Articles by Railfanning.org News Wire

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CSX

CSX Celebrates July Maintenance Marathon

July 1, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX employees on July 1 kicked off an eight-day maintenance marathon, designed to complete work that would normally take 18 weeks. This accelerated timeline will be accomplished by temporarily re-routing traffic on the CSX main line in portions of three southeastern states to give workers uninterrupted time for upgrades and repairs. “Thanks to our dedicated employees, we’re able to complete an incredible amount of work, while minimizing disruptions to our customers, to keep rail traffic moving safely and reliably,” said Oscar Munoz, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “We call it a jamboree because of the
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Transit

MARTA won’t raise fare in 2014

June 11, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire
ATLANTA — MARTA will not raise its fare under a Fiscal Year 2014 budget the MARTA Board of Directors approved on Monday. The budget, which takes effect July 1, includes $426.9 million for operations and $430.5 million for capital programs, including $141.1 million for debt service. The regional transit provider originally planned to increase its base fare from $2.50 to $2.75 during the upcoming fiscal year and would have included increases in 2015, 2016 and 2018 fiscal years. MARTA officials say the approved budget includes a five-year strategy to stabilize the agency’s finances, improve employee morale and the overall customer
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Transit

MARTA investigating May 23 bus, train wreck

May 24, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire
MARTA is investigating a May 23 accident involving a bus on Route 123 that was struck by a freight train at a railroad crossing in the City of Decatur. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the accident which occurred about 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of South McDonough and East Howard Avenue. MARTA Operator Donna McMullen was travelling northbound with four passengers aboard when she reported the bus became “stuck” as it proceeded across the tracks. As a westbound train approached, McMullen followed MARTA emergency protocol and safely evacuated the bus. The ensuing impact caused serious damage to the bus
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Amtrak

Amtrak Auto Train Launches Priority Vehicle Offloading

April 23, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON – Amtrak Auto Train now offers a new upgrade option for passengers who want to speed up their journey. Passengers can purchase an upgrade to Priority Vehicle Offloading and their vehicle will be one of the first 20 offloaded from the train. Vehicle counts can total 200-300 per train. This new service will help passengers get to their destination sooner. Priority Vehicle Offloading can be purchased now and is available for travel beginning April 29. For a $50 fee, Priority Vehicle Offloading is available by calling 877-SKIP-I-95 or for purchase at any staffed station. This upgrade can be added
Amtrak

Amtrak: Northeast Corridor Faces Investment Crisis

April 22, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The success of the Northeast Corridor (NEC) has used up much of the legacy capacity of the existing railroad and depleted its infrastructure assets leading to a “major coming investment crisis that, without a solution, will mean strangled growth and deteriorating service” for 260 million intercity and commuter rail passengers who rely on it each year, Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman told a Congressional committee today. “We have pushed the current NEC infrastructure about as far as it can go, but the end of demand and growth is nowhere in sight. A new model for investment is
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Commuter Rail

CTA Upgrades Green Line with $20 Million of Station, Track Improvements

April 11, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire
CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority said it is investing nearly $20 million in railroad track and station improvements to the southern Green Line. The projects will prepare the Green Line to handle an increase in passengers related to the five-month reconstruction of the Red Line South beginning in May, and will benefit Green Line customers for the long term with increased service reliability and fewer delays. Improvements that have been made or will be completed by May include improvements and temporary expansion of two Green Line stations, Garfield and Ashland/63rd, and significant track and signal work beginning south of
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Commuter Rail

Washington Metro to Advance ‘Model Station’ of the Future

April 11, 2013 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — Metro announced a plan to test potential future station concepts at Bethesda Station. As part of its strategic plan, Momentum, the model station will enable Metro to test several design concepts in a single station, with improved lighting, better information and improved customer convenience. As an underground station with a center platform design, Bethesda represents the hardest type of station to illuminate, making it an ideal location for the “model station” pilot. Some of the concepts being considered include high-output light fixtures to direct light to the vault ceiling; a new, anti-slip zone located at the bottom of