Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 311

BNSF Railway Company Named Intermodal Carrier of the Year

July 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Company was recently honored by Owens Corning as the 2007 Intermodal Carrier of the Year. “BNSF intermodal’s commitment to safety, consistent service and open communications with Owens Corning has been essential to their success. With a changing marketplace, having a provider like BNSF allows us to supply our customers with high-quality delivery performance using a very efficient mode of transport,” said Troy Stevenson, Owens Corning, Carrier Relations Leader, North America Dry Van & Intermodal Transportation. “I think I speak for everyone up and down the line at BNSF when I say it is an

BNSF Places Ultra-Low-Emissions Locomotives in Service in DFW and Houston

July 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Company today announced that it has placed 67 GenSet switch locomotives in service for the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston areas. The GenSets were acquired through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) Emissions Reduction Incentive Grants (ERIG) Program, which provides grants to eligible projects in non-attainment areas and affected counties. The GenSet locomotive is a low-horsepower switch locomotive with three engines that operate only as needed, potentially reducing nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions by 80 to 90 percent and improving fuel efficiency by 15 percent over standard switch engines. “BNSF is pleased to

N.J. Transit Buys New Dual-Powered Locomotives

July 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — N.J. Transit took another step forward in the modernization of its rail fleet, as the Board of Directors approved the purchase of 26 dual-powered locomotives to replace its aging diesel fleet.The Board awarded a contract to Bombardier Transit Corporation for the purchase of 26 dual-powered locomotives — which can operate in both electrified and non-electrified territory — at a total cost of approximately $310 million, including design, engineering, manufacturing, training and spare parts, with the option to purchase additional locomotives in the future. “With gas prices over $4 a gallon and climbing, New Jersey commuters are flocking

N.J. Transit Adopts $1.7B FY09 Operating Budget

July 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — The N.J. Transit Board of Directors adopted a Fiscal Year 2009 Budget that supports historic ridership levels by increasing seat capacity, modernizing the bus and rail fleets and maintaining the system in a state of good repair. The N.J. Transit Board approved a $1.7 billion FY09 operating budget and a $1.29 billion capital plan that advances major capacity-enhancing projects, funds improvements at bus and rail facilities and supports the purchase of transit vehicles to replace aging equipment. “Ensuring that the residents of New Jersey have a safe, efficient and reliable public transit system has been a priority

ARC Gets $75M in Funding

July 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, both Democrats, said they successfully appropriated $75 million towards the Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) project – more than five times the amount dedicated last year – further advancing the engineering of two new rail tunnels under the Hudson River. “The unwavering support from senators Lautenberg and Menendez for this critical project will help provide relief to the state’s transportation system,” N.J. Gov. Jon S. Corzine said. “We applaud their efforts to secure record levels of appropriations for this project.” “This funding is keeping the ARC Tunnel project moving

FRA Issues Proposed Rule to Improve Protection for Railroad Roadway Workers

July 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to improve protection for roadway workers from train or equipment movements on an adjacent track. The proposal would require railroads, contractors to railroads, and roadway workers to adopt and comply with additional on-track safety procedures. It will cover work groups using certain maintenance equipment, when at least one worker is on the ground and the centerline of the adjacent track is 19 feet or less from the centerline of the track being worked on. FRA is also proposing to expand requirements for job safety briefings, training, and

CP, CN Implement New Rail Terminal Efficiencies at Deltaport

July 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

VANCOUVER — CN and Canadian Pacific (CP) announced an agreement allowing the Deltaport Division of a jointly owned rail subsidiary to manage rail switching operations for CN’s and CP’s intermodal trains at Deltaport, a marine container terminal located at Roberts Bank, south of Vancouver’s inner harbor. “Deltaport Division will streamline the logistics chain at the terminal, generating greater efficiencies in the overall rail and port operation,” said Keith Creel, CN executive vice-president, operations. “These service and productivity gains support Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway Initiative, which aims to bolster the competitiveness of the nation’s west coast ports.” CN and CP move approximately

STB Announcers Hearing’s Speakers

July 16, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has provided a schedule of speakers appearances and their time allocations for the Board’s July 22, 2008 public hearing for the proceeding entitled, Common Carrier Obligation of Railroads—Transportation of Hazardous Materials, STB Ex Parte No. 677. The Tuesday, July 22 hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Board’s Hearing Room on the 1st Floor of the agency’s headquarters at Patriots Plaza, 395 E St., S.W., in Washington. The Board initially announced the public hearing in STB Ex Parte No. 677 (Sub-No. 1), in a decision issued to the public on June 4, 2008

CSX Announces Preliminary Voting Results for 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

July 16, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. announced that the preliminary report of IVS Associates, Inc. (IVS), the independent inspector of election for CSX’s 2008 annual meeting of shareholders, indicates that Board nominees Donna M. Alvarado, John B. Breaux, Steven T. Halverson, Edward J. Kelly III, John D. McPherson, David M. Ratcliffe, Donald J. Shepard, and Michael J. Ward, and TCI Group nominees Alexandre Behring, Christopher Hohn, Gilbert H. Lamphere and Timothy T. O’Toole are the twelve nominees to the Board who received the most votes cast at the meeting. In addition, based on the independent inspector’s preliminary review of proxies submitted,

CSX Reports Record Second Quarter Earnings

July 15, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. reported second quarter 2008 earnings of $385 million, or a record 93 cents per share. Last year CSX reported second quarter earnings of $324 million, or 71 cents per share. Second quarter 2008 results included 4 cents per share associated with the resolution of certain tax matters. On a comparable basis, excluding this item, second quarter EPS was up 25 percent from a year ago. “CSX continues to deliver significant value for shareholders and demonstrate the secular strength of our business,” said Michael Ward, chairman, president and CEO. “The strong earnings performance delivered by this