March 2008 – Railfanning.org

Buy One Get One Free on Amtrak for Travel on National Train Day

March 31, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak passengers can celebrate the first annual National Train Day by traveling by train and taking a friend along for free with Amtrak’s Buy One Get One Free offer. This special offer is for one free companion ticket with the purchase of one full-fare adult ticket and is available for sale April 4th only for travel on May 10th, National Train Day. Amtrak is celebrating its first annual National Train Day to raise awareness of the vital role rail plays in our nation’s transportation system. On May 10th, Amtrak will host events at its stations in Washington, New

Norfolk Southern 2007 Annual Report: All In A Day’s Work

March 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corp. tells the story of a record-setting year through the lens of a single day in its 2007 Annual Report, posted on the company’s Web site. The report, titled “Thoroughbred 24/7,” features photographs from throughout the transportation network on Oct. 23, 2007, a day on which the railroad moved tons of commodities without a single reportable employee injury. For the 18th consecutive year, Norfolk Southern earned the top industry award for workplace safety. Railway operating revenues, income from railway operations, and diluted earnings per share all set records. In his letter to stockholders, Chairman, President

CSX Files Federal Suit, Alleging Violations of Federal Securities Laws

March 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. has filed a federal lawsuit against The Children’s Investment Fund (TCI) and 3G Capital Partners (3G), alleging violations of federal securities laws. TCI and 3G are hedge funds that formed a group to nominate a slate of directors to stand for election at the 2008 CSX annual meeting. CSX filed the lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. CSX alleges TCI and 3G violated federal securities laws, including violations of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The lawsuit alleges, in part, that TCI employed swap

Trains on Northeast Corridor Come to Standstill

March 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — Trains along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor came to a standstill because of electrical problems, authorities said. “It was done as a precautionary measure. None of the trains lost power,” The Associated Press quoted Amtrak Spokesman Cliff Cole as saying. The voltage in the overhead wires dropped from 12,000 volts to 9,000 volts, though an exact cause was not immediately known. Trains that were in tunnels moved to nearby stations, according to published reports. In addition to Amtrak, N.J. Transit trains were also impacted by the problem. — Railfanning.org News Wire

Lumber Car Strikes MBTA Commuter Train

March 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CANTON, Mass. — About 150 people were injured when a lumber car crashed into a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter train Tuesday afternoon, March 25, authorities said. “All the lights went out and people were flying down the aisles and people were on the floor of the car,” one passenger told The Boston Herald newspaper. “The car began filling up with dust and the scary part was part of the woods was burning up outside the doors.” The train was en route from Boston’s South Station to Stoughton at the time of the crash. An estimated 300 people were on

NTSB: 2007 Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Rail Accident Was Failure to Provide Signal Protection for Track Maintenance Workers

March 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of the collision involving a Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority train with a maintenance truck in Woburn, Mass., was the failure of the train dispatcher to maintain blocking that provided signal protection for the track segment occupied by the maintenance-of-way work crew, and the failure of the work crew to apply a shunting device that would have provided redundant signal protection for their track segment. “This tragic accident occurred because several employees of the railroad failed to do a very important part of their job,” NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker

Train Accidents Decline for Third Consecutive Year, Other Rail Safety Data Improves

March 17, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The number of train accidents across the Nation declined for the third consecutive year according to preliminary 2007 data released by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters. “Our strong focus on improving rail safety is achieving significant results for three years running now,” Peters said, noting there has been 833 fewer train accidents, or a 24.6 percent reduction when comparing the period from 2004 to 2007. Peters stressed that some of the safety gains are attributable to aggressive implementation of the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) National Rail Safety Action Plan first launched in May 2005. It

Amtrak Cascades Service North of Seattle Disrupted by Freight Derailment

March 17, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

Due to a BNSF freight train derailment on Monday, March 17, north of Seattle, the railroad is temporarily closed in the area. As a result, all train service is currently suspended between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Trains #510 and #517, between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. are cancelled with alternate transportation provided. Trains #513 and #516 are cancelled between Portland/Seattle and Bellingham, with alternate transportation provided. Normal service is anticipated by the morning of March 18.

Wabtec Receives Orders Worth $100 Million to Supply Components for NY Subway Cars

March 13, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WILMERDING, Pa. — Wabtec Corp. said it has received orders worth about $100 million to supply components for New York City subway cars being purchased under the city’s R-160 program. The contracts represent components for the first option order of 620 cars, which are to be delivered over the next two years. Under the R-160 program, New York City has now ordered 1,280 cars and has an option to order an additional 420. The cars are being built by ALSTOM Transportation and Kawasaki. Wabtec has been supplying components for the base order of 660 cars and will now provide the

China Ministry of Railways Chooses Verint IP Video Solution to Enhance Security of Beijing-Tianjin High-Speed Rail System

March 11, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

MELVILLE, N.Y. — The People’s Republic of China Ministry of Railways has selected Verint System Inc.’s Nextiva Critical Infrastructure IP video solution with integrated analytics to enhance the security of certain portions of the Beijing-Tianjin high-speed passenger rail system. The first high-speed rail system built in mainland China, the Beijing-Tianjin circuit will feature trains reaching speeds in excess of 300 kilometers per hour. The 74.6-mile rail system will connect the cities of Beijing and Tianjin and is scheduled to be fully operational by August of 2008 to support passenger transit at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. “Verint is pleased