Railfanning.org News Wire

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Amtrak

Chicago Hub and Other Services Affected by Severe Weather

December 23, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
CHICAGO — Severe weather from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest has caused Amtrak rail infrastructure and railcar issues, affecting deployment cycles for equipment and train crews, the railroad said. Several trains to and from Chicago are being canceled in order to prepare to properly re-deploy equipment and crews. Illinois Service Lincoln Service Train 305 will be combined with Lincoln Service Train 307 to originate in Chicago on December 23. Illini Train 393, the afternoon departure from Chicago to Carbondale on December 23, and Saluki Train 390, the morning departure from Carbondale to Chicago on December 24, are both cancelled, with
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Canadian National

CN Reaches Seventh Illinois Voluntary Mitigation Agreement for EJ&E Transaction

December 23, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
CHICAGO — CN announced a voluntary mitigation agreement with the Village of Mokena, Ill., located southwest of Chicago, that addresses the community’s concerns about CN’s proposed acquisition of the principal lines of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E). Under the agreement, CN would provide funding for quiet zones, noise mitigation, and emergency response personnel training and emergency communication capabilities. The agreement is contingent upon regulatory approval of CN’s proposed acquisition of the EJ&E. The transaction is being reviewed by the Surface Transportation Board (STB), which is encouraging voluntary mitigation agreements between CN and communities. “Our voluntary mitigation agreement
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Amtrak

STB to Hole Hearing on Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008

December 23, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board announced it will hold a public hearing on Feb. 11 to allow interested persons to comment on the Board’s new responsibilities in the recently passed Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. The Act enhances the Board’s role in various types of disputes between the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), commuter rail operators, host railroads over which they operate, or States that seek to use Amtrak equipment or services with respect to cost allocations, quality of service, compensation, liability, and other terms for provision of service.
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CSX

CSX Intermodal Expands Florida Services

December 23, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Intermodal (CSXI) announced that it is further expanding its services in Florida with a wider array of shipping options. Beginning December 23, customers can take advantage of trailer service, in addition to container service, to Orlando, where CSXI already offers superior access. The heavily trafficked lane from Atlanta to Orlando will now be available for private trailers owned or leased by companies other than CSXI. Shipping schedules from the western gateway of Memphis, Tenn., to Orlando also are available with expanded gate deadlines. “We are proud to create additional opportunities for our valuable customers,” said Jim
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Commuter Rail

AAA: Fewer travelers expected this Christmas

December 20, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
ATLANTA — Fewer people will travel this Christmas with about 63.9 million Americans going 50 miles or more from home during the Christmas holiday, according to AAA. About 82 percent of all travelers — or more than 52.4 million Americans — plan to drive, which is a 1.2 percent decrease from the 53 million people who drove last year. Concurrently, about 13 percent — or 8.1 million travelers — will likely fly, which is an 8.5 percent decrease from the 8.9 million people who flew last year. Interestingly, more than 3.33 million Americans will take a train, bus or other
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CSX

CSX Corp. Joins Settlement in 16(b) Civil Suit

December 20, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. said it has joined in a settlement with all parties to a civil action brought by plaintiff, Deborah Donoghue, a shareholder of CSX, in federal court in New York to recover so-called “short-swing” profits under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 alleged to have been realized by defendants related to The Children’s Investment Fund and 3G Capital Partners LP in connection with their alleged purchases and sales of CSX securities. CSX is party to the suit in name only, which was brought for the benefit of CSX. The settlement is subject to
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Short Line/Regional

STB Grants Final Approval for Texas Line

December 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board (Board) announced it has issued a decision granting final approval for Southwest Gulf Railroad Company (SGR) to construct and operate a rail line in Medina County, Texas, subject to environmental mitigation conditions. The Board identified three environmentally acceptable routing alternatives, any one of which SGR may now build. The new rail line will extend from Vulcan Construction Material’s planned  limestone quarry in the north central part of Medina County to a connection with the Del Rio Subdivision of the Union Pacific Railroad Co. near Dunlay, Texas. Limestone aggregate from the quarry will be transported
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Commuter Rail

DOT Announces New High Speed Corridors

December 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire
NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Transportation will begin accepting expressions of interest to finance, design, build, operate and maintain high-speed trains on the Northeast Corridor and in 10 other federally-designated corridors around the nation. “This is a first step in a process established by Congress to put ideas to paper, and to make concrete proposals for what the future might look like,” Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said. “Imagine traveling by train between New York City and Washington, D.C. in just two hours or cutting your trip time by 25 percent between New York City and Boston,” Peters said.