Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 302

Teamsters: MBTA Has Poor Safety Record

January 15, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WOBURN, Mass. – Following the Jan. 9 deaths of two workers on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Teamsters voiced their disappointment to what they say is a poor safety record on the railroad. “Per mile of railroad operated, MBCR has one of the worst roadway worker safety records of any railroad in the country,” said Rick Inclima, Director of Safety for BMWED. “There have been four BMWED roadway worker fatalities on the MBCR since December 6, 2003, yet the railroad has not taken significant steps to improve roadway worker safety. MBCR management still refuses to even fill the vacant

Service Alert: Missouri Mules Service Restored between St. Louis and Kansas City

January 15, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

Union Pacific Railroad has informed Amtrak the route used by the Missouri Mules passenger trains between St. Louis and Kansas City has reopened, following a weekend closure due to ice storms and resulting debris blocking the tracks. Therefore, service by Train 313, the afternoon westbound train from St. Louis, and Train 316, the afternoon eastbound train from Kansas City, resumes this afternoon. Also service by Train 311, the morning westbound train from St. Louis, and Train 314, the morning eastbound train from Kansas City, resumes on Tuesday, January 16. This information is correct as of the above time and date

Fire Breaks Out After Derailment

January 15, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

IRVINE, Ky. — Fire erupted after butyl acetate leaked from a crashed tank car, authorities said. The leak and fire came after four runaway cars struck a pair of locomotives. Some evacuations were ordered after the crash, according to media reports. No injures were reported as a result of the derailment. CSX parked the two locomotives in the path of the runaway cars in an attempt to stop them, The Associated Press reported.

Service Alert: Missouri Mules Disrupted by Railroad Closure between St. Louis and Kansas City

January 13, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

Union Pacific Railroad has informed Amtrak of several blockages on the route used by the Missouri Mules passenger trains between St. Louis and Kansas City. The railroad could not provide an estimate of when the tracks will be cleared of trees and other debris caused by freezing rain and ice. In addition, more than a dozen freight trains were halted on the route between St. Louis and Jefferson City. Therefore, the westbound trains from St. Louis, Trains 311 & 313, and the eastbound trains from Kansas City, Trains 314 & 316, have been cancelled for today. No alternate transportation is

Dispatcher Focus of MBTA Probe

January 13, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WOBURN, Mass. — Federal investigators looking into a fatal wreck on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority are focusing their atention on a train dispatcher, according to The Associated Press. Two workers were killed Tuesday when an MBTA commuter train struck a piece of track equipment. As part of their investigation, agents are looking at conversations the dispatcher had with the workers, according to The Associated Press. The train was traveling 60 mph and was heading from Lowell to Boston when it struck a “speed swing” near the commuter rail station in Woburn killing the workers. A dozen other people, including

Investigation Into WMATA Wreck Continues

January 12, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing to investigate the Jan. 7 derailment of a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) rail car near the Mount Vernon Square station on the Green Line. The investigation team is completing documenting and measuring track structures near the crossover where the derailment occurred. Survey of the accident scene is in progress. The team is in the process of reviewing historical data and inspection records for that area of track. Twenty people were injured following the derailment. The derailed car, the fifth in consist, has been moved to the Branch Avenue Maintenance

Rosenker: Excited About Positive Train Control

January 11, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Mark Rosenker says he welcomes the Federal Railroad Administration’s decision to move forward on a Positive Train Control (PTC) system that can alert crews to dangerous situations and control train speed and movement to avoid collisions. The system will be installed by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad on 35 specific freight lines in 17 states. “This is exciting news,” Rosenker said. “The Safety Board has been pushing for the installation of PTC for many years, and I congratulate both the FRA and BNSF for moving ahead. I am confident it will

FRA: New Era of Rail Safety with Approval of First Positive Train Control System

January 9, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The first Positive Train Control (PTC) system capable of automatically controlling train speed and movements to prevent certain accidents, including train collisions has been approved. “This is a major achievement that marks the beginning of a new era of rail safety,” said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman. “The steps FRA and railroads are taking show that applying PTC technology can work and will provide important safety benefits.” In 2005, FRA revised federal signal and train control regulations to facilitate and enable development and deployment of PTC technology, Boardman said. Specifically, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approved the

Workers Struck by MBTA Train, Two Killed

January 9, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WOBURN, Mass. — Two workers were killed Tuesday when a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter train struck a piece of track equipment. The train was heading from Lowell to Boston when it struck a “speed swing” near the commuter rail station in Woburn killing the workers. A dozen other people, including 10 passengers, were treated for injuries. The incident remains under investigation, officials said. A “speed swing” is used to lift railroad ties. The two workers were employed by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co.

Metrorail Service Back to Normal After Sunday Derailment

January 8, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Service on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) was back to normal today, a day after a six-car train derailed near the Mount Vernon Square station. The Mt. Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail station, which serves the Green and Yellow lines, was closed Sunday, Jan. 7, from 3:46 p.m. to midnight after a Green Line train derailed as it was pulling into the station. The fifth car (car number 5152) of the six-car Green Line train headed north toward Greenbelt derailed and struck a concrete wall in the tunnel as the train was entering the station. It