Railfanning.org News Wire

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Commuter Rail

Atlantic City Express Service Launches Inaugural Trains Connecting New York, Atlantic City

February 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Representatives from the Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) joint venture partners — Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa — joined New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine and other key New Jersey officials to launch weekend train service between New York’s Penn Station and Atlantic City. The launch of the ACES train is another major step in the evolution of Atlantic City into a world-class destination, providing residents of New Jersey and New York the opportunity to experience all the new attractions the city has to offer. “I welcome this
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Amtrak

STB Announces Speakers Lineup

February 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board provided a schedule of speakers’ appearances and their time allocations for the Board’s Feb. 11 public hearing on the Board’s new responsibilities under the recently passed Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. The Act enhances the Board’s role with regard to Amtrak and its relationships with commuter rail operators, host railroads, states and the public.
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Union Pacific

Union Pacific Railroad Named to Most Admired for HR List By Human Resource Executive

February 5, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
OMAHA, Neb. — Human Resource Executive has named Union Pacific Railroad as one of the 50 “Most Admired for Human Resources” companies according to Human Resource Executive. Union Pacific ranked No. 29 on the list. Philadelphia-based Hay Group conducted the research for this project. Hay Group is the management consulting firm that has partnered with Fortune since 1997 to identify and rank the magazine’s “Most Admired Companies.” More than 3,700 executives, directors and securities analysts from Fortune 1,000 U.S. companies and top-ranked foreign companies operating in the U.S. were asked to select companies they admired most in their respective industries.
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BNSF

BNSF Railway & J.B. Hunt Celebrate 20 Years of Intermodal Success

February 5, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
FORT WORTH, Texas — Twenty years ago, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. and BNSF predecessor The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company loaded a Hunt trailer onto a railcar and ushered in the modern age of intermodal freight transport. Today, intermodal is one of the most efficient, economic and environmentally friendly ways to move goods. However, 20 years ago, trucks and trains were more competitors than partners. All that changed in 1989 when Santa Fe and J.B. Hunt Transport came together in a move that would lead the industry in innovation. This joint effort started with 150 trailers and
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Commuter Rail

Mica: 80 and Counting Respond to Call for U.S. High-Speed Rail

February 5, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — Eighty companies and state departments of transportation have responded to the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) request for expressions of interest to develop high-speed rail corridors, according to U.S. Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla. “This overwhelming response is remarkable given the current state of the economy,” said Mica, the Republican Leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Last year, he led the effort to open high-speed rail development to private sector participation in 11 federally designated corridors in the United States.  The measure including this initiative was signed into law in October. As required by the Mica initiative,
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Legislation

Biden: Bailout Bill Will Create Jobs

February 5, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
LAUREL, Md. — After touring the local MARC Train Station, Vice President Joe Biden said that 400,000 jobs will be created over the next two years nationwide if Congress approves a massive pork-filled “bailout” bill. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan includes the largest investment increase — at least $100 billion – in our nation’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges and mass transit systems, since the creation of the national highway system in the 1950s. The House has approved the bill, but the Senate is currently debating the bill. Should the Senate approve the bill, it will likely head back to
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BNSF

BNSF to Replace Over 20 Miles of Rail and 50,000 Ties in Texas

February 4, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway dispatched four maintenance crews last month to replace rail and ties between Galveston and Temple, and Alvord and Rhome, Texas. “This project is part of our ongoing effort to maintain our infrastructure to ensure we meet our customers’ needs for reliability and timely service,” said Dave Freeman, BNSF’s vice president, Engineering. “Our continuing maintenance program is an example of BNSF’s commitment to its customers and the communities it serves.” Approximately 130 BNSF employees will work until mid-February replacing more than 50,000 ties and almost 22 track miles of rail. The total cost of these
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BNSF

BNSF Crews to Lay 30 miles of Rail through Missouri and Arkansas

February 3, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
FORT WORTH, Texas — At the end of January, BNSF Railway Company planned to begin replacing almost 30 track miles of rail and 15,000 railroad ties in its Thayer subdivision between Teed, Mo., and Memphis, Tenn. “The Thayer project is part of our ongoing effort to maintain a strong railroad to meet our customers’ needs for reliable service,” said Dave Freeman, BNSF’s vice president, Engineering. “Our lines to Memphis through southern Missouri and Arkansas are especially important as they represent a vital link to the southeast for intermodal and coal shipments.” Almost 250 BNSF employees will work until late April
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Union Pacific

Union Pacific Once Again Surpasses Records for Moving Loaded Coal Trains Out of Wyoming

February 3, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific has once again surpassed several all-time records for delivering coal out of Wyoming’s Southern Powder River Basin (SPRB). During 2008, Union Pacific set an all-time record by loading 13,212 trains out of the SPRB, 332 more trains than 2006, the previous yearly record.  Union Pacific also loaded 204.6 million tons of coal out of the SPRB during 2008, eclipsing another all-time mark set in 2007 by 5 percent. “Our investments in the Joint Line and throughout our coal network continue to pay dividends in terms of our coal train velocity and throughput” said Doug Glass,