BNSF – Page 14 – Railfanning.org

Hurricane Ike Causes Rail Freight Downturn

September 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off sharply during the week ended September 20 in comparison with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported. Much of the decline can be attributed to disruptions caused by Hurricane Ike which struck the Gulf Coast Sept. 13. Total volume was estimated at 32.8 billion ton-miles, down 6.8 percent from the comparable week last year. Carload freight in the week totaled 312,662 cars, off 7.8 percent from last year. Volume was down 10.4 percent in the West and 4.3 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is

U.S. DOT Report Identifies Freight Railroads’ Role in Amtrak Train Delays

September 25, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Improper dispatching practices and poor operating discipline by freight railroads are among the key reasons why Amtrak trains suffer poor on-time performance on tracks operated by those host freight railroads. That’s the upshot of “Root Causes of Amtrak Train Delays,” a new report from the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. The DOT IG issued the report in response to a request from the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. More than 70 percent of the miles traveled by Amtrak trains are operated over tracks owned by other railroads. Federal law requires that, except in emergencies or as

No Phones in the Cab of California Trains

September 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

SAN FRANCISCO — Metrolink engineers and train operators across the state of California are no longer allowed to use cell phones while in the cab. The California Public Utilities Commission voted to temporarily prohibit the personal use of “commercial mobile radio services and devices” by on-duty railroad engineers, brakemen, conductors or rail transit vehicle operators. Personal communications “that take place when the train or transit vehicle is stopped and with the approval of the appropriate management personnel” is allowed, however. The CPUC determined that this action was needed due to a June 14, 2008, MUNI accident that may have resulted

Union Pacific Surpasses Own Records for Moving Loaded Coal Trains Out of Wyoming

September 8, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific said it has surpassed its own monthly record for delivering coal out of Wyoming’s Southern Powder River Basin (SPRB) not only once, but twice. In August, the railroad moved 1,190 loaded coal trains out of the SPRB, making it the best month on record and surpassing the previous record of 1,174 loaded trains set in July 2008. “Our investments in the Joint Line and throughout our coal network are paying dividends in terms of our coal train velocity and throughput,” said Doug Glass, vice president and general manager – energy. UP also announced the following

BNSF to Replace Almost 20 Track Miles of Rail in North Dakota

September 6, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, TExas — BNSF Railway Company will replace almost 20 track miles of rail at several locations between Beaver Hill, Mont., and Mandan, N.D., beginning Sept. 2. The project is expected to cost an estimated $8 million and is scheduled to conclude Oct. 16, 2008. Two rail replacement production crews of 33 employees each will utilize equipment such as cranes, welders and ballast tampers to replace rail at an estimated combined rate of one mile a day for 34 days. To allow the two BNSF crews time to replace the rail, sections of track will be closed 6-hours a

BNSF Reopens Chicagoland Rail-Served Terminal

August 20, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH — BNSF Railway Company today announced the reopening of a rail-served building materials transload facility under the management of Partners Warehouse, LLC, at Eola, Ill. Operating as Partners Dimensional Services, the facility has received a complete track and maintenance overhaul to better handle dimensional (oversized) materials such as lumber, steel, and other building products. Security has been upgraded and lighting added for continuous operations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “This is the only yard of its type close to the growing housing market in the western Chicago suburbs and with immediate access to major North/South

BNSF Postpones Project in Western Illinois

August 5, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – BNSF Railway has notified Amtrak of the postponement of an infrastructure project in Western Illinois. Although it was to begin this week, BNSF is now planning to conduct the track work this fall, on a date to be announced. Train 381, the morning westbound Carl Sandburg from Chicago, will operate on its normal schedule to Quincy. Train 382, the evening eastbound Carl Sandburg to Chicago, will operate on a modified schedule this week only, reverting to its normal schedule on August 9. The previously announced schedule called for passengers to arrive early for the departure of chartered motorcoaches

BNSF Railway Company Named Intermodal Carrier of the Year

July 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Company was recently honored by Owens Corning as the 2007 Intermodal Carrier of the Year. “BNSF intermodal’s commitment to safety, consistent service and open communications with Owens Corning has been essential to their success. With a changing marketplace, having a provider like BNSF allows us to supply our customers with high-quality delivery performance using a very efficient mode of transport,” said Troy Stevenson, Owens Corning, Carrier Relations Leader, North America Dry Van & Intermodal Transportation. “I think I speak for everyone up and down the line at BNSF when I say it is an

BNSF Places Ultra-Low-Emissions Locomotives in Service in DFW and Houston

July 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Company today announced that it has placed 67 GenSet switch locomotives in service for the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston areas. The GenSets were acquired through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) Emissions Reduction Incentive Grants (ERIG) Program, which provides grants to eligible projects in non-attainment areas and affected counties. The GenSet locomotive is a low-horsepower switch locomotive with three engines that operate only as needed, potentially reducing nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions by 80 to 90 percent and improving fuel efficiency by 15 percent over standard switch engines. “BNSF is pleased to

Southwest Chief, Empire Builder and California Zephyr Midwest Flooding Disruption Update

June 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

Amtrak has been notified by BNSF Railway it has restored service through the affected areas on the Los Angeles-Chicago route of the Amtrak Southwest Chief, effective June 24. However, BNSF and Canadian Pacific (CP) railways are still working to restore passenger train service on two other routes disrupted due to flooding on the Mississippi River and its tributaries in Iowa and Wisconsin. BNSF and CP host these trains on tracks they own, maintain and dispatch. Amtrak is planning to operate limited alternate transportation through the affected areas for these trains until further notice, while hoping to restore rail service soon.