Railfanning.org News Wire

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Commuter Rail

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
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Commuter Rail

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
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Commuter Rail

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
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Norfolk Southern

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
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Amtrak

Amtrak and GrandLuxe Team Up to Provide Luxury Rail Service Between Washington, D.C. and Miami

June 27, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
EVERGREEN, Colo. — Rail passengers traveling on the Amtrak route between Washington, D.C. and Miami will soon have the option of lingering over five-course dinners, sleeping in luxurious suites and enjoying personal butler service. Called GrandLuxe Limited, the new service uses a separate, private, seven-car luxury train attached to Amtrak’s Silver Meteor to transport passengers between the nation’s capital and sunny Florida. The premium service is being made possible by a new partnership between GrandLuxe Rail Journeys, the country’s premier private rail tour operator, and Amtrak, the national passenger rail service. The GrandLuxe train, which features Dining, Lounge and Sleeping
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Amtrak

Officials Announce Second Amtrak Cascades Train to Canada

June 20, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
SEATTLE, Wash. – Washington state, British Columbia, BNSF Railway Co. and Amtrak have reached an agreement to make infrastructure improvements that will permit a second daily Amtrak Cascades train between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Governor Chris Gregoire and Premier Gordon Campbell made the announcement June 8 at the King Street Station in downtown Seattle. The Province of British Columbia, Amtrak, and BNSF are funding this $7 million project, which includes construction of a new 11,000-foot siding track near Colebrook Road in Delta, B.C. The new siding track will allow for passenger and freight trains to pass one another at this
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Amtrak

Amtrak, Union Pacific Reach Agreement for Passenger Train Performance Plan

June 20, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON – Amtrak and Union Pacific Railroad have reached an agreement on a performance plan to reduce passenger train delays attributed to track conditions. Under the agreement, Union Pacific will limit speed restrictions that can cause Amtrak trains to fall behind schedule on Union Pacific’s routes. Union Pacific is the nation’s largest railroad and is one of the three biggest hosts of Amtrak service, including short-distance trains and parts of four overnight routes in the West, Pacific Northwest and Midwest. Imposing temporary speed restrictions is a common railroad practice. Frequently called “slow orders,” these restrictions are put into effect when
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Miscellaneous

Wabtec Receives Orders Worth $33 Million For MPXpress Commuter Locomotives

June 19, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
WILMERDING, Pa. — Wabtec Corp. said its MotivePower subsidiary has received orders worth $33 million for 12 MPXpress commuter locomotives from transit agencies in California, Minnesota and New Mexico. The locomotives, to be manufactured in Boise, Idaho, are expected to be delivered in 2008-09. “We’ve now delivered or received orders for 100 MPXpress locomotives from eight different transit agencies throughout North America since 2003, making it the proven and preferred choice for commuter rail agencies,” said Albert J. Neupaver, Wabtec’s president and chief executive officer. “We’re pleased to be at the forefront of the growth and improvement of public transit.”
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Miscellaneous

Argus Media Awards Alaska Railroad, Alaska Railbelt Marine With Prestigious Win-Win

June 15, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The Alaska Railroad (ARRC) and Alaska Railbelt Marine are the winners of its prestigious Win-Win Award, Argus Media Inc. announced. The annual award is given to railroads, shippers and transportation companies which develop innovative partnerships leading to better service, better rates and other, mutually beneficial, service improvements. Launched in 1998 by Argus Rail Business, the annual award celebrates partnerships between rail carriers and customers which result in significant cost or service benefits. The latest award recognizes how the railroad and barge company preserved and revived freight deliveries to Whittier, Alaska, for several customers. “We are honored to receive