Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 338

Public Transportation Ridership up in 2006

January 7, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

Public transportation ridership has increased by nearly 3 percent in the first nine months of 2006, as Americans took 7.8 billion trips on public transit, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). “Even as gas prices declined, more and more people decided to ride public transportation as ridership grew by nearly 3 percent in the first nine months of 2006,” said APTA President William W. Millar. “This continued increase in transit ridership demonstrates that when people have transportation choices, they use them.” Light rail (streetcars, trolleys, heritage trolleys, and modern light rail) had the highest percentage of growth among

Man Struck and Killed by Train on Red Line Last Week Identified

January 7, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

SILVER SPRING, Md. – A man who was struck and killed by a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Red Line train last Friday has been identified as 21-year-old Edwin Rodriguez of Silver Spring. Rodriguez was reported missing to Montgomery County Police on Jan. 1. At 6:14 p.m. Dec. 29, Rodriguez, intentionally stepped in front of a six-car Metrorail train upon its arrival at the Glenmont Metrorail station, WMATA said. The investigation was conducted by Metro Transit Police and the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division. The Maryland State Medical Examiner’s Office will issue the final ruling regarding the death.

Metro Employee Barred from Operating Train or Bus

January 7, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The operator of a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) train that struck and killed two Metro track inspectors on Nov. 30 has been permanently barred from operating a train or bus. The decision comes after Metro’s preliminary investigation concluded that the operator did not exercise appropriate emergency braking procedures at the time of the incident. The workers were killed Nov. 30 after they were struck by a train near the Eisenhower Avenue Metro station in Alexandria, Va. The NTSB continues to investigate. In order to protect the safety interests of Metro employees and customers, Metro management

Parents Travel Free with Prospective College Students

January 7, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Prospective students checking out colleges and universities may take a parent along for free on Amtrak with a new buy-one-get-one-free program. Students traveling on this fare must have a valid student ID in order to qualify for this special offer. The Campus Visit discount program enables high school juniors and seniors to purchase a ticket on Amtrak at the best available fare and bring a parent or guardian along to campus visits for free. Younger siblings, ages 2-15, can travel for half price using Amtrak’s everyday children’s discount. To take advantage of the Campus Visit discount, students simply

Amtrak Names Roy Johanson Vice President of Planning & Analysis

January 7, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak today announced the appointment of Roy Johanson, as Vice President, Planning and Analysis, at the railroad’s corporate headquarters. Since 2005, Johanson has served as the Chief Executive Officer for Foresti Partners LLC, where he was involved in corporate strategy development for a variety of industrial and manufacturing clients. As the new Amtrak Vice President for Planning and Analysis, Johanson will assist Amtrak President & CEO Alex Kummant in developing the company’s strategic direction, evaluating alternative business decisions and updating the corporation’s annual Five-Year Strategic Plan. “We welcome the breadth of knowledge and experience that Jim brings to

Amtrak Names James F. Mc Donnell III Chief Risk Officer

January 7, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak has announced the appointment of James F. McDonnell III as Chief Risk Officer for the railroad. McDonnell comes to Amtrak with more than 30 years of national and international security and counterterrorism experience including senior management and advisory positions in government and the private sector. Since 2005, McDonnell has served as president of the McDonnell Consulting Group, LLC, providing terrorism-related risk management, crisis management, and infrastructure protection solutions for large firms and government agencies. Immediately following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, McDonnell accepted an executive appointment at the Department of energy where he led the Office of Energy

Amtrak Names H. Edgar Trainor Chief Information Officer

January 7, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak announced the appointment of H. Edgar “Ed” Trainor, Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective Dec. 16. An Amtrak veteran, Trainor previously served as Assistant Vice President, Computer Services at Amtrak from 1976 to 1985. Trainor has held senior level positions at several large firms, including Vice President and CIO for Flying Tigers – once the world’s larges air cargo carrier prior to being acquired by Federal Express – and Vice President and CIO for Southern California Gas Co. from 1987 through 1993. Since 1994, Trainor served as Senor Vice President/CIO and for Paramount Pictures, where he led large

Two Years Since Fatal Graniteville Wreck

January 6, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

GRANITEVILLE, S.C. — Today marks the two-year anniversary of a fatal train wreck here. On Jan. 6, 2005, a northbound Norfolk Southern Railway freight train encountered an improperly lined switch that diverted the train from the main line onto an industry track where it struck an unoccupied, parked train. Among the derailed cars were three tank cars containing chlorine, one of which was breached, releasing chlorine gas. The train engineer and eight other people died as a result of chlorine gas inhalation. Nine people were killed in the derailment and hundreds more were evacuated because of spilled chemicals. — Railfanning.org

Man Jumps on NYC Subway Tracks to Save Another

January 5, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK – A Harlem resident jumped onto subway tracks to save a man who fell into harm’s way after suffering a seizure. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg subsequently presented Harlem resident Wesley Autrey with the Bronze Medallion for his bravery in saving the life of Cameron Hollopeter, a film student who fell on the No. 1 line subway tracks following a seizure on Jan. 2. “Wesley’s astonishing bravery – saving a life in the face on an oncoming subway car – is an inspiration not just to New Yorkers, but the entire world,” Bloomberg said. “His courageous rescue of a

Wreck Roundup for January 2007

January 5, 2007 The Cross-Tie

Here’s a quick look at some of the wrecks from the past month.