Articles by Railfanning.org News Wire

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CSX

CSX Named to Dow Jones Sustainability Index for Second Consecutive Year

September 20, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for North America for the second consecutive year and was the only U.S. railroad listed in 2012. “Sustainable practices improve today’s operations and position CSX for a strong future,” said Michael J. Ward, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “CSX remains committed to transparency and accountability and will continue to implement new sustainability strategies as our business grows.” CSX received high marks for its work in climate change strategies and environmental management, as well as in corporate governance and human capital development. CSX recently committed to
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Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern Expects Third Quarter Results to be Below Third Quarter 2011

September 19, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corp. said third quarter 2012 earnings are expected to be in the range of $1.18 to $1.25 per diluted share, primarily due to volume declines in certain markets and lower revenues from fuel surcharges. Decreased coal and merchandise shipments, offset in part by growth in intermodal volumes, are together expected to reduce revenues by approximately $120 million compared with third quarter 2011. Fuel surcharge revenues are anticipated to be approximately $80 million below the same period last year, the company said. Third quarter 2011 fuel surcharge revenues included a favorable lag-effect of $52 million, whereas
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Amtrak

Amtrak Ridership Sets 11 Consecutive Monthly Records

September 13, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON –Amtrak ridership is surging this year with 11 consecutive monthly ridership records. In each month of the current fiscal year, Amtrak has posted the highest ridership total ever for that particular month (i.e., the best October ever, the best November ever, etc.) with the final month of September also expected to be a new record. In addition, July was the single best ridership month in the history of Amtrak. “All across America the demand to travel by Amtrak is strong, growing and undeniable,” said President and CEO Joe Boardman. “Amtrak continues to deliver on its mission to fulfill a
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Canadian National

CN Acquiring New Freight Cars, Containers to Support Traffic Growth, Improve Service

September 5, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
MONTREAL — CN said it is acquiring more than 2,200 new freight cars in 2012, as well as 1,300 new containers, to support traffic growth and improve customer service. “CN is acquiring new freight cars and containers for a range of markets, including forest products, metals, minerals, coal, iron ore, steel, consumer goods, finished vehicles, and grain,” Jean-Jacques Ruest, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer, said. “These fleet additions will help us grow in line with our customers’ demands and ensure CN has the right mix of modern, productive assets.” CN’s largest rolling stock addition in 2012 is the acquisition
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Safety

Railroad: Use caution when crossing the tracks this Labor Day

August 28, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
Union Pacific Railroad is urging drivers to remain vigilant and use caution when driving across railroad tracks this Labor Day weekend. “With the Labor Day weekend being one of the busiest vehicle travel days during the year, we want drivers to use caution when they cross railroad tracks, always expect a train and safely arrive at their destinations,” Union Pacific Chief of Police Robert Morrison said. AAA Travel is predicting 33 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles during the Labor Day weekend, which runs Aug. 30 to Sept. 3. That would be a post-recession high, representing a 2.9
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Safety

OLI: Deaths, injuries from crossing crashes, pedestrian-train incidents rose in first four months of 2012

August 27, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON – Rail safety education nonprofit Operation Lifesaver said that, while highway-rail crossing collisions are down slightly, deaths and injuries from crossing crashes and pedestrian-train incidents rose in the first four months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. “Federal Railroad Administration statistics show that grade crossing crashes are 1.4 percent lower in the first four months of this year; however, the increase in deaths and injuries from crossing collisions and pedestrian-train trespass incidents is a very troubling trend,” said Operation Lifesaver Inc., (http://www.oli.org) President Helen M. Sramek. Sramek noted that since 1997, more people have been killed
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CSX

CSX Police, Security Re-Accreditation Process Includes Call-in Sessions

August 26, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX’s police and security team will meet with representatives of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA) as part of re-accreditation in law enforcement standards. Currently, the CSX Police Department is the only U.S. based freight railroad police department to have met the more than 450 required best practice standards. The re-accreditation process includes headquarters and field visits, and public access telephone call-in sessions during which people are invited to comment on their perceptions of CSX’s police activities and the company’s Public Safety Coordination Center. “We invite the public to call in and participate
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Amtrak

Upgraded Seattle Amtrak Maintenance Facility Ready To Service Passenger Equipment

August 26, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
OAKLAND – The completion of Phase I and Phase II of a major upgrade of the Seattle Maintenance Facility is being celebrated today by Amtrak and its partners. The facilities support Amtrak operations and maintenance agreements in the Pacific Northwest for the Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, Amtrak Cascades, and Sounder commuter trains. The upgraded and new facilities will dramatically improve the capacity, efficiency and working conditions of the shops that perform inspections, testing and maintenance of locomotives and passenger rail equipment. It is a modern and efficient facility capable of handling the current work levels as well as projected future
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Union Pacific

Union Pacific Railroad Unveils Experimental Locomotive to Test Emissions-Reduction Technology

August 24, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Union Pacific Railroad has unveiled an advanced experimental locomotive at its J.R. Davis Yard in Roseville that will test three emissions-reducing technologies including exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC), and diesel particulate filters (DPF). Years in development, UP 9900 will be used for operations in northern California ranging approximately 200 miles from its base in Roseville. UP 9900 is the signature unit in a series of 25 locomotives that Union Pacific is analyzing as part of a broad test of various emissions-reduction techniques in northern and southern California. This is the latest step in the