Railfanning.org News Wire

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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
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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.
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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,
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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,
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Amtrak

Study: Nearly all of Amtrak’s Nationwide Routes Lost Money

October 28, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
ATLANTA — Nearly all of Amtrak’s 44 nationwide routes lost money last fiscal year, a new study suggests. A study from Pew Charitable Trusts’s Subsidyscope project shows that 41 of the 44 nationwide routes were not profitable, averaging a roughly $32 loss per passenger. During the fiscal year, Amtrak received $1.3 billion from taxpayers, according to Pew. The New Orleans-to-Los Angeles Sunset Limited carried 72,000 passengers during the year and cost $462 per passenger to operate. “The nation’s railways are an important mode of transport for many Americans, whether it’s for commuting to work or seeing the country,” Marcus Peacock,
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CSX

CSXT Employee Wins Rail Industry’s Professional Environmental Award

October 27, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) presented its top award for environmental professionals, the 2009 North American Environmental Employee Excellence Award, to Paul J. Kurzanski, manager of environmental remediation at CSX Transportation. Kurzanski was one of six railroad industry individuals nominated. This is the fifth time in the last seven years that a CSXT employee has been honored with the AAR’s Environmental Employee Excellence Award. Kurzanski received the award during an annual railroad environmental conference. A 30-year railroad veteran, Kurzanski’s accomplishments include the successful management of approximately 125 environmental remediation projects in six states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky,
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Norfolk Southern

Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Introduce Gulf Coast Flyer for Chemical Shipments between the Gulf Coast and Northeast, Southeast

October 26, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern introduced Gulf Coast Flyer, a rail service for the safe transport of chemicals between the Union Pacific-served southern Texas and Louisiana regions and Norfolk Southern destinations across the northeastern and southeastern United States. Gulf Coast Flyer is designed to build on improved routing and enhanced operations coordination between the two railroads, leaders in serving the chemical marketplace. This product promotes expedited service for customers between the Gulf Coast region and major markets across the Northeast and Southeast. Eastbound and westbound shipments between the two railroads connect at the Salem, Ill., and
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Amtrak

Amtrak Reaches Understanding With Metrolink to Operate Los Angeles Area Commuter Trains

October 24, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON – Amtrak and the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) are moving forward today with a Memorandum of Understanding for Amtrak to provide the train and engine crews needed to operate Metrolink commuter trains on all seven of its lines in the Los Angeles area beginning July 1, 2010. “Amtrak and its employees appreciate the confidence and trust Metrolink has placed in us to provide their passengers the highest standards of safety, efficiency and reliability,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph H. Boardman, adding the commuter rail system on average operates 149 trains and carries 43,000 riders every weekday.