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FRA

FRA Proposes Higher Fines for Violations of Federal Rail Safety Regulations

WASHINGTON – The civil penalty guideline amounts assessed against railroads for violating numerous federal rail safety regulations would be substantially increased under a proposal announced by Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman. “Higher fines across all categories of federal regulations will encourage railroads to focus on safety compliance and improve the rail industry’s overall performance,” Boardman stated, noting that the proposed statements of agency policy would double the current guideline civil penalty amounts for most violations. Boardman explained that FRA evaluated each of the more than 2,000 provisions of the federal rail safety regulations using a five-point severity scale. The

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Union Pacific

UP: Moving Record Trainloads of Coal

OMAHA, Neb. – With winter energy needs nearing their peak, Union Pacific is moving record trainloads of coal from Wyoming’s Southern Powder River Basin (SPRB) and coal-producing mines in Colorado and Utah. During November, Union Pacific moved 20 million tons of coal from the SPRB and Colorado and Utah, an increase of nearly 8 percent over November 2005. The railroad posted its third best average daily performance in the SPRB, averaging 35.7 trains per day. The movement of Colorado and Utah coal posted its best daily train numbers of the year in November, averaging 11.6 trains per day. Union Pacific

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Commuter Rail

New Signs announce January Yellow Line Extension to Fort Totten

WASHINGTON – Metro officials are starting to install more than 5,000 signs and maps in the Metrorail system that reflect the extension of the Yellow Line to Fort Totten. The extension will be effective starting Dec. 31. The Metro Board in April agreed to extend the Yellow Line from Mt. Vernon Sq/7th Street-Convention Center to the Fort Totten Metrorail station during off-peak hours (weekdays, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 7 p.m. to closing, and weekends) as part of the 18-month pilot. The District of Columbia will cover the $5.75 million cost of expanding service. By extending the Yellow Line to

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Amtrak

Service Restored on Missouri-Sponsored Amtrak Service on St. Louis-Kansas City Route

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Amtrak, the Missouri Department of Transportation and Union Pacific are celebrating the restoration of regular twice-daily round-trip trains on the St. Louis-Kansas City Missouri Mules route. “The interrupted service has been frustrating for several months for passengers,” said Missouri State Senate President Pro Tem Michael R. Gibbons. “We can all be thankful for the return of safer and smoother full service in time for the holiday season.” The celebration marks a $32 million rehabilitation of the 283-mile route, which is primarily owned by UP. Nearly 70 miles of track has been improved to make rail service

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Amtrak

Amtrak Service Alert: All Illinois, Missouri Trains To and From St. Louis Will Operate Tuesday

ST. LOUIS – All Amtrak service between Chicago and St. Louis in Illinois and between Kansas City and St. Louis in Missouri is restored as of Tuesday, Dec. 5, following a severe winter storm that disrupted Union Pacific Railroad portions of the routes northeast and west of St. Louis. All five Chicago-St. Louis round-trips will operate this Tuesday, along with both Kansas City-St. Louis round-trips. Service by Amtrak Texas Eagle Trains 21 & 22 between Chicago and San Antonio, Texas, via St. Louis, and service by Amtrak Southwest Chief Trains 3 & 4 between Chicago and Los Angeles, via Kansas

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Miscellaneous

Governor Rendell Announces $2.6 Million Investment in Rail Infrastructure Projects

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Gov. Edward G. Rendell has announced the investment of $2.6 million in 14 rail-freight projects across Pennsylvania. The projects are geared to preserve essential rail freight service in some areas, while stimulating economic development by generating new service in others, Rendell said in a news release. The investments represent the second phase of the 2006 Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP). “Investments in rail freight help fuel our ongoing economic recovery,” said Rendell, who this year increased the RFAP program from $8.5 million to $10.5 million. “Rail is an increasingly popular means of moving goods, not only throughout

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Miscellaneous

Wabtec Completes Acquisition of Becorit GmbH, a Leading European Rail Equipment Manufacturer

WILMERDING, Pa. – Wabtec Corp. has completed the acquisition of Becorit GmbH, a leading manufacturer of technology-based friction products for the European railway industry, for $52.2 million in cash. Last week, Wabtec announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire the company from U.K.-based BBA Aviation plc. Wabtec expects the acquisition to be accretive immediately. Based in Germany, Becorit has annual sales of about $30 million. Becorit manufactures a variety of brake shoes, pads and friction linings for passenger transit cars, freight cars and locomotives, including high-speed applications. The company also makes friction products for industrial markets such