Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 218

BNSF Announces $3.5 Billion Capital Commitment Program

February 8, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Co. announced a planned 2011 capital commitment program of $3.5 billion. The largest component of the capital plan is spending $2 billion on BNSF’s core network and related assets. BNSF also said it plans to spend about $450 million to acquire 227 locomotives and approximately $350 million on freight car and other equipment acquisitions. The program also includes about $300 million for federally mandated positive train control (PTC) and $300 million for terminal, line and intermodal expansion and efficiency projects. BNSF’s expansion and efficiency projects will be primarily focused on the mid-continent and coal

CSXT Boosts Spending with Minority Suppliers to Record Level

February 7, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation Inc. significantly increased its spending on products and services with minority providers in 2010, setting a new record, the company said. The company spent nearly $105 million with firms owned by minorities and women. The products and services range from signals to technology. “Encouraging business with minority and women-owned suppliers diversifies and strengthens our supplier base, and creates good jobs for our economy,” said Fran Chinnici, vice president-purchasing. “Good business fundamentals include diversity in all aspects of what we do. We recognize the value of expanding our base of qualified suppliers in a competitive marketplace.” Despite some

CAW, CP Reach Tentative Contract Settlement

February 5, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

CALGARY — The Canadian Autoworkers (CAW), representing mechanical services employees, and Canadian Pacific reached a tentative contract settlement. The Memorandum of Settlement will be sent to the union membership for ratification, which is expected to conclude within three weeks. Details of the tentative agreement will be released following ratification by union members.

CN Announces Plan to Buy Back Shares

February 4, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

MONTREAL — CN said it intends to purchase for cancellation up to three million of its common shares pursuant to private agreements between CN and an arm’s-length third-party seller. The purchases will form part of CN’s 16.5-million share-repurchase program announced on Jan. 25, 2011. Such purchases will be made pursuant to an issuer bid exemption order issued by the Ontario Securities Commission and will take place before the end of March 2011. The price that CN will pay for any common shares purchased by it under such agreements will be negotiated by CN and the seller and will be at a discount

Union Pacific Announces Operating Department Appointments

February 4, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

SPRING, Texas — Union Pacific Railroad has announced the following appointments, effective February 1. Brian McGavock has been appointed general superintendent – Harriman Dispatching Center, based in Omaha, Nebraska. He succeeds Mark Payne, who is retiring after 32 years of service. In his new role, McGavock is responsible for train dispatching over Union Pacific’s 5,500-mile Southern Region in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. McGavock joined Union Pacific in 1998. He has held operating positions in Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois and Louisiana; most recently serving as general superintendent – transportation services for the Houston Service Unit. He is a graduate of Eastern Illinois

STB Reschedules Competition Hearing

February 4, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

The Surface Transportation Board has rescheduled to June 22, 2011 the public hearing on the current state of competition in the railroad industry. The hearing earlier was announced to take place on May 3. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m., in the Surface Transportation Board Hearing Room, at 395 E Street, SW, in Washington, D.C. Written comments will now be due by April 12, 2011, and replies will be due on May 27, 2011. Notices of intent to participate in the hearing will be due by June 10, 2011.

Kansas City Southern Reports Fourth Quarter Revenues Increase 18 Percent

February 3, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

KANSAS CITY — Kansas City Southern reported fourth quarter 2010 revenues of $479 million reflecting continued improvement in economic conditions in the markets served. Sequentially, revenues recovered from third quarter 2010 which were negatively impacted by service disruptions caused by Hurricane Alex, the railroad said. Revenue growth was experienced across all commodity groups. Automotive revenues were up 41 percent over fourth quarter 2009 as a combination of strong pricing and new cross border vehicle routings benefitted the commodity group. Coal revenues increased 31 percent from a year ago on improved contract pricing which took effect at the beginning of 2010. Intermodal revenues were up 28 percent on a strong

CN, Montreal Port Authority, Montreal Gateway Terminals Partnership and Termont Montreal Reach Agreements

February 3, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

MONTREAL — CN, the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) and the two companies that operate the port’s three key container terminals announced today two level of service agreements (LSAs) that will drive a strong focus on supply chain efficiencies. The two agreements – one signed by CN, the port authority and Montreal Gateway Terminals Partnership (MGT), which operates the CAST and RACINE terminals, and another signed by CN, the port authority and Termont Montreal — complement a framework agreement that CN and the MPA reached in September 2010. Under last fall’s agreement, CN and the port decided to develop a best-practices vision for

Amtrak Preparing to Celebrate 40th Anniversary

February 3, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – On May 1, 2011, Amtrak will celebrate 40 years as “America’s Railroads” providing vital intercity and high-speed passenger rail service to the nation and offering a critical transportation choice for both urban and rural communities. Preparations are now underway for several activities to commemorate the occasion, the railroad said.

Union Pacific Railroad Employees Achieve Record Safety Performance

February 3, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad’s 2010 employee safety performance was the best in the company’s nearly 150-year history, the railroad said. Union Pacific’s full-year employee reportable injury rate was 1.37, a 6 percent improvement over the previous best of 1.45 established in 2009. A company’s injury rate is calculated using the number of injuries per 200,000 worker hours, which is equivalent to the number of hours worked by 100 full-time employees in a year. “Employees being more aware of risk, improving and standardizing best practices and embracing Total Safety Culture were key factors in our 2010 performance,” said Bob