Transit
Month: July 2013
World
Swiss Train Crash Kills Driver, Injures 26
Two trains have collided head-on in western Switzerland, killing one train’s driver and injuring at least 26 passengers. Officials say 46 passengers were on board the trains when the accident happened late Monday in Granges-pres-Marnand. The cause of the collision was not immediately clear. Last week, 79 people were killed in a train crash in the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela.
Amtrak
Amtrak: New Locomotives Advancing in Testing Program
PUEBLO, Colo. – The new Amtrak Cities Sprinter (ACS-64) electric locomotives are now in a comprehensive and rigorous testing program, and are being put through the paces before entering Northeast service this fall. Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo and Siemens Rail Systems President Michael Cahill traveled to the U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Technology Center (TTC) facility in Pueblo, Colo., to get an update on the testing program and to observe a testing demonstration. “These locomotives are the new workhorses of the Amtrak fleet in the Northeast and they must meet our performance-based
Union Pacific
Union Pacific Railroad Acquires Big Boy Locomotive No. 4014
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad reached an agreement with the Southern California Chapter – Railway & Locomotive Historical Society in Pomona, Calif., to transfer ownership of one of the world’s largest steam locomotives, Big Boy No. 4014, back to Union Pacific. Union Pacific plans to relocate No. 4014 to Cheyenne, Wyo., where Union Pacific’s Heritage Fleet Operations team will work to restore it to operating condition. Details regarding those efforts will be made public at a later date. Union Pacific donated No. 4014 to the historical society December 7, 1961. The locomotive arrived January 8, 1962, at its current
World
Spain Train Crash Driver Suspected of ‘Reckless Homicide’
Police are holding the engineer of the Spanish train that derailed at high speed this week on suspicion of reckless homicide. Interior Minister Jorge Fernández Díaz said Saturday there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Francisco José Garzón Amo is responsible for the crash that killed 78 people.
Miscellaneous
Southern Museum Wraps Up Successful Railroad Rendezvous
KENNESAW, Ga. — More than 600 people turned out Saturday for the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History’s first ever Railroad Rendezvous event. During the event, museum visitors were able to participate in games such as sack races and a bean bag toss, learn about railroads and safety precautions to take around them, and even de-code hobo symbols and learn about living life on the rails. “We want thank each and every person who came out to support us to help make our first ever Railroad Rendezvous a tremendous success,” said Valerie Serra, events coordinator for the Southern
Amtrak
Central Florida’s SunRail scheduled to open next year
ORLANDO, Fla. – Work on Central Florida’s first commuter rail line is progressing, and the line is expected to open by next year. Work to convert the corridor for use by SunRail remains ongoing and the headway is quite apparent. For example, new platforms are nearing completion at the Amtrak stations in Orlando and Winter Park; the stations will continue to serve the national passenger railroad once SunRail starts operations. As part of the 12-stop, 32-mile first phase, trains will operate between DeBary, north of Orlando’s city center, and Sand Lake Road in Orlando. When the second phase opens in
Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Reports Second Quarter 2013 Earnings
NORFOLK, Va. — For the second quarter of 2013, Norfolk Southern reported net income of $465 million, 11 percent lower than $524 million for second-quarter 2012. Diluted earnings per share were $1.46, down 9 percent compared with $1.60 per diluted share in the same period last year. “In the second quarter, Norfolk Southern delivered solid results, supported by growth in our chemicals, intermodal, and automotive businesses, despite continuing weakness in the coal markets,” said CEO Wick Moorman. “We continue to focus on service efficiency and velocity, which is enabling us to control operating expenses and deliver superior performance to our
World