2009 – Page 45 – Railfanning.org

Oberstar, Brown Urge ‘Full Funding’ of HMEP

February 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — T&I Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., and Rail Subcommittee Chairwoman Corrine Brown, D-Fla., wrote a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to urge “full funding” of the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grant program at the $28.8 million authorization level.Among other things, the HMEP grant program helps governments develop and implement emergency plans and train fire fighters and other emergency personnel to respond to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials. It has been projected that there will be a funding shortfall of $9.3 million in 2009. As a result, hundreds of thousands of emergency response personnel will not receive adequate

LA-Vegas Line Could Receive Billions

February 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — A Los Angeles-to-Las Vegas high-speed could receive $8 billion in federal funding. The funding for the line was included in the massive “stimulus” bill Congress is considering.

CSX Corp. Declares Quarterly Dividend

February 11, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Board of Directors of CSX Corp. approved a $0.22 per share quarterly dividend on the company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on March 13 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Feb. 27. — PRNewswire-FirstCall

Canadian Pacific Completes Common Share Offering

February 11, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Railway announced it has completed its common equity offering of 13.9 million shares at $36.75 per share for total gross proceeds of $510.8 million, which includes the exercise in full of the underwriters over allotment option for 1.3 million shares. — PRNewswire-FirstCall

CN and Norfolk Southern Announce MidAmerica Corridor Initiative to Speed Freight Between Midwest and Southeast

February 10, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — CN and Norfolk Southern announced an initiative to create a “MidAmerica Corridor” in which the railroads will share track between Chicago, St. Louis, Kentucky and Mississippi to establish shorter and faster routes for merchandise and coal traffic moving between the Midwest and Southeast. This initiative, when finalized through definitive agreements, will have three components. First, Norfolk Southern (NS) will haul CN freight between Chicago and St. Louis, reducing the distance between these points for CN shipments by 60 miles and providing improved connections to other rail carriers through the St. Louis gateway. Second, NS will use CN’s

NTSB to Discuss Metrolink Crash

February 10, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a public hearing on the 2008 collision in Chatsworth, Calif., involving a Metrolink commuter train and a Union Pacific freight train. The two-day hearing will begin on March 3 at the NTSB’s Board Room and Conference Center, 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington. At 4:22 p.m. on Sept. 12, 2008, Metrolink commuter train 111 and a Union Pacific freight train collided. As a result of this head-on accident, there were 25 fatalities and numerous injuries. On the day of the accident, the Metrolink engineer, who was responsible for the operation of the

Amtrak Celebrates Black History Month with Special Ceremony Honoring Pullman Porters

February 10, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND, Calif. – Amtrak, in celebration of Black History Month, partnered with the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum to host a ceremony celebrating the contributions of the legendary Pullman Porters and African-American railroad workers at the Oakland Amtrak Station Feb. 10. Amtrak officials and local dignitaries will gather to honor five porters and dining car waiters who proudly served as far back as the mid-1940s. Honored are Lee Gibson, 98, of Los Angeles, James Smith, 83, of Simi Valley, Samuel Coleman, 80, of Las Vegas, and Troy Walker, 90, and Thomas Gray, 71, of Seattle. “The celebration is an

Atlantic City Express Service Launches Inaugural Trains Connecting New York, Atlantic City

February 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Representatives from the Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) joint venture partners — Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa — joined New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine and other key New Jersey officials to launch weekend train service between New York’s Penn Station and Atlantic City. The launch of the ACES train is another major step in the evolution of Atlantic City into a world-class destination, providing residents of New Jersey and New York the opportunity to experience all the new attractions the city has to offer. “I welcome this

STB Announces Speakers Lineup

February 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board provided a schedule of speakers’ appearances and their time allocations for the Board’s Feb. 11 public hearing on the Board’s new responsibilities under the recently passed Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. The Act enhances the Board’s role with regard to Amtrak and its relationships with commuter rail operators, host railroads, states and the public.

Deaf Teen Killed in Ga. Town

February 5, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

BAINBRIDGE, Ga. — A 17-year-old deaf teen was killed after he was struck by a train, authorities say. Authorities say the train’s engineer sounded the horn, but that the boy was deaf.