Railfanning.org News Wire

Canadian Pacific to Review Federal Court Grain Hopper Car Maintenance Decision

December 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific recently said it responded to the recent decision by the Federal Court of Appeal dismissing the appeal filed by CP regarding the adjustment to the maximum revenue entitlement under the Canada Transportation Act. CP said it will review the court’s decision and available legal recourse. The court upheld the retroactive adjustment made by the CTA on February 19 resulting in a decrease of $23M in what CP was entitled to earn for the movement of grain for a portion of the 2007/2008 crop year. CP said it will review its products and pricing as it relates to this decision and will communicate this to customers in

BNSF Honors Three Shortline Railroads for Partnership Excellence

December 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Columbia Basin Railroad (CBRW), Louisiana & Delta Railroad (L&D) and the Texas Northwestern Railway (TXNW) each received a BNSF Shortline Achievement Award at this year’s 13th Annual Shortline Conference. “BNSF is pleased to honor these shortline railroads for their ability to provide intense customer focus, resourcefulness, operational flexibility, and a local presence in their communities,” said Pete Rickershauser, BNSF vice president, Network Development. “These shortlines have gone beyond our expectations to build new business for our railroads and new service products for our shared customers. We see their roles expanding in the future as they bring new customers and new products to the rail network,

Feds: Possible al-Qaida Plot Against NYC Transit System

November 28, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — Federal officials are warning of a possible al-Qaida terror plot against New York City’s transit system. The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation said officials have received a “plausible but unsubstantiated” report indicating a threat during the upcoming holiday season. According to investigators, al-Qaida members may have discussed targeting New York and any such plot could include using suicide bombers or explosives placed on subway and passenger rail systems.. The conversations took place in late September. Despite the warning, officials said they have no specific details to confirm the plot has developed beyond what they are calling “aspirational planning.” Officials said they issued

Honda Recognizes Norfolk Southern for Performance Excellence

November 28, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — American Honda Motor Company Inc. has awarded Norfolk Southern Corp., in competition with all assembly plant and port locations shipping Honda vehicles, the 2008 Performance Excellence Award for Rail Origin Carrier of the Year for service provided at their Lincoln, Ala., automobile manufacturing plant. The award recognizes transit performance, inventory control and empty rail car supply, and audit performance. Norfolk Southern began its service to the Lincoln plant in 2003 when the construction of the rail-served vehicle loading facility was completed. “Norfolk Southern is honored to receive this award, which recognizes the hard work and dedicated efforts of the NS team during 2008 in delivering superior service

CP Holiday Train Begins Journey Across Seven States for Food Pantries

November 28, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

ROUSES POINT, N.Y. — On the eve of thanksgiving, the residents of Rouses Point had much to be thankful as Canadian Pacific held its first 2008 Holiday Train event in the U.S. The Holiday Train will eventually make its way to Carpio, N.D., on Dec. 15, raising food, money and awareness for food pantries along the way. In all, thousands of people in more than 50 communities in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota will experience the Holiday Train’s important mission in the fight against hunger. At the same time, a second identically-decorated Holiday Train will be rolling across Canada with the same goal for food

Poll: Safety Concerns Drive Seven in Ten Rochester Residents to Oppose Increased Freight Traffic through Minn. City

November 28, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Safety, potential accidents and quality of life concerns are prompting nearly 70 percent of Rochester residents to oppose plans to increase freight train traffic through their city, a new survey shows. The survey of more than 500 Rochester residents, conducted October 8-16, also shows strong public sentiment for area elected officials to resist plans to expand freight rail traffic in the city. The Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) recently acquired the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) and associated tracks through downtown Rochester. During the acquisition, CP officials outlined plans to upgrade tracks through Rochester in anticipation of increasing the frequency and speed of trains through the city.

FRA Announces Disaster Relief Funding for Small Railroads

November 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration is accepting applications from states for $20 million in grant funding to help small Class II and Class III railroads that sustained infrastructure damage as a result of recent natural disasters. Under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair Grant Program, federal grant funds may be used to repair and rehabilitate damage to railroad infrastructure sustained due to hurricanes, floods, and similar events in counties declared to be major disasters by the President from Jan. 1 to Nov. 6. Among the possible uses of the funds are restoration of railroad rights-of-way, bridges, and signals. Prospective grantees must exhaust all other federal and state resources prior to

BNSF Adds Third Rail Line through Cajon Pass

November 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas –BNSF Railway has completed construction of a third main rail line through Cajon Pass in Southern California that will increase capacity on BNSF’s Chicago to Los Angeles Transcontinental (Transcon) route from 100 to 150 trains a day. The $90 million project adds almost 16 miles of third main track to BNSF’s route into the Los Angeles Basin. Cajon Pass is located between the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountain ranges, just north of the City of San Bernardino. Approximately 75 to 100 freight and passenger trains currently traverse this route on a daily basis. Each intermodal train on these tracks can take more than 250 long-haul trucks

FRA Announces Funding for Proposed Maglev Projects East of the Mississippi River

November 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration is now accepting applications from states or state designated authorities for $45 million in grant funding for proposed magnetic levitation (maglev) projects located east of the Mississippi River. The SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008 limits the eligible projects to those in or between: Pittsburgh, Baltimore-Washington, and Atlanta-Chattanooga. FRA may award one or more grants which can be used for preconstruction planning activities and the capital costs of the fixed guideway infrastructure.

Traveling Between N.J. Transit, SEPTA Easier Than Ever

November 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — Just in time for the busy holiday travel season, N.J. Transit and SEPTA began a six-month effort promoting the ease of traveling between the two systems — including trips between Philadelphia and New York — with a simple connection at the new Trenton Transit Center. “We’ve made it easier than ever for customers to transfer between N.J. Transit and SEPTA, including a $79 million investment in Trenton Transit Center and new joint ticketing options,” said N.J. Transit Executive Director Richard Sarles. “Now, we want to get the word out and encourage customers to take advantage of the convenience and savings.” SEPTA customers have easy access to Newark