Railfanning.org News Wire

U.S. Class I Railroads Dominate Top 25 in List of Military-Friendly Employers

November 22, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — America’s freight rail industry dominated the fifth annual America’s Top 50 “Military Friendly-Employers” list published by G.I. Jobs, the nation’s premier career guide for military job-seekers. The magazine named four Class I freight railroads in the top half of the most military-friendly employers for 2007, selecting BNSF Railway as the No. 1 employer of military personnel. Also making the list were Union Pacific, CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. “The nation’s freight railroads maintain a strong commitment to the men and women who serve our country,” said Edward R. Hamberger, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads.

FreightCar America Announces Major Organizational Changes in Its Sales and Marketing Group

November 21, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — FreightCar America is making several changes in its sales and marketing organization, involving people in Chicago; Johnstown, Penn.; and Plano, Texas. Ted Baun, who has been serving as vice president, sales — western region, has been promoted to the position of vice president, sales. In this new role he will lead FreightCar America’s nationwide sales effort, reporting to Ed Whalen, senior vice president, marketing and sales. Jay Hatfield, formerly manager, coal, emissions and railcar purchasing, with Luminant Energy, has joined FreightCar America to replace Baun as vice president, sales — western region. Hatfield has a B.A. in marketing

Amtrak Prepares for Busy Thanksgiving Travel Week, Expects 70 Percent Increase in Passengers

November 17, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Anticipating the busiest travel week of the year, Amtrak is planning ahead for Thanksgiving and encouraging customers to do the same. Amtrak is ready to welcome thousands of passengers aboard, especially in the Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston, where more trains will be added during peak travel times. The week of Thanksgiving — Tuesday to Monday — is typically Amtrak’s busiest travel period of the year, carrying more than 600,000 passengers last year. On the heaviest travel day of the year for Amtrak, Nov. 21, the railroad expects ridership to reach over 115,000 passengers system-wide — 70 percent more passengers than an average Wednesday

Northstar Commuter Rail Receives $55 Million Earmark in Congressional Conference Report

November 16, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

ANOKA, Minn. — Northstar Commuter Rail leaders said they were pleased to hear this week that the conference report for the fiscal year 2008 federal transportation appropriations bill recommends $55 million for Northstar construction. Of the 40 new rail projects in the report, Northstar ranked 10th highest in total recommended dollars. “Northstar’s ranking in the bill demonstrates how important this project is to our country’s transportation system,” said Dan Erhart, chair of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA). “We have our Congressional delegation to thank for this good news, primarily Senators Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar, and Representatives Jim Oberstar

Amtrak Board Elects Donna McLean Chairman

November 15, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Donna McLean was elected Chairman of Amtrak’s Board of Directors at the Nov. 8. McLean, who was appointed to the board by President Bush and approved by the Senate in July 2006, had served as Vice Chairman of the Board. She replaces former Chairman David M. Laney, who remains a board member until his term expires in late November 2007. As Chairman of the Board, McLean will lead the board of Amtrak, the nation’s intercity passenger railroad, which operates in 46 states on a 21,000-mile system serving more than 500 stations. A former official at the U.S. Department of Transportation,

CTA: Service Reductions, Fare Increases on the Horizon

November 15, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Board earlier this month approved a 2008 budget that includes significant service reductions, fare increases and layoffs in order to bridge a projected $158 million “shortfall.” At the same time, board members said they hoped the Illinois General Assembly can reach agreement on a transit funding package to avoid the fare increases and service reductions. Effective Jan. 20, 2008, the CTA will eliminate 81 of its 154 bus routes; lay off more than 2,400 employees; and raise fares to record levels, officials said. In addition, the CTA will close three of its eight garages. Fares

Norfolk Southern to Pay $7.35 Million to Restore McKean, Cameron County Waterways; Settle 2006 Train Derailment Case

November 15, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Waterways and wetlands in McKean and Cameron counties that were damaged in a June 2006 lye spill will benefit from a landmark settlement between the commonwealth, Norfolk Southern Corp. and Norfolk Southern Railway. “We negotiated long and hard to reach this point, keeping in mind the environmental and economic injuries that this region suffered as a result of the spill,” DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said today in announcing the agreement. “This settlement will help heal the ecosystem and provide the needed resources for nearby communities.” A large part of the $7.35 million settlement — approximately $6.76

Norfolk Southern Begins Work on Heartland Corridor Tunnels

November 15, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — Heavy machinery grinds away brick, concrete and solid rock as a railroad tunnel near Cowan, Va., gets its roof raised to accommodate taller trains. This is the beginning of a three-year engineering project to increase intermodal freight capacity by raising vertical clearances in 28 tunnels on a Norfolk Southern rail line between the port of Hampton Roads, Va., and Chicago known as the Heartland Corridor. The first phase of the tunnel work began in October. When the project is completed in early 2010, containerized freight moving in double-stack trains will be able to shave off about 200

Safe Crossing Week 2007 Teaches Kids How to Behave Safely Around Trains

November 12, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — To encourage educators, parents and caregivers to teach children that trains and railroad tracks may be dangerous places, Safe Kids USA and Canadian National are launching Safe Crossing Week, which begins today and runs through Nov. 18. Each year in the United States, an average of 916 people are killed and 8,300 are seriously injured in collisions with trains in the United States. In 2005, a total of 39 children aged 15 and under were killed in an incident involving a train. According to the two safety partners, education is key to preventing these injuries. CN created the

NY&A Railway Promotes Paul Victor to President

November 10, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — The New York & Atlantic Railway has promoted Paul Victor to president. He had been general superintendent for the 269-mile railway, which provides rail freight services throughout Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island. Joel Torres, director of Marketing, advances to chief transportation and commercial officer. Mark Westerfield, who had been serving as acting president, was appointed superintendent of Mechanical. All appointments are effective Nov. 6. Victor joined the NY&A in September 2006 following 18 years of experience managing railroads in Latin America and Africa. He directed the first major privatization of freight service in Argentina in 1989 and