Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 320

Metrorail Extension to Tyson’s Corner, Dulles International Airport Moving Forward

May 5, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has substantially improved its proposal to extend Metrorail, responding various concerns the Department of Transportation raised in January, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced. “Consequently, we have sent the required 10-day notification to Congress that we intend to move the project into the Final Design stage of FTA’s New Starts Process,” Federal Transit Administrator James S. Simpson said in a statement. “FTA will commit $158.7 million to use toward completion of a financial plan, construction plans, detailed engineering specifications and cost estimates, and other technical requirements. “However, there are still hurdles facing

FRA Awards Two Grants to Washington State DOT

May 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded two grants to the Washington State Department of Transportation to improve rail safety and upgrade infrastructure. A $1.5 million grant for the Tacoma Rail Mountain Division will be used to upgrade four bridges and repair rail, crossties, and equipment on several highway/rail grade crossings between Tacoma and Morton. These safety improvements will benefit freight as well as passenger excursion operations to Mt. Rainier National Park. In addition, $360,943 has been granted for the Olympia Infrastructure Enhancement Project to improve safety at the Market Street highway/rail grade crossing adjacent to the Port of

CSX Highlights Board’s Market-Leading Track-Record in Investor Presentation

May 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. announced that it has filed an investor presentation with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the company’s 2008 annual meeting of shareholders, which is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25. “CSX’s Board of Directors has driven extraordinary shareholder returns, financial and operational performance, and excellence in corporate governance and offers a compelling future outlook,” said Michael J. Ward, CSX chairman, president and chief executive officer. “We look forward to meeting with CSX investors to discuss our track-record of success and concrete plans to continue to create value for all shareholders. We believe that the

CSX Announces National Gateway to Improve Flow of Freight

May 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

DUBLIN, Ohio — CSX Corp. has launched the National Gateway, a $700 million public-private infrastructure initiative to create a highly efficient freight transportation link between the Mid-Atlantic ports and the Midwest. When completed, the National Gateway would provide greater capacity for product shipments in and out of the Midwest, reduce truck traffic on already crowded highways, and create thousands of jobs that directly or indirectly support the National Gateway. CSX has already committed $300 million to the National Gateway, and will work with several states and the federal government to secure additional funding. The National Gateway incorporates two primary parts.

Reports: Olympic Construction Played Role in China Crash

April 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

ZIBO, China – Construction in advance of this summer’s Beijing Olympics is at least partly to blame for a train wreck that killed more than 70 people and injured hundreds more, Chinese officials say. According to Li Chenggang, Zibo city spokesman, the tracks where the trains crashed are being upgraded in advance of the Olympics. The upgraded line is supposed to reduce travel time between Jinan and Qingdao, a coastal city that is hosting the Olympic sailing competition. Officials previously said excessive speed could be to blame for the Monday (April 28) train crash. Investigators said train operators were advised

Speed May Be to Blame for China Rail Crash

April 29, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

ZIBO, China — Excessive speed could be to blame for a Monday (April 28) train crash that killed at least 70 people and sent hundreds more to the hospital. According to a Xinhua news report, an express train traveling to the east China city of Qingdao from Beijing was traveling 131 kph (81 mph) in an 80 kph (50 mph) zone. The train derailed and crashed into a second train, which was traveling from Yantai in the Shandong province to the Jiangsu province city of Xuzhou, authorities said. “So far, the accident site has been cleaned up and the stranded

Trains Transporting the Most Toxic Hazardous Materials Must Use Safest, Most Secure Route

April 28, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Railroads will be required to route every train carrying the most toxic and dangerous hazardous materials on the safest and most secure route under a new federal rule announced by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters. “This strong measure better ensures that rail shipments of hazardous materials will reach their final destinations safely and without incident,” said Peters, noting the rule applies to trains hauling Poison Inhalation Hazard (PIH) commodities such as chlorine and anhydrous ammonia which are heavily used in farming, water purification, and manufacturing. Beginning June 1, the rule requires railroads to conduct a comprehensive

70 Killed in China Train Wreck

April 28, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

ZIBO, China — At least 70 people were killed when two passenger trains collided near the east China city of Zibo, located in the Shandong province, authorities said. Hundreds more were injured — included dozens in serious condition — in the pre-dawn train wreck, said to be the worst in China in more than a decade. Some authorities indicated the death toll could rise. The wreck occurred when an express train traveling to the east China city of Qingdao from Beijing derailed and crashed into a second train, which was traveling from Yantai in the Shandong province to the Jiangsu

Amtrak Feasibility Study of Passenger Rail Service from Quad Cities to Iowa City Released

April 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

AMES, Iowa – A study conducted by Amtrak on behalf of the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) concerning the feasibility of passenger rail service from the Quad Cities to Iowa City on a route originating at Chicago was released during a news conference in Iowa City. Annual ridership on the full route is estimated at about 187,000 passengers, based on two daily round-trips and if improvements are made allowing maximum speeds of 79 mph. The states of Iowa and Illinois would share the capital investment costs and the estimated annual Amtrak operating contract expense of about $6 million. The

CP Trains Across North America Pause for Day of Mourning

April 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific employees will pause to honor workers who have perished or have been injured in the workplace at 11 a.m. local time on Monday, April 28, the designated International Day of Mourning. “Each year we remember those employees who have lost their lives or suffered injury in occupational incidents in an effort to continuously strengthen our focus on workplace safety,” said Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Kathryn McQuade. “Safety is our number one priority.” Trains across Canadian Pacific’s 13,500-mile North American rail network, locomotives in CP yards and terminals, and crane operators in intermodal terminals will