Railfanning.org News Wire

Amtrak Launches New Security Procedures

February 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Amtrak today announced the deployment of its new specialized Amtrak Mobile Security Team to patrol stations and trains and randomly inspect passenger baggage. The Mobile Security Team supplements ongoing patrols already in place by Amtrak to enhance the safety and security of passenger rail travel. The deployment of the Mobile Security Team and the launch of random baggage inspection are further steps in Amtrak’s ongoing efforts to strengthen rail security as a means to minimize the risk of terrorist threats. The Mobile Security Teams will ultimately be deployed nationwide. “Keeping our customers and employees safe remains our priority,”

Union Pacific’s Diane Duren Named One of PINK Magazine’s Top Women in Business for 2008

February 16, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Diane Duren, Union Pacific Railroad’s vice president and general manager – Chemicals, is being honored as one of the Top 15 Women in Business by PINK magazine, the national magazine for professional women. PINK’s exclusive list in the March/April issue profiles the most influential women driving innovation and revenue in corporate America. “We scoured the upper echelons of corporate America to find the most significant women driving innovation in the U.S. – and adding major dollars to the bottom line in the process,” says Cynthia Good, founding editor of PINK. “These 15 women will soon claim the

California High-Speed Rail Authority to Study Zero Greenhouse Gas Emission

February 10, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board has authorized a study to determine the feasibility of achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions for the power needs of the 700-mile electric high-speed train system. The study, timed to be completed by June of this year, will focus on costs, potential location of facilities and partnerships with utilities for on-site production of clean energy sources. “The proposed route of the system intersects with many of the state’s best location for wind, solar and geothermal facilities,” said Quentin Kopp, chairman of the Authority. “High-speed trains will help California meet the goals set

Amtrak Empire Corridor Train Service Disrupted in New York Due Possible Broken Water Pipe

February 10, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — Because of a possible broken water pipe causing water over the tracks north of Penn Station, Empire Service will be disrupted Saturday, Feb. 9 between Albany and New York City. As a result, two southbound and two northbound trains between Albany and New York ( Nos. 239, 259, 252 and 254) have been canceled. Passengers scheduled on those trains will be re-accommodated on other trains that will originate and terminate at Croton Harmon where passengers will be provided alternate transportation to/from Penn Station. The Lake Shore Limited (New York to Chicago) and the Adirondack and Maple Leaf

Amtrak Looking at $800M Budget for 2009

February 9, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — President Bush’s proposed $3.1 trillion budget for Fiscal Year 2009 provides $800 million for Amtrak, roughly 40 percent less than the passenger railroad’s $1.3 billion budget this year. But that’s not enough, says Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure “In the last budget of his term in office, the President could have used the opportunity to make a bold statement about the state of the Nation and his hope, his vision, for its future,” Oberstar said in a news release. “Instead, the President stayed well inside his ideological comfort zone.

CTA: Ridership Increases in Nine of the Past 10 Years

February 8, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — Combined bus and rail ridership increased by 4.7 million rides in 2007, a gain of 1 percent over 2006 ridership, for a total of 499.5 million rides. It is the highest ridership level since 1992. CTA has gained 60 million annual rides since the lowest year of 1997. Weekend ridership showed the strongest rate of growth throughout the year. Saturday ridership in 2007 increased by 1.1 percent over last year and Sunday/Holiday ridership increased by 1.9 percent. The CTA’s bus system posted particularly strong gains. The bus system provided 309.3 million rides, an increase of 10.8 million rides

New, Safer Brake Technology for Freight Trains Gains Traction as Second Railroad Launches ECP Train

February 8, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Utilizing advanced brake technology advocated by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the BNSF Railway has launched its first revenue service train fully equipped with state-of-the-art electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes. “We expect that these brakes can make rail operations safer and provide business benefits as well,” FRA Administrator Joseph H. Boardman said, noting that BNSF, along with the Norfolk Southern Railway, received FRA waiver approval last year to install and begin demonstrating ECP brake technology. In contrast to conventional air brake systems, which operate sequentially from one rail car to the next, ECP technology applies the brakes uniformly

CSX Transportation Launches Carbon Calculator

February 8, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation today launched an online Carbon Calculator, giving shippers and others the ability to make the best environmental choice of transportation options. The user-friendly tool quickly calculates the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions savings of specific rail shipments, providing comparative data among transportation choices. The Carbon Calculator, accessed through the company’s Web site prompts users to enter their shipment’s weight and miles shipped and returns the estimated CO2 savings of shipping by rail. “Rail is the most environmentally-friendly and energy efficient land transportation option,” said Clarence Gooden, CSX executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “This tool

Amtrak Locomotive, MARC Train Collide

February 7, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — An Amtrak locomotive collided with a MARC commuter train Feb. 7 at Union Station, leaving seven people injured. The rear wheels of the MARC train derailed after the Amtrak locomotive crashed into it from behind. Seven people received minor injuries, officials said. Passenger were disembarking the MARC train, which arrived at Union Station from Baltimore, at the time of the collision. The Associated Press quoted Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero as saying the Amtrak locomotive was going to transport the MARC train to a maintenance center. However, the Amtrak locomotive was traveling too fast at the time of the

FRA: Passenger Train Safety to Be Improved with New Requirements for Emergency Communication, Evacuation, and Rescue Features

February 6, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Commuter and intercity passenger rail equipment will be safer under a new federal rule that ensures improved emergency window exit availability, specifies additional emergency rescue features, and requires two-way communication systems, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman said. “These safety features will help rail passengers evacuate from a train more quickly and provide emergency responders additional ways to reach trapped or injured riders should the need arise,” Boardman said. The new regulations issued by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) mandate that passenger rail cars be equipped with two-way communication systems that better help train crews inform and instruct