March 2009 – Page 6 – Railfanning.org

N.J. Transit Outlines Stimulus-Funded Projects

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — Funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is accelerating seven transit projects in northern and central New Jersey that will build system capacity, extend accessibility and ensure service reliability for decades to come. Pending approval by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority on Friday, N.J. Transit will target a total of $342 million in ARRA funds at northern and central New Jersey projects, enabling N.J. Transit to get shovels in the ground in the coming months. These projects will complement an array of capital projects already underway throughout the region and will create and preserve

Union Pacific’s New Davidson Yard Track Advances Progress on Southwest Parkway

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — As rail cars rolled past local officials on a newly built track at Union Pacific Railroad’s Davidson Yard, Union Pacific Chairman and CEO Jim Young announced that the railroad has accomplished the first critical milestone in paving the way for construction of the Southwest Parkway. This new, temporary-use track is a vital part of the operation of Davidson Yard because it is the track that guides rail cars to the incline, or “hump,” where the cars are separated from each other and then guided by switches into destination-specific tracks. The new track was built to enable

Fortune Names Union Pacific Most Admired Railroad

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Fortune has named Union Pacific the railroad industry’s “Most Admired” company as part of the magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” survey. Union Pacific ranked No. 1 among the railroads in each of Fortune’s nine key attributes of reputation: innovation, people management, use of corporate assets, social responsibility, quality of management, financial soundness, long-term investment and global competitiveness.”Our goal is to operate a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible railroad that delivers value for customers and shareholders,” said Jim Young, Union Pacific president and CEO. “I am extremely proud of the tremendous focus, dedication and effort by all our

BNSF Crews to Replace 60,000 Ties in Kansas and Missouri

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — Beginning this month, BNSF Railway Co. will begin replacing more than 60,000 railroad ties and 11.5 track miles of rail between Fort Scott, Kan., and Springfield, Mo., at an estimated cost of $9 million.”Expanding and maintaining our infrastructure not only allows us to provide customers with efficient and reliable rail service but it also benefits the overall efficiency of America’s supply chain,” said Dave Freeman, BNSF vice president, Engineering. Approximately 150 BNSF employees will work until mid-April on the Fort Scott subdivision. Crews will utilize equipment such as cranes, welders and ballast tampers to replace rail

Union Pacific Railroad Opens New San Antonio Intermodal Terminal

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Local elected officials and community leaders joined Union Pacific Chairman and CEO Jim Young in celebrating Union Pacific’s San Antonio Intermodal Terminal opening in southwest Bexar County. The facility represents a more than $100 million investment by Union Pacific. It provides efficient transportation that brings environmental and economic benefits to the south Texas region and will help Union Pacific better serve its customers. “Whether coming from a West Coast Port, a Mexican maquiladora or going to an East Coast or Midwest metropolitan area, the San Antonio Intermodal Terminal gives our customers faster, more direct intermodal rail

Amtrak Unveils ‘My Track To Success’ Testimonial Campaign Targeting Multicultural Consumers in the Northeast Corridor

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Amtrak and its multicultural agency IMAGES USA unveiled a new Acela Express advertising campaign targeted to African American and Hispanic consumers entitled, “My Track to Success.” The print and online campaign features African American and Hispanic business leaders, community leaders, and entrepreneurs including sports commentator James Brown; former Washington, D.C., Mayor Sharon Pratt; celebrity photographer Johnny Nunez; and Ballet Hispanico director Tina Ramirez. The testimonial-style campaign features images of African American and Hispanic business travelers who are also loyal Acela Express passengers. Via personal testimonials, they share their thoughts about the experience and benefits of traveling on Acela.

First ARC Contracts to be Advertised

March 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — The ARC Mass Transit Tunnel is taking an important step toward boosting the New Jersey and regional economy this week with the advertisement of the project’s first contracts — including an underpass to be constructed beneath Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen. The Tonnelle Avenue underpass contract, which will be released for bids on Friday, will be the first location to go to construction in New Jersey. The underpass will be adjacent to where the $8.7 billion project goes underground, allowing the MTT’s two new rail tracks to begin their descent under the Palisades Mountain. That contract is

NJT: Customers Can Double Their Savings on Transportation Costs

March 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — N.J. Transit customers can now nearly double their savings on annual transportation costs by participating in workplace programs that allow pre-tax wages to be set aside for transit. The recently enacted federal stimulus bill immediately increases the amount of pre-tax wages that can be set aside for transit purchases to $230 per month, up from the former $120 limit. “This provides immediate and significant benefits to our customers,” said N.J. Transit Board Member Ken Pringle. “I applaud President Obama and Congress on this provision of the stimulus bill which encourages more commuters to take advantage of transit

Rail Freight Traffic Down During First Week of March

March 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads during the first week of March remained down in comparison with a year ago, the Association of American Railroads reported. U.S. carload freight totaled 275,105 cars, down 15.0 percent from the comparison week in 2008, with loadings down 11.9 percent in the West and 19.5 percent in the East. Intermodal volume of 180,047 trailers or containers was off 12.7 percent from last year, with container volume falling 6.0 percent and trailer volume dropping 34.0 percent. Total volume was estimated at 29.2 billion ton-miles, off 13.9 percent from 2008. All nineteen carload commodity groups

CN Reaches Voluntary Mitigation Agreement with Richton Park, Ill., on EJ&E Acquisition

March 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — CN announced a voluntary mitigation agreement with the Village of Richton Park, Ill., located southwest of Chicago, addressing the municipality’s concerns with CN’s acquisition of the principal lines of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E). CN completed its EJ&E acquisition on Jan. 31. The agreement will see CN assist in the creation and maintenance of quiet zones, fund safety fencing, and provide emergency response personnel training and emergency communication improvements. “Our pact with Richton Park marks the twelfth voluntary mitigation agreement signed by CN with communities affected by the EJ&E acquisition,” said Gordon Trafton, CN senior