Railfanning.org News Wire

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Norfolk Southern

Federal Board’s Decision Shortchanges Michigan Rail Shippers and Passengers

December 12, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
NORFOLK, Va. — The Surface Transportation Board’s denial of regulatory approval for an innovative joint venture involving freight and passenger rail service over 384 route miles in Michigan and Indiana represents a lost opportunity for the region’s shippers, passengers and communities, according to Norfolk Southern Railway Co. Norfolk Southern and Watco Companies had planned jointly to form a new regional railroad, Michigan Central Railway, to preserve and grow freight service in the region. Amtrak passenger lines would have benefited from an extended agreement ensuring continued maintenance and investment levels on the rail lines between Ypsilanti and Kalamazoo, Mich., Norfolk Southern
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Amtrak

Ridership Rises Significantly on Caltrans/Amtrak San Joaquins Trains

December 11, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ridership on the tax-payer funded Amtrak San Joaquins Corridor service exceeded all expectations during the month of November with a dramatic jump of 13.1 percent, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced. In all, 78,577 passengers rode the line last month, compared to 69,450 in November 2006. Under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, rail funding for Caltrans’ intercity passenger rail program has grown to $79 million annually, making it the largest state-supported program in the nation. “This is great news for the traveling public,” Caltrans Director Will Kempton said. “Not only are we able to relieve traffic
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Miscellaneous

GATX Corporation Announces New Railcar Order

December 11, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
CHICAGO — GATX Corp. has agreed to buy 2,000 newly-manufactured tank cars from Trinity Industries Inc. over a two-year period beginning in early 2008, with an option for an additional 1,000 tank cars thereafter. GATX expects the Trinity order, together with other existing orders, to provide significant opportunity to enhance market share, meet customer demand and replace retired equipment with high quality tank cars, manufactured and configured according to strict GATX specifications. “We are pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Trinity,” said James F. Earl, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Trinity offers a full range of railcars
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Commuter Rail

Northstar Commuter Rail Project Secures Final Federal Funding Approvals

December 11, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
ANOKA, Minn. — A Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) commits $156.8 million in federal matching funds and immediately releases another $97.5 million in state bonding money for Northstar Commuter Rail construction and trains. “Minnesota has reached a new milestone today with the signing of the Full Funding Grant Agreement for Northstar,” said Dan Erhart, Chair of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA). “Not only is this a day of celebration for those who have kept the project on track, but for Minnesotans who will soon be riding the trains, employers who will have their workers on board and communities along
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Miscellaneous

49 Railroad Cars on the Auction Block

December 10, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Government Liquidation LLC is auctioning off 49 railroad cars equaling more than 2.1 million pounds of unprepared heavy melting iron. The railroad cars, which are located in Hooks, Texas, consist of steel tankers, steel box cars and steel flat beds. Online bidding opens at 12 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Dec. 13 on the official online clearinghouse for government surplus www.govliquidation.com. All the rail cars are on wheels and can be rolled out for removal during this one-time event. The steel flat beds and steel box cars have wooden floors, and old style journal bearings. Some are equipped
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Canadian Pacific

Teamsters Canada Rail Conference and Canadian Pacific Reach Revised Contract Settlement for Train Operations Employees

December 6, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
CALGARY — The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), representing 4,500 locomotive engineers and conductors, and Canadian Pacific yesterday (Dec. 5) reached a revised tentative five-year contract settlement. The Memorandum of Settlement will now be sent to the union membership for ratification, which is expected to conclude within the next eight weeks. Details of the tentative agreement will be released following ratification of the agreement by union members. — PRNewswire-FirstCall
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CSX

Three Charged in Atlanta Rail Car Thefts

December 4, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
ATLANTA — Three people have been arrested for stealing computers from a CSX freight train parked in a local rail yard. Police say 19 rail cars were burglarized and officers recovered 26 computers and various other items that were stolen from the cars, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. CSX police saw the men and called Atlanta authorities, WAGA-TV reported. — Railfanning.org News Wire
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Amtrak

Weather Continues to Cause Problems for Amtrak

December 4, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
Due to extreme weather in the Pacific Northwest resulting in downed trees, mudslides and the closure of Interstate 5 in the Olympia, Wash., and Chehalis, Wash., area, Amtrak Cascades service between Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, British Columbia, will be cancelled Tuesday (Dec. 4). There with be no alternate transportation. Other Amtrak services will also be affected. Train service on the Amtrak Cascades service (between Portland and Vancouver) will be cancelled on Tuesday (Dec. 4) with no alternate transportation. Normal train service will operate between Eugene, Ore., and Portland. The Coast Starlight will terminate at Eugene with alternate transportation only between
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Amtrak

Amtrak Train Speeding at Time of Derailment

December 3, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
CHICAGO — An Amtrak train that crashed into the rear end of a Norfolk Southern freight train last week was speeding, the NTSB said. Amtrak’s Pere Marquette was traveling 40 mph when it should have been traveling 15 mph Though the speed limit is usually 79 mph along that stretch of track, the Amtrak should have slowed to 15 mph because of a signal. “Part of our investigation is to figure out why that signal was not obeyed,” The Associated Press quoted NTSB Vice Chairman Robert Sumwalt as saying. “We’re not here to point fingers,” Sumwalt said, according to The