July 2009 – Railfanning.org

Amtrak and First Class Motorcycle Tours Team Up for Two Auto Train Vacation Packages

July 31, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Amtrak and First Class Motorcycle Tours have teamed up to offer two new vacation packages which include first-class accommodations on Amtrak’s Auto Train that allows motorcycle riders to travel with their bikes on board the train between Lorton, Va., south of Washington, DC and Sanford, Fla., just outside of Orlando. The motorcycles are secured in specially-designed carriers and travel in the train’s auto carriers while tour participants travel on the train in private roomette sleeping accommodations. All meals on board the train are included in the price of the tour. Both the northbound and southbound Auto Trains depart

Amtrak to Report Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Independent Review to Assess Carbon Footprint

July 31, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Furthering its commitment to be a transportation leader on environmental issues, Amtrak is joining efforts to voluntarily and publicly report its greenhouse gas emissions and undergo an independent assessment of its programs to reduce its carbon footprint. “Putting our emissions data out in the open for all to see and getting an outside review of our environmental programs will help make Amtrak a greener railroad,” said Amtrak president and CEO Joseph Boardman. Boardman announced that Amtrak is a new member of The Climate Registry, a non-profit organization founded to set consistent and transparent standards for businesses and governments

NTSB Releases Wreck Site Back to WMATA

July 31, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board released the site of the Ft. Totten accident back to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The site, located on the Red Line between Ft. Totten and Takoma stations in Washington, D.C., was the scene of the fatal collision of two WMATA trains on June 22, 2009. The NTSB’s Signal and Train Control Group has completed its examination and testing of train control equipment at the scene of the accident. Therefore, the accident site, including the track, has been released back to WMATA. As part of the ongoing investigation, the NTSB is

12 Killed in Italian Crash

July 30, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

Canadian Pacific Announces Second-Quarter 2009 Results

July 30, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Railway announced second-quarter net income of $157 million, an increase of two per cent from $155 million in 2008. The impact on net income from a decline in freight volumes was offset by a net gain after tax on the sale of a portion of CP’s interest in the Detroit River Tunnel Partnership of $69 million. Diluted earnings per share were $0.93, a decrease of seven per cent from $1.00 in second-quarter 2008. “The recession continues to have a significant impact on our business and although freight volumes appear to have stabilized, we have not yet

Washington Metro Conducting Comprehensive Review of Employee Disciplinary Actions

July 29, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Washington Metro is conducting a comprehensive review of its disciplinary procedures for employees and plans to stiffen penalties in the coming weeks to ensure that employees follow Metro rules and standard operating procedures. “Metro has more than 10,000 employees, and the vast majority of them do their job well,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe. “Bad behavior on the part of just a few individuals reflects on the entire Metro workforce. Our new approach to procedures and penalties will deter bad behavior and reduce the damage a few people can cause to our relationship with riders.” On Monday,

NTSB Updates WMATA Investigation

July 29, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

The National Transportation Safety Board continues to make progress in its investigation of the June 22, 2009, collision of two Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) trains on the Red Line in Washington, D.C. The Board has developed the following factual information: — To date, significant work has been done to determine why the presence of train 214 was not identified on the train control circuit that allowed train 112 to crash into it. The NTSB’s accident investigation is continuing, and more work is needed to fully understand why the train control system did not perform as designed. — Most

CP: Rates Established for Westbound Coal Through End of Q1 2010

July 28, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Railway Limited announced the results of rate proceedings between CP and Teck Coal Ltd. (Teck) addressing rate levels for export traffic moving between Teck’s southern BC mines and Vancouver area ports. Contract terms are confidential and expire on April 7, 2010. As part of the rate process, Teck also secured a rate for routing some of the existing export coal traffic via an interchange with another railway at Kamloops, BC. Traffic moving over the Kamloops interchange will not exceed 3.5 million metric tons between now and March 1, 2010. For CP this represents approximately 15% of

Freight Railroads Join Midwest Governors in Planning for High-Speed Rail

July 28, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger said the national rail network is critical to meeting the mobility needs of the 21 century. Speaking before the Midwest High-Speed Rail Summit in Chicago, Hamberger said striking the right balance between passenger and freight rail expansion is key to the success of high-speed rail in America. “America’s freight railroads support the goal of increased passenger rail investment,” Hamberger said. “It’s good for our economy and the environment when more people and goods move faster by rail.” He pointed out that the country’s privately owned freight rail network

Union Pacific Invests More Than $8 Million for Track Improvements to Its Mill Grove-To-Polo, Mo., Line

July 28, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Motorists will spend less time at crossings waiting for trains to pass with trains operating more efficiently as a result of more than $8 million in track improvements made by Union Pacific Railroad to its Mill Grove-to-Polo, Mo., line, the railroad said. When the project is complete, crews will have removed and installed more than 62,500 ties, spread nearly 20,000 tons of rock ballast to ensure a stable roadbed and renewed the road surfaces at 71 crossings. Work will begin on the project today and is scheduled to be completed by the first of September. Union Pacific