Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 332

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

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

Amtrak Service Disrupted Following Mudslides

December 3, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

SEATTLE — Amtrak service in the Pacific Northwest was suspended following mudslides that blocked the railroad. Train service on the Cascades (which runs between Eugene, Ore., and Vancouver, British Columbia) has been cancelled, and alternate transportation will be provided to all station stops. Also, service on the Coast Starlight will terminate at Eugene with alternate transportation provided between Eugene and Seattle. The Empire Builder will terminate at Everett, Wash., with alternate transportation provided between Everett and Seattle. It is expected that the service disruption will continue through tomorrow (Dec. 4). Amtrak apologizes for any inconvenience. Passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or

FRA: Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad Correct to Close Tunnels

December 2, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

COOS BAY, Ore. — Three tunnels on the Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad (CORP) “need immediate repairs to permit the safe resumption of railroad operations,” meaning the railroad was correct to close the passageways, the Federal Railroad Administration said in a statement. “FRA agrees that all three tunnels need immediate repairs to permit the safe resumption of railroad operations,” the administration said. In September, CORP made the decision to embargo rail traffic on its Coos Bay Subdivision line as a result of the tunnel safety issues. The three tunnels are located between Eugene, Ore., and Coquille, Ore. FRA reached its

Chicago Derailment Under Investigation

December 1, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a Go Team to investigate yesterday’s collision between an Amtrak passenger train and a Norfolk Southern freight train on NS tracks south of Chicago. NTSB Rail Investigator Ted Turpin will serve as Investigator-in-Charge and lead the 7-member team. Vice Chairman Robert Sumwalt will accompany the team and serve as spokesman for the on-scene investigation. At the time of the crash, there were 187 passengers and six employees on board the Amtrak train. Most passengers and crew members were unhurt and were later transported to Amtrak Chicago Union Station and on to

Union Pacific Sets New Seven-Day Coal Train Record

November 30, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific today announced it has set a new seven-day record of trains moving out of Wyoming’s Southern Powder River Basin. The new record of 284 trains surpasses the previous seven-day record of 280. The company achieved the previous 280 record twice during seven-day period this past October and November. The new record was established between Nov. 22 and Nov. 28. — Business Wire

Amtrak, Norfolk Southern Trains Collide in Chicago

November 30, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — An Amtrak train collided with a Norfolk Southern freight train this afternoon, seriously injuring five people, officials said. The Pere Marquette was traveling from Grand Rapids, Mich., to Chicago when it struck the freight train in south Chicago at about 11:30 a.m. local time. The Amtrak train’s locomotive derailed, while the rest of the train remained upright and on the rails. The Amtrak train had one engine and three cars. At the time of the derailment, there were 187 passengers and six crew members on board the train. Thirty injuries were reported, including five serious injuries to Amtrak

GE – Transportation Entering UK Market

November 29, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

ERIE, Pa. — UK-based Freightliner Group Ltd. has placed the largest order in its history, according to GE – Transportation, which received an order for 30 freight locomotives. GE – Transportation, a unit of General Electric Co., is developing a new freight locomotive in partnership with Freightliner Group as part of a collaborative effort called “Project Genesis.” Starting in mid 2009, Freightliner will use the most advanced locomotive product in the industry while GE – Transportation will enter the UK rail freight market for the first time, officials said. GE – Transportation’s JS37ACi offers many new features, including AC traction

Tennessee Southern Railroad Completes First Year under New Ownership

November 29, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

Tennessee Southern Railroad has completed its first year of operation under Patriot Rail ownership, and the new owners say the year was a success. TSRR, acquired by Patriot Rail in November 2006, operates over 149 miles of rail line from Columbia, Tenn., to Pulaski, Tenn., and from Columbia, Tenn., to Florence, Ala. The railroad serves 32 customers and interchanges with CSX Transportation at Natco, Tenn. TSRR also provides multi-modal services between the railroad, river barges and trucks at the Port of Florence, located on the Tennessee River. According to officials, TSRR has achieved many milestones during the past year, including:

In Advance of Amtrak Strike, Bush Appoints Presidential Emergency Board

November 28, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — President Bush today established a Presidential Emergency Board, hoping to keep the employees of nine Amtrak unions from striking. The unions represent more than 6,000 of Amtrak’s non-operating employees who have been working on contracts that expired in 1999. On Nov. 1, the National Mediation Board released Amtrak and the unions from mediation, starting a 30 day cooling off period. If Bush did not appoint the Presidential Emergency Board, the unions’ employees could strike starting Dec. 1. “In the judgment of the National Mediation Board, these disputes threaten substantially to interrupt interstate commerce to a degree that would deprive