Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 336

Senate Approves $11 Billion for Amtrak

November 5, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate last week passed the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007with a 70-22 vote. This Amtrak reauthorization legislation provides $11.4 billion over six years to preserve America’s national passenger rail service. The legislation institutes additional Amtrak reforms aimed at reducing its reliance on federal subsidies by at least 40 percent during the bill’s life. “Preserving national passenger rail service shouldn’t be based on partisan ideology or Amtrak’s profit margins,” Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said. “Preserving Amtrak is about ensuring that America has a complete transportation system – one that includes planes, trains, lanes and

AAR: Warner Bros urged to take action to prevent rail suicides; Hotline number should be included on movie, DVD

November 2, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

America’s freight railroads have joined with one of the nation’s leading suicide prevention groups in urging Warner Bros. to help prevent suicides on the railroad tracks. A new movie scheduled for release by the studio, “Rails and Ties,” portrays the story of a woman who dies by suicide on railroad tracks. Tragically, incidents like the one portrayed in the movie occur all too often. The leading cause of railroad accidents occurs simply because many people don’t understand the inherent dangers of being on or around railroad tracks, including the fact that it takes a freight train more than a mile

Strike Clock Ticking for Amtrak Machinists

November 2, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) says its 500 Amtrak members can strike on Dec. 1 unless President Bush intervenes and appoints a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB). A 30-day countdown began when the National Mediation Board formally released the IAM and Amtrak from mediated negotiations on Oct. 31. “We expect and are prepared for a Presidential Emergency Board,” said IAM General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “Our attorneys and economists are primed to defend the fair and reasonable positions our negotiators have taken at the bargaining table.” Once empanelled, a PEB has 30 days to

D.C. Metro Sets Six Public Hearings on Fare Increases

November 1, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

Six public hearings in the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia will be held on Nov. 13, 14 and 15 to receive the public’s input on proposed fare increases for Metrorail, Metrobus and parking that would take effect in January. All of the hearings will begin at 7 p.m. There will be an open-house held at 6:30 p.m. before each hearing. The hearing dates and locations are as follows: Tuesday, Nov. 13 at the Bechtel Conference Center, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA (hearing number 525) Wednesday, Nov. 14 at Metro headquarters in the Jackson Graham Building, 600

N.J. Transit Previews New Pascack Valley Line

November 1, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

RIVER EDGE, N.J. — Various railroad and elected officials recently took a whistle-stop tour aboard a Pascack Valley Line (PVL) train to announce expanded service featuring 121 additional trains per week – including full weekend service for the first time in more than 60 years. “As a Bergen County resident, I know firsthand the difficulties residents face on our crowded roadways,” N.J. Transit Board Member Susan Hayes said. “The new trains mean Bergen County residents will have new travel options during the middle of the day, on weekends and late at night, creating a better match between service and demand.”

MARTA: Ridership Increases in FY07 Thanks to Improved Service and New Fare Equipment

November 1, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — MARTA experienced a significant boost in ridership in FY07 providing service for 147.5 million passenger boardings – 6.6 percent more than the previous fiscal year, officials said. Rail ridership also increased 12.2 percent with 77.7 million passenger boardings. Thanks to the additional ridership, passenger revenue was also up 3.5 percent contributing to a budget surplus for the second year in a row. “MARTA’s efforts to improve service and to take a more customer focused approach to the way we do business have successfully resulted in an increase in ridership,” said MARTA General Manager Richard McCrillis. “We are extremely

Union Pacific to Increase Train Speed Through Salt Lake City

November 1, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific Railroad will increase train speed from 10 mph to 40 mph through multiple grade crossings in Salt Lake City, Utah, beginning on Nov. 2. The crossings include 1800 North Street, 3rd North Street, 4th North Street, 6th West Street, 8th West Street, 9th West Street, 10th West Street and 2nd South Street. Recent track improvements on this section of track permit operating at higher speeds. Union Pacific has raised train speeds through several communities across its rail network over the last several years following track improvements and has found that not only do the trains

MARTA Welcomes New General Manager Dr. Beverly Scott to Lead the Agency

November 1, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA — MARTA’s new General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Beverly Scott joined the Authority this week after being selected last month by the MARTA Board of Directors. Scott has over 30 years of experience in the transit industry and has held leadership positions at some of the nation’s largest transit agencies. “Dr. Scott brings to the table a wealth of transit experience at an important point in MARTA’s history and a critical time for transportation planning in the region,” said Interim Board Chairman Reverend Walter L. Kimbrough. “With Dr. Scott’s leadership and vision, we will continue to improve our

Select Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Trains Stop at Two New Locations in Orange County

October 31, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND – Select Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains are stopping at two new locations in the cities of Orange and Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo. These new stops are at Metrolink stations between the Anaheim and Santa Ana Amtrak stations and between Irvine and San Juan Capistrano. The Metrolink station in Orange is located at 194 North Atchison Street, Orange, California. The Metrolink station in Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo is located at 28200 Frobes Road, Laguna Niguel, California. The new stops began on Monday, Oct. 29. Pacific Surfliner trains operate 12 daily roundtrips between San Diego and Los Angeles, with five extending to Santa

Amtrak Illinois Ridership Up Strongly

October 31, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – Huge ridership gains are tied to increased Amtrak train frequencies in Illinois, with the three routes between Chicago and downstate communities showing large increases and helping Amtrak to set a new national record for passengers. In all, nearly 3.6 million passengers used Amtrak stations in Illinois, including all trains at Amtrak Chicago Union Station. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has more than doubled the size of its contract with Amtrak, providing three of the five round-trips on the Chicago-St. Louis corridor and two round-trips each on the Carbondale and Quincy routes, starting late last October. On the