Railfanning.org News Wire

No Picture
Safety

Operation Lifesaver Warns Hunters to Avoid Train Tracks

November 8, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — With deer hunting season in full swing in many states, Operation Lifesaver is reminding outdoor enthusiasts that hunting on or near train tracks is not only illegal trespassing, it could be deadly. Last year, 456 people died and 429 were injured while trespassing on railroad property nationwide, according to preliminary federal statistics. Operation Lifesaver is taking action to save lives by issuing pedestrian safety tips in time for hunting season. In addition, a new Operation Lifesaver hunting safety video has been posted on YouTube. A number of state Operation Lifesaver programs also are running billboard campaigns urging pedestrians
No Picture
CSX

CSX Becomes First Transportation Provider to Join Maryland Green Registry

November 7, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
CAMBRIDGE, Md. — CSX is the first transportation provider selected to join the Maryland Green Registry, a voluntary self-certification program that promotes and recognizes sustainable practices by organizations throughout the state. The selection was announced by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley at a Maryland Chamber of Commerce Business Policy Dinner in Cambridge, Md. The Maryland Green Registry includes organizations that complete a best practices profile covering environmental management and leadership, waste reduction, energy and water conservation, transportation, and green building design. “Maryland businesses like CSX already know that even relatively simple steps to reduce our impact on the environment save money
No Picture
CSX

Union Pacific Railroad, CSXT Launch RailChem Connect Between Texas and Southeast to Benefit Chemicals Customers

November 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation have launched RailChem Connect, a coordinated rail service for expedited transport of chemicals between the Texas Gulf Coast region and the Southeast. The new RailChem Connect service is the result of increased coordination and re-designed interline service by the two railroads for their chemicals market customers.  The service allows shipments to bypass smaller rail yards for expedited transit between major hubs. These changes, along with increased operations coordination between the railroads, increase reliability of east- and west-bound service between Union Pacific-served chemical markets such as Houston, southern Texas and Louisiana, and CSXT-served
No Picture
Amtrak

Amtrak Appoints New Inspector General

November 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has appointed a new Inspector General, following a three month comprehensive national search. Theodore “Ted” Alves recently retired from 35 years of federal service, including serving as the Deputy Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from 2006 to 2009 where he was responsible for supervising audits and investigations of federal transportation agencies. His start date is still being determined. “Ted Alves is highly respected in the inspector general community and will provide the leadership, integrity, independence and objectivity required for the position,” Amtrak Chairman Thomas Carper said. From 2001 to 2006, Alves held three
No Picture
Transit

MARTA Moves to Color-Coded Lines

November 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
ATLANTA — MARTA last month introduced color-coded rail lines — similar to systems in other major cities — saying it will help cut down on rider confusion. “The changes we’re making in our rail-line identification system will help both frequent and occasional users of our system,” MARTA General Manager Beverly Scott said in a news release. “Our goal is to ensure that customers continue to move safely through the system without feeling overwhelmed.” With the change, the former North-South Line is now the Red Line, the Northeast-South Line is the Yellow Line, the East-West line is the Blue Line and
No Picture
Short Line/Regional

CN Growing ‘Green’ Wood Pellet Traffic at Double-Digit Rates

November 5, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
MONTREAL — North America’s largest mover of forest products is on track to haul more than 800,000 tons of wood pellets this year and sees more opportunities in the future for this “green” source of heating energy, CN officials said. “Since 2005, we have experienced a 16 percent compounded annual growth in our wood pellet traffic, and we see growing potential for this business in domestic and international markets,” said James Foote, executive vice-president, Sales and Marketing. “Wood pellets are a renewable resource, right in our backyard,” Foote added. “Our network has direct access to wood pellet production areas and
No Picture
Canadian National

Berkshire Hathaway to Buy BNSF

November 3, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
FORT WORTH, Texas — The boards of directors of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. announced a definitive agreement for Berkshire Hathaway to acquire for $100 per share in cash and stock the remaining 77.4 percent of outstanding BNI shares not currently owned to increase its holdings to 100 percent. Based on the number of outstanding BNI shares — including shares currently owned by Berkshire — on Nov. 2, the transaction is valued at approximately $44 billion, including $10 billion of outstanding BNSF debt, making it the largest acquisition in Berkshire Hathaway history.
No Picture
Canadian National

Genesee & Wyoming Reports Q3 2009 Results

November 3, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
GREENWICH, Conn. — Genesee & Wyoming Inc. reported net income in the third quarter of 2009 of $21.7 million, compared with net income of $21.2 million in the third quarter of 2008. GWI’s diluted earnings per share (EPS) in the third quarter of 2009 were $0.53 with 41.2 million weighted average shares outstanding, compared with diluted EPS of $0.58 with 36.6 million weighted average shares outstanding in the third quarter of 2008. GWI’s income from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2009 was $19.6 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, compared with income from continuing operations of $20.1 million,
No Picture
Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern Announces $11 Million Investment in Philadelphia Navy Yard Intermodal Facility

November 2, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
PHILADELPHIA — Norfolk Southern and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are investing $11 million in the railroad’s Philadelphia Navy Yard intermodal facility to expand track and parking capacity. The expansion is part of Norfolk Southern’s multi-state Crescent Corridor initiative to establish a high-speed intermodal freight rail route between the Gulf Coast and the Northeast. The proposed investment — $6 million from Norfolk Southern and $5 million from Pennsylvania — will create the capacity to handle more than 72,000 containers and trailers annually. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2010. “Because of its strategic location to Southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and Delaware,