Railfanning.org News Wire

Weather, Slow Economy Produce Rail Freight Traffic Decline

April 10, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Bad weather in Wyoming and the Upper Midwest combined with the slow economy to produce another down week for U.S. rail freight traffic during the first week of April, the Association of American Railroads reported today. U.S. railroads reported originating 262,624 cars during the week, down 20.5 percent from the comparison week in 2008, with loadings down 19.4 percent in the West and 22.0 percent in the East. Intermodal volume of 184,845 trailers or containers was off 14.7 percent from last year, with container volume falling 9.0 percent and trailer volume dropping 34.0 percent. Total volume was estimated

STB Releases Report on Capacity and Infrastructure Investment

April 8, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board announced that Christensen Associates, a Madison, Wisc.-based economic consulting firm, has completed a supplemental report to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board on Capacity and Infrastructure Investment. The report augments the findings of Christensen Associates’ November 2008 independent study entitled A Study of Competition in the U.S. Freight Railroad Industry and Analysis of Proposals that Might Enhance Competition. The Report looks at different measures of railroad capacity and analyzes how that capacity is affected by anticipated changes in the demand for rail services and the productivity of rail assets. As with Christensen Associates’ 2008 Study,

Toyota Recognizes Norfolk Southern With Logistics Awards

April 8, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — Toyota Logistics Services has awarded Norfolk Southern Corp. the 2008 President’s Award for overall logistics excellence among rail carriers, its highest award given to a logistics provider. The award is based on overall performance in customer service, on-time performance, and quality. Norfolk Southern has received the President’s Award six times since the program began in 1996. “For more than two decades, Norfolk Southern has been a strong logistics partner with Toyota,” said David Julian, NS president, automotive and supply chain services. “We remain committed to that partnership, and we look forward to continuing to meet Toyota’s high

FRA Awards Intercity Capital Grant for Planning of Midwest Rail Corridors

April 7, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded a $297,000 grant to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative (MWRRI) to continue rail corridor planning, which may lead to the development of several high-speed rail corridors. MWRRI is a 3,000-mile system providing improved intercity passenger rail service that serves nine states with a combined population of 60 million people, using Chicago as a regional hub. The MWRRI member states will match the $297,000 grant. The project includes an alternative routes analysis; system cost updates; equipment, train control and operational plans; and the preparation of public outreach

STB Vice Chair, Rail Marketing Chiefs are 2009 NARS Meeting Attractions

April 7, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — Surface Transportation Board vice Chairman Charles D. Nottingham and a panel of railroad marketing chiefs will highlight the 2009 North American Rail Shippers meeting. The meeting will be held May 26-28 at the Downtown Marriott Hotel in Chicago. James R. Young, chairman of the Association of American Railroads and chairman, president and CEO of the Union Pacific, will offer his perspectives about the railroad industry. “The annual NARS meeting — ‘On Track for the Future’ — is an excellent opportunity to hear the top marketing officers from all eight major North American railroads,” said NARS Executive Director Leo

BNSF Crew Begins Replacing 90,000 Ties in Minnesota and Wisconsin

April 7, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Co. dispatched a maintenance crew of 43 people to begin replacing railroad ties between East Winona, Wis., and St. Croix Tower, Minn. The crew is expected to replace more than 1,300 ties a day through July. This maintenance project will cost approximately $10.5 million. “Expanding and maintaining our infrastructure along this stretch of trackage and throughout the system not only allows us to provide customers with efficient and reliable rail service but it also benefits the overall efficiency of America’s supply chain,” said Dave Freeman, BNSF vice president, Engineering. BNSF expects to spend about

Hear That Train A Comin’: Historic Steam Locomotive To Visit the West on Heritage Tour

April 7, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Thousands of people will have the chance to see this “living legend” in person when Union Pacific’s historic steam locomotive, No. 844, travels from its base in Wyoming, to California on a 32-day, four-state tour. The “Western Heritage Tour” will be rolling from April 11 through May 12, heading through many cities and towns that witnessed the birth of the railroad. The 844 will make special stops in eight cities across Nevada, California and Utah for the public to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity, the No. 844 Western Heritage Tour. The Steam Locomotive will help

BNSF Cuts Intermodal Shipping Time by More than 12 Hours

April 7, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — In first quarter 2009, BNSF Railway Co. achieved a 12-hour reduction in average transit time for domestic and international intermodal traffic over first quarter 2008. BNSF also improved shipment availability in some lanes by as much as 20 hours. By working with its intermodal partners and leveraging available capacity, BNSF is also achieving as much as 99 percent in door-to-door, on-time deliveries, the company said. “Intermodal performance improvements are a direct result of capital investments and productivity enhancements made over the last several years,” said Steve Branscum, group vice president, BNSF Consumer Products. “BNSF is the

Getting America to Ride the High-Speed Rails

April 7, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The romance of riding the rails may be returning to America thanks to new federal funding and a public hungry for ways to save time, money, the environment, and add a measure of convenience in their hectic lives. According to a new study commissioned by HNTB Corporation, more than half of Americans (54 percent) would choose modern high-speed trains over automobile (33 percent) and air travel (13 percent) if fares and travel time were about the same. “Our country needs high-speed rail as part of a balanced transportation system,” said Peter Gertler, chair of the firm’s

Wabtec Forms Joint Venture to Manufacture Brake Equipment for Chinese Rail Market

April 7, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WILMERDING, Pa. — Wabtec Corp. has formed a 50-50 joint venture in China to manufacture brake equipment for the Chinese rail market. The joint venture is owned by Wabtec and Shenyang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Railways Brakes Co. Ltd., the largest manufacturer of locomotive and freight car brake equipment in China. “This investment builds on our existing presence in China, the largest rail market outside of North America,” said Albert J. Neupaver, Wabtec’s president and chief executive officer. “Our capabilities and technology will be valuable assets in this rapidly growing market.” The joint venture company, Shenyang CNR Wabtec Railway Brake