February 2010 – Railfanning.org

BNSF Reduces Transit Schedules on 60 Percent of its Domestic Premium Intermodal Traffic

February 28, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Co. announced that it has reduced transit schedules on 60 percent of its Domestic Intermodal Premium Container traffic, and added 16 more days of service. “These changes are a direct result of feedback from our domestic carrier customers on what they need to attract more over-the-road freight to a truck-rail intermodal solution,” said George Duggan, BNSF vice president, Domestic Intermodal. One of the changes includes reducing transit time by 7 to 10 hours on BNSF’s premier Transcontinental route between Los Angeles/San Bernardino and Chicago, giving customers a morning availability and allowing for same day delivery.

Honolulu Mayor, FTA Administrator Discuss Honolulu Rail Transit Project

February 27, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Honolulu City Council Chair Todd Apo met with FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff to discuss the progress of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project.

WMATA to Repair Door Control Units on Nearly Half of Rail Fleet

February 27, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Washington Metro will repair door control units on 546 rail cars, which will enhance passenger safety once Metro resumes automatic train operations.

Union Pacific Railroad Investing Nearly $42 Million to Improve Rail Lines in Arizona

February 26, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Union Pacific Railroad is investing nearly $42 million to improve its existing rail lines in Arizona. Projects under way in the first quarter 2010 include track renewal work in the Phoenix and Mesa areas, railroad tie replacement in Union Pacific’s Phoenix and Tucson rail yards and railroad tie replacement on Union Pacific’s main line between Casa Grande and Yuma. When work is complete, crews will have installed 156,000 wood and 58,000 concrete railroad ties and 24 miles of welded rail and spread 140,000 tons of rock ballast to ensure a stable roadbed. The projects began in January

CSX Intermodal and Union Pacific Railroad Announce UMAX Domestic Interline Container Program

February 25, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — UMAX, a new domestic interline container program created by CSX Intermodal and Union Pacific Railroad, will provide customers access to more than 20,000 containers and expanded market reach across North America. UMAX will feature more than 600 service lanes supported by faster and more frequent train schedules. UMAX launches March 29, 2010. “UMAX will offer extensive market access and expanded capacity across a nationwide intermodal network,” said John Kaiser, Union Pacific vice president and general manager – Intermodal. “Union Pacific and CSX Intermodal are committed to delivering market-competitive service and value to our customers, providing truck-competitive schedules

NTSB to FRA: Require Audio and Image Recorders on Locomotives

February 24, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board makes the following recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration: Require the installation, in all controlling locomotive cabs and cab car operating compartments, of crash- and fire-protected inward- and outward-facing audio and image recorders capable of providing recordings to verify that train crew actions are in accordance with rules and procedures that are essential to safety as well as train operating conditions.

Canadian Pacific Railway Declares Dividend

February 23, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

CALGARY — The Board of Directors of Canadian Pacific Railway declared a quarterly dividend of twenty four and three quarter cents ($0.2475) Canadian per share on the outstanding Common Shares. The dividend is payable on April 26, 2010, to holders of record at the close of business on March 26, 2010, and is an eligible dividend pursuant to subsection 89(14) of the Income Tax Act.

CSX Corporation Announces Offers to Exchange Outstanding Debt Securities for New Notes and Cash

February 22, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. announced the commencement of private offers to exchange certain of its outstanding debt securities for a new series of 6.220 percent notes due 2040 and cash. The Exchange Offers are being conducted upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offering memorandum dated February 22, 2010 and the related letter of transmittal. The Exchange Offers are only made, and copies of the offering documents will only be made available, to a holder of the Existing Notes who has certified its status as a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A

Three on Trestle Killed When Struck by Train

February 21, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Three teenage girls were killed after they were struck by a freight train. Authorities said they were crossing a railroad trestle when they were struck by a Florida East Coast Train.

NTSB Adds Improving Transit Railcar Design to ‘Most Wanted’ List

February 19, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board issued its 2010 Federal Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements, adding rail, aviation and marine issues, and updating the status of other issues on the list. At the same time, the Board removed the issue areas dealing with improved protection for school bus passengers and fatigue in the pipeline industry. “Every one of the hundreds of currently open safety recommendations address concerns that the Safety Board has uncovered in its accident investigations,” NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman said. “But the recommendations on the Most Wanted list represent those improvements that can have