Month: March 2013

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CSX

CSX Positioned Well for Near-Term Economic Improvement and Long-Term Growth in the Freight Rail Industry

March 27, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX is a better, faster and more capable company than it was even one year ago, Michael Ward, the company’s chairman, president and chief executive officer wrote to investors in the 2012 Annual Report delivered this week. Last year the company successfully withstood a significant drop in its coal business by making quick adjustments in its operations and focusing on the mainstays of safety, service and productivity. “Experience has shown that when CSX does those things well, we can turn good conditions into great results, or bad conditions into better results,” Ward said, noting that employees led

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Amtrak

Amtrak to celebrate National Train Day

March 26, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

Amtrak and communities nationwide will celebrate the importance of trains to their town at the sixth annual National Train Day, scheduled for May 11. More than 200 communities are expected to host events at local train stations, railroad museums and other locations commemorating this year’s theme “trains matter.” “National Train Day invites communities big and small to share the importance of trains as a vital transportation option and engine of economic development and employment,” Amtrak Chief Marketing & Sales Officer Matt Hardison said in a statement. In addition to events in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Los Angeles, Amtrak is

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Miscellaneous

Hundreds turn out for Southern Museum’s inaugural Museum Night

March 25, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

KENNESAW, Ga. — The ominous threat of bad weather wasn’t enough to deter the more than 300 people who turned out to the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History to help celebrate its 10th birthday. During the inaugural Museum Night, guests had the rare chance to climb aboard The General locomotive made famous during the Civil War’s Great Locomotive Chase. Visitors also partook in a multitude of family-friendly activities – including a railroad camp, slot cars and an operating model train layout – and could view a pair of antique vehicles on display – a 1940 Packard and

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Miscellaneous

Climb aboard the General during Southern Museum’s ‘Museum Night’

March 21, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History is celebrating its 10th birthday with an evening of family-friendly activities aimed at offering visitors a unique look at the museum and its exhibits. The inaugural Museum Night: Trains, Planes and Cars, scheduled for 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, will feature an evening of family- and history-centered activities in addition to providing visitors an up-close look at museum artifacts. The museum will be closing at 3 p.m. on March 23. During the event, guests will have the rare opportunity to climb aboard the General locomotive made famous during the Civil

Norfolk Southern

‘The Future Looks Good,’ Norfolk Southern CEO Says in Annual Report

March 20, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — Coming off its second-best year ever for revenue, operating income, net income, and earnings per share, Norfolk Southern Corp. is positioned well for growth, and “the future looks good,” CEO Wick Moorman tells stockholders in the 2012 annual report, posted today on the company’s website at www.nscorp.com. “Despite significant challenges in our coal business, we delivered solid results for our shareholders,” Moorman says. “From an operations perspective, the railroad ran extremely well, setting all-time highs for most of our service and velocity metrics. We also continued our strong record of reinvesting in the company, with more than

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Amtrak

Anthony R. Coscia Elected as Chairman, Amtrak Board of Directors

March 20, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The Amtrak Board of Directors has elected Anthony R. Coscia to be its next chairman to help guide the future of America’s Railroad® and carry out initiatives to increase ridership and improve operational and financial performance. In addition, the Amtrak board elected Jeffrey R. Moreland as vice-chairman. An Amtrak board member since June 2010, and current chairman of its Audit and Finance committee, Coscia succeeds departing board chairman Thomas C. Carper whose term on the board expires this month. “During my five years on the board of directors, Amtrak has made undeniable progress and all board members have

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Transit

MARTA Pursues New Revenues with Website Advertising Pilot Program

March 19, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — MARTA’s website has made its debut in the advertising world. The Authority has launched a 12-month advertising pilot program on www.itsmarta.com to explore a new source of revenue for the transit system. The pilot is estimated to generate around $1,000 to $5,000 per month for MARTA at no cost to the Authority. “The website advertising pilot project provides a great opportunity for us to tap into a new revenue stream,” said MARTA General Manager/CEO Keith T. Parker. “This program is just one of the many ways we are working to develop a more sustainable business model for MARTA

Commuter Rail

Feds Allocates $390 Million to Reimburse Transit Agencies in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Recovering from Hurricane Sandy

March 9, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the allocation of nearly $390 million in FY 2013 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act funds to reimburse the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp. (PATH). The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) received a smaller reimbursement for expenses incurred while preparing for and recovering from Hurricane Sandy. The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act authorized a total of $10.9 billion, which is now reduced by 5 percent, or $545 million, because of the mandatory budget cuts known as sequestration that took effect on March 1. “When Hurricane Sandy devastated public transportation systems