Miscellaneous – Page 33 – Railfanning.org

STB to Hold Hazardous Materials Hearing

June 4, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will hold a public hearing next month to discuss “issues related to the common carrier obligation of railroads—the duty of railroads to provide transportation or service on reasonable request—with respect to the transportation of hazardous materials.” The hearing follows one held in April on the general topic of the common carrier obligation of railroads. The July 16 hearing “will provide a forum for a more detailed discussion of issues specifically pertaining to the railroads’ common carrier obligation regarding the movement of toxic by inhalation hazards and other hazardous materials,” the STB said in a

RailWorks Appoints Holt President of National Transit Division

June 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — RailWorks Corp. has appointed Michael P. Holt as president of the National Transit division of its transit systems subsidiary, L.K. Comstock & Company Inc. Holt comes to L.K. Comstock with more than 30 years of construction experience in the public and private sectors, focusing on heavy civil, building, and water and wastewater treatment facility projects. He most recently served as vice president and East Coast regional manager for MWH Constructors Inc., an international program management, consulting and construction services firm. Prior to that he held leadership positions at a range of respected construction companies, including Holt &

Sunbathing Teens Struck by Train

June 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

LEBANON, Maine — Two teenagers lost limbs after they were struck by a train while sunbathing on a railroad trestle, authorities said. A 13-year-old girl lost a leg below the knee and her 14-year-old friend’s foot was severed. Authorities say the teens, who were cutting class, fell asleep on the trestle while sunbathing, The Associated Press reported. Neither of the girls appeared to be drunk and are considering the episode to be accidental, according to various media reports. “Both have a long road to recovery and a follow-up interview will be done when it is suitable,” York County Sheriff’s Lt.

Toronto Transit Commission Orders Composite Ties

May 31, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — The Toronto Transit Commission ordered specialty-engineered composite railroad switch ties from Axion International, the company said. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), a public transport authority, operates buses, streetcars, subways and advanced light rapid transit in Toronto, Ontario. Axion, in conjunction with Rutgers University, has developed plastics technology that uses almost 100 percent recycled plastic. Axion’s structural products have the distinct advantage of being environmentally friendly as well as providing superior products to customers, officials say. Officials tout that the company’s products address the increasing worldwide environmental concerns for deforestation coupled with the specific goals for recycling,

New Ultra-Low Emission UP Locomotive Arrives in California

May 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific’s most environmentally friendly yard locomotive is on the job at J. R. Davis Rail Yard in Roseville, Calif. The first of four next generation Genset locomotives arrived in Northern California this week and is already pushing rail cars into place throughout the Union Pacific yard. The switcher builds on Genset technology developed by Union Pacific over the past six years, and is part of the railroad’s ongoing efforts to continue reducing air emissions in cooperation with federal, state and local environmental agencies. The new Genset switcher is powered by three 667-horsepower ultra-low-emission U. S. Environmental

Central California Traction Company Satisfied with Test of Ultra Low Emissions Locomotives from National Railway Equipment Co.

May 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

STOCKTON, Calif. — The Central California Traction Company (CCT) successfully performed an operational test at the Port of Stockton, Calif., and on its main line, the National Railway Equipment Co. (NREC) announced. CCT tested an N-ViroMotive GenSet locomotive from NREC. The locomotive was a two-engine 1400 HP (2GS-14B) 4-axle unit that is EPA certified and CARB recognized as ultra-low emitting GenSet locomotive. CCT’s objective in testing the new locomotive is fuel conservation, protecting the environment and operational efficiency which are vital to CCT’s cost effective operations in the Port of Stockton and Stockton to Lodi, Calif., officials said “The CCT

Rail Network Could Face Major Congestion in Coming Decades

May 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Congestion on the nation’s rail network is expected to increase over the next two decades and could eventually pose a major problem, members of Congress warned. Since deregulation of the freight railroad industry in 1980, Class 1 freight ton-miles have increased 93 percent, while miles of track have decreased 40 percent, U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., said. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that the demand for rail freight transportation will increase 88 percent by 2035, and their studies estimate that an investment of $148 billion in infrastructure expansion will be needed over the ext 28 years to

Railroads, Customers Meet to Discuss Freight Transportation Needs, Challenges

May 23, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The nation’s major freight railroads and their customers met this week to discuss the many challenges ahead in freight transportation, working together to make sure America’s freight rail network continues to be the best in the world. “Freight traffic is expected to increase dramatically over the next decade,” said CSX Chief Executive Officer Michael Ward, who gave the keynote address at the recent 2008 North American Rail Shippers Association (NARS) meeting. “If we want to see more of that traffic on rail and less on our overcrowded highways, railroads and shippers need to be ready to meet that

Railroad Fuel Efficiency Sets New Record

May 21, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — What’s more fuel efficient than the newest hybrid car? A freight train. And last year, freight railroads were more fuel efficient than ever. In 2007, major freight railroads in the United States moved a ton of freight an average of 436 miles on each gallon of fuel. This represents a 3.1 percent improvement over 2006 and an astonishing 85.5 percent improvement since 1980. “That’s the equivalent of moving a ton of freight all the way from Baltimore to Boston on just a single gallon of diesel fuel,” said Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger.

Pacer Stacktrain Initiates Expanded Intermodal Services with BNSF Railway

April 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CONCORD, Calif. — Pacer International Inc. announced expanded intermodal services between its Pacer Stacktrain unit and BNSF Railway which allows Pacer Stacktrain to begin full service on their network effective April 1, 2008. Pacer Stacktrain will — for the first time — have access to the entire BNSF intermodal network within the United States. Interline service is available to and from Pacer-served CSX and Canadian National locations. “We are very pleased to have expanded our service with BNSF. The new Pacer Stacktrain BNSF Double Stack Service is a major milestone for our customers, providing fast and reliable ramp-to-ramp and door-to-door