Railfanning.org News Wire

Woman Falls on Metro Tracks

January 20, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — A 68-year-old woman fell on the tracks at Washington Metro’s Gallery Place station on the red line on Jan. 20. Authorities initially said the woman was hit by a train, but later revised their account. After falling, the woman was taken to a hotpital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The woman’s fall comes during an extremely busy travel period on the Metro and more passengers than normal are using the subway system to attend the presidential inauguration. Hundreds of thousands of people attending the Inaugural Opening Ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial helped Metro set a new Sunday ridership

Metrorail Sets new Sunday Record for Ridership

January 20, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Hundreds of thousands of people attending the Inaugural Opening Ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial helped Metro set a new Sunday ridership in the transit agency’s 32-year history on Sunday, Jan. 18. Riders took 616,324 trips, smashing the previous all-time high ridership day for a Sunday by 75,000 trips. Combined with 86,836 Metrobus trips, the Metro system carried about 703,000 trips. Yesterday’s high rail ridership also makes it the third highest overall weekend ridership day in Metro’s history. The highest weekend ridership day occurred on June 8, 1991, when 786,358 trips were recorded for a Desert Storm rally. The

OneRail Coalition: Encourage Transportation Policies that IncreaseMobility, Reduce Emissions, Promote Economic Growth

January 19, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Environmental, freight and passenger rail groups have come together with reform-minded transportation experts to form a coalition that will advance rail programs. The coalition, called the OneRail Coalition, said it will encourage public policies recognizing rail as a critical element of the national transportation system and an essential part of the future economic growth and environmental well-being of the nation. Members include American Public Transportation Association, Amtrak, American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association, Association of American Railroads, Building America’s Future, National Association of Railroad Passengers, Natural Resources Defense Council, Railway Supply Institute, States for Passenger Rail Coalition,

Tickets Go on Sale for Atlantic City Express Service

January 18, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The Atlantic City Express Service (ACES), offering the only direct train service between New York City and Atlantic City, announced that tickets are now available for weekend departures via www.acestrain.com or www.amtrak.com. Introductory ticket prices will start at $50 for a one-way coach seat and $75 for a one-way first class seat. Customers may also book the train’s lounge for four passengers with prices starting at $400. The ACES train will officially launch on Feb. 6. “We are excited to open ticketing to the public and welcome those eager to try this new option connecting two

STB Asks for Comments on Clean Railroads Act of 2008

January 14, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requesting comments on proposed rules to implement The Clean Railroads Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110-432), concerning solid waste rail transfer facilities. The proposed rules also will serve as interim rules until completion of the rulemaking proceeding. The Clean Railroads Act, enacted in October 2008, adds new sections 10908-10 to Title 49 of the United States Code. Those sections limit the Board’s authority related to solid waste rail transfer facilities and expand the authority of states to regulate these facilities. The proposed rules address such topics as

CSX Announces Preliminary Fourth Quarter Results

January 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. announced preliminary fourth quarter earnings per share of 63 cents. These results include a noncash impairment charge of approximately 27 cents per share related to the write-down of its investment in The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Excluding this charge and insurance gains of 1 cent in the prior year quarter, comparable earnings per share would be approximately 90 cents, which represents a 6 percent increase over the prior year quarter. Overall revenues are expected to be approximately $2.7 billion for the quarter, up 4 percent from the prior year period. This

Service Alert: Partial Restoration of Amtrak Service in Pacific Northwest

January 9, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

Amtrak will resume partial train service throughout the Pacific Northwest on Jan. 10. Service had been disrupted on several routes due to extreme weather conditions in the region. Full restoration of service for all routes is expected on Jan. 11. Amtrak Cascades There will be no train service the morning or January 10 between Seattle and Portland. Limited train operations will resume in the afternoon. Train service between Seattle and Bellingham or Vancouver, B.C. will remain suspended in the morning, with alternative motorcoach transportation provided. Normal train operations will resume in the afternoon. Train service between Portland and Eugene, Ore.

CSX Announces Approval of Lawsuit Settlement

January 9, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla./ — CSX Corp. announced that a federal court in New York has issued an order preliminarily approving a settlement reached by all parties to a civil action brought by plaintiff, Deborah Donoghue, a shareholder of CSX, to recover so-called “short-swing” profits under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 alleged to have been realized by defendants The Children’s Investment Fund and 3G Capital Partners LP in connection with their purchases and sales of CSX securities. CSX is party to the suit in name only, which was brought for the benefit of CSX, the railroad said in

Mica: U.S. Takes Next Step Toward High-Speed Passenger Rail

January 2, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation has taken the next step in bringing true high-speed passenger rail to the United States, for the first time requesting private sector participation in the design, finance, construction, operation and maintenance of high-speed service, Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla., said. “This is the most exciting development in U.S. passenger rail in years,” Mica said. “High-speed rail is an efficient, effective and environmentally friendly method of transportation, and a much-needed alternative to our congested highways and airspace.” Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation will begin accepting expressions of interest to finance, design, build,

Six Restored Red Streetcars Roll

January 2, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW ORLEANS — Six of the 24 candy-apple red Canal Street streetcars that fell victim to the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina’s levee breaks are rolling down Canal Street, on North Carrollton Avenue to picturesque City Park, and along the majestic Mississippi Riverfront. On Dec. 12, the Regional Transit Authority held a re-dedication ceremony of the red streetcars Friday morning and when the ceremony concluded, the streetcars were put into revenue service. Mary E. Peters, Secretary, United States Department of Transportation, was among those enjoying the first ceremonial ride on the red streetcars. “In the case of New Orleans’ streetcars, seeing