Railfanning.org News Wire

Appalachian and Ohio Rail Workers Approve First Contract as BMWED Teamsters

August 7, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Track maintenance employees of the Appalachian and Ohio Railroad have unanimously approved their first contract as members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED) of the Teamsters Union. This is the first union contract on the short line railroad since being sold by Watco Companies. “This contract will provide an immediate increase in wages,” said Randall Brassell, General Chairman of the BMWED’s Eastern Federation. “The contract language standardizes pay rates and gives employees access to a 401(k) plan. This is a good first contract.” The contract ratification vote took place Aug. 3 in Buckhannon, W.Va.

FRA Grant Supports Continued Development of Positive Train Control Technology

August 5, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration has given a $679,000 grant to the D.C.-based Railroad Research Foundation. The grant means an advanced train control system that can prevent train collisions, reduce the probability of speed-related derailments and protect on-track railroad workers is one step closer to being, the FRA said. The technology being developed will allow passenger trains to safely operate at 110 mph between Chicago and St. Louis in the same rail corridor as slower freight trains. The funding supports the ongoing activities of the North American Joint Positive Train Control Project, a collaborative effort between the FRA, the

MBTA Opens Rhode Island Layover Facility

August 4, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

PAWTUCKET, R.I. – MBTA this week opened its Pawtucket Layover Facility in Rhode Island, which officials say will improve rail service. The facility was a joint venture between MBTA and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and boasts a six-track commuter rail yard for the purpose of overnight storage of commuter rail equipment. “This state of the art facility is capable of housing more equipment, which means more service for our customers,” MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas said. “Our mission is to preserve our customer base, while at the same time attract more customers.” Prior to opening the new

N.J. Transit to Begin Portal Bridge Replacement

August 4, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. – Plans to eliminate a major chokepoint and source of delays on the Northeast Corridor are underway thanks to action taken this week by the N.J. Transit Board of Directors to conduct environmental and related engineering work to rehabilitate or expand the 96-year-old Amtrak Portal Bridge. The Board awarded a $3.3 million contract to New York-based AKRF Inc. to determine how best to increase rail capacity at the two-track swing bridge, which carries the Northeast Corridor (NEC) over the Hackensack River just west of Secaucus Junction. “Today’s action is another example of this Board’s commitment to take meaningful

Trinity Industries Sells European Rail Business

August 4, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

DALLAS – Trinity Industries Inc. has completed the sale of the company’s European Rail business to International Railway Systems S.A. The European Rail business was sold for $30 million plus working capital as defined in the sale agreement and the assumption of leases with obligations totaling approximately $6 million. The financial impact of the transaction will be recorded in the company’s third quarter ending Sept. 30, 2006. The company does not expect a material financial impact to be recorded as a result of the transaction. Trinity Industries, headquartered in Dallas, is one of the nation’s leading diversified industrial companies. Trinity

Acela Express Cafe Cars Introduce Wireless Processing of Credit Cards

August 4, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Enjoying a quick bite to eat on the train is now even more convenient as Amtrak has introduced wireless electronic credit card processing terminals to complete credit card transactions in all Acela Express café cars. Using the new devices, service attendants are now able to get instant authorizations from credit card companies. Previously, attendants needed to hand write ticket and passenger information on paper forms for credit card acceptance. The processing terminals accept all major credit cards, and there are no minimum purchase requirements. For purchases under $25, receipts are issued only when requested by the customer. Currently,

Amtrak’s Kissimmee Station Presented Award for Excellence in Safety

August 4, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Amtrak station here was recently honored with a special award for Safety Excellence in recognition of the station’s safety performance in maintaining an injury-free workplace for more than 25 years. “It gives the City of Kissimmee a tremendous sense of pride to have an employer in our community that has such an impressive track record and places a high premium on safety issues for both the public and its employees,” said Kissimmee Mayor Linda Goodwin-Nichols. The Kissimmee Amtrak Station serves two of Amtrak’s Silver Service trains – the Silver Meteor and the Silver Star, traveling between

WMATA Survey: Living, Working Near Stations Increases Transit Use

August 4, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – A new Metro ridership survey finds the closer people are to a rail station the more likely they are to use it. The Transit Authority surveyed 1,950 people who lived, worked or visited other businesses within a half-mile of 13 rail stations. The survey included 49 office, residential, retail, hotel and movie theater sites. The results suggest people are more likely to use transit in areas where they can live, work and shop close to a rail station. This was especially true for mid day trips to and from work places. The survey results also indicate that even

FTA Signs $700 Million Agreement to Fund Construction of Dallas ‘Green Line’ Rail Extension

August 4, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

DALLAS – The Federal Transit Administration and Dallas Area Rapid Transit have reached an agreement that will send $700 million in federal funding to begin construction of the “Green Line,” the northwest/southeast extension to the city’s light rail system. When complete, the line will give roughly 125,000 Dallas-area workers direct access to downtown. “Well designed transit projects such as this one are a critical component of the congestion solution,” Bushue said. “In addition to providing a vital link between jobs and workers, the Green Line will help ease gridlock in this city.” The 21-mile project consists of two segments that

Federal Transit Administration and Metro Sign Agreement To Purchase New Rail Cars

August 3, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The Federal Transit Administration and Metro have reached a $173.3 million agreement to buy dozens of new rail cars for the transit system serving the nation’s capital. The federal government is committing $104 million in federal funds over the next three years so Metro can implement 20 percent eight-car train operations by the end of this year. The remaining funds will be contributed by the local jurisdictions that Metro serves. The first of the new 6000 series rail cars which are scheduled to enter passenger service later this summer, feature an interior that has been completely redesigned to