2008 – Page 7 – Railfanning.org

STB to Discuss CN’s Proposed Takeover of EJ&E

November 7, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will hold a public meeting on Nov. 18 concerning the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) related to Canadian National Railway’s proposed acquisition of the principal lines of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co. During the public meeting, STB members will be briefed by, and will discuss the EIS with, staff of the agency’s Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA). The meeting will be open for public observation, but not public participation. On Oct. 30, 2007, Canadian National and Grand Trunk Corp. (collectively known as CN) filed an application with the STB seeking the agency’s approval

Amtrak Adds Northbound Weekday Frequency at Aberdeen

November 7, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – In response to growing demand for rail service, Amtrak has increased by one the number of trains making a stop at its Aberdeen, Md. station. Northeast Regional train 130, which operates between Washington, DC and New York, will now make a morning stop at Aberdeen at 7:39 am each weekday. This brings the total number of trains stopping at Aberdeen to 12 each weekday, 13 each Saturday, and 12 each Sunday. The schedule for train 130 is ideal for business travelers heading north out of Aberdeen with stops at Wilmington at 8:06 am and Philadelphia at 8:30 am.

Amtrak Downeaster and Empire Service Show Dramatic Increases in Ridership and Revenue

November 7, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK – As Amtrak ridership across the country grew last fiscal year, some of the largest increases were seen in routes that travel through New England. The Downeaster, operating daily between Portland, Maine and Boston, Mass., showed a dramatic 31 percent increase in comparison to passenger counts for the same time period a year ago. Downeaster trains carried 474,492 passengers during Fiscal Year 2008, which ended Sept. 30, 2008. Ticket revenue climbed by over 36 percent to over $6.5 million during the same period compared to Fiscal Year 2007. “Our continued ridership growth is certainly impacted by the global

STB Issues EA for Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project

November 7, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board announced that its Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) have issued an Environmental Assessment (EA) for public review and comment concerning the proposed Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project (Project) in the State of Washington. Working together as co-lead agencies on the Project’s environmental review, the Board and WSDOT are providing the public 30 days—until Dec. 8 —for the filing of comments on the EA.

Amtrak: Piedmont and Carolinian Ridership Surges

November 6, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – North Carolina’s Amtrak corridor trains experienced record ridership gains in and posted double-digit ticket revenue increases Fiscal Year 2008. Collectively, the North Carolina state-supported Carolinian and Piedmont services carried 361,368 passengers and brought in more than $17 million in ticket revenue. Amtrak’s long-distance trains that travel through North Carolina also saw significant growth in FY08. Nationwide, Amtrak ridership in Fiscal Year 2008 increased to 28,716,407, marking the sixth straight year of gains and setting a record for the most passengers using Amtrak trains since the National Railroad Passenger Corporation started operations in 1971. The fiscal year ended September

Amtrak: Oklahoma City-Fort Worth Passenger Counts Still Soaring

November 6, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OKLAHOMA CITY — Final figures for the Amtrak fiscal year show more people are opting for the Amtrak Heartland Flyer train between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, with ridership rising by more than 18 percent to total 80,892 for the 12 months ending Sept. 30.Amtrak operates the Heartland Flyer (Trains 821 & 822) under contracts with the Oklahoma and Texas state transportation departments. These are two of the 14 states for which Amtrak operates service that supplements the national network of Amtrak trains. “We continue to be excited about the growth in ridership numbers of the Heartland Flyer,” said David

CP Salutes Fallen Soldiers

November 6, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific will honor employees who served Canada and the United States in war. Network-wide, all trains will safely halt at 11AM local time, observe two minutes of respect in silence and then sound a long train whistle in tribute. A Remembrance Day and Veterans Day service will also be held at CP’s headquarters in Calgary. “On this day, Canadian Pacific will recognize the contributions our employees made in times of war. On land, at sea and in the air, at home and abroad, the company, its people, its resources, its ingenuity and expertise were needed,” said Fred

STB Releases Christensen Survey

November 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board announced that Christensen Associates, a Madison, Wisc.-based economic consulting firm, has completed its 14-month, independent report titled “A Study of Competition in the U.S. Freight Railroad Industry and Analysis of Proposals that Might Enhance Competition.” The Study is the topic of the Board’s public meeting to be held on Nov. 6. STB officials say this study takes a comprehensive review of the underlying economics of the railroad industry. The Board anticipates that this analysis will be of great interest to policymakers and stakeholders involved in interstate freight commerce.

Portec Sees 33 Percent Increase in Q3 Income

November 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

PITTSBURGH — Portec Rail Products Inc. announced record unaudited net income of $2,516,000 or $0.26 per share for the three months ending Sept. 30. That represents a 33 percent increase over third quarter 2007 net income of $1,890,000 or $0.20 per share. “Our overall sales volume for the first nine months of 2008 has surpassed last year’s sales despite a more challenging environment this year,” Richard J. Jarosinski, President and Chief Executive Officer said. “While we have experienced reduced demand for our Salient Systems’ wayside detection systems and our CI Logistics material handling products in 2008, we feel that the

STB: CORP Must Sell Line

October 31, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The Surface Transportation Board has ordered the Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad Inc. (CORP) to sell a 111-mile railroad line running from Danebo, Ore., to Cordes, Ore., to The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay. In a separate decision, the Board granted CORP authority to abandon a 94-mile segment of the Line in the event that a sale of the Line is not completed. In reaching its decision, the STB found that the Line meets the five “public convenience and necessity” criteria for a forced sale under the “feeder line” provision of the agency’s statute enabling shippers and