Year: 2009

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Amtrak

Amtrak Illinois Ridership Up 20 Percent Since 2007

November 24, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – Amtrak trains operated under a contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation drew more than 1.8 million passengers to state-supported routes in Fiscal Year 2009. Overall ridership is up slightly from 2008 and rose by 20 percent from 2007. Ridership on the Chicago-Bloomington/Normal-Springfield-St. Louis Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle increased six percent from FY 2009 and 21 percent from FY 2007. “In a difficult year for the economy – particularly in the travel industry – Amtrak Illinois ridership has remained strong,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph H. Boardman. The Illinois DOT plans to take the 284-mile Chicago-St.

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Short Line/Regional

Adrian & Blissfield Rail Road to Move Headquarters to Blissfield

November 24, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

BLISSFIELD, Mich. — Adrian & Blissfield Rail Road, a Michigan based company which operates a number of freight and dinner train companies in Southeastern Michigan including the Old Road Blissfield Dinner Train, the oldest operating dinner train in the U.S., plus the Old Road Dinner Train Charlotte, will move its headquarters from Westland, Mich., to Blissfield in 2010. Mark Dobronsky, A&B RR president, announced the new headquarters which is being relocated from Westland, where the A&B RR leased space. The A&BRR will move to 124 Railroad Street, Blissfield, about 30 minutes south of Ann Arbor and 20 minutes north of

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Canadian National

CN to Implement Wage increase and Aligned Mileage Caps for Locomotive Engineers in Canada

November 23, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

MONTREAL — CN gave the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) notice of its plan to increase wage rates and apply a change to the mileage caps for the company’s locomotive engineers the union represents in Canada on CN. CN is taking the step after collective bargaining with the TCRC ended Nov. 20 without a settlement, the railroad said. The contract changes are to take effect 0001 hours Nov. 28. The TCRC’s current labor agreement with CN expired Dec. 31, 2008. CN had informed the union over the weekend of its intention to increase the engineers’ wages by 1.5 percent and

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Union Pacific

Union Pacific Railroad Opens Donner Pass Tunnel to Double-Stack Intermodal Container Freight Traffic

November 23, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad opened its Donner Pass route to domestic double-stack intermodal container freight traffic Nov. 19, marking the completion of a 12-month project designed to move customer products over a shorter, faster and more efficient route. “The Donner Tunnel project is a great example of how Union Pacific capital investments continue to support our customers’ ability to grow, drive increased operating efficiencies for our railroad and improve America’s transportation infrastructure,” said Jim Young, Union Pacific chairman and chief executive officer. “Union Pacific has invested nearly $17 billion in our rail network since 2004 and remains committed

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Union Pacific

Harbor Association of Industry & Commerce Honors Union Pacific Railroad for Air Pollution Reduction and Environmental Stewardship Efforts

November 20, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — The Harbor Association of Industry & Commerce (HAIC) of Southern California has honored Union Pacific Railroad with its “Salute to Industry” award. Union Pacific was recognized for its air pollution reduction and environmental stewardship efforts, along with the railroad’s significant contribution to the improvement of the business environment with the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach. “We are grateful to the HAIC for recognizing us with this award,” said Scott Moore, Union Pacific vice president, public affairs. “In addition, we are proud to be a partner with the Port of Los Angeles and

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Amtrak

Amtrak to Begin Major Bridge Project in New York

November 19, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK – Amtrak is making major investments in the New York area to bring its bridges, tracks and other infrastructure up to a state of good repair, increase track speeds and improve operations, including a soon to start $10 million project to rehabilitate the Pelham Bay Bridge located along the Northeast Corridor. “Amtrak is committed to maintaining and improving our infrastructure in New York to ensure the safety of passengers and support efficient train operations,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman, noting a specific focus on the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor between New York and Boston and on

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FRA

New Study Shows Freight Rail Fuel Efficiency Up More Than 20 Percent Since 1999

November 19, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a study showing vast improvements in freight rail fuel efficiency over the last two decades, approximately 22 percent between 1990 and 2006. “While all types of transportation are vital to the distribution of goods across the country, this study shows that utilizing America’s freight rail system can lead to significant fuel savings,” said FRA Administrator Joseph Szabo. “The environmental benefits of these positive changes over the last two decades are enormous. We look forward to working with the freight rail industry to make sure these gains continue.” Several factors point to the

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Commuter Rail

N.J. Transit Joins FRA ‘Close Call’ Pilot Program

November 19, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — N.J. Transit has started its participation in the Close Call Project, a safety pilot program designed to give rail employees the ability to voluntarily and anonymously report “close call” incidents that could have resulted in an accident but did not. “We are excited that New Jersey Transit is taking part in this valuable safety program that has already proven to reduce injuries and save lives,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We hope that others will follow suit and strengthen our efforts.” N.J. Transit is the third railroad – and the first passenger railroad – to join the program