customers across manufacturing, consumer goods, energy and other markets committed to 124 new or expanded facilities on CSX and its short line railroad partners in 2011 in 17 states.The new or expanded facilities represent nearly $1.4 billion in customer investment. Ultimately, these facilities will contribute more than $230 million in annual revenue to CSX, the company said. [CSX, 1-5-12]
NORTHEAST CORRIDOR TRAINS DISRUPTED BY BRIDGE FAILURE: Train traffic along the Northeast Corridor between New York and Newark ground to a halt for nearly three hours late Jan. 4 as a century-old swing bridge that carries trains across the Hackensack River wouldn’t lock closed, said Amtrak officials. [Star-Ledger website report, 1-4-12]
FEDS GRANT $186-M TO ILLINOIS TOWARD HIGH-SPEED RAIL: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded more than $186-million to the Illinois Department of Transportation for a high-speed rail project. The project will extend construction of the corridor north to Joliet, allowing for 110-mph service along nearly 70 percent of the route. Construction is already underway on the Chicago – St. Louis corridor, and work on the extension to Joliet will begin this spring. Once construction is complete, travelers can expect reductions of more than an hour in trip time, [U.S. DOT, 1-4-12]
GE TRANSPORTATION ACQUIRES SOFTWARE PROVIDER RMI: GE Transportation has completed its acquisition of software provider RMI from The Carlyle Group. RMI provides transportation management software for railroads, rail shippers, rail-car leasing companies and intermodal service providers in North America. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-4-12]
BART TO EXTEND RAIL SYSTEM TO SAN JOSE: Skanska has obtained a design-build contract for a 10-mile extension of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. The firm is leading a joint venture with Shimmick Construction and Herzog Contracting Corp. The project will extend the heavy-rail system to San Jose, California. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-4-12]
FEDS PROPOSES ENHANCED PASSENGER RAIL EMERGENCY SYSTEMS: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has announced proposed improvements to existing Passenger Train Emergency Systems regulations that could further protect occupants of passenger trains during emergencies. The rule addresses vestibule doors, emergency lighting, signage and markings for emergency entrance and exit, and rescue access. The proposed regulation would also incorporate three industry standards developed by the American Public Transportation Association. [U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 1-3-12]
CSX OPENS LOUISVILLE INTERMODAL TERMINAL: CSX began operating its new intermodal terminal in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 2. The facility offers service to and from East Coast ports - including those in Charleston, S.C., New York and New Jersey, Portsmouth, Va., and Savannah, Ga. - as well as major West Coast ports. [Progressive Railroading website report, 1-3-12]
TWO RAIL LINES MERGE WITH WISCONSIN CENTRAL: Canadian National has completed the merger of Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway and Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific Railway into its Wisconsin Central subsidiary. CN said the merger, approved by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, will make operations more efficient and customer focused. [United Transportation Union, 1-3-12]
PURPLE LINE GETS $69-M MARYLAND STATE FUNDING FOR ENGINEERING WORK: The state of Maryland will budget about $69-million in funding for engineering work related to the proposed 16-mile Purple Line Light Rail project. The line is planned to link with Washington, D.C.’s Metro rail system in at least four locations, arcs across D.C.’s northern suburbs in from Bethesda to New Carrolton. [Railway Age website report, 1-3-12]
UNION PACIFIC LAUNCHES VIDEO CONTEST FOR SESQUICENTENNIAL: As part of its sesquicentennial celebration, Union Pacific Railroad will award more than $35,000 in prizes to the top entries that remake the company's classic 1970s television commercial, ‘We Can Handle It.’ Contestants must be at least 18, non-employees must not be on UP property, consent is required of people who appear in the video, and copyrighted material is prohibited. Deadline is July 1, 2012. Rules are posted on the anniversary website: www.up150.com. [Union Pacific, 1-3-12]
AMTRAK REDUCES FARES IN ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN, MISSOURI: Amtrak has cut fares by up to 20 percent on most Illinois and Michigan trains through April 29 and Missouri trains through April 28. Downstate Illinois routes include the Lincoln Service between St. Louis and Chicago, including Springfield, the Illinois Zephyr/Carl Sandburg between Quincy and Chicago, and the Illini/Saluki between Carbondale and Chicago. One-way fares between Springfield and Chicago have been cut to as low as $14.40. Some blackout dates and restrictions apply [Illinois State Register website report, 1-2-12]
POLYPROPYLENE NETTING MAY EXTEND LIFE OF R.R. BALLAST: BNSF provided ballast and track sections to researchers at the University of Kansas who sought ways to improve the integrity of rock ballast under the tracks. KU researchers have now built a test segment that uses polypropylene netting to reinforce soil and make the ballast last longer. [Topeka Capital-Journal website report, 1-2-12]
B&O MUSEUM TO OPERATE MOUNT CLARE MANSION: An agreement has been signed between the National Society of Colonial Dames in America, Maryland Chapter, and the B&O Railroad Museum. The Colonial Dames have operated Mount Clare Mansion for the City of Baltimore since 1917. In this agreement, the B&O Museum will assume the daily operational aspects of the mansion while the Colonial Dames will maintain the collection they have amassed over the past 95 years. Mount Clare is a National Historic Landmark mansion (1760) that boasts American furniture and decorative arts. Additional train rides (seasonal) will be available to take B&O Railroad Museum visitors to Mount Clare as well as combination ticket options for visitors. [B&O Railroad Museum]
TCU, IAM COMPLETE MERGER: The merger of the Transportation-Communications Union and International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers is complete. TCU/IAM members are now ‘Fighting Machinists.’ TCU/IAM President Bob Scardelletti said “IAM shares our roots in the railroad, our strong representation on the Hill and the strength and solidarity that education of our local reps provides.” [TCU, 1-1-12]
EARLIER NEWS STORIES, CLICK HERE
.