Railfanning.org News Wire

BNSF Implements SAP Business Suite to Integrate Operations and Manage Rapid Business Growth

September 10, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Co. will transform its internal management system by implementing the SAP Business Suite family of business applications and Duet software from SAP and Microsoft. The SAP rollout will establish a single platform that interconnects BNSF’s financial, human resource and compliance operations. This integrated enterprise landscape will improve transaction visibility, real-time processing of invoices and enhanced management control. As a subsidiary of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, BNSF Railway operates more than 32,000 route miles in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. The rapidly growing popularity of freight rail has made BNSF among the world’s

Amtrak Partners with GrandLuxe to Offer Luxury Rail Service

September 6, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Beginning this fall, passengers traveling on select Amtrak routes will have the option of lingering over five-course dinners, sleeping in luxurious suites and enjoying personal butler service. The premium service is being made possible by a new partnership between GrandLuxe Rail Journeys, the country’s premier, private rail tour operator, and Amtrak, the national passenger rail service. This is the first time in history that luxury accommodations have been offered on multiple Amtrak routes throughout the country. Called GrandLuxe Limited, the new service uses a separate, private, seven-car luxury train attached to several regularly scheduled Amtrak trains. The GrandLuxe

Canadian Pacific Announces Agreement to Acquire DM&E Railroad

September 4, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

CALGARY– Canadian Pacific Railway Limited said it has reached an agreement to acquire the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corporation and its subsidiaries (DM&E) for $1.48 billion. With this value-enhancing transaction, Canadian Pacific expands its current network by approximately 2,500 miles and increases its access to U.S. Midwest markets including agri-products, coal and ethanol. The deal consists of a $1.48 billion cash payment at closing and future contingent payments of up to approximately $1 billion. Future contingent payments of $350 million will become due if construction starts on the Powder River Basin expansion project prior to December 31, 2025. Further

Amtrak Cascades Schedules Adjusted Based on Experience with Substitute Railcars

August 30, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND — Additional Amtrak railcars — coming from as far away as the East Coast — have arrived in the Pacific Northwest as a substitute for Talgo railcars that are sidelined because of a maintenance issue, Amtrak said. Motorcoaches are also available, with buses covering some of the scheduled train frequencies. New schedules will start Wednesday, Sept. 5. “One of the advantages of Amtrak as an operator of state-supported service is a nationwide equipment pool with experts in operations and scheduling,” said Kurt Laird, the Seattle-based Amtrak District Superintendent. “We are working closely with the states of Washington and Oregon in order to restore frequencies using

RailAmerica Announces New Assistant Vice President, Regional Chief Engineer

August 29, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

BOCA RATON, Fla. — RailAmerica, Inc., a leading operator of regional and short line roads, announced that Josh Putterman was named Assistant Vice President and Darryl Gabriel was named Regional Chief Engineer effective August 27. “With their railroad experience and wealth of knowledge being in the business for as long as they have,” said John Giles, RailAmerica CEO. “I am extremely enthusiastic to have these exceptional leaders join our team.” Josh Putterman joins RailAmerica from CSX where he served for 16 years. He began his career in economic analysis and held numerous positions in Regional Finance, Operations Improvement and Locomotive

MARTA Claims Profit for Second Year in a Row

August 29, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — MARTA said that the Authority has achieved an operating budget surplus for the second year in a row – recording $12.1 million in additional revenues for FY07. This marks only the second time in 20 years that MARTA has recorded an operating budget surplus for two consecutive fiscal years. MARTA also ended FY07 with $117.4 million in capital reserves. The capital program funds additions and improvements to infrastructure and supports the Authority’s bonding capacity. “Thanks to a strict fiscal management plan, strategic cost containment measures and improved financial performance in recent years, MARTA has achieved this significant accomplishment,”

Timken Wins New Rail Customer in Norway

August 28, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

CANTON, Ohio –The Timken Company recently supplied Norwegian mining company Rana Gruber AS with cartridge bearings that significantly increased the load capacity of freight cars transporting iron ore. Rana Gruber is Timken’s first rail customer in Norway, where extensive upgrading of rail freight operations is expected within the coming years. Rana Gruber’s goal was to modernize its fleet and increase load capacity. This involved installing new axles and wheels, and Timken proposed a solution that included Timken® AP-2 Class K cartridge bearings set in adapters that permit simpler assembly and easier maintenance. The adapter solution is common in North American

Las Vegas Monorail Part of Google Transit’s Newly Expanded Route Planning Service

August 23, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

LAS VEGAS –The Las Vegas Monorail Company announced today a partnership with Google Transit – a Google product that allows online users to enter the specifics of a destination and utilizes available public transportation options to plot out the most efficient possible step-by-step route and itinerary. The Las Vegas Monorail joined forces with Google Transit to provide data regarding Monorail transportation on the busy and popular Las Vegas Strip. Google Transit, which has been in operation since December 2005, and has recently been integrated into Google Earth, currently offers public transit information for the following major metropolitan areas: Burbank, Orange

Union Pacific Begins Construction of $90 Million State-of-the-Art Intermodal Terminal in Southwest Bexar County

August 22, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

SAN ANTONIO — Union Pacific has broken ground on a $90 million state-of-the-art intermodal terminal, which is expected to generate $2.48 billion in cumulative economic impact for the area over 20 years, officials said. Located strategically between rail lines traveling to and from the West Coast and Mexico, the 300-acre rail port will ship and receive containers and trailers with household goods and other items supporting retailers and distribution centers, as well as auto parts for a new Toyota plant in San Antonio. “Union Pacific is very pleased to begin work on our San Antonio Intermodal Terminal, which will provide

Woman Struck by Metro Station

August 16, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — A woman was struck by a Metrorail train at the Georgia Ave-Petworth Metrorail station at 3:42 p.m. today (Thursday, Aug. 16). The train was traveling toward the Greenbelt Metrorail station. Police are looking into the possibility that the woman intentionally put herself on the tracks in front of the oncoming train. The woman, believed to be in her 20s, was taken to an area hospital. Green Line trains are sharing one track between the Georgia Ave-Petworth and Fort Totten Metrorail stations to get around the scene while police and emergency personnel investigate the incident. — Special to Railfanning.org