Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 257

Boardman: State of America’s Passenger Railroad is Strong

January 16, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman said the state of America’s passenger railroad is strong and announced it had set a first quarter ridership record carrying nearly 7.2 million passengers during the first three months of fiscal year 2010. In his State of the Railroad remarks (attached), he also said there is reason to be optimistic about the future declaring “the days of wondering if Amtrak is going to survive another year are behind us. This year, and the years ahead are, and will be, focused on growth.” He said his optimism is driven, in part, by the

NTSB to Discuss Fatal Metrolink Wreck

January 15, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a Board meeting on Jan. 21to discuss a fatal 2008 Metrolinktrain crash. At 4:22 p.m. on Sept. 12, 2008, Metrolink commuter train 111 and a Union Pacific freight train collided. As a result of this head-on accident, there were 25 fatalities and numerous injuries. On the day of the wreck, the Metrolink engineer, who was responsible for the operation of the train, received and sent several text messages on his cell phone while he was on duty. The meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in its Board Room and Conference Center,

Metro General Manager John Catoe to Retire

January 14, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Metro General Manager John Catoe has decided to retire and leave the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority after three years as its top manager. Catoe informed Metro’s Board of Directors today of his decision to leave the transit agency. His last day will be Friday, April 2. “I have decided that it is time for me to channel my future in new directions and provide this organization an opportunity to move beyond the current distractions,” Catoe said. “Good leaders know how to impact change. Great leaders know when it’s time for leadership change. I hope I fall into

Record Year for Union Pacific Railroad’s Domestic Intermodal Shipments; Railroad and UPS Achieved Perfect Peak Season

January 13, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad achieved a record year of 1.25 million domestic intermodal shipments in 2009. In addition, for the second consecutive year, Union Pacific and UPS achieved a “Perfect Peak Season” by delivering 100 percent of UPS peak season freight without a sort failure. “More and more customers are recognizing the value Union Pacific brings to their businesses,” said John Kaiser, Union Pacific vice president and general manager – Intermodal. “We have the equipment, core lane offerings and service products to provide a wide range of transportation solutions. Most importantly, we have the right people with the

Amtrak: Ready with Big Plans for 2010

January 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON— Amtrak is ready for an exciting 2010 with major projects and new initiatives that will benefit passengers, increase service, rebuild infrastructure, and put America’s railroad at the center of intercity and high-speed passenger rail development and expansion. “Amtrak enters 2010 with a strong sense of optimism, enthusiasm and purpose,” said President and CEO Joseph Boardman. “We have an aggressive game plan to modernize, renew, and grow America’s passenger railroad,” he said, noting increasing ridership from 21.6 million in FY 2002 to 27.2 million in FY 2009, with an all-time record of 28.7 million in FY 2008. He explained that

CSX, Georgia Formalize Railroad Security Partnership

January 11, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA – CSX Transportation and the state of Georgia have agreed to a “unique public-private” railroad security partnership they say will help protect the communities located along the railroad’s tracks. Under the “SecureNOW” partnership, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency-Office of Homeland Security can access CSXT’s Network Operations Workstation System. The secure, online system was developed CSXT and allows state and local officials to track the location of CSXT trains and their contents. In return, CSXT – which operates about 2,700 miles of rail lines in Georgia and has major rail yards in Atlanta, Savannah and Waycross – will work with

Amtrak and Partners Announce Plans to Upgrade Seattle Maintenance Facility

January 9, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

SEATTLE – Amtrak and its partners – the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Sound Transit, Talgo and BNSF Railway announced plans to upgrade the Seattle King Street Coach Yard Maintenance Facility that supports Amtrak operations and maintenance agreements in the Pacific Northwest, including for the Empire Builder, Amtrak Cascades, Coast Starlight and Sounder commuter trains. Amtrak anticipates the contract award and start of the six-year project will be in spring 2010. In addition, it is estimated 150 construction jobs will be generated annually during the life of the project. “This investment by Amtrak demonstrates a

STB Grants ARRC Permission to Build 80-Mile Extension

January 6, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board announced it has granted the request of the Alaska Railroad Corp. (ARRC, a state-owned railroad) to construct and operate a new, 80-mile railroad line—the Northern Rail Extension—in the State of Alaska, subject to extensive environmental-mitigation conditions. After considering the entire public record before it, including both the transportation aspects of ARRC’s proposal and potential environmental issues, the Board was satisfied that the proposed line would provide reliable, year-round freight and passenger service to the region south of North Pole, Alaska; access to training areas used by the United States military; and an alternative to

New Metro Transit Police Unit Focuses on Anti-Terrorism

January 6, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) now has a dedicated unit devoted to deterring a terrorist attack in the Metro system. The new anti-terrorism team will increase surveillance of the Metro system, conduct more frequent security sweeps of Metro facilities and tunnels, and provide greater visibility of uniformed officers. Using a $9.56 million Transit Security Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), MTPD formed the 20-member, anti-terror team in December. The team, whose mission is to deter terrorists from selecting Metro as a target, will use tactics such as increased surveillance and random, unpredictable patrols of

Mulvey Named STB’s Vice Chairman

January 5, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Surface Transportation Board Chairman Daniel R. Elliott, III announced that the agency designated Board Member Francis P. Mulvey as its Vice Chairman. He succeeds former Board Chairman Charles D. Nottingham, who most recently served as Vice Chairman from March 13, 2009 to Jan. 4, and continues to serve as a Board Member. The Board’s Vice Chairmanship rotates among the Members on an annual basis. Vice Chairman Mulvey, the eighth Member since the Board’s creation in 1996, was nominated to the agency by President George W. Bush on November 17, 2003, and was confirmed by the Senate on May