Miscellaneous
Railfanning.org News Wire
Amtrak
Amtrak: July 2008 Amtrak Ridership Sets All-Time Monthly Record
WASHINGTON – Amtrak ridership in July Fiscal Year 2008 increased to 2,750,278, nearly a 14 percent increase, marking the most passengers carried in any single month in Amtrak’s 37 year history. Total ridership for the Fiscal Year to date — October 1, 2007 – July 31, 2008 — reached 23.7 million, topping the 21.3 million from the same period last year. Total ticket revenue for the fiscal year to date reached $1.4 billion, a 14.1 percent increase over the same period in FY07. For the month of July, ticket revenue increased by 18.6 percent to $168 million. “Increasing fuel prices,
Commuter Rail
N.J. Transit Buys Additional Multilevel Vehicles
NEWARK, N.J. — The N.J. Transit Board of Directors approved the purchase of 50 additional Multilevel Vehicles to help meet increasing ridership demand on the corporation’s busiest commuter rail lines. “These vehicles have helped provide a near-term solution to capacity demands while we, in partnership with The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, advance a long-term response to ridership growth through the Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) tunnel project,” said Governor Jon Corzine, who this morning rode an MLV train on the Northeast Corridor. The purchase will bring N.J. Transit’s total number of the popular rail cars
FRA
FRA Calls on Railroads to Join in a New Safety Program Designed to Reduce Risks that Can Lead to Train Accidents and Employee Injuries
WASHINGTON- Improving upon the historic levels of safety achieved in recent years by the nation’s railroads will require the use of a new risk-based approach to identify and correct safety issues before they result in train accidents and employee injuries, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman told industry leaders at a Rail Safety Summit. “Fixing something after it breaks or writing rule violation notices is increasingly unlikely to result in significant additional gains in rail safety,” Boardman said, who announced the Risk Reduction Program (RRP) which is aimed at supplementing current federal regulations, inspection requirements, and other compliance and enforcement
Commuter Rail
Man Convicted of Metrolink Murders
LOS ANGELES — A California man has been found guilty of multiple murders in a fatal January 2005 Metrolink train wreck. Juan Manuel Alvarez is on trial for first-degree murder and other charges. His trial could continue until July. Police said Alvarez parked his SUV on the Metrolink tracks with the intent of killing himself, but changed his mind, left his SUV on the tracks and watched the wreck unfold. However, prosecutors are challenging whether Alvarez was trying to commit suicide when he parked his SUV on the tracks and now say he may “have even been carrying out a
Commuter Rail
Ambitious State Proposals to Improve Intercity Passenger Rail Service Compete for Federal Funding Under New DOT Grant Program
WASHINGTON — Twenty-five forward-thinking proposals from 22 states to improve intercity passenger rail service and help relieve traffic congestion in many regions of the Nation will compete for $30 million in federal funding under a new Bush Administration grant program, announced U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters. “Our goal is to achieve long-term improvements in intercity passenger rail service by supporting state investments that get real results,” Peters said. She said the Department is currently reviewing the proposals and will determine final grant awards in September. Peters explained that the state proposals received are generally designed to improve the
CSX
CSXT Names Central Florida Businessman to State Post
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation has appointed Bob O’Malley, a public affairs executive in Central Florida, to a new position as resident vice president-state government affairs for Florida. The role is new, and will complement the company’s efforts in the Southeast. In that regard, O’Malley will work in close partnership with Craig Camuso, the Atlanta-based regional vice president-Southeast. Both will report to Mike O’Malley (no relation), vice president-state government and community affairs, in Jacksonville. Bob O’Malley, who will maintain offices in Orlando, will be responsible for all Florida legislative and community initiatives. “We are pleased to have someone of Bob’s
Amtrak
BNSF Postpones Project in Western Illinois
CHICAGO – BNSF Railway has notified Amtrak of the postponement of an infrastructure project in Western Illinois. Although it was to begin this week, BNSF is now planning to conduct the track work this fall, on a date to be announced. Train 381, the morning westbound Carl Sandburg from Chicago, will operate on its normal schedule to Quincy. Train 382, the evening eastbound Carl Sandburg to Chicago, will operate on a modified schedule this week only, reverting to its normal schedule on August 9. The previously announced schedule called for passengers to arrive early for the departure of chartered motorcoaches
Norfolk Southern
Lowcountry Open Land Trust Announces Largest Conservation Gift in South Carolina History
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Some of the most ecologically significant land in the U.S. will be protected permanently from development through a conservation easement donated by Norfolk Southern to the Lowcountry Open Land Trust. The easement is thought to be one of the largest in the Southeast and the largest ever by a corporation in South Carolina. Norfolk Southern, through two subsidiaries, has granted an easement on 12,488 acres of its Brosnan Forest timber and wildlife preserve near Dorchester, S.C., 35 miles northwest of Charleston. The property is near the 15,000-acre Francis Beidler Forest, which is owned and operated by the
FRA
Alaska Railroad Receives FRA Grant for Rail/Highway Bridge to Military Training Area
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding $44.2 million to the Alaska Railroad for a dual use railroad/highway bridge over the Tanana River to the U.S. military’s Joint Tanana Training Complex. The bridge, which is part of the Northern Rail Extension project, is part of the new 80-mile rail line from North Pole to Delta Junction. The grant funds are to be used to advance existing designs to contract-ready engineering documents; complete filings for all necessary permits; obtain required rights-of-way; build construction staging areas; and begin construction of the bridge and connecting roadways. However, no funds may be