Railfanning.org News Wire

Rail Freight Traffic Down During First Week of March

March 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads during the first week of March remained down in comparison with a year ago, the Association of American Railroads reported. U.S. carload freight totaled 275,105 cars, down 15.0 percent from the comparison week in 2008, with loadings down 11.9 percent in the West and 19.5 percent in the East. Intermodal volume of 180,047 trailers or containers was off 12.7 percent from last year, with container volume falling 6.0 percent and trailer volume dropping 34.0 percent. Total volume was estimated at 29.2 billion ton-miles, off 13.9 percent from 2008. All nineteen carload commodity groups

CN Reaches Voluntary Mitigation Agreement with Richton Park, Ill., on EJ&E Acquisition

March 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — CN announced a voluntary mitigation agreement with the Village of Richton Park, Ill., located southwest of Chicago, addressing the municipality’s concerns with CN’s acquisition of the principal lines of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E). CN completed its EJ&E acquisition on Jan. 31. The agreement will see CN assist in the creation and maintenance of quiet zones, fund safety fencing, and provide emergency response personnel training and emergency communication improvements. “Our pact with Richton Park marks the twelfth voluntary mitigation agreement signed by CN with communities affected by the EJ&E acquisition,” said Gordon Trafton, CN senior

N.J. Transit Looking for a Bailout

March 11, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N. J. — Key N.J. Transit projects in southern New Jersey totaling $82 million are being accelerated as a result of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding. The funds will generate and preserve jobs in the near-term and create assets that will benefit residents for years to come, including a new intermodal transfer station linking the River LINE with the Atlantic City Rail Line, and signal upgrades on the River LINE that enables more frequent service as well as lays the groundwork for a positive train control system. “This investment plan complies with the strict federal requirements for

$87M Rail Investment Coming to Upstate New York, New England

March 11, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — The STB’s approval of Pan Am Railways’ (PAR) and Norfolk Southern’s proposed Pan Am Southern joint venture clears the way for more than $87 million in rail infrastructure investment designed to significantly enhance the service capabilities and commercial offerings that NS and PAR provide in upstate New York and New England, the railroads said. “Pan Am Southern will bring immediate benefits to shippers doing business in upstate New York and New England,” said David Fink, Pan Am Railways’ president. “The Patriot Corridor will revitalize freight rail in the region, reducing highway congestion and improving air quality.” “Both

STB: Pan Am Southern Ownership OK

March 10, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board approved the joint control and ownership of Pan Am Southern LLC, a new railroad carrier, by the Norfolk Southern Railway, Pan Am Railways Inc. (PARI), and two of PARI’s rail subsidiaries, the Boston and Maine Corp. and the Springfield Terminal Railway Co. The ownership is subject to Board-imposed conditions. In reaching its decision, the Board found that the control transaction, along with its related operational agreements, should produce substantial transportation benefits to the New England region of the United States. PAS will operate approximately 437 miles of track, including an east-west section called the

STB Seeking Public Comment on UP Request for Declaratory Order

March 10, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has instituted a proceeding and invites public comment on a Union Pacific petition for a declaratory order. In its petition, UP requests that the Board determine the extent of the common carrier obligation to quote rates for new, lengthy movements of chlorine, a toxic inhalation hazard (TIH). The chlorine movements at issue would average 1,900 miles in distance and travel through two High Threat Urban Areas and several other large cities. UP declined to quote rates for these movements pending the outcome of this proceeding. UP believes the risk of potential exposure from long-distance

AAR: Rail Anti-Trust Bill Will Impose Confusing, Overlapping Regulatory Scheme

March 9, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Legislation approved that will repeal the railroads’ limited anti-trust exemptions creates an unprecedented and confusing regulatory scheme that could alter current economic oversight of the railroads, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). The legislation to eliminate the railroads’ few anti-trust exemptions was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee. At the same time, the Senate Commerce Committee will be developing legislation that could subject railroads to still more economic regulation by the Surface Transportation Board (STB). “We face two disparate schemes that spell nothing but confusion for the railroads and those charged with enforcing the regulations,” said

Railway Age Names Pacific Harbor Line ‘2009 Short Line Railroad of the Year’

March 9, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

LOS ANGELES — Railway Age magazine has named Wilmington, Calif.-based Pacific Harbor Line, Inc. 2009 Short Line Railroad of the Year for replacing and expanding its entire locomotive fleet with 22 low-emission diesel-electric units. Doing so also made Pacific Harbor Line the greenest railroad in America. The railroad estimates fuel savings of seven to nine percent. Particulate emissions have been cut by at least 70 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions are 46 percent lower. Pacific Harbor Line began operations in 1998 serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which are the two busiest container ports by volume in

NTSB: We’re Committed to Consequences of Fatigue

March 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board, in recognition of National Sleep Awareness Week, reiterated its commitment to eliminating human fatigue in the transportation industry. The Safety Board said it has long been concerned about the effect of human fatigue in transportation and the consequences of fatigue on those who perform critical functions in all modes of transportation. “Fatigue in transportation presents unnecessary risks to the traveling public,” said NTSB Board Member Deborah Hersman. “Fatigue can impair a person behind the wheel or at the helm much like alcohol or other drugs. We must ensure that as much as possible

Norfolk Southern Mechanical Employees Set Safety Record

March 4, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — Employees in Norfolk Southern’s mechanical department turned in a history-making safety performance in 2008. The employees completed the year with a reportable injury ratio of 0.53, the lowest ever achieved by any operating department at Norfolk Southern. The ratio represents the number of reportable injuries for every 200,000 man-hours worked, the industry standard for measuring safety performance. NS has 5,800 mechanical department employees responsible for maintaining the railroad’s 3,976 locomotives and 94,660 freight cars. In 2008, they worked a total 11.9 million man-hours. Tim Heilig, vice president mechanical, Atlanta, leads the department. The mechanical and other NS