Articles by Railfanning.org News Wire

No Picture
Canadian Pacific

Poll: Safety Concerns Drive Seven in Ten Rochester Residents to Oppose Increased Freight Traffic through Minn. City

November 28, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Safety, potential accidents and quality of life concerns are prompting nearly 70 percent of Rochester residents to oppose plans to increase freight train traffic through their city, a new survey shows. The survey of more than 500 Rochester residents, conducted October 8-16, also shows strong public sentiment for area elected officials to resist plans to expand freight rail traffic in the city. The Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) recently acquired the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) and associated tracks through downtown Rochester. During the acquisition, CP officials outlined plans to upgrade tracks through Rochester in anticipation of
No Picture
FRA

FRA Announces Disaster Relief Funding for Small Railroads

November 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration is accepting applications from states for $20 million in grant funding to help small Class II and Class III railroads that sustained infrastructure damage as a result of recent natural disasters. Under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair Grant Program, federal grant funds may be used to repair and rehabilitate damage to railroad infrastructure sustained due to hurricanes, floods, and similar events in counties declared to be major disasters by the President from Jan. 1 to Nov. 6. Among the possible uses of the funds are restoration of railroad rights-of-way, bridges, and signals. Prospective grantees
No Picture
BNSF

BNSF Adds Third Rail Line through Cajon Pass

November 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
FORT WORTH, Texas –BNSF Railway has completed construction of a third main rail line through Cajon Pass in Southern California that will increase capacity on BNSF’s Chicago to Los Angeles Transcontinental (Transcon) route from 100 to 150 trains a day. The $90 million project adds almost 16 miles of third main track to BNSF’s route into the Los Angeles Basin. Cajon Pass is located between the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountain ranges, just north of the City of San Bernardino. Approximately 75 to 100 freight and passenger trains currently traverse this route on a daily basis. Each intermodal train
No Picture
FRA

FRA Announces Funding for Proposed Maglev Projects East of the Mississippi River

November 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration is now accepting applications from states or state designated authorities for $45 million in grant funding for proposed magnetic levitation (maglev) projects located east of the Mississippi River. The SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008 limits the eligible projects to those in or between: Pittsburgh, Baltimore-Washington, and Atlanta-Chattanooga. FRA may award one or more grants which can be used for preconstruction planning activities and the capital costs of the fixed guideway infrastructure.
No Picture
Commuter Rail

Traveling Between N.J. Transit, SEPTA Easier Than Ever

November 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
NEWARK, N.J. — Just in time for the busy holiday travel season, N.J. Transit and SEPTA  began a six-month effort promoting the ease of traveling between the two systems — including trips between Philadelphia and New York — with a simple connection at the new Trenton Transit Center. “We’ve made it easier than ever for customers to transfer between N.J. Transit and SEPTA, including a $79 million investment in Trenton Transit Center and new joint ticketing options,” said N.J. Transit Executive Director Richard Sarles. “Now, we want to get the word out and encourage customers to take advantage of the
No Picture
FRA

FRA Issues Final Rule on Advanced Train Braking Technology

November 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — Advanced brake technology will enable locomotive engineers to have better train control, lower the risk of derailment, and allow trains to safely travel longer distances between required brake tests under a new federal rule, announced U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters. “The concept is simple, better brakes allow trains to operate more safely,” Peters said, noting that the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) final rule on Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) brakes will facilitate the widespread deployment of this technology by railroads and railcar owners. Peters explained that ECP brakes provide numerous safety and business benefits compared to conventional air
No Picture
Amtrak

Amtrak Selects Transportation Industry Veteran as President & CEO

November 25, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — Amtrak’s Board of Directors has selected Joseph Boardman, a nationally recognized transportation industry professional, to become president and chief executive officer of the company, effective Nov. 26. Boardman offers nearly 34 years of experience in the surface transportation industry at city, county, state, and federal government levels; most recently as the administrator at the Federal Railroad Administration, officials said. He succeeds Alex Kummant, who resigned Nov. 14. “In an attempt to maintain the momentum at Amtrak, while finding a permanent CEO candidate, the board has appointed Mr. Boardman for one year, but will conduct a search in the
No Picture
Amtrak

St. Louis Opens $26.4 Million Transportation Hub

November 24, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
ST. LOUIS – The City of St. Louis and Amtrak are pleased to announce the official grand opening of the Gateway Transportation Center (GTC), the city’s new $26.4 million multimodal transportation hub. Mayor Francis G. Slay, Comptroller Darlene Green, Amtrak Board Member Thomas Carper, Greyhound, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), Citizens for Modern Transit and other local officials dedicated the facility located at 430 South 15th Street. For nearly twenty years, a multimodal station to connect Amtrak, Greyhound, MetroLink and Metro Bus service has been an important concept in the overall design of St. Louis City’s transportation systems, but until
No Picture
CSX

Renjel Named CSX VP – Strategic Infrastructure Initiatives

November 24, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Ward announced the appointment of Louis E. Renjel as vice president-strategic infrastructure initiatives. Renjel will report to Ellen M. Fitzsimmons, senior vice president-law and public affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary. “Louis will help our communities meet their transportation needs while increasing the capability of CSX to accommodate long-term growth,” Ward said. “His experience in the public and private sectors and his leadership in developing environmental solutions make Louis uniquely qualified for this assignment.” Renjel, who joined CSX in Washington, D.C., in 2006, has been active in the Company’s federal
No Picture
Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern Harnesses Sustainable Wind Energy

November 24, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Nov. 13, Norfolk Southern completed the installation of a 50 kilowatt wind turbine at its rail yard in North Kansas City to power the yard’s wastewater treatment plant. The wind turbine consists of three 24-foot rotor blades mounted on a 100-foot tower and is estimated to generate more than 100,000 kilowatt hours annually. “The North Kansas City wind turbine is the second of its kind on Norfolk Southern, and continues our efforts to promote and incorporate sustainable business practices,” said Chuck Wehrmeister, vice president safety and environmental. “We will continue to explore renewable energy