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Legislation

STB Asks for Comments on Clean Railroads Act of 2008

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requesting comments on proposed rules to implement The Clean Railroads Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110-432), concerning solid waste rail transfer facilities. The proposed rules also will serve as interim rules until completion of the rulemaking proceeding. The Clean Railroads Act, enacted in October 2008, adds new sections 10908-10 to Title 49 of the United States Code.  Those sections limit the Board’s authority related to solid waste rail transfer facilities and expand the authority of states to regulate these facilities. The proposed rules address such topics as

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CSX

CSX Announces Preliminary Fourth Quarter Results

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. announced preliminary fourth quarter earnings per share of 63 cents. These results include a noncash impairment charge of approximately 27 cents per share related to the write-down of its investment in The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Excluding this charge and insurance gains of 1 cent in the prior year quarter, comparable earnings per share would be approximately 90 cents, which represents a 6 percent increase over the prior year quarter. Overall revenues are expected to be approximately $2.7 billion for the quarter, up 4 percent from the prior year period. This

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Amtrak

Service Alert: Partial Restoration of Amtrak Service in Pacific Northwest

Amtrak will resume partial train service throughout the Pacific Northwest on Jan. 10. Service had been disrupted on several routes due to extreme weather conditions in the region. Full restoration of service for all routes is expected on Jan. 11. Amtrak Cascades There will be no train service the morning or January 10 between Seattle and Portland. Limited train operations will resume in the afternoon. Train service between Seattle and Bellingham or Vancouver, B.C. will remain suspended in the morning, with alternative motorcoach transportation provided. Normal train operations will resume in the afternoon. Train service between Portland and Eugene, Ore.

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CSX

CSX Announces Approval of Lawsuit Settlement

JACKSONVILLE, Fla./ — CSX Corp. announced that a federal court in New York has issued an order preliminarily approving a settlement reached by all parties to a civil action brought by plaintiff, Deborah Donoghue, a shareholder of CSX, to recover so-called “short-swing” profits under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 alleged to have been realized by defendants The Children’s Investment Fund and 3G Capital Partners LP in connection with their purchases and sales of CSX securities. CSX is party to the suit in name only, which was brought for the benefit of CSX, the railroad said in

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Amtrak

Mica: U.S. Takes Next Step Toward High-Speed Passenger Rail

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation has taken the next step in bringing true high-speed passenger rail to the United States, for the first time requesting private sector participation in the design, finance, construction, operation and maintenance of high-speed service, Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla., said. “This is the most exciting development in U.S. passenger rail in years,” Mica said.  “High-speed rail is an efficient, effective and environmentally friendly method of transportation, and a much-needed alternative to our congested highways and airspace.” Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation will begin accepting expressions of interest to finance, design, build,

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Commuter Rail

Six Restored Red Streetcars Roll

NEW ORLEANS — Six of the 24 candy-apple red Canal Street streetcars that fell victim to the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina’s levee breaks are rolling down Canal Street, on North Carrollton Avenue to picturesque City Park, and along the majestic Mississippi Riverfront. On Dec. 12, the Regional Transit Authority held a re-dedication ceremony of the red streetcars Friday morning and when the ceremony concluded, the streetcars were put into revenue service. Mary E. Peters, Secretary, United States Department of Transportation, was among those enjoying the first ceremonial ride on the red streetcars. “In the case of New Orleans’ streetcars, seeing

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Commuter Rail

Metro Tests Additional Eight-car Trains on the Blue, Orange and Red Lines Next Week

WASHINGTON — Washington’s Metro will test additional eight-car trains on the Blue, Orange and Red Lines and will stop all trains at the end of each station platform as a test of its ongoing power, system, track and rail car enhancements leading up to Inauguration Weekend. On Jan. 5 and Jan. 6, Metro will operate additional eight-car trains during morning and afternoon peak periods on the Blue and Orange lines. During the off-peak periods, all trains on the Blue and Orange lines will operate with eight-cars. On Jan. 7 and Jan. 8, Metro will repeat the same process on the

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Legislation

Obama Selects LaHood as Transportation Secretary

WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama has selected Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., to serve as the next transportation secretary. “Congressman LaHood’s broad experience and well-known pragmatism make him an excellent choice to lead and support America’s transportation future,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said. “There will be challenges, but there are also incredible opportunities to continue work to improve transportation safety, tackle congestion and promote mobility, expand global transportation opportunities, rebuild transportation systems after disasters, and continue fundamental transportation reform. I’m confident our nation’s transportation network will be in good hands under the leadership of Congressman LaHood.” “The nation