2008 – Page 11 – Railfanning.org

DOT: New Funding to Improve Intercity Passenger Rail

October 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

RICHMOND, Va. – The Department of Transportation is taking a new approach to funding intercity passenger rail projects that will lead to improved service and better on-time performance across the country, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters said. Peters released new data today indicating that Americans drove 3.6 percent less, or 9.6 billion miles fewer, in July 2008 than July 2007. Since last November, Americans have driven 62.6 billion miles less than they did over the same nine-month period last year. Meanwhile transit ridership is up 11 percent, and in July, Amtrak carried more passengers than in any single month

SEPTA to Display Mock-Up of New Silverliner V

October 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

PHILADELPHIA — The public to get a glimpse of SEPTA’s future regional rail cars with a display of a mock-up version of the new Silverliner V car at Suburban Station on Oct. 2 during a special ceremony beginning at noon. The mock-up of the Silverliner V car will remain on display at Suburban Station from from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 2 through Oct. 16 (weekdays only) to provide an extended opportunity for everyone to “steel” a peek into the future of SEPTA. The mock-up was built to help engineers in the design and manufacturing process for the fleet

Genesee & Wyoming Completes Acquisition of Ohio Central Railroad System

October 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

GREENWICH, Conn. — Genesee & Wyoming Inc. has completed its acquisition of 10 short line railroads known as the Ohio Central Railroad System (OCR) for $234.3 million in cash, subject to adjustment for final working capital. The cash purchase price includes $7.5 million of contingent consideration that GWI has placed into escrow, which will be paid to the seller upon satisfaction of certain conditions. OCR has more than 170 employees, operates over 445 miles of track and owns 64 locomotives. The railroads handle approximately 140,000 annual carloads, primarily in the coal, steel and solid waste industries. GWI financed the cash

Genesee & Wyoming Acquires Georgia Southwestern Railroad

October 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

GREENWICH, Conn. — Genesee & Wyoming Inc. has acquired the Georgia Southwestern Railroad, Inc. for cash consideration of approximately $16.5 million and the assumption of $5.4 million in debt, subject to adjustment for final working capital. Headquartered in Dawson, Ga., the Georgia Southwestern operates over 220 miles of track between White Oak, Ala., and Smithville, Ga.; Cuthbert, Ga., and Bainbridge, Ga. and in and around Columbus, Ga. The Georgia Southwestern connects to GWI’s Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad in Saffold, Ga., via trackage rights. The Georgia Southwestern has 20 employees and 10 locomotives and carries approximately 10,000 carloads per year, primarily serving

CN Urges STB Approval of EJ&E Acquisition, Cites Overall Benefit to Chicago Region

October 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Canadian National is urging the Surface Transportation Board to promptly approve its proposed acquisition of the principal lines of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co., pointing to planned mitigation efforts and the significant economic and environmental benefits to the overall Chicago region. CN’s said its supporting facts and conclusions are contained in comments filed regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the transaction issued on July 25, 2008, by the Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) of the STB. “Our filing underscores three important facts,” said CN President and Chief Executive Officer E. Hunter Harrison. “First, none of

NTSB: Metrolink Engineer Sent Text Message 22 Seconds Before Fatal Crash

October 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

LOS ANGELES – The engineer of a Metrolink commuter train that crashed head-on with a Union Pacific freight train sent a text message 22 seconds before the wreck, the National Transportation Safety Board said. On Sept. 12, the day of the crash that killed 25 people and injured 130 more, the Metrolink engineer was on duty twice during the day. First, he was responsible for the operation of a train from 6:44 am until 8:53 a.m., and during that time, the engineer’s cell phone received 21 text messages and sent 24 text messages. The engineer was off duty until 2

Norfolk Southern Issues Its First Sustainability Report

October 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corp. has issued its first sustainability report, describing what the company says is its commitment to responsible economic, environmental and social performance. The report, which the company plans to issue annually, is posted on Norfolk Southern’s environmental Web site at http://www.nscorp.com/footprints. Through narrative, metrics, and profiles of employees who are making a difference, the 56-page report documents Norfolk Southern’s sustainability progress. Its content is modeled after the sustainability reporting guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative, NS said. In a letter introducing the report, Wick Moorman, Norfolk Southern chairman, president, and chief executive officer, said, “Our

STB Approves CP’s DM&E Purchase

September 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board approved Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s plan to buy the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corporation and its subsidiaries: Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad and Cedar American Rail Holdings. The official effective date of the final decision is Oct. 30. “The DM&E is an excellent fit for Canadian Pacific making this a strategic end-to-end addition to our network,” said Fred Green, President and Chief Executive Officer of CP. “This is also a positive development for CP, DM&E and IC&E customers. CP customers will have direct single line access to the Midwest US markets and the

Greater Baltimore Committee Urges Adoption of Red Line Plan with Light Rail, Strategic Tunnels

September 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

BALTIMORE — The Greater Baltimore Committee is urging state transportation planners to adopt a plan that would make the east-west Red Line from Woodlawn to Bayview a light rail system with two strategically-placed tunnels. The plan the GBC favors, called Alternative 4-C, would tunnel a light rail line under Baltimore’s downtown and Fells Point, and under Cooks Lane on the western leg of the route, said GBC President & CEO Donald C. Fry. “The combination of light rail with these two tunnels at key points of potential congestion would offer the most efficient and most cost-effective practical option for the

SEPTA to Hold ‘Safety Blitz’ Along Route 101 Line

September 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

PHILADELPHIA — SEPTA will conduct a “Safety Blitz” at its Woodland Avenue Station on the Route 101 Media trolley today.During the session SEPTA safety officers, Transit Police, and invited officials from local schools will be on hand to raise public awareness about safety, the dangers of walking along rail tracks and precautions the public should take whenever near a railroad. SEPTA, which periodically conducts safety blitzes throughout the year, is particularly interested in reaching local students with its message following the recent commencement of the academic school year.