Railfanning.org News Wire

Amtrak Requests Funds to Replace Aging Fleet and Support Domestic Rail Manufacturing

March 24, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Testifying before a House Appropriations subcommittee , Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman asked Congress to address the railroad’s “most urgent unfunded need”: the replacement, expansion and modernization of an aging fleet of locomotives and passenger rail cars.

Amtrak Names Patrick Merrill Assistant Vice President, Policy and Development – West

March 24, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND – Amtrak announced the appointment of Patrick Merrill to the position of Assistant Vice President, Policy and Development – West.

Union Pacific Railroad’s Legendary Steam Locomotive to Visit South Texas On a Heritage Tour

March 23, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad’s historic steam locomotive, No. 844, will travel more than 3,500 miles from its base in Wyoming on a 28-day, eight-state tour to South Texas, to celebrate the railroad’s history and heritage.

Electro-Motive Diesel Joins in Joint Venture in Saudi Arabia

March 22, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Electro-Motive Diesel has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Mohawarean Group to form a joint venture organization.

Wabtec Acquires Xorail

March 16, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WILMERDING, Pa. — Wabtec Corp. has acquired Xorail, a provider of signal engineering and design services, for $40 million in cash, the company announced.

Institute Asks Federal Railroad Administration to Reconsider Positive Train Control Rule

March 16, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Chlorine Institute is asking the Federal Railroad Administration to re-issue its Positive Train Control rule with a corrected cost-benefit analysis.

STB to Hold Hearing on Plan to Abandon Main Rail Line

March 14, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will hold a public hearing this spring in Maine on the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway’s application to abandon 233 miles of rail line in Aroostook and Penobscot counties.

Railroad Retirement Board to Mark 75th Anniversary in 2010

March 13, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will observe its 75th anniversary during 2010.

Kansas City Southern Acquires Puerta Mexico Intermodal Facility, Adds Direct Train Service

March 13, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

KANSAS CITY — Kansas City Southern has acquired the Puerta Mexico intermodal facility at Toluca in the State of Mexico. Later this month, Kansas City Southern de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. will add direct train service from Lazaro Cardenas to Puerta Mexico, providing Mexico City import and export shippers with a service alternative featuring improved consistency and reliability and better transit times, the railroad said.

The Travel Trolley Launches 2010 Travel Outlook Survey

March 13, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA – The Travel Trolley has launched a trends survey to gauge travel plans for 2010. “There has been a lot of discussion in the media about how the economy is affecting everything from shopping to financial investments to travel plans,” said Todd DeFeo, editor of The Travel Trolley. “Rather than speculate on what role the economy is playing in people’s plans, I decided to find out firsthand about the 2010 travel outlook.” The brief survey should take no longer than five minutes to complete and asks 10 questions ranging from the number of leisure trips planned for 2010 to