Railfanning.org News Wire

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BNSF

Shareholders Approve Burlington Northern Santa Fe Transaction with Berkshire Hathaway

February 11, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
FORT WORTH, Texas — Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favor of the company’s acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. In all, preliminary results show that approximately 70 percent of BNSF issued and outstanding shares not owned by Berkshire or its affiliates were voted in favor of the transaction, above the 66 2/3 percent required. Additionally, holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of BNSF voted in favor. Both of these votes were required under Delaware law to adopt the merger agreement and were reported at a shareholder meeting held today at BNSF
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Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern Foundation Awards $5.7 Million in 2009

February 11, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Foundation, the charitable giving affiliate of Norfolk Southern Corp., awarded grants worth more than $5.7 million to nonprofit charitable organizations in 2009. The grants included $1.47 million in employee matching gifts in support of 535 organizations. Grants other than matching gifts went to 329 organizations in Norfolk Southern’s operating territory. The Foundation contributed to 75 United Way campaigns plus other health and human services nonprofits ($1,600,300), educational institutions ($1,100,587), cultural and arts groups ($1,145,478), and civic, community, and environmental organizations ($402,750). Among the largest recipients were the United Ways in Norfolk and Roanoke, Va., and
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Amtrak

Amtrak Enhances Security Measures in Pacific Northwest for Winter Games

February 9, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
SEATTLE – With two daily Amtrak Cascades trains operating to Vancouver, B.C., Amtrak is stepping up its overall security measures in the Pacific Northwest as part of its preparation for the 2010 Winter Games. “Amtrak is working closely with our partners to provide passengers a safe and secure journey during the Games,” said Amtrak Police Chief John O’Connor, noting increased passenger ridership and activities are expected. Amtrak Police is supporting local, state and federal counterterrorism efforts including participating in U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Visible Intermodal Prevention & Response (VIPR) teams that bring to bear specialized capabilities in monitoring for
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Amtrak

Major Upgrades Set for East and West Coast Amtrak Maintenance Facilities

February 9, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON – Amtrak is awarding two contracts with a combined value of $49.5 million for major upgrades of its maintenance facilities located in Los Angeles, Calif., and in Hialeah, Fla., near Miami. The so-called American Recovery and Reinvestment Act economic stimulus program is funding both projects. “Amtrak is committed to making the investments needed to keep our equipment clean and in good working order for our passengers and state partners,” President and CEO Joe Boardman said. He also noted each upgraded facility will be modern, efficient and capable of handling the current work levels as well as projected future service
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Short Line/Regional

Genesee & Wyoming Reports Results for the Fourth Quarter of 2009

February 8, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
GREENWICH, Conn. — Genesee & Wyoming Inc. reported net income in the fourth quarter of 2009 of $18.3 million, compared with net income of $25.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. GWI’s diluted earnings per share (EPS) in the fourth quarter of 2009 were $0.44 with 41.3 million weighted average shares outstanding, compared with diluted EPS of $0.70 with 36.4 million weighted average shares outstanding in the fourth quarter of 2008. GWI’s results for the fourth quarter of 2009 included gains on the sale of assets of $0.8 million ($0.5 million after-tax, or $0.01 per diluted share). Fourth quarter
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Commuter Rail

NTSB Schedules Heading as Part of Fatal WMATA Wreck Investigation

February 4, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board released additional information about the Board’s scheduled public hearing as part of its ongoing investigation into the cause of the collision of two Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail Red Line trains. The collision occurred on June 22, 2009, between the Fort Totten and Takoma stations in Washington, D.C. As a result of this accident, there were nine fatalities and numerous injuries. The hearing, which will now extend to three days, will convene at 9 a.m. on Feb. 23 at the NTSB’s Board Room and Conference Center, 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. The agenda for the hearing, which will focus not only
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Commuter Rail

NTSB Sets WMATA Hearing

February 4, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board released additional information about the Board’s scheduled public hearing as part of its ongoing investigation into the cause of the collision of two Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail Red Line trains. The collision occurred on June 22, 2009, between the Fort Totten and Takoma stations in Washington, D.C. As a result of this accident, there were nine fatalities and numerous injuries. The hearing, which will now extend to three days, will convene at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at the NTSB’s Board Room and Conference Center, 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. The agenda for the hearing, which will focus
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Canadian National

CN Announces New $100M Calgary Logistics Park

February 4, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
CALGARY — CN announced plans to establish a new $100-million CN Calgary Logistics Park  in Conrich, located in Rocky View County north east of Calgary. The 680-acre park is planned to include a state-of-the-art intermodal terminal with room for customers to co-locate with CN and custom build their facility in place. The Logistics Park will be designed to include a multi commodity transload and warehouse facility, an automotive compound, and a liquid/bulk transload and distribution facility. The site is strategically located a few miles east of the Calgary Airport, on Twp Road 250/ McKnight Boulevard, providing fluid access to Stoney Trail
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Miscellaneous

Study: Railroad rates increasing since 2004

February 1, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — An independent team of consultants charged with looking at competitiveness in the U.S. rail industry has found that railroad rates have been steadily increasing since 2004, with a particularly steep increase in 2008. But Christensen Associates Inc. found that the rate increases were driven by fluctuating fuel prices and other costs and did not appear to reflect a greater exercise of railroad market power over captive shippers. The updated study, which now includes data from 1987 through 2008, found that a greater share of traffic in 2007 and 2008 moved at rates less than 180 percent of variable costs than in 2005 and 2006. Variable costs include fuel,