Year: 2009

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Amtrak

Study: Nearly all of Amtrak’s Nationwide Routes Lost Money

October 28, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — Nearly all of Amtrak’s 44 nationwide routes lost money last fiscal year, a new study suggests. A study from Pew Charitable Trusts’s Subsidyscope project shows that 41 of the 44 nationwide routes were not profitable, averaging a roughly $32 loss per passenger. During the fiscal year, Amtrak received $1.3 billion from taxpayers, according to Pew. The New Orleans-to-Los Angeles Sunset Limited carried 72,000 passengers during the year and cost $462 per passenger to operate. “The nation’s railways are an important mode of transport for many Americans, whether it’s for commuting to work or seeing the country,” Marcus Peacock, director of Subsidyscope, said in a news release. “But we

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CSX

CSXT Employee Wins Rail Industry’s Professional Environmental Award

October 27, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) presented its top award for environmental professionals, the 2009 North American Environmental Employee Excellence Award, to Paul J. Kurzanski, manager of environmental remediation at CSX Transportation. Kurzanski was one of six railroad industry individuals nominated. This is the fifth time in the last seven years that a CSXT employee has been honored with the AAR’s Environmental Employee Excellence Award. Kurzanski received the award during an annual railroad environmental conference. A 30-year railroad veteran, Kurzanski’s accomplishments include the successful management of approximately 125 environmental remediation projects in six states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, and Ohio); the development and implementation of

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Norfolk Southern

Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Introduce Gulf Coast Flyer for Chemical Shipments between the Gulf Coast and Northeast, Southeast

October 26, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern introduced Gulf Coast Flyer, a rail service for the safe transport of chemicals between the Union Pacific-served southern Texas and Louisiana regions and Norfolk Southern destinations across the northeastern and southeastern United States. Gulf Coast Flyer is designed to build on improved routing and enhanced operations coordination between the two railroads, leaders in serving the chemical marketplace. This product promotes expedited service for customers between the Gulf Coast region and major markets across the Northeast and Southeast. Eastbound and westbound shipments between the two railroads connect at the Salem, Ill., and New Orleans, La., gateways. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern made

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Amtrak

Amtrak Reaches Understanding With Metrolink to Operate Los Angeles Area Commuter Trains

October 24, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak and the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) are moving forward today with a Memorandum of Understanding for Amtrak to provide the train and engine crews needed to operate Metrolink commuter trains on all seven of its lines in the Los Angeles area beginning July 1, 2010. “Amtrak and its employees appreciate the confidence and trust Metrolink has placed in us to provide their passengers the highest standards of safety, efficiency and reliability,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph H. Boardman, adding the commuter rail system on average operates 149 trains and carries 43,000 riders every weekday. Boardman noted that among the reasons why SCRRA decided to

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Canadian National

CN, Teamsters Adjourn Negotiations, Plan to Resume Talks in Nov.

October 24, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

MONTREAL — CN and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference agreed to adjourn negotiations and are scheduled to resume talks with the assistance of federal mediators during the week of Nov. 16. The company and union remain optimistic that they can negotiate a new collective agreement for 1,700 CN locomotive engineers in Canada without labor disruption, officials said. The current agreement between the parties expired on Dec. 31, 2008.

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Union Pacific

Union Pacific Reports Third Quarter Earnings

October 24, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Corp. reported 2009 third quarter net income of $517 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, compared to $703 million, or $1.38 per diluted share in the third quarter 2008. “Union Pacific’s third quarter results were clearly affected by the global recession and related decline in our rail traffic,” said Jim Young, Union Pacific chairman and chief executive officer. “In the face of that challenge, the Union Pacific team achieved a record third quarter operating ratio, as well as record customer satisfaction levels, by concentrating on our business fundamentals of safety, service, value and productivity.” Third Quarter Summary All six of Union Pacific’s business groups continue

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BNSF

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Reports Third Quarter 2009 Results

October 23, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. reported quarterly earnings of $1.42 per diluted share, which included a $0.06 per share impact related to a favorable coal rate case adjustment. This compared to third-quarter 2008 earnings of $1.99 per diluted share. “During the recession, BNSF has demonstrated significant operating leverage through ongoing dedication to controlling costs and productivity improvements,” said Matthew K. Rose, BNSF Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The combination of our significant operating leverage and long-term market opportunities places BNSF in a strong position when the economy recovers.” Third-quarter 2009 freight revenues decreased $1.28 billion, or 27 percent, to $3.49 billion compared with $4.77 billion