Railfanning.org News Wire

N.J. Transit Implements Emergency Spending Freeze

March 13, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — N.J. Transit has implemented an emergency spending freeze and told employees that it will reduce its workforce by more than 200, rollback spending on retirement accounts and cut executive salaries, officials announced March 2.

WMATA Train Operator Fired

March 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — A Metrorail train operator, who was involved in the pocket track derailment at the Farragut North Metrorail station on Feb. 12, was terminated on March 11 from her position as a train operator.

Alternatives for New Passenger Rail Service in Kansas Outlined

March 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – Four alternatives for state-sponsored passenger rail service between Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Fort Worth are detailed in a study released by Amtrak and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).

AAR: 2009 Safest Year Ever for Nation’s Freight Railroads

March 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads announced that 2009 was the safest year in freight railroad history, with preliminary year-end data indicating the train accident rate, employee casualty rate and grade crossing incident rates were all at record low levels last year.

2009: A Record Low Number of Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Collision Deaths

March 11, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Newly released federal statistics indicate 2009 had a record low number of deaths and injuries from highway-rail grade crossing collisions.

AAR Reports Monthly Carload Declines Slow in February 2010

March 10, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported that in February 2010, U.S. freight railroads saw a 1.5 percent decline in carloads compared with the same month last year and a decline of 15.6 percent compared with the same month in 2008.

Boardman: ‘Amtrak Long-distance Trains are Running Strong’

March 9, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak’s long-distance trains are attracting more passengers as Amtrak continues to implement its comprehensive and multi-year Route Performance Improvement (RPI) program, officials said. “Amtrak long-distance trains are running strong,” President and CEO Joseph Boardman said. “We are making changes, improving our service and passengers are responding favorably.” Boardman noted total ridership on Amtrak’s 15 long-distance trains reached nearly 4.2 million in fiscal year 2009, an increase of 13 percent from fiscal year 2006. During the same period, the on-time performance of long-distance trains improved from 30 percent to 75 percent contributing to higher customer satisfaction scores, increasing from

NS Agrees to Pay $4M Penalty Over 2005 Graniteville Wreck

March 8, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern Railway Co. has agreed to pay a $4 million penalty to resolve violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and hazardous materials laws for a 2005 chlorine spill in Graniteville, S.C., the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced.

AAR: Rail Carload Freight Reaches Highest Level in More Than a Year

March 7, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Carload freight volume on U.S. railroads reached its highest level in more than a year during the week ended Feb. 27, the Association of American Railroads reported. U.S. railroads originated 290,261 carloads during the week ended Feb. 27, up 2.6 percent from the comparable week in 2009 and the highest level reported since the week ended Dec. 6, 2008. However, the total was still down 13.5 percent from comparison week in 2008. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR now reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009

Union Pacific Railroad Invests $5.7 Million for Track Improvements to Its Line Between Seattle and Fife

March 6, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Union Pacific Railroad will improve Seattle’s transportation infrastructure with a $5.7 million investment to enhance its track from Seattle to Fife, Washington.