2008 – Page 25 – Railfanning.org

Thames River Bridge Rail Service Outage Set for June 24-27

June 21, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK – Amtrak has scheduled limited alternate train and bus service during the rescheduled replacement of the moveable span of Amtrak’s Thames River Bridge in New London, Conn., Tuesday, June 24 through Friday, June 27. During that four-day period, regularly scheduled Amtrak service between New York and Boston will be suspended and limited alternate train and bus service will be provided in the New York-Boston region. Because of the bridge outage, Amtrak has scheduled three Boston-New Haven-New York Inland Route trains (via Hartford and Springfield) and limited connecting bus service to bypass the bridge outage during the four-day period

Southwest Chief, Empire Builder and California Zephyr Midwest Flooding Disruption Update

June 21, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

Amtrak has been notified by BNSF and Canadian Pacific (CP) railways of efforts to restore passenger train service on three routes disrupted due to flooding on the Mississippi River and its tributaries in Iowa and Wisconsin. BNSF and CP host these trains on tracks they own, maintain and dispatch.While still hoping to restore rail service soon, Amtrak is planning to operate limited alternate transportation through the affected areas for each of these trains until further notice. Through June 24, passengers are urged to call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL if they have travel plans through the affected areas on routes of the

STB Reschedules Hazardous Materials Hearing

June 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board announced that it has rescheduled — to July 22 — its public hearing examining issues related to the common carrier obligation of railroads (the duty of railroads to provide transportation or service on reasonable request) relative to the transportation of hazardous materials. Notices of intent to participate, speakers’ written testimonies, and written submissions by interested persons not wishing to appear at the hearing are now due no later than July 8. The Board originally had scheduled the hearing for July 16 with submissions by hearing participants and by interested persons not wishing to appear

Freight Railroads Using Technology to Boost Environmental Performance

June 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

The nation’s freight railroads, already the most environmentally friendly form of ground transportation, are using innovative “green” technologies to further reduce their environmental footprint. New technologies such as hybrid-powered locomotives and on-board computers that read route terrains are helping railroads lower emissions by as much as 80 percent and reduce fuel consumption by 16 percent.

Kummant: Amtrak Could Always Use a Little More Cash

June 13, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

BOSTON – Amtrak could had easily asked for $1.6 billion to invest on capital improvements, more than double the funding it asked for in 2009, President Alex Kummant told Reuters. “To give you a sense of the capital flow, we today get between $500 million and $600 million a year on capital,” Kummant said. “We asked for the coming year for $800 million. We could easily spend twice of that if you look at the state of the repair backlog. And if you look at the appropriation, the kind of sliding scale here, the capital grants range in 2009 from

House Agrees to Reauthorize Amtrak

June 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The House today agreed to a nearly $15 bill bill that reauthorizes Amtrak and aims to improve intercity rail. The bill was approved by a 311-104 margin. The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. The bill authorizes $14.4 billion for Amtrak capital and operating grants, state intercity passenger grants and high-speed rail over the next five years. “Nothing could be more fitting to bring before the Congress today, on a day when gasoline has reached $4.05 a gallon across the United States on average,” The Associated Press quotes U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., as saying. Mica,

Commuter Rail Study Discussed in Fla.

June 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Commuter Rail proponents will gather in a strategy meeting in support of commuter rail today at the Orlando International Airport to hear the results of a nationwide commuter rail liability report that was reviewed by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Highways and Transit and Railroads Subcommittees. “It will debunk some of the myths relating to Commuter Rail liability,” U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., said. Proponents of commuter rail have cited liability provisions contained in the agreement between the State of Florida and CSX as the major impediment to moving forward with the project. The State legislature

Thames River Bridge Outage Shifted Two Days Until Monday, June 16

June 11, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — The scheduled replacement of the moveable span of the Thames River Bridge, originally scheduled for June 14 through June 17, has been rescheduled for Monday, June 16, through Thursday, June 19. As a result, virtually all regularly scheduled Amtrak service — including Acela Express trains — will operate Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15 throughout the New York-Boston region. Because of the shift in plans, Amtrak has scheduled additional Boston-New Haven-New York Inland Route trains and some connecting bus service to bypass the bridge outage during the four-day period from June 16 through June 19. Work

Second Phase of Track Project Causes More Temporary Amtrak Illinois Schedule Changes

June 11, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — Amtrak schedules on the Chicago-St. Louis corridor, served by Lincoln Service trains and the Texas Eagle, will undergo temporary changes throughout this month, while Union Pacific Railroad carries out the second of two phases of track improvements at Springfield, Ill. Amtrak, which operates Lincoln Service Trains 300-302 & 305-307 under a contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation (Ill. DOT), regrets any inconvenience. Lincoln Service Changes From June 16 through June 24, Train 300, the early morning departure from St. Louis to Chicago and Train 307, the evening departure from Chicago to St. Louis, will only operate between

House to Discuss Amtrak Reauthorization Bill

June 11, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The House was today expected to discuss a bill to reauthorize Amtrak and improve intercity passenger rail. Last month, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved HR 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. The bill authorizes $14.4 billion for Amtrak capital and operating grants, state intercity passenger grants, and high-speed rail over the next five years. Even if the house approves the bill, it faces a tough road since President Bush has said he supports a self-sufficient Amtrak. Major provisions of the bill include: – Authorizing $4.2 billion (an average of $840 million per