Articles by Railfanning.org News Wire

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Union Pacific

Union Pacific Invests $29 Million for Track Improvements to Its Line from Spring to Houston

February 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
SPRING, Texas – Union Pacific will improve Houston’s transportation infrastructure with a $29 million investment to improve the rail line that runs from Spring, Texas, to the Washington Avenue Corridor. Work on the 23-mile stretch of railroad tracks will begin on the line that parallels the Hardy Toll Road February 18. Crews also will make track improvements to the rail line located along Washington Avenue, between downtown Houston and Hempstead Road. The project includes removing and installing new rail, 29 track switches and more than 62,000 concrete ties. Crews also will spread 99,000 tons of rock ballast to ensure a
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Commuter Rail

NTSB Heads to WMATA Derailment

February 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched an investigator to a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) derailment in Washington, DC. NTSB has designated Jim Southworth, Chief, Railroad Division, as the Investigator-in-Charge. At 10:15 am, (EST), a northbound WMATA Red Line train, consisting of six train cars, derailed north of the Farragut North station. There were three minor injuries reported.
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Safety

Illinois Railroads Ordered to Compensate Employee Fired for Reporting Work-Related injury

February 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
KANSAS CITY — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered the Illinois Central Railroad Co. and the Chicago, Central & Pacific Railroad, both headquartered in Homewood, Ill., to pay a former railroad employee more than $80,000 in back wages, compensatory damages and attorney’s fees. OSHA investigated the employee’s allegation that the railroads terminated his employment in retaliation for reporting a work-related injury he sustained while performing his job. OSHA’s investigation found that officials from both railroads ordered an investigation into the cause of the employee’s injury, which ultimately resulted in their decision to terminate
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NTSB

NTSB to meet on ‘Most Wanted’ List

February 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a public Board meeting Thursday, February 18, at 9:30 a.m., in its Board Room and Conference Center, 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. The Board will review its list of Most Wanted safety recommendations directed at federal agencies. The Most Wanted List was developed in 1990 to focus attention on safety improvements the Board believes will have the greatest impact on transportation safety. Some of the issues to be reviewed this year include emergency helicopter medical services, intelligent highway technologies, motor carrier operations and operator fatigue. The Board will also discuss
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Union Pacific

Union Pacific Reports Fourth Quarter Earnings

February 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Corp. reported 2009 fourth quarter net income of $551 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, compared to $661 million, or $1.31 per diluted share in the fourth quarter 2008. “Union Pacific’s fourth quarter earnings reflected the continued impact of the recession that began in 2008,” said Jim Young, Union Pacific chairman and chief executive officer. “In this difficult environment, we’ve continued to focus on running our business efficiently and improving customer service. As a result, we finished the year with new records in safety, service, customer satisfaction and efficiency.” Slightly stronger fourth quarter demand led
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Union Pacific

Union Pacific Railroad Named 2009 Intermodal Rail Carrier of the Year by C. H. Robinson

February 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific Railroad has been named 2009 Intermodal Rail Carrier of the Year by C. H. Robinson, one of the world’s largest third-party logistics companies. The annual award is voted on by C.H. Robinson’s intermodal leadership team. Union Pacific’s selection was based on the railroad’s commitment to service and overall value to C. H. Robinson’s business. This is the first time Union Pacific has earned the award. “C.H. Robinson is proud to honor Union Pacific with our 2009 Intermodal Rail Carrier of the Year award,” said Steve Weiby, C.H. Robinson vice president. “Union Pacific was a progressive
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BNSF

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Reports Fourth Quarter/Full Year 2009 Results

February 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
FORT WORTH, Texas — Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. reported quarterly earnings of $1.55 per diluted share, which included a tax benefit of $0.25 per share related to the fourth-quarter donation of a portion of a line segment located in Washington State. This compared to fourth-quarter 2008 earnings of $1.78 per diluted share, which included a fuel surcharge lag benefit of about $200 million. “We have seen some improvement in volumes during the second half of 2009 and expect this gradual improvement to continue,” said Matthew K. Rose, BNSF Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “BNSF will continue to position
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BNSF

Shareholders Approve Burlington Northern Santa Fe Transaction with Berkshire Hathaway

February 11, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
FORT WORTH, Texas — Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favor of the company’s acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. In all, preliminary results show that approximately 70 percent of BNSF issued and outstanding shares not owned by Berkshire or its affiliates were voted in favor of the transaction, above the 66 2/3 percent required. Additionally, holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of BNSF voted in favor. Both of these votes were required under Delaware law to adopt the merger agreement and were reported at a shareholder meeting held today at BNSF
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Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern Foundation Awards $5.7 Million in 2009

February 11, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Foundation, the charitable giving affiliate of Norfolk Southern Corp., awarded grants worth more than $5.7 million to nonprofit charitable organizations in 2009. The grants included $1.47 million in employee matching gifts in support of 535 organizations. Grants other than matching gifts went to 329 organizations in Norfolk Southern’s operating territory. The Foundation contributed to 75 United Way campaigns plus other health and human services nonprofits ($1,600,300), educational institutions ($1,100,587), cultural and arts groups ($1,145,478), and civic, community, and environmental organizations ($402,750). Among the largest recipients were the United Ways in Norfolk and Roanoke, Va., and