Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 276

Union Pacific Announces Over $90 Million Investment in a New State-of-the-Art Intermodal Terminal in Bexar County

July 24, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Union Pacific on July 20 announced plans to invest over $90 million in Southwest Bexar County to develop a new state-of-the-art intermodal terminal. The 300-acre rail port will serve as an economic development and job growth catalyst for the area. The new terminal will ship and receive containers and trailers with household goods and other items supporting retailers and distribution centers, as well as auto parts for the new Toyota plant in San Antonio. "Union Pacific is pleased to make a significant investment in Bexar County as we expect intermodal volumes to experience significant growth in

Death Toll in India Bombings Rises to 200

July 14, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

BOMBAY, India – The death toll in the July 11 serial bombings on Bombay’s commuter trains has risen to 200, with 714 people injured, according to the official estimate released by police. One hundred twenty seven victims have been identified and a further 56 remain unidentified, the estimate said. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks. Indian authorities have said that the Kashmiri militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) may be involved. An LeT spokesman has denied any involvement. The day after the blast, schools, colleges and offices functioned normally in Bombay and the commuter train service targeted in

India Bombings Kill At Least 180

July 12, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

More than 180 people were killed July 11 in a series of bombings that government officials are calling a well-coordinated terrorist attack.

Explosive Detection Technologies To Be Tested at Jersey City’s Exchange Place Station

July 12, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, with the cooperation of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), will test and evaluate security equipment and operating procedures at the Exchange Place Port Authority-Trans Hudson (PATH) Station from July 13-27. The testing is part of the Department’s broader efforts to protect citizens and critical infrastructure from possible terrorist attacks. The test represents the second phase of a rail security pilot project. In phase one, which was conducted from Feb. 6 through March 1, bags and passengers at Exchange Place Station were screened deliberately and randomly

NTSB: Failure to Adhere to Track Warrant Control Led to Fatal Texas Wreck

July 10, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The probable cause of a May 19, 2004, fatal collision between two BNSF trains was caused by one crew’s failure to adhere to an after-arrival track warrant requiring them to stay in one location until the northbound train arrived, the National Transportation Safety Board has determined. Contributing to the accident was BNSF Railway Co.’s use of after-arrival track warrant authority in non-signaled territory, and the Federal Railroad Administration’s failure to prohibit the use of such authority. Also contributing to the accident was the train dispatcher’s informal communications regarding planned train meeting locations. “This accident could have been prevented

FRA Promotes Highway-Rail Grade Croessing Safety and Prevention with Grant to Operation Lifesaver

July 1, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Preventing and reducing collisions, fatalities and injuries arising from highway-rail grade crossing and railroad trespass incidents is the goal of a $1.03 million Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant to Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), a not-for-profit railroad safety education organization. Trespassing and highway-rail grade crossing deaths comprise approximately 95 percent of all rail-related fatalities in the United States each year. The grant funding will be used for public education and awareness programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As part of the grant agreement, OLI is required to receive 25 percent matching in-kind contributions from non-government

New FRA Study Re-Affirms Safety of Push-Pull Passenger Rail Operations

July 1, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — A comprehensive federal study of accident data found that push-pull passenger rail service has an excellent safety record and that a train being pushed has virtually no greater likelihood of derailing after a highway-rail grade crossing collision than one with a locomotive in the lead, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman announced. The new analysis of grade crossing accidents found that from 1996 to 2005, only three push trains derailed out of 218 collisions and two pull trains derailed out of 290 collisions. This difference in the rate of derailment between push and pull modes is a statistically

FRA: First-Ever Freight Locomotive Crashworthiness Standards to Improve Protection for Train Crews

June 29, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Train crews involved in a locomotive collision will have a better chance of survival with reduced injuries as a result of the first-ever federal freight locomotive crashworthiness standards, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman said. The regulation published June 28 is intended to prevent the locomotive cab from being crushed during a head-on collision with another locomotive, or when it strikes the rear of another train, a shifted load on a train on an adjacent track, or a vehicle at a highway-rail grade crossing, Boardman said. “This regulation will give engineers and conductors a better chance to walk

New FRA Study Re-Affirms Safety of Push-Pull Passenger Rail Operations

June 27, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – A comprehensive federal study of accident data found that push-pull passenger rail service has an excellent safety record and that a train being pushed has virtually no greater likelihood of derailing after a highway-rail grade crossing collision than one with a locomotive in the lead, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman announced. “Preventing accidents and protecting passengers have much more to do with improving safety than whether the locomotive is in the front or rear of a train,” Boardman said of the report’s findings. The study re-affirms the conclusions of a previous report issued in July 2005 by

Amtrak: Service to Return to Normal

June 26, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak train service in the east is scheduled to return to normal operation on June 27, after heavy rains caused delays and cancellations in the Washington area. Service to and from points north of Washington resumed at 6:30 a.m. June 26 after high water caused some train cancellations, the railroad said. Most service south of Washington was canceled June 26, but is slated to resume normal operation on June 27, barring further weather-related problems. Meanwhile, Virginia Railway Express cancelled service on both lines June 26 due to flooded conditions, washouts and trees down. Service for June 27 was