Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 324

CSX Appoints Gary Bethel as Vice President-Mechanical

May 31, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Gary Bethel has been appointed as CSX’s Vice President-Mechanical, replacing Rich Regan, who will retire after 33 years of service. Bethel has served as Atlanta Division manager and in other key operating positions. His appointment is effective immediately, and a new Atlanta Division manager will be named soon. “Gary Bethel brings a wealth of operating and management experience to this important position,” said Tony Ingram, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “He will lead our efforts to maintain and improve our locomotive reliability and rail car availability, all with safety at the forefront.” Bethel began his

Norfolk Southern and 10 Short Line Railroads Create Short-Haul Rail Options in New York and Beyond

May 31, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corp. and 10 New York-based short line railroads have created a program to convert short-haul truck movements to rail. The “Empire Link” allows the short line railroads to market the excess rail freight capacity on NS’ Southern Tier main line between Binghamton and Silver Springs, N.Y., as well as on branch lines between Corning and Geneva, and between Waverly and Ludlowville. “With the high price of diesel fuel, the Empire Link is an attractive option for shippers currently trucking freight in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey,” said David Lawson, Norfolk Southern’s vice president industrial

Railroads Rack Up $380M in Federal Grants

May 31, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded $380.1 million for transit security as part of its Infrastructure Protection Activities (IPA) grant program. The grants will be used to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies. “With this year’s funding, the department will have provided roughly $3 billion in grants for securing the nation’s critical infrastructure and transportation systems,” Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said. “As capabilities mature, we’re encouraging state and local governments and the private sector to prioritize IED prevention and protection, communications capabilities, information sharing, and regionally

Patriot Rail Corp. Railroads Win Short Line ‘Jake’ Safety Awards

May 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Two Patriot Rail Corp. railroads won the prestigious 2007 “Jake” Safety Awards awarded by the American Short Line Railroad Association (ASLRRA) earlier this month. The award, presented to short lines and regional railroads with outstanding safety records, are named after Copper Basin Railway President and Chief Operating Officer L.S. “Jake” Jacobson, who created the award in 1994. Patriot’s Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway (BAP) earned the ASLRRA’s Jake Award with Distinction for the second year in a row. In 2007, the BAP completed 34,590 man-hours with no reportable injuries. Based in Anaconda, Montana, the BAP operates

New Ultra-Low Emission UP Locomotive Arrives in California

May 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific’s most environmentally friendly yard locomotive is on the job at J. R. Davis Rail Yard in Roseville, Calif. The first of four next generation Genset locomotives arrived in Northern California this week and is already pushing rail cars into place throughout the Union Pacific yard. The switcher builds on Genset technology developed by Union Pacific over the past six years, and is part of the railroad’s ongoing efforts to continue reducing air emissions in cooperation with federal, state and local environmental agencies. The new Genset switcher is powered by three 667-horsepower ultra-low-emission U. S. Environmental

Central California Traction Company Satisfied with Test of Ultra Low Emissions Locomotives from National Railway Equipment Co.

May 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

STOCKTON, Calif. — The Central California Traction Company (CCT) successfully performed an operational test at the Port of Stockton, Calif., and on its main line, the National Railway Equipment Co. (NREC) announced. CCT tested an N-ViroMotive GenSet locomotive from NREC. The locomotive was a two-engine 1400 HP (2GS-14B) 4-axle unit that is EPA certified and CARB recognized as ultra-low emitting GenSet locomotive. CCT’s objective in testing the new locomotive is fuel conservation, protecting the environment and operational efficiency which are vital to CCT’s cost effective operations in the Port of Stockton and Stockton to Lodi, Calif., officials said “The CCT

California State Assembly Approves California High-Speed Rail Legislation

May 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California State Assembly has approved legislation that improves the existing California High Speed Train Bond Act by strengthening provisions for financial controls, environmental findings and construction implementation, officials said. The legislation was approved by a 60-3 margin. The technical amendments in the bill clarify construction and financing requirements for the $9.95 billion dollar bond measure, which will be on the November 2008 statewide ballot. The bill also prioritizes construction segments based on financial readiness and ability to leverage local, federal, and private funds. Prior to passage on the Assembly floor, two Assembly committees, Assembly Transportation and

Amtrak Cancels Trains to Replace Bridge Span

May 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW LONDON, Conn. — For four days next month, Amtrak will cancel some of its trains in order to replace the movable span of the 90-year-old Thames River Bridge, located between Groton and New London, Conn. Rail service will be affected between New Haven and Boston on June 14-17 when Amtrak will install a new vertical lift span to replace the movable bascule portion of the bridge. That will mark the final stage of a multi-year, $83 million project designed to improve the reliability of the bridge, reduce the chance of operational failures and minimize train delays. “The aged drawbridge

DOT: Action Plan Contributes to Nearly 25 Percent Decrease in Train Accidents

May 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The number of train accidents has decreased by 23.3 percent in the past three years in part because the Department of Transportation has completed an ambitious plan designed to improve safety on the Nation’s railroads, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters says. “We’ve seen how much can be done when you combine good data analysis, sound strategies, and focused decisions to tackle persistent safety problems,” Peters said, stressing the achievements resulted from the Department’s National Rail Safety Action Plan, the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) comprehensive freight and passenger rail safety programs and the work of railroads, rail

Rail Network Could Face Major Congestion in Coming Decades

May 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Congestion on the nation’s rail network is expected to increase over the next two decades and could eventually pose a major problem, members of Congress warned. Since deregulation of the freight railroad industry in 1980, Class 1 freight ton-miles have increased 93 percent, while miles of track have decreased 40 percent, U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., said. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that the demand for rail freight transportation will increase 88 percent by 2035, and their studies estimate that an investment of $148 billion in infrastructure expansion will be needed over the ext 28 years to