Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 356

Proposed Upgrade of Emergency Systems to Improve Safety of Passenger Rail Cars

October 7, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Passenger and commuter rail cars will be required to have more emergency safety features, including additional window exits, under proposed regulations announced by Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman. “Every American who travels by train deserves the highest level of safety possible,” Boardman said. “Serious passenger rail accidents are rare, but being better prepared to handle them provides an important level of safety,” he added noting that the proposed changes will affect both existing and newly manufactured passenger rail cars. Under the proposed rule, passenger rail cars will be required to have additional emergency window exits and rescue

Illinois Derailment Cause Determined

October 6, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A June 27 derailment of a freight train at St. Jacob, Ill., was caused by a coupler retainer plate that failed, CSX Transportation investigators say. In information filed with the Federal Railroad Administration, the company explained that the coupler retainer plate attached to an empty boxcar dislodged. With that plate out of place, the coupler drawbar dropped between the rails, derailing the boxcar and 20 trailing rail cars. The train was traveling from East St. Louis, Ill., to Indianapolis and consisted of two locomotives and 131 rail cars. A two-person crew was operating the train, and they

The All New Railfanning.org

October 5, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

Welcome to the all-new Railfanning.org News Wire. We’re making some changes here and appreciate your patience as we transition the Web page from the harpblaster.net server to the separate Railfanning.org site. Please note any addresses that begin with railfanning.harpblaster.net will be changed to railfanning.org if they have not already. So, be sure to change your bookmarks. Be sure to check back over the next month. We have a lot of changes we plan on introducing. In the meantime, Happy Railfanning. – Todd DeFeo, Editor Railfanning.org

GE to Supply 310 Locomotives to Kazakhstan

September 29, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

ERIE, Pa. – General Electric Company signed a contract to supply 310 new Evolution Series locomotives for Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ). The locomotives will be used to help KTZ move record amounts of goods and materials by rail, driven in large part to strong demand for transit, intermodal traffic and petroleum products. “By choosing Evolution Series locomotives, KTZ is investing in the very best technology available,” said John Dineen, President and CEO of GE Transportation. “I am proud that KTZ and GE are extending our relationship, one that has proven to be very beneficial to both

McCrillis named MARTA General Manager

September 27, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

ATLANTA – Richard J. McCrillis has been named general manager and Chief Executive officer of the authority of MARTA. He has served as interim general manager/CEO since January. “Richard McCrillis brings a wealth of experience to the table and is the clear choice to lead MARTA at this critical time in our history,“ MARTA Board Chairman Edmund Wall said. “As Interim General Manager, Richard has charted a course focused on fiscal responsibility, customer-focused service planning and regional transportation development, and the Board is excited to continue working with him to achieve these goals.” McCrillis joined MARTA in 1985 as Director

Amtrak Saluki to Start Running Oct. 30

September 26, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

CARBONDALE, Ill – Illinois’ partnership with Amtrak will more than double state-sponsored passenger rail service downstate, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced. Beginning Oct. 30, state-supported roundtrips will increase from three daily roundtrips to seven daily roundtrips between Chicago and downstate destinations – including the Saluki, the new Chicago-Carbondale train. The expanded service comes after news that all state-sponsored Amtrak routes posted record ridership levels for Illinois’ Fiscal Year 2006; the expansion includes an additional round-trip on the Chicago-Carbondale line. Tickets for the new routes went on sale Sept. 25. “Amtrak is an affordable travel option, and in many communities it’s

37 States Experience Fewer Train Accidents During First Six Months of 2006

September 25, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Thirty-seven states experienced fewer train derailments and collisions during the first half of 2006 as compared to the same period last year Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman announced earlier this month. Boardman also said that railroads were doing a better job focusing on safety performance. A review of the preliminary statistics compiled by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for January through June 2006 reveals that railroads had 262 fewer train accidents, or a 16.1 percent reduction, when compared to the first half of 2005, Boardman said. Specifically, the number of derailments decreased by 13.6 percent and train-to-train

Labor Agreement Ratified between CPR and United Steelworkers

September 24, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

CALGARY, Alberta – Canadian Pacific Railway and its clerical and intermodal workers, represented by the United Steelworkers (USW), have ratified a collective agreement. The three-year agreement extends to the end of 2009. It provides improvements for wages and benefits. In addition, a number of work-life balance provisions have been implemented, which are designed to improve retention of current employees and to make the various positions more attractive for people looking for a career in the rail industry. “We are pleased with this settlement and believe it provides value for both our employees and our company as a whole,” said CPR

Transrapid Collision in Germany Kills 23

September 23, 2006 Wikinews

A Transrapid maglev train traveling on the system’s test track in Lathen near the Netherlands border in Germany collided with a maintenance vehicle on the track, killing 23 people and severely injuring 10, according to Karl-Heinz Brueggeman, a spokesman for the rescue effort.

NTSB: Rail Fatalities Decrease in 2005

September 21, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Overall, transportation fatalities in the United States increased last year, but the number of rail fatalities decreased, according to preliminary figures released by the National Transportation Safety Board. Deaths from transportation accidents in the United States in 2005 totaled 45,636, up from 45,092 in 2004. “It is very disturbing to see transportation fatalities rising,” said NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker. “In all modes, but especially on our roads and highways, we need a concerted effort by government, industry and the traveling public to establish a strong downward trend in the number of fatal accidents.” Despite the overall increase