Railfanning.org News Wire

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Amtrak

Amtrak to More Than Triple the Number of Track-Miles Equipped with Positive Train Control

March 25, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON – By the end of 2012, Amtrak expects to more than triple the number of track-miles on its own railroad where Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology is installed as part of an aggressive program begun more than two years ago. “PTC is the most important rail safety advancement of our time and Amtrak is strongly committed to its expanded use to enhance safety for our passengers, employees and others with whom we share the tracks across our national network,” said President and CEO Joe Boardman. PTC technology can control train movements to prevent train-to-train collisions, derailments caused by
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Norfolk Southern

Railroad Running Well After Best-ever Year in 2011, Norfolk Southern CEO Says in Annual Report

March 25, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
NORFOLK, Va. — After setting performance records in 2011, Norfolk Southern Corp. looks ahead to its 30th anniversary in 2012 and beyond “with confidence, optimism, and a great deal of enthusiasm,” CEO Wick Moorman tells stockholders in the 2011 annual report, posted on the company’s website. “The railroad is running well, we have a strong capital budget, and the right projects are under way to enhance our business franchises,” Moorman says. Improving markets and corporate initiatives combined to make 2011 the company’s “best-ever year,” he notes, with record revenues, operating income, net income, and earnings per share. “Perhaps most importantly,
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Canadian National

CN to Acquire 161 Locomotives

March 25, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
MONTREAL — CN announced a major locomotive acquisition program to accommodate anticipated traffic growth and to improve operational efficiency, enabling the railway to better serve its customers. CN will acquire 65 new high-horsepower locomotives as well as 96 second-hand high-horsepower locomotives that will be upgraded. “CN’s locomotive acquisition program represents a balanced, capital-effective approach to handle expected volume growth over the next two to five years and to meet the locomotive requirements resulting from customer focused service plans,” Keith Creel, executive vice-president and chief operating officer, said. “The new and used motive power will enhance operational efficiency and reduce fuel
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Commuter Rail

FRA Administrator Szabo Joins Portland Officials to Review Portland-Seattle Train Project

March 18, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
PORTLAND, Ore. – Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo on March 16 joined local officials at Union Station to celebrate the Pacific Northwest Passenger Rail Corridor construction project in Portland. Through the High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Program (HSIPR), the U.S. Department of Transportation has invested $814 million to pay for upgrades to one of the busiest intercity passenger rail corridors in the nation, which runs between Vancouver, BC, and Eugene, OR.  The upgrades are essential, as the number of roundtrips between Portland and Seattle is expected to increase by 50 percent in just five years. “All across the country,
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Commuter Rail

N.J. Transit Board Approves Changes to Bloomfield Ave. Station

March 16, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
NEWARK, NJ — Improvements to make Newark Light Rail’s Bloomfield Avenue Station accessible to customers with disabilities and more convenient for all customers will begin this spring, under a contract approved by the N.J. Transit Board of Directors. “Projects like this reinforce our steadfast commitment to enhancing the accessibility of our facilities and helping to ensure that public transportation is a viable option for all New Jersey residents,” said Transportation Commissioner and N.J. Transit Board Chairman James Simpson. The Board authorized a $5.2 million contract with DMR Construction of Waldwick, N.J., for the construction of accessibility improvements at the station,
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Kansas City Southern

LaHood Announces $54.6 Million Loan for Kansas City Southern Railway for 30 U.S.-Made Locomotives

February 23, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a $54.6 million loan to Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR) for the purchase of 30 new General Electric ES44AC locomotives.  These diesel-electric locomotives, built in Erie, Pennsylvania, will help KCSR meet increasing economic demand, and are more energy-efficient and produce significantly less carbon emissions than the locomotives they are replacing. “We are seeing President Obama’s commitment to rail boost manufacturing all across America,” LaHood said.  “This is the kind of investment in our transportation systems that creates jobs, boosts the economy and improves the flow of goods.” In addition to energy
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FRA

FRA Proposes Rule Establishing Training Standards for Railroad Employees

February 8, 2012 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Feb. 7 announced a proposal to require railroads to train and qualify employees in safety-related positions on federal railroad safety laws, regulations and orders. “Safety is our highest priority and we will continue to work to create a safer operating environment for employees, passengers and communities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We have made dramatic progress in improving safety, but there is always more we can do to reduce incidents.” The proposed rule would require each railroad or contractor with safety-related railroad employees to develop a training program designating the qualifications