Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 345

Trucker Killed in Crash with Amtrak

July 17, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

PLANT CITY, Fla. — A truck driver was killed Tuesday, July 17, after an Amtrak train crashed into his truck, the second fatal Amtrak wreck in as many days. “Witnesses tell us that it was obvious the train was coming, the train was hitting all of its whistles at the appropriate whistle marks,” The Associated Press quoted Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Larry Coggins as saying. “The truck drove onto the tracks in front of the oncoming train.” No one on board the train was hurt in the derailment, authorities said. A day earlier, four people were killed after an Amtrak train crashed with a car whose driver circumvented crossing gates.

Four Killed in Florida Crash

July 16, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

LAKELAND, Fla. — Four people were killed Monday, July 16, after an Amtrak train crashed with a car whose driver circumvented crossing gates. “The car is totally demolished,” The Associated Press quoted Lakeland police spokesman Jack Gillen as saying. The train, the Silver star, travels between Miami and New York. At the time of the crash, more than 160 people were on board, authorities said.

Michigan Central Railway Will Initiate Freight Service in Michigan and Indiana

July 12, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Michigan Central Railway will initiate freight rail service over 384 route miles of rail line in Michigan and Indiana in first-quarter 2008 under a joint venture to be formed by Norfolk Southern Railway Co. and Watco Cos., the parent company of the newly formed Michigan Central. “The new Michigan Central will preserve and enhance freight rail service in southern Michigan,” said David C. Eyermann, Michigan Central’s interim president. “The company will be headquartered in Kalamazoo and will employ approximately 118 people. In the first year alone we plan to invest more than $6 million to improve track and equipment to capitalize on the rail-served economic development

N.J. Transit Orders 45 Additional Multilevel Rail Cars

July 12, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — N.J. Transit’s Board of Directors last month authorized the purchase of an additional 45 multilevel rail cars from Bombardier Transportation — a move that saves the company money on overhaul costs. The fleet of 279 rail cars will enable N.J. Transit to meet and anticipate ridership demand on its busiest rail lines, while providing a higher level of comfort for customers. “Purchasing additional multilevel rail cars is a smart business decision — one that will allow us to replace some of our aging fleet more cost-effectively than overhauling older rail cars,” said Transportation Commissioner and N.J. Transit Board Chairman Kris Kolluri. “Overall, the new fleet will enable

N.J. Transit Sets New Systemwide Record

July 12, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — N.J. Transit closed Fiscal Year 2007 (FY07) with the fourth consecutive year of systemwide ridership growth, with preliminary data showing a 4.1 percent increase to a record-high 250.9 million annual trips, up from the 241.1 million trips carried on the system’s bus, rail and light rail services in Fiscal Year 2006. The Corporation’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. “Given our strong regional economy and job market and sustained higher fuel prices, more New Jersey residents than ever are relying on public transportation,” said Gov. Jon S. Corzine. “This continuing trend of record-high ridership on our state’s transit network underscores the critical need for

N.J. Transit Advances Project to Extend Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to 8th Street in Bayonne

July 12, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — N.J. Transit’s plans to extend Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service farther into Bayonne advanced today, with the Board of Directors authorizing the acquisition of all property necessary to construct a one-mile extension of the track alignment and a new station at 8th Street. “The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line has been serving Waterfront communities since opening seven years ago,” Transportation Commissioner and N.J. Transit Board Chairman Kris Kolluri said. “The one-mile extension south in Bayonne will provide new neighborhoods with connections to N.J. Transit rail services, trans-Hudson ferries, PATH trains and park-and-ride facilities.” “I would like to thank the Board of N.J. Transit for moving the light rail extension

N.J. Transit Adopts FY 08 Capital, Operating Budgets

July 12, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — After posting a fourth consecutive year of record ridership growth, N.J. Transit has adopted a budget that supports more service while keeping core system cost growth constrained to inflationary levels. “Gov. (Jon) Corzine once again has demonstrated his commitment to the economy, the environment and the quality-of-life for New Jersey residents by continuing state operating and capital support for public transportation,” said N.J. Transit Board Chairman and Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri. “This budget steps up to the service needs of growing ridership demand and lays the groundwork for the added capacity we need looking forward.” At its regular monthly meeting, the Board of Directors approved a FY

N.J. Transit Replacing Rail Ties Along Morristown Line

July 12, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — As part of its ongoing state-of-good-repair initiative, N.J. Transit is replacing wooden railroad ties with more durable concrete ties and laying new rail along a portion of the Morristown Line. Work will take place on weekends through Labor Day, beginning in the early morning hours and continuing throughout the day and into the evening. Beginning July 14, the project will move into Morristown, then head eastward along the line through Morristown, Convent Station, Madison and Chatham. Ties have already been laid in Denville, Parsippany-Troy Hills and Morris Plains. N.J. Transit is advising residents who live in the vicinity of the Morristown Line that they may hear more

CTA: Additional Work Means Removal of 8 Miles of Slow Zones This Year

July 11, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority announced an aggressive schedule to eliminate eight miles of slow zones on branches of two of its busiest rail lines – the north branch of the Red Line and the subway portion of the O’Hare branch of the Blue Line. The subway portion of the Blue Line work is underway and will be completed by mid-September and the Red Line work will be completed by year-end. Over the last ten weeks, CTA engineers have been focused on developing a detailed specification for re-building the Blue Line tracks from Addison to O’Hare. “We know our customers have been extremely frustrated with the Blue Line’s reliability

Norfolk Southern Graduates 113 Students from Emergency Response Training School

July 9, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — First responders from across the United States sharpened their skills at responding to hazardous materials incidents during Norfolk Southern-sponsored tank car safety classes this year at the Transportation Technology Center Inc., near Pueblo, Colo. One hundred thirteen students attended the five-day, 40-hour courses at TTCI’s Emergency Response Training Center, which provides training in classes that simulate train, truck and barge accidents. Located on 52 square miles of isolated high desert, the TTCI campus includes 48 miles of specialized tracks to test locomotives, vehicles, track components and signal devices. Some 80 rail cars, intermodal and highway vehicles, and containers are used to provide realistic training exercises. Participants received