Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 304

STB Issues Final EIS for CN Acquisition

December 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board announced that its Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) has issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the proposed acquisition by the Canadian National Railway and Grand Trunk Corporation of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway (EJ&E). Issuance of the Final EIS completes SEA’s environmental review process. Upon reviewing and considering the Final EIS, and the extensive transportation related and environmental record developed in this case, the Board will independently issue a final decision either denying, approving, or approving with conditions the pending merger. Completion of SEA’s Final EIS should not be interpreted

CSX: Veterans Welcome

December 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation (NYSE:CSX) is one of the best places for the nation’s veterans to work following their military careers, according to G.I. Jobs magazine. CSX Transportation ranked 8th on the annual list of the nations most military-friendly employers. This marks the third straight year the company has made the list, rising from number 45 in 2006 to its current position. In selecting companies for recognition, the magazine considers the resources dedicated to military hiring, Reserve/Guard policies, percentage of new hires who are veterans, veteran training programs and previous rankings. Only 2 percent of the 2,500 eligible companies

Canadian Pacific to Review Federal Court Grain Hopper Car Maintenance Decision

December 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific recently said it responded to the recent decision by the Federal Court of Appeal dismissing the appeal filed by CP regarding the adjustment to the maximum revenue entitlement under the Canada Transportation Act. CP said it will review the court’s decision and available legal recourse. The court upheld the retroactive adjustment made by the CTA on February 19 resulting in a decrease of $23M in what CP was entitled to earn for the movement of grain for a portion of the 2007/2008 crop year. CP said it will review its products and pricing as it relates

BNSF Honors Three Shortline Railroads for Partnership Excellence

December 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Columbia Basin Railroad (CBRW), Louisiana & Delta Railroad (L&D) and the Texas Northwestern Railway (TXNW) each received a BNSF Shortline Achievement Award at this year’s 13th Annual Shortline Conference. “BNSF is pleased to honor these shortline railroads for their ability to provide intense customer focus, resourcefulness, operational flexibility, and a local presence in their communities,” said Pete Rickershauser, BNSF vice president, Network Development. “These shortlines have gone beyond our expectations to build new business for our railroads and new service products for our shared customers. We see their roles expanding in the future as they

Feds: Possible al-Qaida Plot Against NYC Transit System

November 28, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — Federal officials are warning of a possible al-Qaida terror plot against New York City’s transit system. The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation said officials have received a “plausible but unsubstantiated” report indicating a threat during the upcoming holiday season. According to investigators, al-Qaida members may have discussed targeting New York and any such plot could include using suicide bombers or explosives placed on subway and passenger rail systems.. The conversations took place in late September. Despite the warning, officials said they have no specific details to confirm the plot has developed beyond

Honda Recognizes Norfolk Southern for Performance Excellence

November 28, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — American Honda Motor Company Inc. has awarded Norfolk Southern Corp., in competition with all assembly plant and port locations shipping Honda vehicles, the 2008 Performance Excellence Award for Rail Origin Carrier of the Year for service provided at their Lincoln, Ala., automobile manufacturing plant. The award recognizes transit performance, inventory control and empty rail car supply, and audit performance. Norfolk Southern began its service to the Lincoln plant in 2003 when the construction of the rail-served vehicle loading facility was completed. “Norfolk Southern is honored to receive this award, which recognizes the hard work and dedicated efforts

CP Holiday Train Begins Journey Across Seven States for Food Pantries

November 28, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

ROUSES POINT, N.Y. — On the eve of thanksgiving, the residents of Rouses Point had much to be thankful as Canadian Pacific held its first 2008 Holiday Train event in the U.S. The Holiday Train will eventually make its way to Carpio, N.D., on Dec. 15, raising food, money and awareness for food pantries along the way. In all, thousands of people in more than 50 communities in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota will experience the Holiday Train’s important mission in the fight against hunger. At the same time, a second identically-decorated Holiday Train will

Poll: Safety Concerns Drive Seven in Ten Rochester Residents to Oppose Increased Freight Traffic through Minn. City

November 28, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Safety, potential accidents and quality of life concerns are prompting nearly 70 percent of Rochester residents to oppose plans to increase freight train traffic through their city, a new survey shows. The survey of more than 500 Rochester residents, conducted October 8-16, also shows strong public sentiment for area elected officials to resist plans to expand freight rail traffic in the city. The Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) recently acquired the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) and associated tracks through downtown Rochester. During the acquisition, CP officials outlined plans to upgrade tracks through Rochester in anticipation of

FRA Announces Disaster Relief Funding for Small Railroads

November 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration is accepting applications from states for $20 million in grant funding to help small Class II and Class III railroads that sustained infrastructure damage as a result of recent natural disasters. Under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair Grant Program, federal grant funds may be used to repair and rehabilitate damage to railroad infrastructure sustained due to hurricanes, floods, and similar events in counties declared to be major disasters by the President from Jan. 1 to Nov. 6. Among the possible uses of the funds are restoration of railroad rights-of-way, bridges, and signals. Prospective grantees

BNSF Adds Third Rail Line through Cajon Pass

November 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas –BNSF Railway has completed construction of a third main rail line through Cajon Pass in Southern California that will increase capacity on BNSF’s Chicago to Los Angeles Transcontinental (Transcon) route from 100 to 150 trains a day. The $90 million project adds almost 16 miles of third main track to BNSF’s route into the Los Angeles Basin. Cajon Pass is located between the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountain ranges, just north of the City of San Bernardino. Approximately 75 to 100 freight and passenger trains currently traverse this route on a daily basis. Each intermodal train