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Commuter Rail

Las Vegas Monorail Part of Google Transit’s Newly Expanded Route Planning Service

LAS VEGAS –The Las Vegas Monorail Company announced today a partnership with Google Transit – a Google product that allows online users to enter the specifics of a destination and utilizes available public transportation options to plot out the most efficient possible step-by-step route and itinerary. The Las Vegas Monorail joined forces with Google Transit to provide data regarding Monorail transportation on the busy and popular Las Vegas Strip. Google Transit, which has been in operation since December 2005, and has recently been integrated into Google Earth, currently offers public transit information for the following major metropolitan areas: Burbank, Orange

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Union Pacific

Union Pacific Begins Construction of $90 Million State-of-the-Art Intermodal Terminal in Southwest Bexar County

SAN ANTONIO — Union Pacific has broken ground on a $90 million state-of-the-art intermodal terminal, which is expected to generate $2.48 billion in cumulative economic impact for the area over 20 years, officials said. Located strategically between rail lines traveling to and from the West Coast and Mexico, the 300-acre rail port will ship and receive containers and trailers with household goods and other items supporting retailers and distribution centers, as well as auto parts for a new Toyota plant in San Antonio. “Union Pacific is very pleased to begin work on our San Antonio Intermodal Terminal, which will provide

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Commuter Rail

Woman Struck by Metro Station

WASHINGTON — A woman was struck by a Metrorail train at the Georgia Ave-Petworth Metrorail station at 3:42 p.m. today (Thursday, Aug. 16). The train was traveling toward the Greenbelt Metrorail station. Police are looking into the possibility that the woman intentionally put herself on the tracks in front of the oncoming train. The woman, believed to be in her 20s, was taken to an area hospital. Green Line trains are sharing one track between the Georgia Ave-Petworth and Fort Totten Metrorail stations to get around the scene while police and emergency personnel investigate the incident. — Special to Railfanning.org

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World

CSC Signs Multi-Year IT Outsourcing Contract With Network Rail in United Kingdom

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Computer Sciences Corporation announced that it has signed an information technology (IT) services contract with Network Rail, owner and operator of the UK’s railway infrastructure. The agreement, which has a five-year base period and one three-year option, coincides with a significant infrastructure investment by Network Rail essential to providing the UK with a safe, reliable and efficient railway. Under the terms of the contract, CSC will provide midrange services and Oracle ERP support. The midrange work includes server maintenance and management, data center hosting, security, disaster recovery planning and storage area network management. Approximately 70 members

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Miscellaneous

Global Rail Systems Names Ellison Sales Director

MARLIN, Texas — Global Rail Systems Inc., a railroad automation company, said today that Brian Ellison has joined the customer service and sales team as director of sales, reporting to Ron Martin, VP Sales and Marketing. He has more than 20 years experience in the electronics/sales field working with wireless control and communication systems. Prior to joining Global Rail, Brian served as national sales manager in the locomotive rebuilding industry. Tom Schlosser, Global Rail’s chief executive officer, said, “Brian’s experience and ability to build relationships based on trust, integrity and ongoing customer support will serve the needs of Global Rail

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Miscellaneous

Wabtec Unit Signs $40 Million Contract to Maintain Locomotives for HSBC Rail

WILMERDING, Pa. — Wabtec Rail, a UK-based unit of Wabtec Corporation, has signed a $40 million, five-year contract to maintain 31 high-speed locomotives for HSBC Rail, a leading lessor of rail equipment in the UK. The Class 91 electric locomotives run on the UK’s East Coast Main Line at speeds of up to 125 mph. Wabtec Rail will be responsible for all maintenance and running repairs, and for improving equipment reliability. “For Wabtec, this contract is another example of the expansion of our aftermarket business globally,” said Albert J. Neupaver, Wabtec’s president and chief executive officer. “In addition, the project

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Commuter Rail

Storms Wreak Havoc on NYC Trains

NEW YORK — Commuter rail and subways were closed after a tornado touched down and heavy rainstorms flooded portions of New York City, authorities said. The tornado had sustained winds topping 110 mph, authorities said. The twister tore a roughly two-mile swath in Brooklyn. At least one person was killed in the storm. Metropolitan Transit Authority were forced to close because the rain fell too fast, according to authorities. City officials were using pumps to remove the water and reopen any lines that closed. — Railfanning.org News Wire

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Norfolk Southern

Pa. Attorney General Charges Norfolk Southern In Wreck

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The state of Pennsylvania has filed environmental-related charges against Norfolk Southern Corp. and a former engineer who was driving a Norfolk Southern train when it derailed in June 2006.The derailment spilled 42,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide waste into the soil, wetlands and waters of two counties in Northwestern Pennsylvania causing millions of dollars in damage and killing thousands of fish, authorities said. The engineer — Michael J. Seifert, 46, of West Seneca, N.Y. –was charged in March 2007 with two counts of risking a catastrophe and one count of reckless endangerment by the McKean County District Attorney’s