Articles by Railfanning.org News Wire

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NTSB

NTSB Wraps Up Initial On-Scene Investigation of CTA Wreck

July 25, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire
CHICAGO — The National Transportation Safety Board has completed the initial on-scene phase of its investigation into the July 11 Chicago Transit Authority train derailment in a tunnel with a fire on the Blue Line. The 12-member team is continuing the investigation. As part of the ongoing investigation into this accident, the arc damaged wayside and car equipment, derailment area core samples of ties, and derailment area components of the rail fastening system have been sent to the NTSB’s laboratory in Washington, DC. CTA has also provided the NTSB with track inspection records for the past 12 months. The Safety
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Commuter Rail

Georgia DOT Receives FRA Grant for Atlanta-Chattanooga High-Speed Rail EIS

July 25, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — A proposed high-speed passenger rail line between Atlanta, GA and Chattanooga, TN will be studied by the Georgia Department of Transportation with a $6,690,857 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and $1,172,714 from non-Federal sources. The funding will be used to prepare a Tier I Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to review the need for the project, possible corridor and station locations, potential ridership figures, and whether maglev technology or conventional high-speed trains should be used. The project also involves coordination with the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
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Commuter Rail

Wabtec Awarded $8 Million Contract To Remanufacture Switcher Locomotives For New Jersey Transit

July 24, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire
WILMERDING, Pa. — Wabtec Corporation on July 21 announced that its MotivePower subsidiary has been awarded an $8 million contract by New Jersey Transit Corporation to supply five "clean-diesel" switcher locomotives operating at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 2 emissions levels. The locomotives, which will be remanufactured at MotivePower’s Boise, Idaho facility, will meet new environmental emissions standards and be equipped with an automatic start/stop system to improve fuel efficiency and extend component life on idling units. The locomotives will be delivered in 2007. "Wabtec’s modern, environmentally friendly switcher locomotives offer our customers many operational benefits," said Albert J. Neupaver,
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Amtrak

New York Sergeant Named Amtrak Police Officer of the Year

July 24, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire
ISELIN, N.J. – Sergeant Kenneth Metz of Aberdeen, N.J., has been named the Amtrak Police Department’s Officer of the Year. Sergeant Metz received this prestigious, nationwide award in recognition of his many contributions to the corporation and the department. He has displayed exemplary performance of his duties. Sergeant Metz began his career with the Amtrak Police Department in 1990, working uniformed patrol in New York and New Jersey. Sergeant Metz was recently promoted to his current rank and is assigned to patrol duty in the New York Division. "Sergeant Metz has maintained a consistent and diligent effort to provide the
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Union Pacific

Union Pacific Announces Over $90 Million Investment in a New State-of-the-Art Intermodal Terminal in Bexar County

July 24, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Union Pacific on July 20 announced plans to invest over $90 million in Southwest Bexar County to develop a new state-of-the-art intermodal terminal. The 300-acre rail port will serve as an economic development and job growth catalyst for the area. The new terminal will ship and receive containers and trailers with household goods and other items supporting retailers and distribution centers, as well as auto parts for the new Toyota plant in San Antonio. "Union Pacific is pleased to make a significant investment in Bexar County as we expect intermodal volumes to experience significant growth in
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Terrorism/Security

Explosive Detection Technologies To Be Tested at Jersey City’s Exchange Place Station

July 12, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, with the cooperation of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), will test and evaluate security equipment and operating procedures at the Exchange Place Port Authority-Trans Hudson (PATH) Station from July 13-27. The testing is part of the Department’s broader efforts to protect citizens and critical infrastructure from possible terrorist attacks. The test represents the second phase of a rail security pilot project. In phase one, which was conducted from Feb. 6 through March 1, bags and passengers at Exchange Place Station were screened deliberately and randomly
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NTSB

NTSB: Failure to Adhere to Track Warrant Control Led to Fatal Texas Wreck

July 10, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON – The probable cause of a May 19, 2004, fatal collision between two BNSF trains was caused by one crew’s failure to adhere to an after-arrival track warrant requiring them to stay in one location until the northbound train arrived, the National Transportation Safety Board has determined. Contributing to the accident was BNSF Railway Co.’s use of after-arrival track warrant authority in non-signaled territory, and the Federal Railroad Administration’s failure to prohibit the use of such authority. Also contributing to the accident was the train dispatcher’s informal communications regarding planned train meeting locations. “This accident could have been prevented
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FRA

FRA Promotes Highway-Rail Grade Croessing Safety and Prevention with Grant to Operation Lifesaver

July 1, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — Preventing and reducing collisions, fatalities and injuries arising from highway-rail grade crossing and railroad trespass incidents is the goal of a $1.03 million Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant to Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), a not-for-profit railroad safety education organization. Trespassing and highway-rail grade crossing deaths comprise approximately 95 percent of all rail-related fatalities in the United States each year. The grant funding will be used for public education and awareness programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As part of the grant agreement, OLI is required to receive 25 percent matching in-kind contributions from non-government