Railfanning.org News Wire

Teamsters: Proposed Rail Security Rules Ignore Employees’ Safety Role

December 27, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff: Dec. 12, 2006, Press Conference WASHINGTON – Proposed rules by the Transportation Security Administration ignore necessary employee training and protections against employer retaliation, Teamsters say. However, the Teamsters Union is still reviewing the rules, but so far has determined that the proposals are inadequate, according to the union. “The White House has failed again to recognize that the true eyes and ears of the rail system are its employees,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “Our members are working on the rails night and day. They know about the security lapses on the rails, yet

Genesee & Wyoming Reconfigures North American Operating Regions

December 27, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

GREENWICH, Conn. – Genesee & Wyoming Inc. has offered up a “rebalancing” of its North American operating regions, which company officials say is needed as a result of growth. “The value of our regional structure is its responsiveness to customers and business opportunities in each of our operating units,” said Mortimer B. Fuller III, Chairman and CEO of Genesee & Wyoming. “This realignment, effective Jan. 1, 2007, reflects our focus on maintaining these advantages.” Under the “rebalancing,” a new Southern Region will consist of 13 railroads that were formerly part of the company’s Rail Link Region, which has grown significantly

Norfolk Southern Agrees to Settlement in Graniteville Lawsuit

December 26, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

GRANITEVILLE, S.C. – Norfolk Southern is asking a federal judge to approve a class settlement to a lawsuit filed after a Jan. 6, 2005, derailment that left nine people dead. The Norfolk, Va. -based company filed a motion in South Carolina federal court proposing a settlement that “would provide varying levels of compensation for people who were injured and who received medical treatment or were hospitalized as a result of the derailment and subsequent release of chlorine,” the railroad said in a news release. On Jan. 6, 2005, a northbound Norfolk Southern Railway freight train encountered an improperly lined switch

NTSB: Engineer’s Inattentiveness to Blame for 2005 Wreck

December 21, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – An engineer’s inattentiveness to signal indications and his failure to operate the train in accordance with the signal indications and speed restrictions is probable cause of a September 2005 Metra derailment, the National Transportation Safety Board determined. Contributing to the Sept. 17, 2005 derailment of Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp. (Metra) train No. 504 in Chicago was lack of recognition by Metra of the risk posed by the significant difference between track speed and crossover speed at the accident location and its inaction to reduce that risk through additional operational safety procedures and other means. Also, contributing

DOT Wants Railroads to Route Hazardous Materials Based on Range of Safety, Security Factors

December 19, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Railroad companies would be required to perform a safety and security risk analysis to determine the most appropriate route for shipping hazardous materials as part of a new proposal by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said the notice of proposed rulemaking, issued by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), would make shipments of certain high-risk hazardous materials, including explosives, radioactive substances and toxic-inhalation risk materials, more safe and secure by adding to and strengthening existing federal regulations. “These materials are fueling

Two Cars of CTA Train Derail

December 19, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – The last two cars of a northbound Orange Line Chicago Transit Authority train derailed at 14th and State Street south of the Roosevelt Line station Tuesday, Dec. 19, causing delays on both the Green and Orange lines.Several minor injures were reported in the derailment. The train’s first two cars did not have a problem passing over a switch, but apparently the switch moved before the final two cars passed, causing the derailment, The Associated Press reported. At the time of the derailment, the train was traveling about 25 mph. Orange Line trains were operating between Midway and Halsted,

Coast Starlight to Originate in Portland, Cascades Service Operating Normal

December 19, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

SEATTLE – Amtrak service in the Pacific Northwest has returned to normal with the exception of the Coast Starlight, train No. 11.Train No. 11 will originate in Portland Monday, Dec. 18, with alternate transportation between Seattle and Portland. Amtrak Cascades will operate as scheduled. Passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com for additional information and train status updates. – Special to Railfanning.org News Wire

Pacific Northwest Service Resumes South of Seattle, Coast Starlight to Originate in Portland

December 17, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

SEATTLE – BNSF Railway has opened the railroad between Portland, Ore., and Seattle, Wash. following mudslides south of Seattle, and Amtrak service was to resume Saturday, Dec. 16, with the exception of the Coast Starlight, train No. 11. Train No. 11 will originate in Portland, with alternate transportation between Seattle and Portland. Amtrak Cascades will operate as scheduled. Passengers are encouraged to call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com for schedule information and train status updates. – Special to Railfanning.org News Wire

First-Class Service for Injured Troops on Liberty Limited

December 17, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT BELVOIR, Va. – The luxury railroad car Pennsylvania has seen its fair share of two things: precious cargo and the Army-Navy football rivalry. In 1961 the red Pennsylvania Railroad business car carried John F. Kennedy from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., along a temporary rail line put in place for the gridiron classic. Kennedy chose to take the car to the annual football game again in 1962. This year, the Pennsylvania carried more than one guest of honor as it began a familiar trip Dec. 6 from Washington’s Union Station to the 107th Army-Navy game. The car was part of

TTX Company Announces Senior Level Appointments

December 17, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – TTX Company President and CEO Andrew F. Reardon announced the appointments of Thomas F. Wells to Executive Vice President and Patrick J. Casey to Vice President Fleet Management.In addition to his current duties, Wells will direct Strategic Planning as well as Strategy and Marketing for the Railcar Maintenance and Technology areas of TTX, the largest private railcar fleet in North America. Wells joined TTX in 2001 as Senior Vice President, Fleet Management. He brings over 20 years of industry experience, including 17 years with Norfolk Southern Railway’s Supply Management, Sales and Marketing, Operations and intermodal departments. A graduate