Newswire
BNSF UPGRADING S.D. TRACK: BNSF Railway should be done with upgrades to its South Dakota rail lines later this fall. Crews are replacing ties, ballast and rails on about 700 miles of track in the state at a cost of several million dollars, said Gus Melonas, a spokesman for BNSF. The project is part of more than $2-billion worth of improvements across the entire system which covers 30,000 miles of rail in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. BNSF also is buying the state-owned railroad line for more than $41-million. [United Transportation Union, 9-30-05, from Associated Press report]
INITIAL NTSB REPORT ON METRA ACCIDENT: On Sept. 17, 2005, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dispatched a team of investigators to the scene of the derailment of Metra's Rock Island train No. 504. Two passengers were killed in the derailment. The following is an update of factual information collected by the safety board's team. MORE.. [National Transportation Safety Board, 9-29-05]
AMTRAK'S TEXAS EAGLE DERAILS IN MISSOURI, 11 HURT: An Amtrak train derailed near Blackwell in eastern Missouri after apparently striking boulders on the tracks from a rockslide, officials said. Eleven people suffered minor injuries. Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer said it was carrying 130 passengers and crew members, but an Amtrak spokeswoman later said there were 103 people onboard. The Texas Eagle, traveling from Chicago to San Antonio, was moving slowly through a winding area when it apparently struck the rockslide late Sept. 28, Boyer said. He described boulders about half the size of a car hood on the track. The cause of the slide was not known, but the area had received about 1-1/2 inches of rain earlier in the day. The injured passengers were taken to a hospital while others were taken by bus to a nearby fire house to spend the night. The derailment happened about 50 miles southwest of St. Louis. All the passenger cars remained upright, according to Amtrak and local officials. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-29-05, from Associated Press article]
U.S. TO INVEST $90-MILLION IN MAGLEV PROJECTS: Transrapid consortium said in Germany on Sept.29 that the U.S. Congress has approved spending $90-million on two possible high-speed Transrapid magnetic rail lines, according to this Reuters report. Half of the amount, to be spread over a period from 2006 to 2009, is for seeking official approval and financial planning for a 56-kilometer (35 mile) stretch around Las Vegas, a Transrapid spokesman said. The rest of the money would go to an East Coast line. The U.S. authorities were to determine whether it would be for a Pittsburgh-Greensburg line (87 km/54 mile), one between Baltimore and Washington (63 km/39 mile) or an Atlanta to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport link (50 km/31 mile). Transrapid, whose members include engineering group Siemens and industrial group ThyssenKrupp, has to date built only one commercial line - between downtown Shanghai and the Chinese city's airport. [United Transportation Union, 9-29-05 from Reuters report]
CHICAGO'S LAKE STREET SUBWAY STATION REHAB COMPLETE: The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Chicago Department of Transportation recently unveiled a renovated Lake Street subway station on the Red Line. The $15-million rehabilitation project included rebuilding the station's mezzanine and platform between Lake and Randolph streets, expanding the public area of the mezzanine level by 1,500 square feet, and adding four turnstiles and three escalators. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 9-29-05]
ACELA TRAIN HITS CAR IN CONNECTICUT, TWO KILLED: An Amrak Acela train collided with a car at a crossing in eastern Connecticut Wednesday morning (Aug. 28), killing two people and causing major delays on the rail line between Boston and Washington, according to this Associated Press report by Cara Rubinsky. The accident happened at 7:42 a.m. on the southbound tracks about 2-1/2 miles from New London along the Connecticut shoreline, Amtrak spokeswoman Tracy Connell said. None of the 130 passengers and crew on the train was injured, Connell said. One adult and a child in the car were killed, said Paul Eccard, the town's first selectman. A second child was taken by helicopter to Hartford Hospital with serious injuries, he said. Witnesses told police the gates at the crossing were working and down when the accident occurred, Eccard said. He said police had not determined how the car got onto the tracks. The rail line was shut down in the area while police and Amtrak officials investigated the crash. Connell said Amtrak expected significant delays between Boston and New York for most of the day. [United Transportation Union, 9-28-05, from Associated Press report by Cara Rubinsky]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN NAMES CHARLES MOORMAN AS CEO: Norfolk Southern Corp., owner of the major freight railroad of the same name, said Sept.28 that it named Charles W. Moorman to succeed David R. Goode as chief executive Nov. 1. Goode, 64, will remain chairman until he retires in early 2006, when Moorman, 53, will take over that position. Moorman will also continue as president of the company, a position he's held since October 2004. The company also said James A. Hixon has been named executive vice president law and corporate relations, starting Oct. 1. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-28-05, from Associated Press report]
DAVID GOODE, NORFOLK SOUTHERN CEO, TO STEP DOWN NEXT YEAR: Norfolk Southern Corp., the fourth-largest U.S. railroad, said Chief Executive David Goode will step down early next year after he reaches 65, the company's mandatory retirement age, according to the Richmond Times Dispatch. He has held the job since 1992 and is the longest-serving CEO of a major U.S. railroad. Norfolk Southern did not say exactly when he will retire or who will replace him. Goode took over 10 years after Norfolk Southern was formed by combining Norfolk & Western Railway Co. and Southern Railway Co. [United Transportation Union, 9-28-05, from Richmond Times-Dispatch item]
TRUCK AND TROLLEY COLLIDE IN PHILADELPHIA, 14 HURT: A truck carrying roofing equipment and towing a hot-tar kettle collided with a SEPTA Route 13 trolley late yesterday afternoon [Sept. 27] in West Philadelphia, resulting in injuries to 14 people. Police said none of the injuries was considered life-threatening. The crash occurred shortly after 5 p.m. at 48th Street and Chester Avenue. Police and a witness said the truck ran through a stop sign at high speed as it headed south on 48th, apparently trying to beat the westbound trolley through the intersection. "He tries to swing around [the trolley], but he couldn't make it," said witness Kalik Lance, 29, who was sitting outside his apartment building at 4725 Chester when the accident happened. The truck scraped the front of the trolley, then flipped, taking the kettle along with it. At that point, hot tar spewed against the front doors of the trolley, leaving a sheen of molten tar on the street. Police said 65 passengers were on the trolley. They all walked off via the rear door, with the operator the last to leave. Damage to the trolley, which included a broken head lamp, appeared minor. It did not derail. [United Transportation Union, 9-28-05, from Philadelphia Inquirer report by Thomas J. Gibbons Jr.]
HOBOKEN TERMINAL FIRE HALTS TRANSIT: A fire at the Hoboken Terminal halted train, light rail, PATH and ferry service for about 20 minutes Tuesday night (Sept. 27), NJ Transit spokesman Dan Stessel said, according to the Jersey Journal. According to Stessel, the fire broke out at 7:20 p.m. on the roof of the south side of the terminal, near the NY Waterway ferry dock. NJ Transit Police evacuated the terminal and mass-transit service was suspended shortly after 7:40 p.m. Stessel said the fire was contained mainly to the superficial roofing and that there appeared to be "no suspicion of foul play." Delays on 10 of NJ Transit's 11 train lines ranged from 20 to 35 minutes, Stessel said. [United Transportation Union, 9-28-05, from Jersey Journal report]
UNION PACIFIC TRAINS ROLLING AFTER STORM: Union Pacific Corp. said it was reopening key routes in east Texas and western Louisiana now that employees fleeing Hurricane Rita have started to report to work. Union Pacific avoided catastrophic damage from the hurricane about 2,500 miles of the company's track was affected by Rita, the company said. But by Tuesday [Sept.27] more than half of the trains held due to weather have started to move again, the company said in a news release. The affected routes, which represent about 7.5 percent of the company's 33,000 miles of track, connect Houston to New Orleans and Shreveport, La. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-27-05, from Associated Press article by Josh Funk]
AMTRAK GOES AHEAD WITH FARE INCREASE: Amtrak announced Sept.27 that it would increase fares as previously planned, except for delaying the full impact of Northeast monthly ticket increases. The general fare increase will be October 4; also that day, revenue management will begin on Northeast Regionals, Springfield-New Haven shuttles, Empire Service, Vermonter, Adirondack, and the New York-Philadelphia portion of Keystone trains. Although individual city-pairs vary, the increase generally will be five percent, except that there will be a seven percent increase for long-distance coach travel and on Acela Express. However, revenue management means that some passengers "with flexibility to travel at off-peak times will be able to take advantage of lower fares." Some state-supported, short-distance trains are exempt; this includes Keystone passengers local to the Philadelphia-Harrisburg segment. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-27-05]
UNION PACIFIC SAYS EARNINGS OUTLOOK REMAINS INTACT: Union Pacific Corp. said Sept.26 earnings in the third quarter would remain within the company's forecasted range despite the effect of Hurricane Rita, but would most likely reach the low-to-mid end of the range, according to Reuters. Earnings had been tracking to the high end of the range of 88 cents to 98 cents a share prior to the hurricane, the railroad said in a statement. The hurricane caused no catastrophic damage to its track structure, but has taken some routes temporarily out of service, it said. [United Transportation Union, 9-27-05, from Reuters report]
AMTRAK GETS BACK DEED TO ALBANY STATION: Amtrak's getting the deed to its station back, according to the Times-Union. The City Council voted unanimously Sept.26 to transfer the deed for the Erie Boulevard and Liberty Street train station, four years after the city inadvertently foreclosed on the property over a $192 unpaid water bill dating back to 1994. "We didn't want it," said City Council President Mark Blanchfield, who wondered why the city paid a lawyer to go after such a small bill in the first place. [United Transportation Union, 9-27-05, from Times-Union item]
METRA SUSPENDS ENGINEER IN FATAL CRASH: The Metra engineer operating a train when it crashed earlier this month was suspended Sept.26 as the commuter rail agency launched an internal investigation into his actions on the day of the accident, according to the Sun-Times. Two people died and dozens were injured when the Rock Island train derailed Sept.17 near 47th Street. Engineer Mike Smith's operating license was suspended as Metra - in addition to the National Transportation Safety Board - tries to determine the cause of the crash and assess Smith's responsibility, if any, for the derailment, Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said. The other three crew members on the train that day will not be investigated, Pardonnet said, and will be allowed back to work, pending the results of drug and alcohol tests due back this week. "When the NTSB says the train was traveling 69 mph through a 10 mph switch, we know there was a violation, but we don't know why it happened," she added. [United Transportation Union, 9-27-05, from Sun-Times item]
NEWLY-EXPANDED SAN DIEGO TROLLEY LINE IS POPULAR: It's been a little more than two months since San Diego's Metropolitan Transportation System (MTS) opened the 5.8-mile, four-station Green Line extension, but the agency already is posting ridership records. In July, the trolley system set high-water marks for monthly, daily, weekday and Saturday ridership, and posted some of the highest-ever ridership days in its 25-year history. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 9-27-05]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN NAMES ATLANTA BUILDING FOR DAVID R. GOODE: Norfolk Southern Corporation Sept.27 named its midtown Atlanta office building the David R. Goode Building, in honor of the company's chairman and chief executive officer, who is scheduled to retire in early 2006. President Wick Moorman called the building name a gesture of appreciation from the people of Norfolk Southern to a great leader. Norfolk Southern acquired the 12-story building at 1200 Peachtree St. from AT&T in 2004 and began consolidating departments there from various Atlanta locations in 2005. Currently, about 1,200 employees work at the building and 600 more are expected to relocate there in the near future. [Norfolk Southern, 9-27-05]
N.J. TRANSIT TO INTRODUCE BILEVEL CARS: Two years ago, commuters couldn't wait for the $450-million Secaucus transfer to open. And when it did, they couldn't believe they had to transfer to standing-room-only trains to reach Pennsylvania Station in Midtown. "I normally have to stand every morning when I transfer,'' said Ken Dippold of Goshen. "Once in a very blue moon do I find a seat." So Dippold, like hundreds of other commuters from Orange and Rockland counties who transfer at Secaucus Junction, is excited about the new bilevel train cars that NJ Transit will roll out next year to reduce chronic overcrowding. The 231 double-deckers will have 127 to 142 seats, or 15 percent to 20 percent more capacity than the Comet Vs, the new cars that Metro-North Railroad and NJ Transit put into service over the past two years. The range in capacity reflects different configurations for coach and cab cars and cars with and without bathrooms. They will be deployed on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast and Morris-Essex lines, the three lines where trains run into Penn Station and stop at Secaucus before they do. NJ Transit, which displayed one of the $1.9-million cars on Sept. 14 in Newark, predicted commuters will find them exceptionally comfortable since a panel of 14 ordinary riders has worked with the manufacturer, Bombardier, on the design. For starters, the cars will have none of those dreaded middle seats. Upstairs and down, there are only two seats on either side of the aisle. In between, there is a kind of mezzanine to accommodate wheelchairs, strollers, carts and luggage but it also sports what are called "padded leaning stations" for standees. [United Transportation Union, 9-26-05, from Times Herald-Record article]
CSX STONE TRAINS COLLIDE IN VIRGINIA, SIX INJURED: Two CSX freight trains collided head-on in the predawn hours Sept.22 in rural Southampton County, Va., in an impact that hurled locomotives and cars off the tracks, injured six railroad employees, ignited a fire and closed a highway. The freight trains, each with two locomotives and a long string of cars, converged on the same stretch of track from opposite directions and met just after 3:30 a.m., said State Police Sgt. D.S. Carr. The eastbound train was hauling 60 hopper cars full of rock from a quarry near Emporia to Portsmouth; the westbound train was returning from the same run with 31 empty cars. The speed limit for that area is 40 mph, but CSX said it was still investigating how fast each train was traveling, as well as why the trains collided. Railroad spokesman Bob Sullivan would release few particulars of the accident yesterday. A railroad official at the scene said none of the injuries was life-threatening, though three of the six victims had been taken by helicopter to hospitals in Norfolk and Richmond. All but one had been released by the evening. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-23-05, from Richmond Times-Dispatch article by Bill Geroux]
N.J. TRANSIT APPROVES REHABILITATION PROJECTS: At a meeting held Sept.22, New Jersey Transit's board green lighted several projects and approved an operating contract amendment for the Hudson-Bergen light-rail system. The agency will extend the operating and maintenance portion of its contract with Hudson-Bergen operator 21st Century Rail Corp. for five years. The company will operate and maintain the system through 2020; NJ Transit will provide security and utilities. Agency officials expect the new contract to reduce costs between $5-million and $35-million annually. NJ Transit also let a $1.4-million contract to rehabilitate the Beach Thorofare Waterway Drawbridge on the Atlantic City line, approved plans to award a $1-million contract to rehabilitate Camden's Walter Rand Transportation Center, and approved spending $846,000 to conduct preliminary engineering for new communications systems at 22 rail and bus facilities. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 9-23-05]
BNSF ROLLS BACK RATE HIKE FOR 52-CAR ELEVATORS: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway will reduce freight rates for wheat shipped from 52-car elevators, a move applauded by grain groups throughout the state. In June, BNSF announced the 26-car rate would apply to 52-car trains, making it cost 15 cents per bushel more to ship wheat from those elevators than from 110-car shuttle loaders. The revised 52-car rate, effective Oct.1, will be $200 per railcar more than the shuttle loader rate, or about 5.8 cents more per bushel of wheat. The rate applies to trains from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota headed to the Pacific Northwest. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-23-05, from Great Falls Tribune website article by Jo Dee Black]
TRAINS EVACUATE SOME FROM HOUSTON BEFORE STORM: Trains were used to evacuate about 750 people from Houston ahead of Hurricane Rita this week. Amtrak used equipment positioned in San Antonio to transport 300 evacuees from Houston to San Antonio, with the assistance of Houston Metro Transit. Trinity Railway Express brought a commuter trainset from Dallas to Houston and carried about 450 people to Dallas, with the cooperation of BNSF. Amtrak Dallas staff assisted evacuees upon arrival. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-23-05]
ACELA EXPRESS BACK TO FULL WEEKDAY STRENGTH SEPT.26: Amtrak will add more Acela Express frequencies on September 26, returning weekday service to full strength, and will add more weekend service on September 25. The planned addition of weekend service on October 2 would mark the final phase of service restoration. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-23-05]
JUDGE DEMANDS TO VIEW D.C. RAIL PLAN: A federal judge yesterday (Sept. 21) demanded to see a highly secret plan for protecting the Washington area's rails from a chemical attack and erupted after a Justice Department attorney said he doubted the government would comply. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan said he was stunned and offended by the government's hesitation and ordered that a copy of the document be delivered to his chambers by 10 a.m. today [Sept.22]. The judge's demand came at a hearing in a lawsuit over a D.C. law that prohibits the rail shipment of hazardous materials through the city. CSX Transportation Inc. filed suit to overturn the ban, and the federal government joined on the railroad's behalf. The law, which was to have taken effect in April, has been on hold pending a decision in the court case. In court yesterday, Sullivan said he needed to see the rail security plan, which was developed by CSX, to verify for himself that it even exists. CSX submitted the plan to the federal government, which has been reviewing it to determine how much of it can be released. Government attorneys declined to comment after the hearing. [United Transportation Union, 9-22-05, from Washington Post report by Carol D. Leonnig]
A.A.R. SEES IMPROVEMENTS SINCE DEREGULATION: Edward R. Hamberger, president and chief executive officer of the Association of American Railroads, told a meeting of more than 500 rail customers and business associates during a railroad customer service forum in St. Louis that the nation's freight railroads are hauling more freight than ever before and are charging less than they did 25 years ago to do it, according to this AAR release. "Since 1980, our productivity is up nearly 200 percent and yet our rates have dropped 60 percent, saving our customers $10-billion a year," he added. "This is largely due to the Staggers Act, which partially deregulated the industry and gives railroads a good foundation for meeting what is expected to be another record fall for rail freight transportation," Hamberger said. The AAR sponsored the customer service forum to go over the industry's service plans for this year's peak fall shipping season. They also will discuss lessons learned from the industry's success in dealing with increased demand and other challenges over the last year. With demand continually on the rise, this year's focus has been on increasing capacity. Railroads have hired - and deployed - thousands of new employees, purchased the largest number of new locomotives in more than two decades and added hundreds of miles of double track to meet continually growing demands. [Assn. of American Railroads, 9-21-05]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN ANNOUNCES TRAIN CONTROL INITIATIVE: Norfolk Southern Corporation is developing an Optimized Train Control (OTC) system to further improve safety and efficiency on the railroad. OTC will employ components of several advanced train control technologies, including Positive Train Control, which the National Transportation Safety Board supports as a "most wanted" initiative for transportation safety. OTC will combine data communications, positioning systems and onboard computers tied to the train's braking systems. It will automatically enforce speed and operating limits to prevent collisions and other train accidents, provide improved visibility of network conditions, and promote more efficient operations. NS is working with Lockheed Martin's Rail and Gravity Programs group, which has taken the lead role in the Federal Railroad Administration's train control initiative, and GE's Rail Business group. Together the partners will work with multiple vendors to develop new components and enhance and integrate systems they have been developing over the last decade. Implementation of the first phase has begun on Norfolk Southern's line between Charleston and Columbia, S.C. Roll-out on other NS lines will follow. [Norfolk Southern, 9-21-05]
AMTRAK BEGINS RESERVED SEATING ON N.Y. STATE ROUTE: The first day of reservations-only train travel went smoothly, Amtrak officials said, although not everyone faced the new requirement. State employees and commuters with 10-ride or unlimited-ride monthly passes were not required to make reservations, Amtrak decided. Because of that decision, the railroad had to allow for extra seats that might be needed. The move to require reservations on all trains across New York state was intended to allow the passenger railroad to better match train capacities with passenger demand, Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black said. The requirement took effect Sept.20. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-21-05, from Albany Times-Union website article by Eric Anderson]
TRAIN IN FATAL CRASH HAD GREEN SIGNAL, METRA ENGINEER SAYS: Officials investigating last weekend's fatal Metra derailment say signals warned the train to slow down for an upcoming tracks switch, but the engineer at the controls says he saw a green light indicating he could continue at 70 mph, according to a union official and the Associated Press. "He said that he saw all clear signals, and that would have allowed him to operate at maximum track speed of 70 mph," Rick Radek, a vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said Sept.20. Federal officials said the train, which was traveling at 69 mph, should have been going no faster than 10 mph when it switched tracks and derailed about five miles south of downtown Chicago on Sept.17. Two women died and more than 80 passengers were injured. National Transportation Safety Board officials have said the signals appeared to have been working properly, which should have prompted the engineer to slow before the crossover. NTSB officials interviewed the engineer for three hours Sunday, but have declined to discuss the interview. The double-decked commuter train carrying 185 passengers and four crew members was headed to Chicago from Joliet when its locomotive and five rail cars jumped the tracks. [United Transportation Union, 9-21-05, from Associated Press article]
RAIL FLATCARS USED TO CONSTRUCT BRIDGE IN IOWA: At times, only Bill Timmons' gloved hand was visible above the bridge piling, according to this report by Nick Hytrek published by the Sioux City Journal. With a few quick hand signals, Timmons instructed the crane operator on his crew to lower the 19-ton railroad car as he guided it into place on top of the steel bridge pilings. In a few weeks, motorists traveling along the Woodbury/Plymouth county line near Pierson on 110th/340th Street will be driving over railroad cars instead of waiting at a crossing for them. Placed side by side over Pierson Creek, the three flatcars form the first bridge of its kind in Woodbury and Plymouth counties. "There are a number in Iowa, mostly in the eastern part of the state," Woodbury County Engineer Richard Storm said. Because of their strength, cheaper construction cost and shorter construction time, the railcar bridges are an attractive alternative to more conventional concrete bridges. At a cost of $7,000 each, the cars were purchased from a Kansas City, Mo., salvage company and cut down to 70 feet long from their normal 90-foot length. The cars significantly reduce the cost of the bridge. A conventional bridge for this location would have cost around $200,000, with Woodbury and Plymouth counties splitting the cost 50-50. Using the rail cars, the bridge will cost roughly $125,000, Storm said. The solid steel cars are said to be strong enough to hold two Army tanks each, so it's safe to say the bridge will be able to handle cars, trucks and farm equipment. [United Transportation Union, 9-21-05, from Sioux City Journal article by Nick Hytrek]
FRA TO RAISE CONCERN OVER REMOTE-CONTROL ON MAINLINES, AAR SAYS: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) soon will release a report on remote-control locomotive (RCL) safety to Congress, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). That report will show that railroads using RCLs in yards reported fewer injuries and recorded lower injury rates compared with conventional switching operations, AAR officials believe. However, in a Sept.9 letter on the report sent to the AAR and American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, FRA officials expressed concern about non-incidental use of RCLs on mainlines and employee training on remotes. "The rail industry is committed to the safe implementation of this important technology," said AAR President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Hamberger in a prepared statement. "We believe that these concerns can be addressed satisfactorily and look forward to working with FRA to resolve them." [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 9-21-05]
RALEIGH OFFICIALS PARE BACK PROPOSED RAIL LINE: The price tag for the Triangle Transit Authority's regional rail proposal keeps climbing higher and officials keep trimming the frills, according to the WRAL website. Imagine the Triangle as a place where you can ride the train to work, walk to lunch or pick up some groceries right around the rail station. That is the vision for the Triangle's regional rail project. Under the proposal, there would be 12 rail stops between Durham and Wake counties. TTA officials said they want to cut the number of rail cars that would be used in the new system. Previously, officials had wanted 24 cars to travel in the Triangle area. They now want to reduce the number of cars to 14. There is also discussion about simplifying the design of the proposed station in downtown Raleigh. TTA officials said their latest slash of the budget is due to the rise of steel and concrete costs across the world. The proposed cuts would slice up to $88.1-million from their projected cost. [United Transportation Union, 9-20-05, from WRAL.com item]
UNION PACIFIC OPENS $100-MILLION DALLAS INTERMODAL TERMINAL: Union Pacific Railroad has added another terminal to its intermodal arsenal - a facility that increases the company's Dallas/Ft Worth container capacity more than five times. Yesterday [Sept.19], the railroad held a grand opening for its $100-million, 360-acre intermodal terminal near Dallas. Designed to handle 365,000 trailers and containers annually, the facility features one track for incoming and departing trains; four tracks for unloading a total of 76 double-stack cars; five tracks for staging cars; four cranes with Global Positioning System technology for trailer and container lifts; a satellite-guided system for operating dual cranes on parallel tracks; more than 4,000 parking places for trailers and containers; and a state-of-the-art security system. UP began building the facility in June 2004. The site includes land for future expansion. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 9-20-05]
RAIL CROSSING FATALITIES, TRAIN ACCIDENTS SHOW DECLINE IN 1ST HALF: The safety performance of the nation's railroads improved during the first half of 2005 as the overall number of rail-related accidents and incidents declined by 12 percent. Statistics compiled over the first six months of 2005 show that, when compared to the first half of 2004, train accidents have declined by 10.1 percent, highway-rail grade crossing incidents are down 9.1 percent, and the number of people killed as a result of train-vehicle collisions at grade crossings has dropped by 11.7 percent. In addition, railroad employee injuries fell by 16.3 percent. However, the number of trespassers struck and killed by trains increased by 13 percent during the same six-month comparison period. [Federal Railroad Administration, 9-19-05]
GARBAGE TRUCK FALLS 50 FEET ONTO CSX TANK CAR: This morning's commute [Sept.19] in New Jersey will not be affected by a fatal accident near the Lincoln Tunnel that required construction crews to replace 60 feet of guardrail on Routes 1&9 in North Bergen, officials said yesterday [Sept.18], according to the Star-Ledger. At about 4:25 a.m. Saturday, a garbage truck broke through a steel rail on the Routes 1&9 exit ramp off Route 495 west in Hudson County and plunged more than 50 feet onto a railroad tanker, killing the truck's passenger and seriously injuring the driver. Work crews installed two concrete barriers reaching six feet high and almost 100 feet long. The ramp reopened at about 9 p.m. Saturday. The CSX tank car usually carries liquid propane gas, but was empty. It was only slightly damaged. [United Transportation Union, 9-19-05, from Star-Ledger article]
PITTSBURGH MAGLEV TALKS RESUME AFTER HIATUS: Supporters contend a proposal to build a magnetic levitation high-speed train between Pittsburgh International Airport and Greensburg is on track. Officials plan to end a two-year hibernation of the $3.4-billion project next month and conduct public hearings designed to elicit comments. But renewed efforts to accelerate the project comes on the heels of a decision by Congress and President Bush to strip nearly $1-billion of construction money for maglev from the federal budget. The Port Authority has completed its draft environmental impact study of maglev and plans for that document to be released to the public in October. Elected officials from the region will convene Sept.30 in Pittsburgh to get an early look at the document and receive an updated timetable of the project. The public will then be asked to deliver comments about the project at four public hearings tentatively scheduled to begin in November. To date, the federal government has paid out about $64-million towards maglev projects across the country.The Pittsburgh project has received the most federal funding of any other proposed maglev system in the United States, according to FRA officials. [United Transportation Union, 9-19-05, from Pittsburgh Tribune Review article by Rich Cholodofsky]
COMMUTER TRAIN DERAILS IN CHICAGO: A commuter train derailed Saturday [Sept.17] on Chicago's South Side, killing at least one person and injuring 83, some of them critically. The double-decker Metra train was traveling from Joliet to Chicago when the locomotive and its five cars jumped the tracks about five miles south of downtown, authorities said. The Cook County medical examiner's office confirmed the fatality but did not have details. Seventeen of the injured were in serious or critical condition, said Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner Raymond Orozco. A total of 189 people, including four crew members, were on the train when it derailed in a neighborhood of homes and businesses. The tracks are on a raised embankment next to a street, but none of the cars fell onto the street. Firefighters had to raise ladders to the track to reach the scene. Richard Hipskind, a railroad accident investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, said he had surveyed the scene but was waiting for a team of inspectors to arrive from Washington. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-18-05, from Associated Press article by Mike Collins]
SHEDDING LIGHT ON 'DARK TERRITORY': BLET National President Don Hahs issued the following statement in the wake of a September 15 fatal train accident in Shepherd, Texas: For the second time in less than nine months, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has lost a member to an accident that occurred in dark territory. MORE.. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-16-05]
CSX ESTIMATES STORM DAMAGE AT $250-MILLION: CSX estimates that damages caused by Hurricane Katrina will cost the company $250-million, according to this report published by TrafficWorld.com. Much of the eastern carrier's 100-mile line along the coast between Mobile, Ala. sustained heavy damage. The railroad was required to reroute traffic destined for New Orleans or interchanged with western carriers. CSX estimates third-quarter losses associated with business interruption and other costs will negatively impact operating income by around $25-million. [United Transportation Union, 9-16-05, from TrafficWorld.com report]
CHICAGO TRANSIT AWARDS $68-MILLION IN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS: The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) recently let several construction contracts for various projects. The authority awarded two contracts totaling $65.4-million to Chicago-based FHP Tectonics Corp. to reconstruct the Chicago, Armitage, Sedgwick, Kimball, Kedzie, Francisco, Rockwell and Western stations. The stations are being rebuilt as part of a $529.9-million Brown Line capacity expansion project, which includes rehabilitating a total of 18 stations, lengthening platforms to accommodate eight-car trains, upgrading or replacing traction power and reducing slow zones. In addition, CTA awarded a $2.8-million contract to Parsons Brinckerhoff Construction Services Inc. to oversee construction of a new transit station under Block 37, and tunnels and track to link the Blue and Red lines. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 9-16-05]
N.J. TRANSIT TO BUY 231 DOUBLE-DECK TRAINS: NJ Transit, the state's mass transportation agency, yesterday [Sept.14] rolled out for display at Newark's Penn Station the first of 231 cars the agency plans to purchase, according to the Courier Post. The 85-foot-long car, costing $1.9-million, features a mezzanine level at each end from which riders can take fives steps up or five steps down to the seating levels. The trains will accommodate 15 to 20 percent more passengers than the cars now in service, said Dan Stessel, a spokesman for NJ Transit. The cars are being constructed by Montreal-based Bombardier, which is building seven prototypes that NJ Transit will test in Pueblo, N.M. The agency expects to begin putting the new cars into service in late 2006. [United Transportation Union, 9-15-05, from Courier-Post article]
AMTRAK POSTPONING PLANNED FARE HIKES: Amtrak said Sept.15 it is postponing its planned fare increases to conclude additional briefings with public officials and other interested groups, according to this Associated Press report. The fare increases were set to go into effect on Sept.20. No new date for the increases has been set. Amtrak had announced last week it was planning a fare increase in part to recover escalating fuel costs. The planned increase would have raised fares nationally by $3, with the Northeast Corridor seeing fares go up $4. Northeast Corridor commuters holding monthly rail passes were expecting a fare hike of about 50 percent. [United Transportation Union, 9-15-05, from Associated Press article]
BULL SHEET ENDS MONTHLY PUBLICATION: The Bull Sheet, the monthly newsletter by Allen Brougham for the past 19 years about railroads, has been terminated effective with its September 1 edition. Brougham, 64, notified his subscribers that he will be moving later this year and that he needed the time to prepare for and make the move. He added that he felt the publication's "time had come," even if he did not use moving to a new location as the reason for terminating it. The Bull Sheet began its monthly format in October 1986 with what had been intended as a "commemorative issue," with no intention that it continue. It did, however, "and the rest is history." Its first edition was distributed to about 20 readers. Through mostly word of mouth the number of subscribers increased to, at one point, nearly 600. There were about 450 subscribers at the time the publication ended, with a print run of 500 copies. Brougham, a retired railroad interlocking tower operator, said he would continue the Bull Sheet website, "at least for now." Most features that appeared in the newsletter would normally get added to the website eventually anyway, so any features he should decide to produce in the future can similarly be added. The website has averaged nearly 700 daily visits in recent months, he said.
K.C. SOUTHERN SETTLES TAX DISPUTE WITH MEXICO: A long-standing dispute between Kansas City Southern and the Mexican government was settled Sept.13, giving the company full ownership of Mexico's biggest railroad. In exchange, Kansas City Southern agreed to forgo a tax refund that the company contended it had been entitled to since 1997. That's when Kansas City Southern invested in TFM along with Grupo TMM, a Mexican transportation company. No cash exchanged hands in the settlement, and all legal disputes related to the tax refund will be dropped. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-14-05, from Kansas City Start website article by Randolph Heaster]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN UPGRADES PITTSBURGH BULK TRANSFER FACILITY: Norfolk Southern Corp. has added $1-million in upgrades to its Pittsburgh bulk transfer facility, improving handling of products such as food and plastics, and adding the ability to handle new products, such as lumber, according to the Beaver County Times. The upgrade includes a capacity increase of approximately 50 railcar spots, and enhances service quality, security and appearance. Superior Bulk Logistics operates the Pittsburgh facility for Norfolk Southern. [United Transportation Union, 9-14-05, from Beaver County Times article]
ABANDONED CAR CAUSES METROLINK ACCIDENT: A Metrolink train struck an abandoned car Sept.13 on railroad tracks between Oxnard and Camarillo, stopping train service in the area for about four hours, according to this report published by the Ventura County Star. No one was injured in the 6 a.m. crash near Wood Road and Fifth Street, and the train did not derail, Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell said. Service returned to normal by 10 a.m. after a crane was used to remove the Mercury Cougar from underneath the train. [United Transportation Union, 9-14-05, from Ventura County Star article]
GENESEE & WYOMING TRAFFIC UP: Railroad operator Genesee & Wyoming Inc. on Sept.14 said acquisitions drove a sharp rise in North American traffic last month while Australian business lagged, according to this Associated Press report. The company said its North American traffic grew by 21.8 percent to total 67,141 carloads in August. But excluding rail operations acquired over the past year, North American traffic decreased 2.8 percent, mostly due to fewer shipments of coal coke and ores. For July and August, monthly traffic has expanded 23.4 percent in North America and slipped 2 percent in Australia, the company said. [United Transportation Union, 9-14-05, from Associated Press article]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN POISED TO HELP NEW ORLEANS REBUILD: Norfolk Southern resumed freight service into New Orleans today [Sept.13] and is "ready to assist in the transportation of supplies and materials in and out of the city," said Chairman and CEO David R. Goode. "We are committed to serving New Orleans over the long-term, and our rail line can serve as a vital link in the recovery process," pledged Goode. Resumption of service to the stricken city came 16 days after Hurricane Katrina ripped nearly five miles of track from the top of NS's 5.8-mile Lake Pontchartrain Bridge and dumped it into the water. The storm also inflicted major damage on nine miles of track running through the city itself. The railroad said its crews had inspected 1,400 miles of track, removed 5,500 fallen trees, inserted 11,000 crossties, and installed 55,000 tons of ballast. In restoring the bridge, nine cranes on barges lifted the track out of the water and onto the bridge. [RailwayAge.com, 9-13-05]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN RESTORES NEW ORLEANS RAIL FREIGHT SERVICE: Norfolk Southern Corp. said on Sept.13 it has repaired its Lake Pontchartrain Bridge and restored rail freight service into New Orleans that had been cut off by Hurricane Katrina, according to Reuters. Norfolk Southern said reopening the bridge makes it possible to transport supplies and materials in and out of New Orleans to aid recovery operations in the city. The storm washed nearly five miles of track from the top of the 5.8-mile long rail bridge and into the lake, requiring nine cranes on barges to lift the track out of the water and back onto the bridge, Norfolk Southern said. Nine miles of track running through New Orleans itself required major repairs from washouts and other water-related problems, Norfolk Southern said. Freight that regularly traveled through New Orleans for connection to other carriers had been rerouted to other gateways while repairs were being made, Norfolk Southern said. [United Transportation Union, 9-13-05, from Reuters report]
GLITCHES MAKE IT A ROUGH RIDE FOR VRE RIDERS: Barely 10 minutes into Elizabeth Treadwell's Monday morning [Sept.12] commute from Fredericksburg, the lights on her Virginia Railway Express train cut out. What followed was a particularly long trip, not just for those on Treadwell's train, but for commuters on the five other Fredericksburg-line trains. "Another very regrettable experience on VRE," sighed Treadwell, who was an hour and 20 minutes late for her job at the Library of Congress. "Getting to work in this area, it really is an ordeal." The tone for the day was set about 5:30 a.m. when Treadwell's train - the first out of Fredericksburg - limped into the Brooke station in southern Stafford County without its lights on. A sensor that detects water levels in the train's engine automatically turned the engine off after sensing low levels. VRE intended to transfer that first train's passengers onto its second train. But then the second train suffered an electrical malfunction that caused problems with the brakes. Meanwhile, mechanics realized that the water levels in the first train were just fine - it was the sensor that was misbehaving. So they ran the first train, now delayed, all the way to Washington, having to restart it every time the sensor cut off the engine. The second train was then pushed into Washington by train No. 3, slowing both of them down considerably. The morning continued to disintegrate when a freight train carrying hazardous materials became disabled north of the Quantico bridge. Before allowing VRE trains to pass, CSX crews had to inspect the freight train to make sure no hazardous material had escaped. None had. But the process delayed the fourth, fifth and sixth VRE trains in addition to Amtrak train No. 84, which is often used by commuters. Around 7:30 a.m., VRE sent a message to all passengers, encouraging them to use their train tickets for free access to Metro. Stafford resident Lorraine Walton said she appreciated the sentiment, but wasn't able to take VRE up on its offer since she was sitting on train No. 4 near Quantico. "When you're stuck 30 miles south of the first Metro station, it's a little hard," she said. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-13-05, from Free Lance Star website article by Edie Gross]
NEW FLAWS RENEW CONCERN AT BNSF FUEL DEPOT: Flaws have been discovered in a supposedly impermeable concrete coating at BNSF Railway's depot atop the Spokane Valley/ Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, according to the Spokesman-Review. There is no evidence of any train fuel leaking through the "blisters" in the coating and into the aquifer 160 feet below the site, according to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. But after a series of leaks were reported earlier this year at the depot - the railroad has blamed the problems on faulty design and sloppy construction - public tolerance for any additional flaws is running low, said Barry Rosenberg, executive director of the Coeur d'Alene-based Kootenai Environmental Alliance. The blistered coating was discovered two weeks ago, but the news was not shared until late this week, Rosenberg said. BNSF says there is no reason for concern. "This is not a leak. There is no impact on the aquifer," spokesman Gus Melonas said. "It's cosmetic. The matter is being corrected." The $42-million facility opened a year ago and is capable of refueling a locomotive in about 30 minutes, compared with up to six hours at BNSF's congested yards near Seattle and Portland. But three months after the new depot opened, fuel-tainted wastewater was found to have been leaking unchecked into the ground below. In February, extensive cracks were found on the concrete refueling platform. An inspection then found holes in the plastic membranes buried below the depot. The facility reopened in May after the railroad spent $10-million on repairs, including five layers of rubberized coating atop 80,000 square feet of concrete at the site. [United Transportation Union, 9-12-05, from The Spokesman-Review article]
MBTA TO REBUILD MORTON STREET STATION: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) recently awarded a $6.5-million contract to S&R Construction Co. to reconstruct the Morton Street commuter-rail station in Mattapan. The contractor will demolish the station's walls and platforms, and build elevated train platforms featuring steel canopies, a pedestrian bridge, sidewalks, ramps and stairways. S&R also will add benches, and install lighting, drainage systems, landscaping and new signage. The project is part of MBTA's plans to rebuild and expand the nine-mile Fairmount Line. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 9-12-05]
AMTRAK'S CHICAGO RUNS SET RIDERSHIP RECORDS: Each of the four state-funded Amtrak routes to and from Chicago served a record number of riders in Illinois' most recent fiscal year, according to this report published by the Chicago Tribune. Amtrak's Chicago-St. Louis, Chicago-Carbondale, Chicago-Quincy and Chicago-Milwaukee routes each posted ridership growth for fiscal 2005, which ended June 30. Ridership on the routes serving Milwaukee, Carbondale and St. Louis each grew 11 percent from fiscal 2004, to 494,075, 121,311 and 120,852 riders, respectively. The Chicago-Quincy line was up nearly eight percent, to 113,086 passengers. Amtrak also operates national service along the lines. [United Transportation Union, 9-11-05, from Chicago Tribune article]
PROGRESS NOTED IN RESTORATION OF NEW ORLEANS RAIL LINK: U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta on Saturday [Sept.10] announced continued progress in rebuilding the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast's transportation system, including progress on new road repair contracts and rail service into New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina destroyed U.S. 90 in Mississippi. Yesterday [Sept.9], three Mississippi firms - Mallette Brothers Construction, Warren Paving and Huey Stockstill, Inc. - were selected to build a temporary road to handle U.S. 90's two-way traffic -- one lane in each direction. By Sunday [Sept. 11], Norfolk Southern Railroad expects to complete repairs on its rail bridge across Lake Pontchartrain, Mineta added. Again, this will reconnect New Orleans to rail from the east for the first time since Hurricane Katrina hit, he noted. [U.S. DOT, 9-10-05]
YORK COUNTY, PA., TO STUDY MA & PA RAIL TRAIL PROPOSAL: The county commissioners of York County, Pa., have granted $15,000 toward a feasibility study of a rail trail along the former Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad line. According to a report published by the York Dispatch, the trail could run from the Peach Bottom power station southwest into Delta and then north toward Muddy Creek Forks, a distance of about 14 miles. The study will look at a variety of factors including current ownership of the land involved and the appropriateness of the terrain, according to the published report.
FIRE FORCES PARTIAL EVACUATION OF N.Y. PENN STATION: The fire department said fire broke out in an equipment room and spread smoke inside New York's busy Pennsylvania Station, shutting down several commuter train tracks and forcing a partial evacuation Thursday evening [Sept. 8], according to this Associated Press report published by the New York Times. The cause of the fire wasn't immediately known. The fire was reported about 7:40 p.m., Amtrak spokeswoman Tracy Connell said. The station has several tracks for Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road. Firefighters were able to keep the flames contained to the equipment room, and the fire was out by 9:30 p.m., fire department Deputy Chief John Norman said. One firefighter suffered an eye injury, and a railroad employee suffered smoke inhalation, Norman said. [United Transportation Union, 9-9-05, from Associated Press report published by the New York Times]
AMTRAK ASSISTS IN NEW ORLEANS EVACUATION: Amtrak ran an evacuation train from Avondale Yard in New Orleans to Lafayette on September 3. New Orleans Regional Transit Administration buses transported passengers from the city to the yard. Once aboard the trains, meals-ready-to-eat, water, and medical and security personnel were available. The train had capacity for 600 evacuees, but only carried 97, who were then bussed by Houston Metro Transit to Texas. The same afternoon, federal officials called off further Amtrak evacuation train operations, as Texas shelters were at capacity and officials were unable to utilize Amtrak to send evacuees elsewhere. Amtrak has kept two trainsets (one Superliner, one Horizon) in Lafayette to be used on an as-needed basis, while bus and aircraft evacuations of New Orleans continue. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency for being slow to accept Amtrak's initial offer of assistance last week. "When Amtrak offered trains to evacuate significant numbers of victims - far more efficiently than buses - FEMA dragged its feet," she said. New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal remains inaccessible by rail. The Louisiana Department of Corrections is currently using the city-owned NOUPT as a temporary jail facility. An Amtrak engine is supplying station power. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-9-05]
RAIL UPDATE FOLLOWING STORM DAMAGE: Railroads are quickly repairing damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. Both Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe have reopened their lines to New Orleans. Canadian National expects the direct Hammond-New Orleans line to be open by mid-September. Swift progress is also being made on the Norfolk Southern, which is now open for freight traffic to Hattiesburg, MS. According to a CSX service update, work continues on CSXT lines between Pascagoula, MS, and New Orleans; service remains suspended along that segment of the railroad. CSXT's network between Mobile and Flomaton, AL, and between Mobile and Pascagoula, MS, was restored over the Labor Day weekend, although service had not resumed as of date of that message. Kansas City Southern lines have been cleared to the point where the track meets water in New Orleans and to the Port of Gulfport, according to a service status update. The Huey P. Long Bridge, which is owned by the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, was declared structurally sound, and was used by Amtrak's evacuation train. Many railroads are offering assistance to employees and communities affected by the disaster. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-9-05]
AMTRAK RAISING FARES SEPTEMBER 20: Amtrak will raise most fares by five to seven percent, effective September 20. In a press release, Amtrak cited the need to offset higher fuel costs and other expenses. The biggest hikes will be for Northeast Corridor Smart Passes (monthly passes) and ten-trip tickets. October and November tickets are available now at the present rates; and December also will be sold at the present rates during September 16-19. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-9-05]
BNSF SERVICE UPDATE FOLLOWING HURRICANE: BNSF service into the New Orleans area remains impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Although BNSF's own line from Lafayette, La., to the New Orleans area was repaired and available for service Thursday, Sept. 1, other railroads in the area remain out of service. Intermodal service to New Orleans has been suspended, and the BNSF New Orleans Intermodal Facility will be closed indefinitely. New Orleans intermodal traffic that originated prior to Hurricane Katrina is being diverted to various other locations on the BNSF system, and customers are being notified where to pick up their loads. An embargo on carload traffic moving to and from New Orleans has also been put in place. BNSF is working with CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads to detour carload traffic en route to New Orleans prior to Katrina through alternate gateways, including Birmingham, Memphis and East St. Louis. Carload customers can expect an additional 48 to 72 hours transit time on shipments moving over the detours around New Orleans. Immediately following the hurricane, BNSF implemented a restriction at its Los Angeles Hobart Facility on intermodal shipments to Norfolk Southern destinations in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina. That restriction has now been lifted, and BNSF is currently accepting traffic for those destinations. [BNSF Today, 9-9-05]
RAILROAD FATALITIES UP IN 2004: Transportation fatalities in the U.S. decreased slightly in 2004, but total rail fatalities increased from 760 in 2003 to 802 in 2004, according to preliminary figures released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The figures related to rail fatalities reflected a rise in every category except passenger fatalities, which remained at 3. Fatalities occurring on light rail, heavy rail, and commuter rail increased from 165 to 186. Deaths from transportation accidents in the United States in 2004 totaled 44,870, down from the 45,158 fatalities in 2003, the NTSB said. [National Transportation Safety Board, 9-9-05]
MARC BREAKS GROUND FOR PARKING EXPANSION AT MARTIN AIRPORT STATION: Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. [R], today [Sept.8] conducted a groundbreaking to herald the start of construction on an expanded parking lot at the Martin State Airport MARC station in Baltimore County. The new portion will add 155 new parking spaces to the 171 spaces that are filled to capacity almost daily by MARC commuters. The 326 parking spaces will help meet the growing ridership at the Martin State Airport Station, which is located on MARC's Penn Line. The Penn Line, which travels from Perryville through Baltimore and into Washington, DC, averages more than 16,000 boardings per day. Daily boardings from the Martin State Airport Station have increased from 195 in 2003 to more than 205 in 2005. In addition to the Martin State Airport Station parking improvements, MARC also has completed parking lot expansions at its Edgewood, Halethorpe, Aberdeen and West Baltimore stations with other parking lot expansions planned across the State. Other improvements to the MARC system include: investment of $100-million for locomotive and rail car improvements; working with CSX and Amtrak to improve existing track, signals and overhead wires to increase reliability; passenger warning signals to improve safety at selected stations where trees and other obstacles obstruct a waiting passenger's view of an oncoming train; and plans to build a midday railcar storage facility at Washington Union Station that would allow MARC to house its trains in a more strategic location for afternoon service. [Maryland Transit Administration, 9-8-05]
TAIWAN DELAYS LAUNCH OF BULLET TRAIN: Project managers said on Thursday [Sept.8] that Taiwan has postponed the launch of a multi-billion dollar bullet train by one year to October 2006 as construction of the high-speed railway has fallen behind schedule, according to this Reuters report. Since its inception in 1998, the ambitious project to build a high-speed railway spanning the length of Taiwan has encountered many fundraising problems, with developers finding it hard to attract investors amid doubts about the progress of construction. [United Transportation Union, 9-8-05, from Reuters report]
METRA UNVEILS NEW CRYSTAL LAKE STATION: On September 7, the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp. (Metra) opened a new station in Crystal Lake on its Union Pacific Northwest Line. The $7.6-million station includes a 2,000-square-foot depot and pedestrian tunnel under the tracks, inbound and outbound platforms, a wheelchair accessible ramp, and bicycle racks. The facility also includes a 400-space parking lot that could be expanded to 1,700 spaces. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 9-8-05]
CANADIAN PACIFIC EXPANSION IS 70 PERCENT COMPLETE: By the end of this year, Canadian Pacific will be able to run an additional four trains daily between the Prairies and the Port of Vancouver. That will amount to a 12 percent increase in capacity, made possible by a $160-million expansion program that was 70 percent complete as of early September. The expansion consists of 25 separate projects between Moose Bay, Sask., and Vancouver. These include the building and lengthening of sidings, the laying of double track sections, improving signaling systems, and installing new staging track and crossovers. CPR announced Sept.2 that the first 14 projects had been completed, involving the installation of more than 3,000 tons of rail and 80,000 tons of ballast. [RailwayAge.com, 9-7-05]
CHINA BUYS 300 LOCOMOTIVES FROM EMD: Representatives from the Ministry of Railways (MoR), Dalian Locomotive Works (DLoco) and Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. (EMD) signed an agreement Sept.7 for the supply of three hundred 6,000 horsepower locomotives, EMD's most powerful diesel-electric locomotive. The locomotives feature the latest heavy haul traction systems used on North America's major Class l railways and are being jointly designed and manufactured with DLoco under a technology license in Dalian, China. The MoR has embarked on an extensive program to upgrade the rail system throughout China, and the application of these highly reliable, high powered diesel locomotives for mainline operations will enable the MoR to significantly increase the speed of its railways. [Electro-Motive Diesel Inc., 9-7-05]
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES INDEX FALLS: After three-straight month-over-month climbs, the Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 0.6 percent in June to 112, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). However, June's index rose 2.4 percent compared with June 2004 and 11.7 percent compared with the same month in base year 2000. The June Freight TSI of 112.6 fell 0.5 percent compared with May - also the first monthly decline after three-consecutive increases, BTS said. June's index did increase 1.1 compared with June 2004. The TSI is a measure of month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by for-hire transportation industries, including rail, air, truck, inland waterways, pipelines and local transit. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 9-7-05]
NEW ORLEANS TRAIN STATION BEING USED AS A TEMPORARY JAIL: As looters filled the streets and shots rang out, the city's overmatched police knew that whatever other endeavors Hurricane Katrina brought to a halt, crime wasn't one of them. With New Orleans' jails flooded, a temporary holding facility was set up at the city's train and bus terminal. It held only 30 prisoners by Monday [Sept.5], but that number was likely to swell if police from neighboring Jefferson Parish deliver inmates they had held the past few days. Nearly 8,000 prisoners were transported out of New Orleans jails last week and moved to state prisons and jails in neighboring towns. The temporary jail has a capacity of about 700. The cells behind the terminal are actually open-air cages with chain-link fencing, topped by razor wire, extending from the concrete train platform to an overhang about 15 feet high. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-6-05, from Associated Press article by Jim Litke]
AMTRAK STARTS NEW STUDENT I.D. PROGRAM: Amtrak announced September 6 a new 15 percent discount on most trains for students, who hold an International Student Identity Card (ISIC). The ISIC is carried by five million students and provides discounts on goods and services worldwide. The discount will be in effect through December 31, 2005. It will then continue at percent. Eligible passengers must present a valid ISIC membership card and valid student identification to a ticket agent at the time the ticket is issued. Membership card and valid student identification must also be presented on board trains if requested. The ISIC discount fares are not available on weekday Acela Express, Metroliner or the Canadian portion of joint Amtrak/VIA rail trains. The discount is only available for the rail fare on the Auto Train. Tickets may be upgraded to business class or sleeping accommodations for an additional charge. A three day advance reservation is required. Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply. [Amtrak, 9-6-05]
CEREMONY KICKS OFF WORLD TRADE CENTER TRANSIT PROJECT: The release of two doves representing the birdlike design for a transit hub at the World Trade Center site marked the ceremonial groundbreaking for the $2.2-billion project September 6., according to this Associated Press report. Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava was joined by the governors and U.S. senators from New York and New Jersey, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and Mayor Michael Bloomberg to mark the start of construction of the station, which will eventually handle more than 80,000 commuters a day between Manhattan and New Jersey. The station, scheduled to open in late 2009, will also link the commuter rail lines under the Hudson River to city subway lines. A temporary commuter station opened in November 2003, replacing one that was destroyed in the 2001 terror attack. Nearly $2-billion in federal money will help finance the project. [United Transportation Union, 9-6-05, from Associated Press report]
UTAH TRANSIT AUTHORITY BEGINS TO BUILD COMMUTER RAIL LINE: Last week, Utah Transit Authority (UTA) broke ground on its Weber County-to-Salt Lake City commuter-rail line. Scheduled to open in early 2008, the 44-mile line will include nine stations. The project is being funded in part by a quarter-cent sales tax increase approved by Salt Lake, Davis and Weber county voters in November 2000. UTA will operate bi-level commuter-rail cars supplied by Bombardier Transportation. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 9-6-05]
NORTH CAR SHOP GETS ITS GRAND OPENING AT B&O MUSEUM: Labor Day weekend marked the grand opening of the B&O Museum's "North Car Shop" exhibit, 20,000 square feet once reserved for restoration work. With the addition of a restoration shop, built in the blizzard's aftermath with $5-million of insurance money, the old workshop became a sort of hall of fame - the last stop for some of rail's biggest celebrities. "We unfortunately had very rare pieces of railroad history stored outside," said chief curator Edward M. Williams. "Every day outside was another day closer to the grave." The museum is closed Labor Day, but more than 1,600 people visited the museum Saturday and Sunday, Williams said. That attendance tops the museum's 500-per-day summer average and the 600 to 700 visitors it receives on its busiest summer Saturdays. The 137-year-old North Car Shop took eight years and $4-million in state and federal grants to renovate into exhibit space. "Railroading as we know it began right here. It changed us as a people forever," Williams said, referring to the old locomotives that transported products and people. "Fifty percent of everything you own traveled to you by train, even today. ... Americans are still very much impacted by the railroad, they just don't always notice it." [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-5-05, from Baltimore Sun website article by Greg Barrett]
STORM LEAVES GRAIN DISTRIBUTION IN LIMBO: The grain elevators that take in corn, soybeans and wheat from Midwest farmers and the railroads that move it are waiting to see what impact Hurricane Katrina will have on them. More than half of U.S. grain exports go through New Orleans, and it remained unknown when the crippled port and its shipping terminals might reopen. That means railroads and elevators don't know whether grain that would normally go down the Mississippi River by barge will need to go elsewhere by rail or truck. Nor do they know how well the rail networks and other seaports would be able to cope with the added load. "It's just too early to try to answer those," said Steve Forsberg, a spokesman for BNSF Railway Co. John Huber, a spokesman for the Canadian Pacific Railway Co., said, "We're just going to be watching and monitoring." September and October are normally the region's biggest export months for corn and soybeans, said Jerry Fruin, a professor at the University of Minnesota's College of Agriculture and an expert on barge shipping. If Mississippi River barge traffic cannot be restored within about two weeks, Fruin said, significant adjustments will need to be made for the new crop. Alternatives might include Pacific Northwest or East Coast ports, he said. And more grain may need to be stored longer on farms and in elevators. But Fruin acknowledged there's limited additional rail capacity. While there was significant damage to CSX Corp.'s rail line between New Orleans and Pascagoula, Miss., its grain operations aren't likely to face major disruptions, spokesman Gary Sease said. Most of CSX's grain business connects farms in the Midwest with feed producers in the Southeast. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 9-3-05, from Associated Press article]
AMTRAK AIDS NEW ORLEANS EVACUATION: The U.S. Department of Transportation said an Amtrak passenger train supplied with food and water began evacuating on Friday night (Sept. 2) residents stranded in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, according to this Reuters report. It was the first of several trains to be used to ferry stranded refugees out of the flooded city. The special twelve-car Amtrak passenger train headed to New Orleans from Baton Rouge, La., and began loading passengers later on Friday evening. The department said the train was loaded with water and food rations. More food and water was distributed to passengers in Lafayette, La., where the train was scheduled to stop. The department said it worked with Amtrak to operate two more train runs out of New Orleans' Avondale Rail Yard on Saturday (Sept. 3). By Monday (Sept. 5), Amtrak will have two trains in place, allowing for a total of four runs that day. "The trains will continue operating beyond that time for as long as needed," Mineta added. [United Transportation Union, 9-3-05, from Reuters report]
SEPTA RESTORING TROLLEY SERVICE IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA: This weekend, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will bring back daily trolley service on SEPTA City Transit Division Route 15 after a 13-year hiatus. Eighteen refurbished 1947 Presidential Conference Committee (PCC) trolley cars will operate on an 8.2-mile line between 63rd Street and Girard Avenue, and Richmond and Westmoreland streets in North Philadelphia. SEPTA spent $88-million to renew and repair track, upgrade the power and traffic control systems, and build new island platforms along the route. The newly refurbished cars will feature a winged insignia and green-and-cream color scheme to resemble the look of SEPTA predecessor Philadelphia Transportation Co.'s cars. The wheelchair-accessible, air-conditioned trolleys will include a new propulsion/braking system, as well as a brighter interior with 'art deco' lighting, passenger request signs, a public-address system and upholstered seats. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 9-2-05]
AMTRAK TO CHANGE STATIONS IN GREENSBORO, N.C.: Amtrak is moving its Greensboro, NC stop to the historic, 1927 Southern Railway downtown station, effective October 1. Schedules will be adjusted slightly, as the old and new station stops are three miles apart. Therenovated facility is in a much better location, in the center of Greensboro, and will provide multimodal connections to Greensboro Transit Authority and intercity buses. The North Carolina Department of Transportation coordinated the station project as part of its ongoing, statewide station improvement program. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-2-05]
KANSAS & OAKLAHAMA TO ACQUIRE U.P. LINE IN KANSAS: Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad Inc. (K&O) recently filed an exemption notice with the Surface Transportation Board to acquire a 27-mile Kansas line from Union Pacific Railroad. Since leasing the line between Newton and McPherson from U.P. in September 2002, the 840-mile short line has operated the segment. K&O officials want to acquire the line to continue operating the segment, according to the filing. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 9-2-05]
TACOMA RAIL TO RECEIVE GRANTS FOR UPGRADE: Short-line carrier Tacoma Rail will receive $2.4-million in federal grants to improve its railroad tracks, enabling manufacturing companies to move heavier loads and get them to market faster, according to this report published by the Journal of Commerce Online. The Federal Railroad Administration announced that the funds would be used to replace 17 miles of track with new and upgraded rail, including the installation of thousands of new crossties, on its Mountain Division Line between Tacoma and Frederickson, Wash. The improvements to the track also will allow the railroad to handle the expected growth in freight traffic when a new grain transloading facility opens at Frederickson, the FRA statement said. [United Transportation Union, 9-2-05, from Journal of Commerce Online report]
RAIL FATALITIES RISE IN YEAR'S FIRST HALF: U.S. railroads reported 457 fatalities to the Federal Railroad Administration in the first six months of 2005, an increase of 5.3 percent over the same period last year. More than half of those killed were trespassers, a 13 percent increase. Grade crossing fatalities dropped by 11.7 precent, to 174. [RailwayAge.com, 9-2-05]
CSX OUTLINES IMPACT FOLLOWING STORM ALONG GULF COAST: CSX Corporation said that it is continuing freight transportation service to customers outside of the immediate Gulf Coast storm area by rerouting rail traffic through its well-established western gateways, including East St. Louis, Ill., Memphis, Tenn., and Montgomery, Ala., as well as through its various TRANSFLO and Intermodal facilities. The most severe storm impact is concentrated on the 100-mile CSX route between Pascagoula, Miss., and New Orleans, including several bridges. Repair work has already begun and will take some time to complete. [CSX, 9-1-05]
KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN REOPENS MAIN LINE BETWEEN MERIDIAN AND JACKSON: Kansas City Southern (KCS) announced that as of 10:00 p.m., Aug.31, the company's Meridian Speedway line between Meridian, Miss., and Shreveport, La., is open and operating. The reopening was made possible by the clearing of hundreds of downed trees and other obstructions to the main line between Meridian and Brandon, Miss., caused by Hurricane Katrina. Reopening of the Meridian Speedway has made possible the restoration of rail service to existing KCSR customers and traffic. In addition, KCSR has engaged in numerous bilateral discussions with other area rail carriers whose service was affected by Hurricane Katrina. KCSR is working with CSX and the Meridian & Bigbee Railway to divertnon-intermodal traffic from New Orleans and Birmingham, Ala., to Meridian. [Kansas City Southern, 9-1-05]
NEW ORLEANS TRAIN STATION SURVIVES STORM: As of today [Sept.1], we understand the New Orleans station is in relatively good shape; it sits on one of the highest pieces of land in the city. However, the city is devastated. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin: "For the next two or three months, in this area, there will not be any commerce, at all. No electricity, no restaurants. This is the real deal. It's not living conditions" We understand that two or three major bridges on the New Orleans-Mobile line are gone. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 9-1-05, from letter to members from Exec.Director Ross Capon]
ARKANSAS MIDLAND TO ASSUME OPERATIONS ON MORE U.P. LINES: Arkansas Midland Railroad Co. Inc. (AKMD) recently filed an exemption notice with the Surface Transportation Board to lease from Union Pacific Railroad and operate 11.2 track miles in Arkansas. The transaction includes a line between McGehee and Cypress Bend, and the Potlatch Spur between Cypress Bend and Arkansas City. AKMD also would lease the yard at the spur's east end and obtain restated incidental bridge trackage rights over UP's line between McGehee and Dermott. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 9-1-05]
OHIO HIGH-SPEED RAIL PLAN INTRODUCED: Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell and U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette unveiled rough plans for a high-speed passenger rail system that would connect Cleveland to Cincinnati, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Toronto, Crains' Cleveland Business reported. Rep. LaTourette said the line would cost about $-million per mile of high-speed rail track. He said the federal government would cover 80 percent of the costs, while state and local governments and other sources would have to come up with the rest. Rep. LaTourette said a bill, called Ride 21, was making its way through the U.S. Congress. The bill would support $60-billion of rail construction over 10 years that would be a "beginning price tag." [United Transportation Union, 9-1-05, from Crain's Cleveland Business article by Brandon Glenn]
RUSSIA'S FIRST PRIVATE, LUXURY PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE BEGINS: On Aug.3, 2005, Grand Service Express, Russia's first private, luxury passenger train, ran from Moscow's Leningrad terminal bound for St. Petersburg, Russian Railways Company said. The train consisted of 14 passenger cars (called 'wagons' in Russia). They included two Grand Deluxe compartment wagons, two Grand wagons, two Premium wagons, seven first-class wagons and an officer's wagon. All wagons are equipped with LCD televisions and satellite receivers. Passengers will be allowed to use hot and cold water, showers and bathrooms, even during train stops. Each compartment has an electronic lock with key-card. Grand Service Express will run nightly on its nine-hour overnight trip each way. [Arkansas Railroader, 9-05]
AMTRAK MAY ASSIST IN EVACUATIONS FOR NEW ORLEANS RESIDENTS: Meridian, Mississippi, Mayor John Robert Smith said Aug.31 that an evacuation plan via Amtrak train for New Orleans residents trapped by Hurricane Katrina's devastation and floodwaters is being worked out by Amtrak president David Gunn, according to this report by Sylvain Metz published by the Jackson Clarion Ledger. Smith, former Amtrak chairman, said the plan also would possibly use three national freight lines to evacuate New Orleans residents. If the plan can be worked out, New Orleans residents trapped by the storm could be evacuated to the west by lines operated by Union Pacific Railroad and Canadian National-Illinois Central Railroad, or to the north by freight lines operated by Norfolk Southern Railroad. Gunn also is considering using Amtrak's Crescent line from New York to New Orleans. That line is clear to Slidell, La., Smith said, but Amtrak officials will have to evaluate the bridge south of Slidell over Lake Pontchartrain. [United Transportation Union, 8-31-05, from Jackson Clarion Ledger report by Sylvain Metz]
RAILROADS RESTORE LIMITED SERVICE FOLLOWING STORM: Freight railroads on Aug.31 began restoring limited service to areas hit by Hurricane Katrina and rerouting traffic hundreds of miles to the north, but continued to lose business as track from Florida to Louisiana remained flooded, damaged or covered with debris, according to this Reuters report. Striking the Gulf Coast with 140 mph winds and 30-foot storm surges, Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on railroad tracks that carry chemicals, paper, pulp and other materials to destinations around the country. New Orleans, which was devastated by the storm, is a major gateway for freight traffic running from Texas refineries and chemical plants into the Northeast, but remained off limits to railroads. CSX Corp. said Aug.31 it has restored service between Montgomery, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida. A CSX route in Alabama was closed within 14 miles of Mobile, as storm debris covered some parts of the track, while the line between Mobile and New Orleans continued to be inspected for damage. Union Pacific said it has restored some local service on tracks approaching New Orleans, but has had to reroute to Memphis or St. Louis the long-haul traffic normally passing through the city. A Union Pacific spokeswoman, Kathryn Blackwell, said the company seemed to have been spared any serious damage to infrastructure. "We're in decent shape," she said. Union Pacific normally runs about 25 trains per day into and out of the New Orleans area. Norfolk Southern Corp. reported disruption into Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama but said it had rerouted traffic wherever it could. In a statement Aug.31, the railroad said all operations except in the immediate New Orleans area were returning to normal. Railroads will be racing to restore service as recovery efforts begin. The rails are the primary means of carrying chemicals like chlorine needed to purify water, and for materials like brick, iron, and lumber that will be used to rebuild homes, roads and bridges. [United Transportation Union, 8-31-05, from Reuters report]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN OPERATIONS RETURNING TO NORMAL: Norfolk Southern Corp. said its rail operations in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi are returning to normal in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, with the exception of the immediate New Orleans area. "Lines are open, trains are moving, and we are ready to do our part in the overall recovery," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David R. Goode. "Communities, customers and recovery organizations can depend on rail transportation. Our thoughts are with them, and our resources are at their call." Norfolk Southern said freight that regularly travels through New Orleans for connection to other carriers is being rerouted through the railroad's other gateways. Since the hurricane struck, Norfolk Southern crews have inspected some 1,400 miles of railroad and removed 3,680 trees on lines in the Gulf States. [Norfolk Southern, 8-31-05]
BNSF TO ADD 3,600 JOBS BY YEAR END: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. will hire 3,600 workers by the end of the year, according to the Billings Gazette. A surging economy, a shortage of truck drivers and booming imports from China have fueled the demand for rail service, said Julie Piggott, Burlington Northern assistant vice president of expedited services. Cargo traffic at Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors is expected to triple in the next 20 years. The ports will handle nearly 36 million containers by 2020. Half of those containers will pass through or be destined for the Inland Empire. BNSF purchased 285 locomotives in anticipation of the expected container growth. The locomotives are being delivered as they are completed. The company has received about 60 percent of the locomotives so far and will receive the rest by the end of the year. [United Transportation Union, 8-31-05, from Billings Gazette article]
NEW RAIL LEGISLATION WOULD BENEFIT OHIO: Legislation pending in Congress would improve the funding outlook for new passenger train service in Ohio and elsewhere and address one of the leading problems for the trains that already operate here - lateness, rail advocates and planners said after a local meeting Aug.29. Along with authorizing Amtrak's continued operation, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act pending in the U.S. Senate provides $1.4-billion over six years for nationwide passenger rail projects, with participating states expected to match the money, said David Johnson, assistant director of the National Association of Railroad Passengers. That funding "is a first-time- ever for passenger rail," Mr. Johnson said. Most of the money is concentrated in the second half of the six-year period. James Seney, executive director of the Ohio Rail Development Commission, said he is working toward having his Ohio Hub plan lined up for funding from that program. The plan calls for a web of passenger-train routes in Ohio with Cleveland as a primary hub and Toledo and Columbus as secondary hubs. Mr. Seney said he hopes to hire a consultant by the end of next year to study the proposed routes and identify the right-of-way and safety improvements that each would need to become available for passenger service - or, in the case of existing Amtrak routes, to handle more trains. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-30-05, from Toledo Blade website article by David Patch]
STORM MAKES SAN ANTIONIO TEMPORARY AMTRAK HUB: Thanks to Hurricane Katrina, San Antonio has become the end of the line for Amtrak passengers riding the Sunset Limited between Los Angeles and Orlando, Fla., according to this report by Meena Thiruvengadam published by the San Antonio Express News. Amtrak altered the line's route between the coasts Friday, cutting off the quickest path for passenger train travel between Orlando and San Antonio. Trains heading from Los Angeles to Orlando won't go any farther east than San Antonio, and trains heading west to Los Angeles will leave from San Antonio instead of Orlando. It's unclear when schedules will return to normal. [United Transportation Union, 8-30-05, from San Antonio Express News article]
WATCO REORGANIZES REGIONS, SHUFFLES MANAGEMENT: The Watco Cos. Inc. recently reorganized and made numerous management changes to position the short-line holding company to handle rapid growth. Owner of 16 short lines operating in 15 states, Watco created a Houston Metro Region that will focus on the greater Houston area and the recently acquired Greensport Industrial Park, maintained a separate Gulf Region, and consolidated the Southeast and Northeast regions into the East Region. The company also named David Eyermann East Region chief operating officer; Keith LaCaze, Gulf Region COO; Paul Schiefelbein, vice president of service design and system engineering; Randy Bennett, COO and executive VP of business development, Houston Metro Region; Trish Bennett, regional controller, Gulf and Houston Metro regions; Dan Linden, director of mechanical services, Central Region; and Joe Keys, regional controller, East Region. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 8-30-05]
NEW UNION PACIFIC INTERMODAL TERMINAL OPENING IN DALLAS: Union Pacific Railroad plans to open a $100-million international intermodal terminal Aug.29 that is expected to significantly boost Asian imports coming through the Dallas area. The Dallas Intermodal Terminal could eventually handle 365,000 containers a year, 66 percent more than the facility it replaces. The expansion reflects the spectacular growth in imports from China, the Dallas-Fort Worth area's top trade partner for the past two years. Because of the surge in imports, Union Pacific, the nation's largest freight railroad, had been running out of room at its Miller international intermodal terminal, just south of downtown Dallas. The terminal, which sits on 364 acres 12 miles south of downtown Dallas along Interstate 45 in Wilmer, solves this problem. The Miller terminal ceased operations Aug.27. [United Transportation Union, 8-29-05, from Dallas Morning News article]
ALTAMONT COMMUTER EXPRESS LOOKING FOR NEW LINE INTO SILICON VALLEY: Officials of the Altamont Commuter Express, fed up with constant delays along the Union Pacific Railroad rail lines the service leases, are looking elsewhere for a new route into Silicon Valley for the commuter line's 1,300 daily riders, according to the San Jose Business Journal. The ACE rail board of directors has commissioned a $500,000 study to find an alternate route. The most likely choice is the old Southern Pacific railway line but the study will look at the possibility of a new route along or in the middle of Interstate 580. "I don't think we can share with UP. They don't play well with others," says ACE director Stacey Mortensen. ACE is running 82 percent of its three daily, roundtrip trains on time currently, way below the 90-plus percent record promised when the line was formed in 1997. Union Pacific is anticipating train traffic increasing along the route when the Port of Oakland finishes deepening its port. Union Pacific now runs 50 freight trains out of the Port of Oakland and another 22 to28 trains over the Altamont Pass daily. This makes the track some of Union Pacific's busiest lines in Northern California, Union Pacific officials say. The possibility of using the old Southern Pacific Railway route is intriguing but poses some challenges. Most of the old SP track is gone, although the Pacific Locomotive Association, which operates the weekend Niles Canyon Railway between Sunol and the Niles District in Fremont, has rebuilt nine miles of the track on its own. While the route would be longer than the present 81-mile Union Pacific line between Stockton and San Jose, trains would be able to make their maximum speed of 79 miles per hour more frequently along the route. Running a line along or in the middle of Interstate 580 would be more difficult but not impossible, Ms. Mortensen says. California's high-speed rail project is considering I-580 as one of several routes to connect Los Angeles with San Francisco. However, that project is at least 20 years away. [United Transportation Union, 8-29-05, from San Jose Business Journal article]
CLEAN-BURNING LOCOMOTIVES PLANNED FOR PACIFIC HARBOR LINE: The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and Anacostia Rail Holdings subsidiary Pacific Harbor Line have tentatively agreed to launch a $23-million program to replace PHL's 18 switcher locomotives with "clean-diesel" and alternative-fuel units that will reduce air emissions. The agreement, which is expected to be finalized this week, calls for PHL to replace its fleet with 16 locomotives equipped with prime-movers that exceed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tier 2 emissions standards. In addition, PHL would acquire two alternative-fuel locomotives, one using liquefied natural gas and the other incorporating hybrid diesel-battery technology. [RailwayAge.com, 8-29-05]
RAILROADS SUSPEND NEW ORLEANS LINES DUE TO STORM: Hurricane Katrina has forced Union Pacific Corp. and other major rail operators to halt freight traffic in and out of New Orleans, delaying shipments of chemicals and coal, officials at those companies told Reuters Aug.29. New Orleans is a large central connection city for the rails since manufacturers carry industrial supplies like chemicals and parts to factories in the southern United States as well as moving containers across the country. The rail companies said they moved supplies - such as power generators, chain saws and rail ties - into the area to repair any damaged lines once the storm passes. The companies, including CSX Corp., said they have been trying to detour some of the shipments through cities like Memphis, Tennessee, and Little Rock, Arkansas. New Orleans, along with Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago and Salem, Illinois, is one of five cities that links the east coast railways systems with the west coast ones. A lot of freight going to Mississippi, Atlanta and Florida. [United Transportation Union, 8-29-05, from Reuters article]
AMTRAKING RETURNING FULL NYC-TO-BOSTON SERVICE: After three days of extensive delays and cancellations caused by a CSX freight train derailment, Amtrak announced Aug.25 that it anticipated normal train operation between New York City and Boston this weekend. Regular service between the two East Coast cities will resume today [Aug.26], although an Amtrak statement warned that riders could expect 10- to 15-minute residual delays between Pennsylvania Station and New Haven, Conn. Service on the Acela and Metroliner trains also will resume after two days of cancellations. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-26-05, from Associated Press article]
UNION PACIFIC DERAILMENT SNARLS DES MOINES AT RUSH-HOUR: A train derailment stretching a mile across Des Moines' east side held rush-hour commuters at a standstill Aug.25. Six cars in a 104-car Union Pacific train derailed about 3:35 p.m. in the company's train yard on the city's east side, causing intersections to be blocked for about a mile stretching from Hubbell to Dean avenues, Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said. No cars were toppled. Union Pacific engineers were able to uncouple the derailed cars and move them from the blocked intersections at 5 p.m. Train traffic continued around the derailed cars, and the scene was expected to be cleared by midnight, Davis said. The cause of the derailment remained under investigation, Davis said. [United Transportation Union, 8-26-05, from Des Moines Register article]
PLANS UNVEILED FOR CHARLOTTE TRANSPORTATION HUB: A new intermodal passenger station is in the works for Charlotte, NC. The Charlotte Observer reported that the Charlotte Area Transit System unveiled plans for an expansive $100-million hub on August 23. The Charlotte Gateway Station is targeted to open in 2009 to serve Amtrak, buses, and a future commuter rail service. The State of North Carolina has already spent $30-million on land acquisition, and SAFETEA-LU allocates $19.8-million for the project. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 8-26-05]
REPAIRS TO POWDER RIVER LINE COMPLETED: Earlier this week, BNSF Railway Co. completed repairs to restore a line in the Powder River Basin used by it and Union Pacific Railroad. In mid-May, the line was damaged by heavy rains. Since then, a number of coal moves on BNSF and UP have been delayed. The two companies recently opened another segment of third main track in the basin. The railroads plan to build an additional segment and begin studying five-year capacity needs. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 8-26-05]
PARKING INCREASED AT EDGEWOOD MARC STATION: The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) recently opened an expanded parking lot at the Edgewood MARC train station. MTA added 141 spaces to the lot, bringing the total number of parking spaces to 291. The additional spaces will help accommodate growing ridership at the station, which is located on MARC's Penn Line. During the past two years, daily boardings at Edgewood Station have increased from 173 to 230. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 8-26-05]
FEDERAL GOAL IS TO SCUTTLE AMTRAK, DAVID GUNN SAYS: Amtrak Chief Executive David Gunn told a St. Louis audience Aug.25 that the passenger railroad is not in a crisis, then blasted the U.S. Transportation Department for a mind-set he says could destroy Amtrak. "If Amtrak fails, intercity passenger rail will be gone in this country," Gunn said at a Downtown St. Louis Partnership breakfast at the Sheraton hotel. "If we can't make it at Amtrak, we're all in trouble." When Gunn joined Amtrak in 2002, the national passenger railroad was in a financial crisis and weeks away from missing its payroll. "We're not a company in crisis today," Gunn said. Crisis is a relative term at Amtrak, where turmoil has been a way of life since Congress created the railroad in 1970 to provide the passenger service that freight railroads no longer wanted. Since then, the federal government has subsidized Amtrak's service to the tune of $30-billion. But as Gunn quickly notes, highway and air travel have received nearly $2-trillion in subsidies during that time. Still, over the long run, Amtrak needs to spend billions of dollars to repair years of deferred maintenance, on bridges and signals, for example. While Amtrak carries some 25 million passengers a year, the White House is not a big supporter. In February, the Bush administration introduced a fiscal 2006 budget with zero funding for Amtrak. Gunn said the Transportation Department also is a detractor. "The goal is to destroy Amtrak," he said. "I think (the Transportation Department) is viewing it as a budget-cutting exercise." Gunn blames Washington's Beltway mentality and the absence of a comprehensive transportation funding policy, or one that doesn't have the various modes competing against each other for money. But Gunn sees passenger rail as a key alternative as fuel prices soar and the airline industry plays round robin in bankruptcy court. [United Transportation Union, 8-25-05, from St.Louis Post-Dispatch article by Tim McLaughlin]
ILLINOIS AMTRAK RIDERSHIP SETS RECORD: Transportation officials announced Aug.24 that each of the four state-funded Amtrak routes to and from Chicago served a record number of riders during Illinois' most recent fiscal year. Amtrak's Chicago-St. Louis, Chicago-Carbondale, Chicago-Quincy and Chicago-Milwaukee routes each posted sharp ridership growth for fiscal year 2005, which ended June 30. Amtrak and Illinois Department of Transportation officials credited the record numbers to stronger marketing, improved service and higher gas prices, which likely prompted many would-be drivers to take the train. [United Transportation Union, 8-25-05, from Chicago Tribune article by Mike Colias]
UNION PACIFIC UPDATES SHIPMENT PROGRESS ON WYOMING COAL LINE: Union Pacific reports that Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway has completed an important phase of restoring the rail line serving Wyoming's Southern Powder River Basin (SPRB). Major track repairs became necessary following several service interruptions in mid-May on a rail line used by Union Pacific and BNSF railroads, which serves several coal mines in east Wyoming. At midweek, maintenance activity shifted to "undercutting," which cleans coal dust out of the rock ballast supporting the track structure. Coal dust in ballast reduces water drainage from the track and deteriorates the stability of the track structure. In recent weeks, the primary cause of reduced coal shipments has shifted from railroad repairs to the inability of SPRB mines to load trains. Since the beginning of August, 70 percent of the missed trainloads are attributable to mines unable to load trains for a variety of reasons, ranging from landslides in the pits, to no coal inventory, to equipment upgrades. Union Pacific hopes the SPRB mines will resolve those problems by the beginning of September so that UP and BNSF can take advantage of all available track capacity. In the Powder River Basin, UP and BNSF recently opened another segment of a third main track, are planning to build an additional segment, and are launching a major study of capacity needs for the next five years. Once the maintenance backlog is resolved by BNSF, the railroad line will have adequate capacity. [Union Pacific, 8-25-05]
N.J. TRANSIT TO REBUILD WOODBRIDGE STATION: Early September, New Jersey Transit will begin a $23-million project to reconstruct Woodbridge Station. Scheduled to be complete in March 2007, the project includes building a new 800-foot center island high-level platform featuring four windscreen shelters with benches and a longer canopy. NJ Transit will rebuild the existing structure and add a larger waiting area. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 8-25-05]
U.S. CLASS I RAILROADS' VELOCITY DECLINING: Thirty-three weeks into 2005, not much has changed in Class Is' year-over-year average train speeds - U.S. large roads continue to lag behind and the two Canadian Class I's remain ahead of last year's pace, according to Smith Barney/Citigroup's latest ground transportation research report. During the period ending Aug.19, average velocity stood at 23.4 mph for Kansas City Southern, down 11.6 percent; 23.7 mph for BNSF Railway Co., down 6.0 percent; 22.0 mph for Norfolk Southern Corp., down 4.5 percent; 19.4 mph for CSX Transportation, down 3.9 percent; and 21.3 mph for Union Pacific Railroad, down 1.9 percent compared with 2004's first 33 weeks. Average train speeds of 25.4 mph for Canadian National Railway Co. and 24.5 mph for Canadian Pacific Railway rose 4.8 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 8-25-05]
WYOMING-NEW MEXICO HIGH-SPEED TRAIN EYED: A group pushing to build a high-speed passenger rail line from Wyoming to New Mexico hopes to ask voters for their approval in November 2008, the group's president said Aug.24. Organizers envision the "Ranger Express" traveling about 110 mph and connecting Cheyenne, Denver, Albuquerque and cities in between. The plan will need cooperation not only from voters but also members of Congress and commercial rail companies. Front Range Commuter Rail is trying to capitalize on rail support from Denver-area voters, who in November supported the FasTracks project to expand rail in the metro area, and proposals in the works to move commercial freight traffic off Front Range rail lines that could then be used for a 602-mile high-speed commuter line. Front Range Commuter Rail is counting on the congressional delegation to help Front Range rail lines gain designation as a high-speed rail corridor eligible for federal funds. Those funds could be used to conduct a feasibility study. [United Transportation Union, 8-25-05, from Associated Press report]
BRONX DERAILMENT DISRUPTS AMTRAK SERVICE: Amtrak riders between New York and Boston can expect lengthy delays and canceled trains as the rail service tries to repair overhead power lines that were badly damaged by a freight train derailment in the South Bronx. According to a statement released by Amtrak on Aug.24, all Acela and Metroliner trains scheduled to operate between Boston and New York were canceled through Aug.25. In addition, Amtrak's 18 regional trains between the two cities were operating on a regular schedule - but with delays of up to 45 minutes while traveling between Penn Station in Manhattan and New Haven. Due to the electrical outage, Amtrak was using diesel engines to keep service running. Amtrak runs nine northbound and nine southbound trains between Boston and New York each day. The statement added that the Tuesday morning (Aug. 23) derailment inflicted extensive damage to the overhead wires, and it was unclear how long repairs would take. Amtrak's best estimate on Wednesday was "a prolonged period of time," although the railroad planned to reassess the situation and issue an updated prognosis on Thursday afternoon. A CSX freight train derailed at 7:15 a.m. in the Oak Point Yard, blocking some tracks and damaging the lines. The tracks owned by CSX run adjacent to the tracks for Amtrak's Northeast Corridor service. [United Transportation Union, 8-25-05, from Associated Press report]
METRA LINE RECOVERS FROM DERAILMENT: A normal rush hour was expected this afternoon [Aug.24] after a freight train derailment on Chicago's West Side caused delays this morning for riders of the Metra Union Pacific West line, a spokesman for the commuter rail system said. A Union Pacific freight train derailed about 3:30 a.m. near Kedzie and Carroll Avenues, according to Metra spokesman Tom Miller. No injuries were reported, but the mishap blocked two of three tracks at that location. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-24-05, from Chicago Tribune website report]
PHOTO HOBBY DEVELOPS INTO FBI VISIT: During the last Fourth of July weekend, Rob Doyle, an associate professor of physical education, was spending time at a family reunion in Syracuse, N.Y. Doyle dropped his wife off at the airport and decided to catch up on his hobby of watching and photographing trains. At the local Amtrak Station, Doyle stopped to take pictures of some trains entering and leaving the station. During the photo shoot, Doyle was tapped on the shoulder by a policeman who asked why he was taking pictures. Doyle explained his train hobby and, after the officer ran his plates, he was allowed to leave with his film. A week later, terrorists bombed the London subway system. A few days after the bombing, Doyle was contacted by an FBI agent who informed him that the had spent the last two days investigating Doyle's background. Doyle spoke with the agent over the phone for a half hour and then met with him a few days later. The agent spent Doyle's time asking questions and reviewing the pictures, which were eventually confiscated. He said the overall experience was comfortable and that one particular aspect of his life helped keep him from persecution. "I had a lot of good (credentials) on my side," he said. Doyle believes that his status as a volunteer firefighter for the Lincoln Fire Protection District, president of the Coles County Historical Society and a member of two railroad museums got him off the hook. From this moment on, Doyle will have this incident on his federal record and wonders if it will come back to haunt him. "It will be interesting to see if I will have any problems at airports when checking my background," he said. [United Transportation Union, 8-24-05, from Daily Eastern News article by Megan Jurinek]
B&O MUSEUM MAKES TOURISM AWARD FINALS: The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum has been chosen as one of three worldwide finalists by Tourism Cares for Tomorrow and Smithsonian magazine for the annual Sustainable Tourism Award for Preservation. The award honors members of the travel and tourism industry who are committed to protecting our cultural and historic treasures. Tourism Cares for Tomorrow is a non-profit that benefits society by preserving, conserving and promoting the responsible use of the world's natural, cultural and historic treasures supporting education and research to help secure the positive future of travel and tourism worldwide. [B&O Railroad Museum, 8-24-05]
MORE PEOPLE RIDING AMTRAK'S EMPIRE BUILDER: Passenger numbers are increasing on the Empire Builder route between Chicago and Portland/Seattle, and recent train improvements and new amenities will create even stronger demand, Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer David Gunn said August 23. Gunn, who boarded an Empire Builder train August 21 in Seattle, briefly visited with local officials Tuesday during its stop at the Amtrak depot in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In an interview on the train as it continued east to Tomah, Wis., Gunn also said Amtrak needs more than the $1.2-billion subsidy the U.S. House of Representatives recently approved for the fiscal year that begins October 1. The Senate Appropriations Committee has voted to increase Amtrak's federal funding from $1.2-billion this fiscal year to $1.45-billion next fiscal year. The Bush administration proposed zero dollars for Amtrak, and this spring U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta proposed pushing 50 percent of Amtrak's costs onto states. A record 25 million people rode Amtrak trains in the fiscal year that ended last September 30, up four percent from 24 million the year before. Gunn said the figure for the current fiscal year is expected to be up slightly from the previous year. Last fiscal year, the Empire Builder served more than 437,000 passengers, up five percent from the previous fiscal year. There are six sets of trains on the Empire Builder route, with five traveling at any given time. This month, Amtrak introduced what it calls the Empire Builder's fresh look, and said the changes are the start of a major initiative at Amtrak to improve passengers' experience on long-distance trains and improve the trains' financial performance. [United Transportation Union, 8-24-05, from LaCrosse Tribune article]
BNSF DEDICATES NEW RELIABILITY CENTER IN NEBRASKA: On Aug.24, BNSF and ALSTOM Transport invited local dignitaries, staff, and local and international press to the dedication of BNSF's newest Reliability Center at the railway's locomotive maintenance facility in Alliance, Neb. ALSTOM's contract with BNSF involves applying advanced technology to determine wear patterns of major components and subsystems of locomotives. This technique, known as condition-based maintenance, enables the Alliance Reliability Center work force to predict when parts should be overhauled and exchanged, thus improving the reliability and operational efficiency of the locomotives and utilizing the full life cycle of locomotive components. [BNSF Today, 8-24-05]
FUNDING OK'D FOR N.J. RAILROAD REPAIRS: The New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority approved $1.75-million in funding August 23 for rehabilitation of the county railroad, according to Today's Sunbeam. The funding - approved at the CRDA's meeting in Atlantic City - is in addition to $3-million the county received from the Department of Transportation in May for the railroad. County officials hope to revive the aged railroad in order to assist local businesses in transporting materials to their sites. The 17-mile line, which runs from Swedesboro to Salem, is utilized by major employers in the county including Anchor Glass, Mannington Mills and South Jersey Farmers Exchange. The total employment for all businesses that use the railroad is approximately 1,100. Complete rehabilitation will allow local businesses to cut trucking costs which they are forced to pay to transport materials when a derailment occurs. The total cost for railroad improvements needed is over $10 million. County officials continue to work toward obtaining the necessary funding. [United Transportation Union, 8-24-05, from Today's Sunbeam article]
SHORTLINE CARLOADS UP 9.2 PERCENT IN 2ND QUARTER: North American Class I's are moving about one percent more carloads in 2005 on a year-over-year basis, but small roads are registering a much more dramatic traffic increase. During the second quarter, short-line carloads rose 9.2 percent compared with second-quarter 2004, according to RMI's RailConnect Index Quarterly Analysis of Traffic Statistics. In addition, small roads posted a double-digit increase in first-half carloads compared with the same 2004 period. "We expect that the second half may be even more beneficial for short lines than the first," said RMI Chairman Pete Kleifgen in a prepared statement. RMI compiles traffic data for the RailConnect Index from about 220 North American regional, short line and terminal switching railroads. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 8-23-05]
BIDS DUE THIS MONTH FOR N.Y. HIGH-SPEED RAIL STUDY: More than a dozen high-powered engineering firms, including contributors to the construction Chunnel linking England and France and the New York City subway system, want to help get the Empire State's stalled high-speed rail plans back on track, according to this report by Cathy Woodruff published by the Albany Times-Union. Representatives of companies with experience with transportation projects around the globe met for a briefing on what will be expected of bidders on a $1.2-million study charting New York's passenger rail future. The money on the table, a tight timeline, and the range of expertise needed to address the issues to be studied combined to draw the interest of so many large firms with international reputations. Once a proposal is selected, the firm or firms picked will have just over three months to do a soup-to-nuts analysis of what should be done to improve rail service in New York. Proposals are due in time for an August 31 bid opening, and a decision is to be made on September 16. [United Transportation Union, 8-23-05, from Albany Times-Union report by Cathy Woodruff]
DEPOT IN MATTOON, ILLINOIS, GETS RESTORATION NOD: Last month, legislation was approved that included $2.5-million in federal funding for the restoration of the depot at Mattoon, Illinois, which opened for passenger service during World War I. However, the community of Mattoon must raise $700,000 in matching funds to secure the federal money, Depot Fund Drive Chairman Bob Swift said. "We have raised $425,000 so far this year. But we still have a long way to go to meet our match. We will continue the fund-raising here in Mattoon." The depot today serves 1,100 passengers per month with four trains traveling between Chicago and Carbondale and many destinations well beyond Illinois. The restoration will fix damage from elements and vandalism, add an elevator, install a railroad museum under the management of the Coles County Historical Society, and hopefully produce commercial use of street-level spaces in the tri-level structure. [United Transportation Union, 8-23-05, from Journal Gazette article]
A 12-POINT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE RAILROAD TRAINING, SAFETY: When it comes to working on the railroad, experienced train and engine service employees know how to get the job done efficiently and safely. It is a savvy employer who taps into that knowledge. When employees feel they are part of a team that includes management, workplace productivity improves and accidents decline. Those experienced train and engine service employees can also be at the core of an effective training program. MORE.. [United Transportation Union, 8-22-05]
INDIANA EASTERN R.R. TO LEASE CSXT LINE: Indiana Eastern Railroad L.L.C. recently filed an exemption notice with the Surface Transportation Board to lease from CSX Transportation and operate a 43-mile line between Richmond, Indiana, and Fernald, Ohio. The newly formed short line also would operate related spur, industrial, team, switching and side tracks. Under a land and track lease agreement, CSXT would retain overhead trackage rights on the line between Cottage Grove, Ind., and Fernald until December 31, when the CSXT's U.S. Department of Energy contract to move contaminated dirt expires. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 8-22-05]
UNION PACIFIC TO OVERHAUL NETWORK DISPATCHING FUNCTIONS: Union Pacific, which in recent years has been struggling with operational and capacity problems, has announced a major software-based overhaul of its network dispatching functions, which are based at the railroad's centralized Harriman Dispatching Center in Omaha. UP has contracted with Union Switch & Signal (US&S, supplier of Harriman's original technology in the 1980s) for a Next Generation Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD) that includes Optimizing Traffic Planner (OTP). The technology will control UP's 33,000-plus -mile North American rail network. OTP is described by US&S as a "real-time software technology-based system for planning and optimizing the movement of rail traffic across a rail network. With the OTP system in place, Union Pacific will be in a position to greatly increase operational efficiency while reducing costs." [RailwayAge.com, 8-22-05]
RAIL LINE TO LINK KLAMATH FALLS, ALTURAS: The Modoc Northern, a historic name that never was officially used, will be the name of the short-haul railroad that soon will run between Alturas and Klamath Falls, Oregon. The 107-mile short-line railway line is owned by Union Pacific. Its management is to transfer November 1 to the Modoc Northern, a subsidiary of Utah Central Railway, another short-haul railroad that feeds Union Pacific trains in Ogden, a major rail center. In Oregon, rail officials plan to haul agricultural, lumber and mining products from Lake, Modoc and Siskiyou counties to Klamath Falls for distribution to larger railroads. The railroad expects to begin with 10 employees and two engines. The Modoc Northern's operating, traffic and maintenance employees will be based in Tulelake with an engineer based in Alturas. Trains will run between Tulelake and Klamath Falls on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and between Alturas and Klamath Falls on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Saturdays "as needed." The Alturas connection will ensure continued shipments of perlite and timber products the Lake County Railroad hauled from Lakeview to Alturas. [United Transportation Union, 8-20-05, from Herald and News article]
ILLINOIS ADOPTS INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL FUND: The State of Illinois has established an Intercity Passenger Rail Fund into which $50 will be deposited each time a state employee travels Amtrak between Springfield and Chicago on official business. The bipartisan bill, Senate Bill 635, passed both houses unanimously and was signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) on August 10. First year revenues could total $300,000. These funds could be used to support additional capital or operational support for state Amtrak services. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 8-19-05]
FREIGHT TRAIN REAR ENDS ANOTHER IN WYOMING: Federal accident investigators are trying to determine what caused two BNSF Railway trains headed to Montana to collide west of Gillette, Wyoming, Aug.16 according to this report published by the Billings Gazette. Steve Kulm, a spokesman for the Federal Rail Administration in Washington, said two agency investigators were on the scene to look into the crash. Both trains were on their way from Pipestone, Mont., to the North Antelope mine, according BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas. A train hauling stone hit the tail end of an empty coal train. Melonas said 11 cars were derailed but no one was injured. He said the wreckage was quickly cleaned up and the track wasn't damaged. [United Transportation Union, 8-19-05, from Billings Gazette article]
CANADIAN NATIONAL ADDING INTERMODAL CAPACITY: Canadian National Railway said it will boost capacity by 20 percent for intermodal shipments, according to this report published by the Journal of Commerce Online. The company will add capacity to handle 125,000 more shipments between Vancouver and Toronto or Montreal using trains in combination with ships and trucks. Domestic shipping capacity will rise 10 percent on the same route with the addition of a train and rail cars to existing service. The additional capacity, effective Aug.22, coincides with the peak shipping season and will extend beyond that. One daily train in each direction is being added between Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Toronto, and rail cars are being added to existing service between Winnipeg and Vancouver. [United Transportation Union, 8-18-05, from Journal of Commerce Online report]
BOSTON'S SILVER LINE ON HOLD: MBTA officials put the Silver Line's final phase on hold Aug.17, saying the transit agency needs to build more support from neighborhood groups and develop a more specific plan for the bus route before submitting the project for federal funding. General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas said that if he did not halt the $780-million project before it gained backing from its neighbors, "I think it would spell disaster for the whole project." It was a rare move for a transit agency, especially the MBTA, which has long touted the Silver Line as one of its top urban projects. The final phase would be an underground link for the two existing Silver Line routes: the surface bus route from Dudley Square to Downtown Crossing and the newly opened South Boston transitway, which runs from South Station to South Boston and Logan International Airport. The mile-long underground tunnel would run from South Station to the Theater District, with connections to the Orange and Green lines. But the precise configuration of the route, including where tunnel portals would be located, is still being debated. Grabauskas insisted that the project is not dead, just delayed. [United Transportation Union, 8-18-05, from Boston Globe article by Mac Daniel]
'FACTIS' TO BRING IMPROVEMENTS TO BNSF: 'FACTIS,' the next innovation in wayside detectors, is set to roll out at Alliance, Neb. Andy Callahan, general foreman, car facility, said FACTIS is the first of its kind to be utilized on BNSF and has been designed to enhance inspections and help capture bad orders. It will not replace current detectors, but instead support the existing detection process. FACTIS is a wayside detector video-imaging system that allows recording of rolling stock components and functionality. Data analysis calculated by the system supports trending and predictive maintenance processes. The system's wheel profile monitoring module provides flange height and thickness and hollow tread measurements. The module also records the width of the brake shoe and identifies missing brake shoes. The system is equipped with real-time information and database features; measurements are captured immediately by the system, which can prevent delays and assist in ensuring the database remains current. The main benefits of FACTIS are increased efficiency, accuracy and productivity. The system also may improve freight car maintenance and safety through a number of methods, and will reduce wheel damage caused by missing or defective brake shoes as well as better car utilization by improving condition-based maintenance through trending. [BNSF Today, 8-18-05]
GRANITEVILLE SETTLEMENT OK'D BY COURT: A federal judge approved a class-action settlement Aug.17 for damages from a January train wreck that killed nine people as it spread a toxic cloud over the nearby mill town of Graniteville. The settlement outlines how residents and businesses should be reimbursed for property damages and lost wages and profits after a Norfolk Southern train crashed into parked railroad cars. Under the settlement, the railroad will pay $2,000 per household, as well as $200 a day per person in the household for the time they were evacuated. A family of five with no major illnesses that was evacuated for 13 days would receive $15,000 in addition to property damages and other losses. Those who sought medical treatment within three days of the disaster were advised to opt out of the per-day payments, and those cases will be resolved later. Attorneys for residents and the railroad disagreed about whether punitive damages should be awarded. Both sides said the court would hear the issue at a later time. [United Transportation Union, 8-17-05, from Associated Press report]
OHIO GOVERNOR CHARGED OVER UNREPORTED GIFTS, SOME FROM CSX: Gov. Bob Taft was charged with four ethics violations Aug.17 for failing to report dozens of gifts that included dinners, golf games and professional hockey tickets, deepening a scandal that has rocked Ohio's Republican Party. Taft, a Republican and member of a distinguished U.S. political family, becomes the first governor in Ohio history to be charged with a crime. The charges are also an embarrassment for a politician who has pushed for high ethical standards in his office. Taft, could be fined $1,000 and sentenced to six months in jail on each count if convicted, though time behind bars was considered unlikely. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-17-05, from Associated Press article by Andrew Welsh-Huggins]
GUILFORD RAIL FOUND IN CONTEMPT OF COURT: A Worcester County, Massachusetts, Housing Court judge issued a contempt of court order against Guilford Rail Company Aug.16 after he determined the company was not complying with a pending court order. Judge Timothy Sullivan found Guilford in contempt after Westminster Fire Capt. Kevin Nivala reported to the court that the rail company was not fulfilling its plan to control vegetation by the tracks in Westminster, and had not made substantial progress in collecting unused railroad ties. Nivala appeared in housing court as part of a court-ordered progress report on a May 17 agreement between the fire department and the railroad company. The agreement said the company would comply with a state law requiring it to clear the tracks of debris, including old railroad ties, and maintain a vegetation maintenance plan. The company said they needed 180 days to clear the five-mile stretch of track that runs through Westminster. The judge agreed to give the company until Oct. 31, 2005, to complete that work. Nivala said very few railroad ties have been collected. "I can't do a lot about that until the 31st," Sullivan said. But he issued an order of contempt to the company for its failure to keep up with the vegetation maintenance plan. No representatives for Guilford attended the court hearing at Gardner District Court House. The Westminster Fire Department filed the suit in housing court because of repeated brush fires that burned acres of land around the tracks in April. Fire officials wanted the debris around the tracks to be cleared to prevent future fires from spreading. [United Transportation Union, 8-17-05, from Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise article by Caitlyn Kelleher]
KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN QUARTERLY LOSS INCREASED: Kansas City Southern Industries Inc. said Aug.16 that a change in accounting for employee profit sharing at the railroad's Mexican subsidiary will force the company to increase the quarterly loss it reported two weeks ago. The railroad said in a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission that it would take an additional $3-million charge to reflect statutory employee deferred profit sharing for Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana, the largest railroad company in Mexico, and Grupo TFM. Quarterly losses increased from $25.8-million to $27.3-million, the company said, adding that revenues were not affected. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-16-05, from Associated Press article]
NESTS OF ENDANGERED BIRDS HALT CALIFORNIA RAIL CONSTRUCTION: Work on the North County Transit District's Sprinter track will be put on hold through Sept.15, when the nesting season ends for an endangered species of birds that has taken over the construction area, according to the Associated Press. Biologists discovered the Least Bell's Vireo this spring and continue to monitor a three-mile section of the train track inhabited by the nesting birds, North County Transit District spokesman Tom Kelleher said. Sprinter construction crews were scheduled this summer to install drainage pipes and a basin to collect overflow from the nearby Loma Alta Creek. Work cannot resume until the birds leave the area, Kelleher said. Crews must elevate the existing freight rail bed as much as nine feet and install drains to ensure that the Sprinter can travel its 22-mile east-west route. The Sprinter rail line will link Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos and Escondido. [United Transportation Union, 8-16-05, from Associated Press article]
RAILWAY LEASES LINES IN MONTANA FROM BNSF: Yellowstone Valley Railroad Inc. expanded its Montana operations Monday [Aug.15] by leasing some northeastern Montana lines from BNSF Railway, officials of both companies announced. Yellowstone Valley, based in Sidney, is leasing two segments of BNSF lines: one from Glendive to Snowden, the other from Bainville to Scobey. Yellowstone Valley is an affiliate of Watco Companies, based in Pittsburgh, Kan. Watco operates 11 other short-line railroads operating in 19 states. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-16-05, from Associated Press article]
BNSF REDESIGNING CAB STAND IN NEW A.C. LOCOMOTIVES: Lately, a number of BNSF Railway Co. engineers have been noticing a more comfortable and functional cab stand as they climb aboard a new AC locomotive. During the past several years, BNSF's cab committee - comprising representatives from the railroad, United Transportation Union, and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen division of the Teamsters Rail Conference - helped redesign cab stands to resemble an airline pilot's workstation. The stands feature control panels providing easier access to levers, controls, screens and gauges; more legroom; and a larger range of vision for reverse moves. GE Transportation-Rail recently delivered seven AC locomotives featuring the new stand design; the company will deliver 90 more units by year's end. Next year, all AC and DC units purchased by BNSF will feature the new stand. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 8-15-05]
UNION PACIFIC ORDERS 10 GREEN GOATS: Union Pacific Railroad (UP) has ordered 10 low-emission, hybrid locomotives for use in its Southern California rail yard operations, according to this release issued by UP. Costing $8.2-million, this is Union Pacific's largest purchase of the hybrid-technology locomotives called "Green Goats." They are designed to cut air emissions by 80 to 90 percent and reduce diesel fuel use by 40 to 60 percent compared to conventional diesel-powered locomotives used in switching service. They operate in rail yards, sorting out rail cars from inbound trains and assembling outbound trains. Hybrid switcher locomotives are powered with large banks of batteries. When energy stored in the batteries is depleted to a pre-set level, a small, low-emission diesel engine automatically starts to power a generator that recharges the batteries. The Green Goats will be built by RailPower Technologies of Vancouver, B.C. [Union Pacific, 8-15-05]
PROPOSED N.J. TRANSIT RULE AFFECTS RAIL PHOTOGRAPHERS: To railroad enthusiasts keen on taking pictures of passing trains, a proposal by NJ Transit that would regulate that activity is like a slap in the face from a friend, according to the Asbury Park Press. The policy would require amateur photographers to apply - and be photographed - for a permit issued by NJ Transit. They would then have to call NJ Transit police 24 hours before taking their pictures. A decision could be made by NJ Transit's Board of Directors this fall, said Dan Stessel, spokesman for the state agency. NJ Transit currently requires amateur and commercial photographers to obtain a daily permit from the agency's real estate office, he said. Media photographers and camera crews are covered by their press credentials. The permit idea was proposed by a former Central Railroad of New Jersey railroader, Bill Wright of Cranford, who saw it as a compromise. But Wright, who also is a director of the New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers, said he's not happy with how the agency has interpreted his idea. "I suggested - give them a permit and that gives NJ Transit a list of people interested in transit," said Wright, who serves on NJ Transit's North Jersey Advisory Council. "The 24 hours' calling ahead is ridiculous." Wright and others who take an interest in railroading say that in some instances, NJ Transit police have gone too far, even confronting people taking photos from streets and other public places. [United Transportation Union, 8-15-05, from Asbury Park Press article]
CSX TO INSTALL CONTROL POINT AT ARKENDALE, VA.: CSX will install a new interlocking, funding in part by the Commonwealth of Virginia, at Arkendale, Va., August 13-17. This will close a 23 mile-long gap in crossovers on the ex-RF&P main line between Quantico and Fredericksburg. On those dates, Amtrak Regional trains 66 and 67 will not operate south of Washington, DC. Passengers will be directed to other trains. The Northbound Auto Train will hold at Richmond about 30 minutes to allow VRE commuter trains to clear. Two evening southbound VRE trains are also cancelled, with passengers directed to Amtrak trains 93 and 85, which will make all VRE stops. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 8-12-05]
LEGG MASON UPGRADES CSX TO BUY: Analysts at Legg Mason upgraded shares of railroad operator CSX Corp. Friday (Aug. 12) to buy from neutral, saying the company's management team appears to "be in place for the long haul," according to this report by Padraic Cassidy published by MarketWatch.com. Analysts also looked favorably on CSX's latest strategy to improve safety, increase productivity and its plan to target discretionary capital spending. Legg Mason's target price is now $55. Shares of CSX closed Thursday [Aug.11] at $44.87. [United Transportation Union, 8-12-05, from MarketWatch.com report by Padraic Cassidy]
U.S. LOWERS TRANSIT ALERT LEVEL: The Department of Homeland Security on August 12 lowered its terrorism alert level for buses, subways and trains effective on Friday night, a month after raising it in response to bombings in London, according to this Reuters report. The department had raised the alert level to a "high" risk of attack from "elevated" on July 7, after bombings on the London transport system killed more than 50 people. [United Transportation Union, 8-12-05, from Reuters report]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO EXPAND GRAIN SHUTTLE PROGRAM: Later this year, Norfolk Southern Railway will add three Georgia feed mills to its 75-car Mercury grain shuttle network. The company began providing Mercury service in fall 2001 to provide customers "a more economical way to transport grain and soybeans from the Midwest to facilities across the system," according to NS' August newsletter. "A 75-car unit is the optimum train size for our network," said Pat Simonic, NS marking director of agricultural products, in a prepared statement. "It allows a train to operate from origin to destination without additional handling." The 75-car shuttle will replace a 50-car unit NS has operated since 1989. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 8-12-05]
ILLINOIS ENACTS TAX INCENTIVES FOR INTERMODAL DEVELOPMENT: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed legislation Aug.11 enabling local municipalities to offer tax breaks and other incentives to developers of intermodal terminals. The legislation is designed to allow municipalities to more easily designate proposed or current intermodal terminal areas as TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) districts, in which income from the increase in the taxing value of an area is diverted for a set number of years so a developer can recoup project costs. The legislation also provides intermodal developers a sales tax exemption on building materials used for constructing or upgrading facilities. [RailwayAge.com, 8-12-05]
DOWNEASTER GAINS RIDERS, FEDERAL FUNDS: This has been a good summer for Amtrak's Downeaster service. Ridership is up, in part because faster travel time between Portland and Boston is helping the train compete against automobiles, say rail authority officials. But the best news came from Washington, where Congress approved a transportation bill that assures the federal government will continue to subsidize the service until 2009. Since the service began in December 2001, Maine has been using mostly federal funds to subsidize the Downeaster, which offers four round trips a day. The funds were due to run out this year and Maine taxpayers were scheduled to pick up the entire cost, about $5-million to $6-million annually. Signed into law Aug.10 by President Bush, the transportation bill allows the state to continue using federal funds to pay for 80 percent of the subsidy. Ridership in May was up 8 percent from a year ago, and June ridership was up 12 percent. From July 1 to July 22, there were 17,703 trips, a 9 percent increase from a year ago. The number of people traveling between Portland and Boston has jumped since travel time was reduced in April to two hours and 30 minutes, a savings of up to 15 minutes. Last year, the Downeaster increased its maximum speed from 60 mph to 79 mph, which helped shorten the trip. Track improvements in Kennebunk, shorter stops at stations and new speed limits on tracks in Massachusetts owned by the MBTA shaved more minutes off travel time.[Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-12-05, from Portland Press Herald website article by Tom Bell]
CSX ANNOUNCES CAPACITY EXPANSIONS: As part of its long-term growth strategy, CSX Corporation has announced plans to expand capacity on its existing rail lines between Chicago and Florida, and between Albany, N.Y. and New York City. Company officials made the announcement Aug.11 during an investor and analyst conference at the New York Stock Exchange. Construction is expected to begin in early 2006 and includes the installation of rail sidings, signals and other infrastructure improvements to facilitate the movement of more freight with improved service and reliability. In addition, the company will make infrastructure improvements to other parts of its 22,000-mile rail network. As a result, company officials said CSX Surface Transportation annual capital expenditures will be approximately $1.3 to $1.4-billion in the next two years. This compares to average Surface Transportation capital expenditures of approximately $1-billion in each of the past three years. Company executives said that they anticipate revenue growth of four to six percent annually over the next five years, primarily related to increased U.S. consumption, a rise in imports - which must be hauled across the country from ports to consumer markets - and tight transportation supply. These and other market conditions have created a favorable pricing environment throughout the rail industry. [CSX, 8-11-05]
MOODY'S RAISES BNSF DEBT RATING: Moody's Investors Service on Aug.10 revised Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.'s debt rating outlook to positive from stable, citing better-than-expected financial results through the last quarter, according to this Reuters report. Moody's expects strong growth from the company as prospects for its four business segments remain favorable. [United Transportation Union, 8-10-05, from Reuters report]
TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI, RAIL STUDY ROLLS FORWARD: Engineers could start working as soon as September on a study to relocate the path of 26 trains that often block downtown Tupelo's daily traffic, according to this report by Emily Le Coz published by the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. The Mississippi Transportation Commission voted Aug.9 to sign a $1.96-million contract with Omaha-based HDR Engineering, which will lead a team to study the environmental impact of a relocation. Slated to take at least three years, the study will determine the best place to move several miles of Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks using data such as archeological findings, environmental factors, cost and feasibility. [United Transportation Union, 8-10-05, from Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal report by Emily Le Coz]
NEW METRA STATION TO OPEN IN SEPTEMBER: Village officials in Western Springs, Illinois, said Aug.8 that the opening for the new Metra station downtown is tentatively set for Sept. 16 and 17, according to this report by Christine Martin published by the Chicago Tribune. The alternative dates are Sept. 23 and 24. Village manager Patrick Higgins said that although the train station is nearing completion, the platform across from it may not be replaced until December. The other two platforms to the east of the station in the 800 block of Hillgrove Avenue may not be replaced until next year, he said. [United Transportation Union, 8-10-05, from Chicago Tribune report by Christine Martin]
SEPTA CONTINUES RECONSTRUCTION ON MARKET STREET LINE: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is ready to begin the next phase of the Market Street Elevated reconstruction project. Between Aug. 12 and Aug. 22, the authority will shut down "El" service from Upper Darby to West Philadelphia - the second time in three months SEPTA has shut down service for nine days to reconstruct the 98-year-old line. This summer, SEPTA is demolishing and replacing 1,500 feet of track and third-rail electrical power between 56th and 61st streets, installing 26 column bents continuing to rebuild 56th Street Station and beginning to rebuild 60th Street Station. SEPTA began construction on the $567-million project in 2000. Scheduled to be complete in 2008, the project includes reconstructing five stations in West Philadelphia and Millbourne Station in Delaware County, and replacing 11,000 feet of guideway between Millbourne Station and 46th Street with a new single-column bent structure. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 8-10-05]
INTERMODAL GROWTH RATE SLOWS: North American intermodal volume rose 4.5 percent in the second quarter from the year-ago period, but at a lesser rate than earlier in the year, according to this report published by the Journal of Commerce Online. International containers totaling 1.97 million units increased 10.1 percent while domestic equipment totaling 1.41 million units fell 2.5 percent, according to the Intermodal Association of North America's quarterly "Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics" report. Domestic containers totaling 788,257 units and trailers totaling 622,118 units dropped 0.9 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively, compared with the same 2004 period. [United Transportation Union, 8-9-05, from Journal of Commerce Online report]
SWIFT INTERMODAL LTD ACQUIRES BNSF-LEASED 53-FOOT CONTAINERS: Swift Intermodal Ltd. and BNSF Railway Company today [Aug.9] announced they reached an agreement for Swift to acquire approximately 3,800 53-foot containers currently leased by BNSF which are part of the North American Container System (NACS) program. BNSF plans to allow the free interchange of the remaining containers sponsored by NACS that are still in service through December 31, 2006. NACS is a North American doublestack network encompassing almost every major U.S. market. [Joint BNSF/Swift Intermodal press release, 8-9-05]
ANCHORAGE EYES COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE: Slowly but surely, the Anchorage-Mat Su region is making progress toward the day when commuter rail service can begin. The latest development is news that the huge federal transportation bill includes money for a commuter rail station at the Dimond Mall, according to the Anchorage Daily News. Service at the mall will be a key piece of any commuter rail system. The mall is a huge employment and commercial center, the biggest in the south end of town. Alaska Railroad's main track runs conveniently right alongside the mall's western edge. And the mall already has a large People Mover transit center. This particular station combines the elements Anchorage will need in many locations if a commuter rail system is going to work. The city's comprehensive plan, Anchorage 2020, lays the groundwork for what the city needs on that score. It aims for more compact, efficient development that is easier to serve by public transit. The Dimond Mall rail station is just one of many commuter rail elements that are coming together. A new downtown rail depot is in the works too. That $70-million project is largely designed to handle the railroad's growing crush of summer visitors, but it will also accommodate commuter service when the time comes. Tim Thompson, Alaska Railroad spokesman, says the railroad will keep investing in the track improvements needed to handle commuter rail. It is even willing to buy the specialty cars needed for commuter service. [United Transportation Union, 8-9-05, from Anchorage Daily News article]
FLOOD BENEATH CSX OVERPASS IN BALTIMORE TRAPS TRANSIT BUS: Authorities said torrential rains and a clogged storm drain trapped two cars and a Maryland Transit Administration bus carrying 32 passengers last night [Aug.8] in a flood-prone East Baltimore underpass, according to this report by Richard Irwin and William Wan published by the Baltimore Sun. Everyone was rescued in an operation that brought city firefighters with 20 pieces of apparatus, the department's dive and special rescue operations teams and inflatable boats. The bus was traveling on Pulaski Highway near East Monument Street when it hit the water about 10 p.m., fire officials said. The road, which dips under a CSX train bridge, had been flooded with rain, bringing the bus to a halt. As passengers watched, the water rose quickly, reaching just below the windows at its highest point, said Kevin Cartwright, spokesman for the city Fire Department. The drivers of two cars also were trapped in the flooded underpass, as the water rose as high as 4-1/2 feet and spanned an area about 100 feet long. [United Transportation Union, 8-9-05, from Baltimore Sun article]
ASHLAND, VA., TO RESTORE WHISTLE BAN: As of 12:01 this morning [Aug.9], things should be a lot quieter in Ashland, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Town officials said yesterday afternoon [Aug. 8] that they would be able to have Ashland's 24-hour train-whistle ban reinstated after passing locomotives, complying with new federal safety rules, began sounding their horns through there more than a month ago. "You'll hear a collective sigh of relief coming at midnight tonight," Town Manager Charles W. Hartgrove said. Hartgrove, who fielded complaints about the horns from residents and businesses owners, said the town was not aware of new rules requiring them to apply to the Federal Railroad Administration for "quiet-zone" status and missed a deadline that would have prevented the horns from sounding starting June 24. The town has since submitted paperwork that includes details about safety features at the town's five highway-rail crossings, Hartgrove said. [United Transportation Union, 8-9-05, from Richmond Times-Dispatch article]
NINE INJURED IN CALIFORNIA WINE TRAIN MISHAP: Authorities said a mishap over the weekend with the Napa Valley Wine Train left nine people with moderate injuries, according to this Los Angeles Tmies report. The accident happened about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug.6, as the train carrying 200 people rolled through St. Helena on its way to Napa, St. Helena Fire Chief Kevin Twohey said. Passenger cars apparently became uncoupled and slammed into the engine, prompting an abrupt emergency stop that knocked people from their seats, Twohey said. The train did not derail. The cause of the accident is under investigation. [United Transportation Union, 8-8-05, from Los Angeles Times report]
CALIFORNIA COMMUTER AGENCY WANTS UNION PACIFIC TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE: Top officials with the Altamont Commuter Express and San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission have sent a letter to Union Pacific railroad asking for better cooperation to get ACE's trains to run on time every day. The letter, which ACE executive director Stacey Mortensen released Aug.4, points out that the commuter line has paid more than $41-million to Union Pacific for the right to run trains six times daily between the Central Valley and the Bay Area. Board chair Brent Ives and Mortensen wrote to Dennis J. Duffy, Union Pacific's executive vice president of operations. Their letter also mentions that the commission, which runs ACE, has invested several million dollars in capital projects that benefit both the commuter trains and Union Pacific's freight trains. Mark Davis, a spokesman for Union Pacific in Omaha, Neb., said company officials have yet to receive the letter, which is dated Aug.4. "We would be happy to look at the request and work through the issues raised by the request with the rail commission," he said. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-8-05, from Tracy Press website article by Ben van der Meer]
AMTRAK TRAIN STRIKES DUMP TRUCK IN CALIFORNIA, 20 INJURED: Authorities on Saturday (Aug. 6) were still investigating the cause of a train crash in Somis, California, late Friday (Aug. 5) in which an Amtrak passenger train struck a large dump truck at a crossing in Ventura County, according to this Los Angeles Times report. Both the California Highway Patrol and the Federal Railroad Administration are investigating the crash. Steve Kulm, a spokesman for the railroad administration, said it would take his agency some time to complete its report. The train, which was being pushed, was traveling at 70 mph when it hit a Sands Company Transport truck, which was carrying a load of debris from a Caltrans dump site nearby, said Dale Chessey of the state Office of Emergency Services. A front train car that partially derailed was put back on the tracks early Saturday, and there were no service delays on the line, Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham said. Earlier, however, some passengers heading to Southern California from Seattle and Northern California had to take buses for part of the trip. Up to 20 Amtrak passengers and crew members taken to hospitals Friday night had been released by Saturday morning, officials said. The driver and passenger of the truck, who Joe Luna of the Ventura County Fire Department said were a husband and wife, were hospitalized with serious injuries. [United Transportation Union, 8-7-05, from Los Angeles Times report]
MARC SENDS APOLOGIES FOR PENN LINE DELAYS: The management of Maryland's MARC commuter train service has apologized to its Penn Line passengers for a series of "major service disruptions" as a result of malfunctioning locomotives. In an e-mail to riders, MARC said that three times over the past two weeks, the locomotive on the 5:37 p.m. train from Washington has broken down - resulting in crowding and delays on later trains. The failures involved high-horsepower electric locomotives MARC bought as an add-on to a purchase of 15 identical locomotives by Amtrak. The locomotive problem is just one of many that have affected MARC in recent months. Trains have been delayed, and sometimes canceled, as a result of freight congestion, switch problems, equipment failure, track inspections and construction projects. MARC provides about 27,000 rides each weekday - about 19,000 of them on the Penn and Camden lines. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-6-05, from Baltimore Sun website report by Michael Dresser]
BNSF SOFTENS GRAIN SHIPPING RATES: BNSF Railway said August 4 it will reduce a planned increase in grain-shipping rates at 52-car grain elevators, which are critical to many Montana ag towns, according to this report by Mike Dennison published by the Great Falls Tribune. But state leaders said the railroad's concession is minimal, and that the rate increase still threatens to shut down the 52-car loading terminals. "It's better than what we had yesterday, but we still do not have a rate that would help to ensure viability of the 52-car facilities," said Richard Owen, executive vice president of the Montana Grain Growers Association. Owen, Governor Brian Schweitzer and Senator Conrad Burns, R-Mont., said they'll continue to pressure the railroad to set the 52-car shipping rates at a level that is affordable and fair. Schweitzer said even if BNSF further adjusts the 52-car rates, it's still using its monopoly status to overcharge Montana farmers for shipping grain to Portland, Ore., for export. The immediate controversy is over BNSF's rates for grain shipped at 52-car elevators in Montana, versus what it charges for grain shipped at 110-car "shuttle" terminals. The railroad wants to move more grain traffic to the 110-car loading terminals, and announced in June it would lower the per-car rate for shipping on these longer trains. At the same time, BNSF said it would increase the rates for grain shipped from 52-car elevators, effective this month. [United Transportation Union, 8-5-05, from Great Falls Tribune article]
COREE CUFF TO JOIN CSXT AS CHIEF ENGINEER-M OF W CAPITAL PROGRAMS: CSX Transportation recently appointed Coree Cuff chief engineer-maintenance of way capital programs. Reporting to Vice President of Engineering Don Bagley, she will assume the position August 15. Cuff most recently held various positions at PECO Energy Co., including director of large account services. She previously served in Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's engineering department. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 8-5-05]
AMTRAK ADDS AUTO CAPACITY TO AUTO TRAIN: Amtrak has taken delivery of 80 new auto carriers for the Auto Train from FreightCar America. Increased capacity and operational flexibility means Amtrak is now allowing up to 120 minivans and SUVs per train, up from just 29, and 250 sedans, up from 187. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 8-5-05]
N.J. TRANSIT TO INCREASE TRACK CAPCITY UNDER HUDSON RIVER: New Jersey Transit announced plans last week to double Northeast Corridor track capacity under the Hudson River into New York Penn Station. Through a $6-billion proposal, two additional tracks would be open by 2015 and would extend NJT's commuter service to a new station under Macy's on 34th Street. The original Pennsylvania Railroad double-track tunnel is currently at capacity and is considered one of the region's biggest bottlenecks. Both NJT and Amtrak would benefit from the new capacity. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 8-5-05]
CRAWFORDSVILLE DEPOT GETTING A FACELIFT: Amtrak's Crawfordsville, Indiana, station is getting a facelift from five high school students. According to the Crawfordsville Journal Review, the project is a partnership between Crawfordsville High School (especially English teacher Helen Hudson), the City of Crawfordsville, Amtrak, the Indiana High Speed Rail Association, and local businesses. The students are using educational grants and donated materials to renovate the station served by Amtrak's Cardinal and Hoosier State. This spares taxpayers the usual costs of station renovation, while engaging the students in experiential education unattainable in a classroom setting. The students have also been active rail advocates, meeting with Amtrak officials, making presentations to community groups, and urging their elected officials to support Amtrak funding. The project will continue in phases through the next school year. [National Assn. of Railroad Passengers, 8-5-05]
PENNSYLVANIA ANNOUNCES $8-MILLION FOR RAIL FREIGHT IMPROVEMENTS: Because of Gov. Edward G. Rendell's commitment to stimulating economic development across Pennsylvania and preserving rail-freight service, the commonwealth has doubled its investment in rail-freight assistance funding from $4.25-million to $8.5-million since he took office. Transportation Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E. today announced that the State Transportation Commission approved 52 projects worth $8-million that are expected to create 2,375 jobs. PennDOT's Rail-Freight Assistance Program funding will be used for the construction, maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of rail lines, rail sidings and grade crossings. [Pa. DOT, 8-4-05]
POWER FAILURE HALTS NEW YORK-PHILADELPHIA TRAIN SERVICE: All Amtrak trains traveling between New York City and Philadelphia were canceled the evening of August 3, inconveniencing thousands of commuters and other travelers. Service was first shut down around 6:30 p.m. because of a power failure in Pennsylvania. Several electrical wires that provide power to the trains were knocked down in the area between Levittown and Grundy, Pa. Service between Philadelphia and Washington D.C. was also reduced. A train left New York shortly before midnight and a spokeswoman said reduced service would likely be restored this morning [Aug.4], according to this New York Times report. A commuter train on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) line apparently knocked down the wires, officials said. Tracy Connell, an Amtrak spokeswoman, said that workers were hoping to have one track available by early morning, which would allow for some reduced service. Trains on the New Jersey Transit lines were affected, but largely restored by the late evening. SEPTA trains were also expected to be back for the morning [Aug.4] commute. Amtrak service to Boston continued as usual last night. Greyhound bus lines also added several buses along its routes to Philadelphia. [United Transportation Union, 8-4-05, from New York Times article]
POUGHKEEPSIE BRIDGE SEEN AS UNIQUE: There's only one thing you really need to know about the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge, according to this report published by the Poughkeepsie Journal. To be sure, there are a great many things one can say about the rusty 116-year-old steel bridge that towers over the Hudson River, a defunct relic from another era, unused since a fire May 8, 1974. At the time it was built, the "Great Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge" - as it was named - was the longest railroad span in the world, and its design was considered a marvel. But the most important thing to know about the bridge is this: The view from its top is unparalleled in the Hudson Valley. At a time when every community on the Hudson is capitalizing on the beauty of the river by creating parks, trails, restaurants and docks, Poughkeepsie and Highland have a completely unique attraction. For years, making a walking path on the railroad bridge has been the goal of Walkway Over The Hudson, the nonprofit group that owns the bridge. In recent months, the group has made progress, and its chairman, Fred Schaeffer, recently invited a reporter for a walk to an observation platform a few hundred feet from the Highland side. A significant amount of time and money are needed to get the bridge into shape before the public can safely visit, and some believe the bridge is an eyesore that should be torn down. Seeing is believing. That's Schaeffer's idea. He's trying to get as many people as he can to walk out onto the bridge. [United Transportation Union, 8-4-05, from Poughkeepsie Journal report]
BNSF MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE IN 3RD PHASE OF PROJECT: BNSF Springfield Division employees are completing the Mississippi River Bridge project by using strategic planning and efficient use of time. The three-year Mississippi River Bridge project is in its third and final stage of improving the floor system on the bridge. During the next 15 weeks, Structures employees will replace 35 floor beams, which are perpendicular to the track. About 40 Structures employees use an eight-hour window each week to replace two floor beams and four stringers. [BNSF Today, 8-3-05]
CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL BOARD RELEASES ANALYSIS: The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) Board of Directors heralded three major milestones August 3 by releasing its Final Program Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS), electing Fran Florez (the first Latina to serve as board chair) and approving an implementation plan that maximizes private sector risk and public accountability, according to this release issued by the CHSRA. "This first phase of the environmental review process illustrated that the high-speed train system will have fewer impacts, create more economic stimulus, and cost less than half as much to build than the alternative of building more highways and airports to meet California's transportation demand," said incoming chairperson Fran Florez. "The environmental review process has given the public the opportunity to help design the high-speed train system. This document is the culmination of environmental analysis, public comment and old-fashioned elbow grease to determine alignments and stations for this sorely needed project. What it boils down to is that we cannot continue to build highways to try to solve California's transportation crises. Through the process we determined some changes needed to be made to respond to public concerns as well as to meet regulatory guidelines," said Florez. The staff, in consultation with the board, made three modifications to the program-level or system-wide environmental analysis:
[California High-Speed Rail Authority, 8-3-05]
AMTRAK TRAIN COLLIDES WITH TRUCK IN NORTH CAROLINA, DERAILS: Two people are dead after a heavy-duty dump truck was struck by an Amtrak passenger train August 2 in south Raleigh, N.C., according to the News and Observer. Killed were the driver and owner of dump truck, Chris McCullough, 34, of Garner, and his passenger, Keith Spence, 33, of Raleigh. Eyewitnesses say they saw the truck speeding down Rush Street just east of Hammond Road toward a rail crossing. The truck, eyewitnesses said, tried to cut around the crossing's guard arms, which had been lowered. The warning lights were flashing. The train, the Carolinian 80 from Charlotte, was unable to stop and hit the truck, spinning it off the tracks and back into Rush Street. Spence and Moore were killed by the impact, and the train's engineer had to be extricated from the locomotive. The extent of the engineer's injuries is unclear. Several cars of the train, which was carrying about 196 in passengers and crew, derailed, including the two front cars. Fourteen from the train were transported to WakeMed with minor injuries. Other passengers had been transported to the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center and other travel arrangements were being made for them. [United Transportation Union, 8-3-05, from News and Observer article]
ENGINEER SUSPENDED FOLLOWING N.J. TRANSIT CRASH: In NJ Transit's first rail collision in almost a decade, a Pascack Valley Line train carrying 300 people hit the rear end of a passenger train that was stopped near the River Edge station last week, officials told the Star-Ledger. The six-car train had been moving as fast as 43 mph within a mile of the stopped train, but the engineer deployed the emergency brake when he realized he was heading for a crash, officials said. That slowed the train to 5 mph before it ran into the second train, which had four cars and about 250 people aboard, officials said. No one suffered any serious injuries in the crash, which occurred at 6:40 p.m. on July 27, officials said. Neither of the trains was damaged. The engineer of the moving train, who has been operating NJ transit trains for three years, has been suspended without pay. Officials declined to release his name. Railroad officials said the engineer faces disciplinary charges for failing to adhere to special speed restrictions the railroad had in place that night after a storm had knocked some trees onto the tracks, official said. [United Transportation Union, 8-3-05, from Star-Ledger article]
EPA SUES UNION PACIFIC OVER UTAH LEAKS: The Environmental Protection Agency on August 2 filed suit against the Union Pacific Railroad Co. for the incurred costs of removing and investigating substances from a Utah site, according to this report published by the Deseret Morning News. Court documents state that hazardous substances, including lead and arsenic, leaked at the Union Pacific Eureka Mills NPL Site located in Eureka. The site, approximately 80 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, has residential areas nearby. Between 2001 and 2002, the EPA cleaned up 71 residential properties in Eureka, court documents state. Federal officials also set up a program to voluntarily test the blood of children at risk each year. The EPA also established educational outreach programs for nearby residents and a voluntary program for "in-home soil and dust sampling." Court documents say the federal government will continue to incur costs as a result of the hazardous leak. [United Transportation Union, 8-3-05, from Deseret Morning News article]
KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN REPORTS 2Q RESULTS: Kansas City Southern today [Aug.3] reported second quarter 2005 financial results, which included the consolidation of TFM's results following the acquisition of control on April 1, 2005. For the second quarter 2005, KCS consolidated revenues were $381.1-million versus $153.9-million in 2004. On a same rail system comparative basis, KCS consolidated second quarter revenues grew 12.5 percent over the 2004 pro forma combined revenues of the Company. [Kansas City Southern, 8-3-05]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN GETS FUNDS FOR MAIN LINE UPGRADE: Norfolk Southern finally got its request - federal money to upgrade its main line to carry double-stacked freight containers between Roanoke and Columbus, Ohio, according to the Roanoke Times. Congress last week appropriated $90-million for this project that encompasses Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio. Of that, $5-million is earmarked for Virginia. This new rail network also plows ground for NS to build intermodal freight yards in the Roanoke Valley and in Prichard, W. Va. In those yards, freight containers will be transferred between trucks and rail cars. When completed, the line, known as the Heartland Corridor, will provide a direct route between Chicago and Norfolk, and all markets in between. For the most part, the money would be used to raise tunnel clearances. [United Transportation Union, 8-3-05, from Roanoke Times article]
WYOMING COAL PRICES SURGE AFTER DERAILMENTS: The price of coal mined in Wyoming's Powder River Basin continues to surge following train derailments that have limited shipments to power plants across the U.S., according to Dow Jones. Basin coal prices for next-month delivery have risen 16 percent over the last seven days to about $11 a ton, as power plants across the Great Plains, the Midwest and the South struggle to keep their inventories above dangerously low levels. Average stockpiles of Wyoming coal had fallen by the end of June to 40 days worth of fuel, about 32 percent lower than normal levels at the beginning of previous summers, according to a power plant survey conducted by Energy Ventures Analysis, an energy consulting firm. Two train derailments in early May on a stretch of track jointly operated by railroad giants Union Pacific Corp. (UNP) and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNI) have reduced coal shipments from the Basin by at least 5 million tons, assuming shipping levels immediately before the derailments, Barbaro said. The lost shipments may actually be as high as 10 million tons assuming the peak levels that prevailed in March. [United Transportation Union, 8-3-05, from Dow Jones article]
UP, CSXT TO OFFER DEDICATED CROSS-COUNTRY PERISHABLES SERVICE: Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation are teaming up to provide a dedicated produce unit-train service between Washington state and New York. To launch in first-quarter 2006, the service will offer a 124-hour transit time with 55-car trains moving intact from origin to destination. The unit trains will feature 64-foot refrigerated box cars, each designed to move perishables - including apples, pears, onions and potatoes - equal to four truckloads. The cars are equipped with enhanced insulation, energy-efficient cooling systems and Global Positioning System monitoring to control temperature. Unit trains will originate in Wallula, Washington, and terminate in Albany, N.Y. UP and CSXT will interchange in Chicago. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 8-3-05]
UTAH TRANSIT AUTHORITY AWARDS CONTRACT FOR BI-LEVEL CARS: The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) recently awarded a $29-million contract to Bombardier Transportation to design, manufacture and deliver 12 bi-level commuter-rail vehicles. UTA will use the cars on a new commuter-rail line between North Weber County and Salt Lake City. The contract includes an option for up to 23 additional cars. Bombardier will build the vehicles at its Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Plattsburgh, N.Y., facilities, and deliver the cars between June and October 2006. [ProgressiveRailroading.com, 8-3-05]
DM&E TO ADD 600 GRAIN CARS: The company that operates Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad expects to add 600 new grain cars to its fleet to handle harvest demands in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa, a railroad official said Aug.2. Forty-eight covered hopper cars arrived in Highmore during the weekend, where they will be loaded with wheat, Lynn Anderson, a senior vice president for the DM&E, said. The rest will be delivered during the next five months at a rate of about 50 cars every two weeks, he said. The addition will cost about $45-million. Large grain harvests in recent years created a need for more rail cars, Anderson said. Most of the new cars will go first to South Dakota and then will be shifted to other states according to demand, he said. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 8-2-05, from Associated Press article]
PAJARO STATION WILL OFFER TRAINS TO BAY AREA: Commuters from Watsonville to Silicon Valley, California, are one step closer to riding a train to work, according to this report by Genevieve Bookwalter published by the Santa Cruz Sentinel. In the $286.4-billion federal transportation bill passed July 29, Congress approved a rail project from Gilroy to Salinas, via a proposed station in Pajaro. While no money was included in the bill for the service, Monterey County officials have the OK they need to seek federal funds. Service is expected to begin in 2009. Also approved was proposed service along the Monterey branch line, which would allow southbound Watsonville riders to transfer in Castroville and travel to Monterey. The Caltrain commuter service, which now runs mostly between San Francisco and San Jose, would extend routes from San Francisco to Gilroy down through Pajaro, Castroville and Salinas. Trains are expected to start with two round trips on weekdays between Gilroy and Salinas. Commuters could then connect in Gilroy to San Jose and other points in the San Francisco Bay Area. Within 10 years that should grow to four round trips on weekdays, with a capacity for six round trips, said Christina Watson, associate planner for the Monterey transit agency. [United Transportation Union, 8-2-05, from Santa Cruz Sentinel report by Genevieve Bookwalter]
BNSF HIKES GRAIN SHIPPING RATES: Just as North Dakota's grain dealers ready for this year's crops, they're bracing for higher railroad shipping costs, the Fargo Forum reports. BNSF, the state's largest railroad, is phasing out a shipping rate for 52-car trains. All but the state's largest elevators will be left with a 26-car shipping rate of about 6 cents more per bushel, Public Service Commissioner Tony Clark said. The rate changes are expected to be finalized by Aug. 15, Clark said. BNSF's pricing strategy puts the state's smaller elevators at an even greater competitive disadvantage against large "shuttle elevators" that pay lower rates for loading 110-car trains, said Steve Strege, executive vice president of the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association. The railroad "is favoring 110-car elevators because they are simply the most efficient method for transporting grain," BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said. BNSF is eliminating 52-car trains because exporters want 110-car shipments, while processors prefer 26-car shipments, he said. The railroad's rate strategies hurt rural North Dakota, said Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. "The result of it is those in North Dakota that are the most vulnerable, small communities and small elevators, will be hit the hardest," he said. Many of the state's elevators, at the request of BNSF, made costly upgrades over the years so they could load 52-car trains, Strege said. Clark said those same elevators are now "having the rug pulled out from under them." To ship one 3,400-bushel railcar loaded with wheat or other crops, grain dealers will pay about $200 more. "This is not chump change when you're loading a lot of cars," Clark said. "That is money that comes out of farmers' pockets because it gets passed along." In a letter dated July 26, Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., urged BNSF President Matt Rose to reconsider eliminating the company's 52-car rate. [United Transportation Union, 8-2-05, from Forum report]
GENESEE & WYOMING REPORTS IMPROVED EARNINGS: Genesee & Wyoming Inc. reported Aug.2 that net income in the second quarter of 2005 increased 4.9 percent to $11.4-million, compared to net income of $10.8-million in the second quarter of 2004, according to a company press release. GWI's diluted earnings per share in the second quarter of 2005 increased 5.1 percent to $0.41 with 27.7 million shares outstanding, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.39 with 27.5 million shares outstanding in the second quarter of 2004. GWI's results in the second quarter of 2005 include a $0.7-million non-cash foreign currency translation adjustment on intercompany debt in Mexico, which reduced GWI's diluted EPS by approximately $0.02. [Genesee & Wyoming Inc., 8-2-05]
RAILROAD TRESPASSER DEATHS ON THE RISE: The Federal Railroad Administration reports that 203 trespassers were killed on railroads in this year's first five months, a 14 percent increase over the 178 trespasser deaths reported in the same period of last year. Grade crossing collisions caused 146 fatalities, down 8.8 percent from the prior-year period. Safety statistics posted on the FRA's website on Aug.1 show a total of 5,151 accidents/incidents reported in January-May this year, down 12.6 percent from the 2004 period. Train accidents declined 9.4 precent to 1,222, though fatalities rose from four to 21. Collisions were down 6.7 percent to 97, and derailments decreased 6.65 percent to 900. [RailwayAge.com, 8-1-05]
UNION PACIFIC PLANNING TO HIRE 255 EMPLOYEES THIS YEAR: Union Pacific Railroad is planning to hire 255 new employees nationwide this year. One reason new employees are needed is a change to the Railroad Retirement Act in 2002 that allowed railroad workers to retire at 60 instead of 65 and still receive maximum benefits. "We need to hire in an effort to replace those that were retiring as well as increase the work staff a little bit to handle the influx of goods and the increase in traffic," Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said. "We're still seeing extremely strong volumes across the railroad," he said. "A lot of that is the economy. Intermodal traffic - containers on a flatcar - that type of service continues to grow." More than 100 new hires are planned in Wyoming - along with 61 in California, 28 in Nebraska and 22 in Oregon. [United Transportation Union, 8-1-05, from Associated Press report]
HIGHWAY, BUS AND TRANSIT SPENDING BILL PASSED BY CONGRESS: House and Senate lawmakers have sent to the president a $287-billion spending bill for highway and mass-transit construction projects over the next six years. Although the focus of this spending bill is primarily highway and bridge construction and reconstruction, more than $50-billion is earmarked for specific bus and rail transit projects. Among safety provisions is one affecting 15-passenger vans, which frequently transport train crews and are said to have a high rollover risk. The bill will make such vans subject to federal crash tests, including frontal and side impact testing as well as rollover testing. There also are highway-rail grade-crossing spending provisions, as well as grants, federal loans and loan guarantee provisions for intermodal-related freight railroad projects. A study of the effect of 25 years of railroad deregulation is ordered. Amtrak funding is contained in other legislation still being considered in Congress. [United Transportation Union, 8-1-05]
EARLIER NEWS STORIES, CLICK HERE
.