Railfanning.org News Wire

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CSX

CSX Corporation Announces Extension of Exchange Offer

July 15, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. has announced an extension of the offer to exchange up to $660 million of its issued and outstanding 6.220 percent notes due 2040 for a like principal amount of its 6.220 percent notes due 2040, which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933. CSX has extended the exchange offer related to the Notes so that it will now expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on July 15. Copies of the exchange offer documents can be obtained by contacting The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., the exchange agent for
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Commuter Rail

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces Initial $20.3 Million For North Carolina High-Speed Rail

July 13, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — In January, President Obama announced that North Carolina was awarded $545 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to continue its development of high-speed intercity rail. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation and the State of North Carolina have finalized a grant agreement for $20.3 million, the first installment of the $545 million awarded to the state. “President Obama’s bold vision for high-speed rail is a game changer for U.S. transportation,” LaHood said. “We’re improving North Carolina’s transportation infrastructure while putting people back to work. That’s a win for everyone.”
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CSX

CSX Announces Second Quarter Earnings

July 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. announced second quarter earnings from continuing operations of $414 million, or $1.07 per share, versus $282 million, or $0.71 per share, in the same period last year. This represents a 51 percent year-over-year improvement in earnings per share from continuing operations. “While the economy remains dynamic, our markets overall continue to improve, and our outlook remains positive,” said Michael J. Ward, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “At the same time, CSX has demonstrated that it can be successful in a wide array of economic conditions, and that’s what we will continue to do.” Revenue
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Amtrak

Amtrak Virginia Introduces Additional Service between Richmond and Washington

July 9, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
RICHMOND, Va. — Beginning July 20, Amtrak Virginia expands daily round-trip service between Richmond and Washington. With this new train, hourly morning departures are available from Richmond’s Staples Mill Station to the Northeast Corridor and more convenient afternoon return trips are available from Washington, DC. The total number of morning departures from Richmond to Washington is now five, with six return departures available in the afternoon and evening. The new frequency between Richmond and Washington is the second state-supported train in Virginia which became Amtrak’s 15th state partner with the launch of service between Lynchburg and the Northeast Corridor last
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CSX

CSX Annual Coal Route Maintenance Work Complete

July 7, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Nearly 1,000 CSX Transportation Engineering employees completed the annual coal route maintenance project this week. Track maintenance teams worked their way across the Appalachian coal route which includes Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Demand for coal remains strong, and on a typical day as many as 50 trains make their way across this important corridor. During this intense maintenance operation, workers installed new rail, and more than 133,000 ties. Ties cover nearly 113 miles of main line track, plus several auxiliary tracks. Crews also re-surfaced an additional 150 miles of track,
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Commuter Rail

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces $35 Million in Recovery Act Funding For Downeaster Rail Improvements

July 6, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — In January, President Obama announced that Maine was awarded $35 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA). On July 6, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation and the State of Maine have finalized a grant agreement allowing work to begin on the rehabilitation and expansion of the popular state-supported Downeaster Amtrak intercity passenger service. The Downeaster operates five daily roundtrips between Portland, Maine, and Boston. “This project is a great example of what the Recovery Act is all about,” LaHood said.
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Commuter Rail

High Speed Rail Moves Forward: Federal Railroad Administration Seeks Applications for $2.3 Billion in High-Speed Rail Grants

July 5, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The Obama Administration has taken the next step toward realizing its vision for high-speed rail in the United States. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will begin accepting applications for $2.1 billion in grants to continue the development of high-speed intercity passenger rail corridors. In addition, FRA will make another $245 million available for individual construction projects within a corridor. Funds for both come from the FY 2010 DOT Appropriations Act. “This important step builds on the $8 billion for high-speed rail that President Obama announced last January,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “The President’s
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FRA

FRA Begins New Research Project on the Impact of Traumatic Stress on Train Crews

July 3, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) invites qualified researchers to apply for $50,000 in grant funding to initiate a study of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Acute Distress Disorder (ASD), conditions which are frequently suffered by train crews after being involved in collisions at highway-rail grade crossings or trespass incidents involving pedestrians, the two leading causes of fatalities in the railroad industry. Given the size and weight of trains, crews are often unable to stop their trains fast enough to avert these types of incidents, which can lead to psychological trauma for those involved. The selected individual or