Railfanning.org News Wire

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Canadian Pacific

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 President and CEO, Fred Green. “With this agreement we wanted

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World

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.

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NTSB

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 in fatalities, total rail fatalities decreased from 816 in 2004

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World

Indian Railways to Use Wireless Communications to Improve Safety

September 20, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

BOMBAY, India – Indian Railways will use wireless railway communications technology to help improve the safety and efficiency on one of the most important and busiest rail arteries in India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, officials announced. The Nortel GSM-R network will provide highly sophisticated wireless communications along the 751-km, 90-station line connecting the major Uttar Pradesh industrial and business centers of Ghaziabad and Mugalsarai, according to Nortel. The wireless system will be used to connect train conductors, on-board crew, train dispatchers, station personnel and other operations groups, such as those responsible for attaching and separating rail cars at station yards. This Uttar Pradesh signaling and communications contract is the

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Short Line/Regional

Rochester Coalition: Largest Federal Loan in U.S. History Relying on Faulty Environmental Impact Statement

September 19, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) erred in adopting the environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) concerning the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad’s (DM&E) coal train expansion proposal, the Rochester Coalition said in comments filed today. “The FRA is relying on a dated, insufficient EIS that the Department of Transportation’s General Counsel’s Office has indicated is problematic,” said Steve Ryan, of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP and legal counsel for the Rochester Coalition. “When considering granting a $2.3 billion taxpayer-funded loan – the largest federal loan to a private company in U.S. history – the federal government needs to use up-to-date information.” The

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Amtrak

Veteran Rail and Industrial Executive Alexander Kummant Appointed Amtrak President and CEO

September 8, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The Amtrak Board of Directors on Aug. 29 appointed Alexander Kummant as President and CEO. The veteran railroad and industrial executive will assume duties Sept. 12. Kummant previously served as a Regional Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, overseeing 6,000 transportation, engineering, construction, mechanical, and other employees supporting an 8,000-mile rail network. He also served as the Union Pacific’s Vice President and General Manager of Industrial Products, a $2 billion revenue business. In leading both units, Kummant was responsible for substantially improved customer service, on-time delivery of client products, and significant gains in financial and operational performance. Additionally at Union Pacific, Kummant held the role of Vice

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FRA

FRA to Revise Rail Safety Rules to Support Deployment of Improved Train Braking Technology

August 17, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Calling it the most significant development in railroad brake technology since the 1870s, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman announced his intention to propose revised federal rail safety regulations to facilitate the installation of Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) brake systems capable of preventing derailments and shortening train-stopping distances. “ECP brakes are to trains what anti-lock brakes are to automobiles—they provide better control,” Boardman said. “It offers a quantum improvement in rail safety,” he added. ECP brakes are applied uniformly and virtually instantaneously on every rail car throughout the train, rather than sequentially from one rail car to the next as is done with current air brake technology, Boardman