Railfanning.org News Wire

GE – Transportation Entering UK Market

November 29, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

ERIE, Pa. — UK-based Freightliner Group Ltd. has placed the largest order in its history, according to GE – Transportation, which received an order for 30 freight locomotives. GE – Transportation, a unit of General Electric Co., is developing a new freight locomotive in partnership with Freightliner Group as part of a collaborative effort called “Project Genesis.” Starting in mid 2009, Freightliner will use the most advanced locomotive product in the industry while GE – Transportation will enter the UK rail freight market for the first time, officials said. GE – Transportation’s JS37ACi offers many new features, including AC traction

Tennessee Southern Railroad Completes First Year under New Ownership

November 29, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

Tennessee Southern Railroad has completed its first year of operation under Patriot Rail ownership, and the new owners say the year was a success. TSRR, acquired by Patriot Rail in November 2006, operates over 149 miles of rail line from Columbia, Tenn., to Pulaski, Tenn., and from Columbia, Tenn., to Florence, Ala. The railroad serves 32 customers and interchanges with CSX Transportation at Natco, Tenn. TSRR also provides multi-modal services between the railroad, river barges and trucks at the Port of Florence, located on the Tennessee River. According to officials, TSRR has achieved many milestones during the past year, including:

In Advance of Amtrak Strike, Bush Appoints Presidential Emergency Board

November 28, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — President Bush today established a Presidential Emergency Board, hoping to keep the employees of nine Amtrak unions from striking. The unions represent more than 6,000 of Amtrak’s non-operating employees who have been working on contracts that expired in 1999. On Nov. 1, the National Mediation Board released Amtrak and the unions from mediation, starting a 30 day cooling off period. If Bush did not appoint the Presidential Emergency Board, the unions’ employees could strike starting Dec. 1. “In the judgment of the National Mediation Board, these disputes threaten substantially to interrupt interstate commerce to a degree that would deprive

Canadian Pacific, Mayo Clinic Commit to Ongoing Dialogue

November 27, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Canadian Pacific and the Mayo Clinic, on behalf of Rochester residents, have conducted their first face-to-face meeting, and officials said they made a commitment to continue their dialogue following the railroad’s recent acquisition of the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad (DM&E). “We had a very open and constructive dialogue and we left with a mutual understanding of each others needs and concerns,” said Glenn Forbes, CEO of the Mayo Clinic. “We both expressed a strong and firm commitment to work collaboratively, both together and with the community of Rochester, to ensure the highest degree of safety moving

Milwaukee Intermodal Station Dedicated

November 27, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

MILWAUKEE – A new Milwaukee Intermodal Station has been dedicated, the culmination of a $17 million project. The new station is served by 16 daily Amtrak trains, and the project transformed a former downtown rail station built in 1965 into a modern intermodal facility that will serve as the “gateway” to the city, officials said. In addition to the seven daily Amtrak Hiawatha Service round-trips between Milwaukee and Chicago, the daily Chicago-Seattle/Portland Amtrak Empire Builder trains stop at the station. Along with the construction of a new three-story, glass-enclosed “galleria” and other exterior renovations, the interior of the remodeled facility features a

Amtrak: ‘Civic Conversation’ to Consider Rail Depot Development and Restoration

November 27, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Citing the need for a greater exchange of success stories and to provide additional passenger rail station improvement resources, Amtrak has invited communities to a “Civic Conversation” in Pittsburgh on Dec. 6. The conversation is part of the railroad’s “Great American Stations” Initiative. Amtrak President and CEO Alex Kummant sent “Great American Stations Civic Conversation” invitations to mayors and other civic leaders and state officials in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia and Indiana. Case studies will be highlighted from large and small communities. Representatives of those cities will explain how they shepherded their projects to successes that sparked

National Railway Equipment Sees Superior Results in Test of New Locomotive

November 25, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

MT. VERNON, Ill. — In a two week test of an N-ViroMotive “GenSet locomotive” from National Railway Equipment Co., Indiana Rail Road Co. experienced significant fuel savings, low emissions and excellent tractive effort in normal switch operations, officials said. During the October test, Indiana Rail Road found that the single N-ViroMotive 2100 HP GenSet locomotive performed the same work as two SW 1500 locomotives in an MU consist, totaling 3000 HP. Fuel savings during the test were measured at 67 percent. “We were pleasantly surprised that this extremely fuel efficient locomotive also pulls as well as our two existing units,

Staten Island Railway Expands Rush Hour Service

November 25, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — Citing record ridership growth, the Staten Island Railway (SIR) said it was expanding its rush hour express train service. The expansion, which began Nov. 14, will provide additional service to commuters who rely on SIR express and local service to and from the Staten Island Ferry while also providing an alternative to construction-related delays on area highways, officials said. “NYC Transit has devoted considerable time and effort into crafting schedules and in developing quality service improvements that our SIR riders would find attractive,” said MTA Executive Director & CEO Elliot G. Sander. “That hard work is paying

BART to Use $5.4 Million in Funding for Security Cameras

November 25, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

SAN FRANCISCO — BART will soon be buying millions of dollars in new security cameras for its stations, thanks to $5.4 million in funding from a voter-approved bond measure, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office announced. The $5.4 million is the first installment from the $19.9 billion Proposition 1B bond measure, which voters approved last year in November. “From day one, the Governor has pledged that public safety is priority number one,” said Matthew Bettenhausen, the Governor’s Director of the Office of Homeland Security. “It’s why he added security funds into the bond measure in the first place. This is the first

Feds Give $128 Million in Funding for Norfolk Light Rail Project

November 25, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Norfolk’s light rail system is one step closer to reality, now that the federal government has signed a “full funding grant agreement.” Under the agreement, the federal government will provide $128 million in tax dollars, more than half of the $232 million in capital costs for the project. The money will be allocated through 2010. “Fighting future gridlock depends on building transit projects like this one,” Federal Transit Administrator James S. Simpson said. “Construction of ‘The Tide’ will transform an abandoned rail right-of-way into a lifeline for those who currently depend on transit, and will help meet future