Short Line/Regional – Page 15

Surface Transportation Board Approves Routes for Southwest Gulf Railroad Line

December 31, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

SAN ANTONIO — Southwest Gulf Railroad (SGR), a subsidiary of Vulcan Materials Co., announced it has received approval from the federal Surface Transportation Board to construct a 9-mile rail line in Medina County, Texas. The STB’s approval allows three environmentally acceptable route options for the SGR line. The approval follows an extensive five-year review of the project that included multiple revisions and improvements, resulting in route modifications that were requested as well as extensive mitigation measures designed to protect the environment and historic resources. SGR said it fully supports these mitigation measures. “We are pleased with the STB’s decision. We

STB Approves CN Acquisition of EJ&E

December 24, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board unanimously approved the Canadian National Railway Company and Grand Trunk Corporation application to acquire control of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E), subject to a number of Board-imposed conditions. “Approval of this important railroad merger, with the conditions we have imposed, marks a significant step forward in our nation’s efforts to alleviate rail and highway congestion,” Board Chairman Charles D. Nottingham said. “I am pleased that the Board agreed, in a bipartisan and unanimous manner, after an unprecedented public involvement process, to grant the relief that this merger will provide to the

CN Reaches Seventh Illinois Voluntary Mitigation Agreement for EJ&E Transaction

December 23, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — CN announced a voluntary mitigation agreement with the Village of Mokena, Ill., located southwest of Chicago, that addresses the community’s concerns about CN’s proposed acquisition of the principal lines of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E). Under the agreement, CN would provide funding for quiet zones, noise mitigation, and emergency response personnel training and emergency communication capabilities. The agreement is contingent upon regulatory approval of CN’s proposed acquisition of the EJ&E. The transaction is being reviewed by the Surface Transportation Board (STB), which is encouraging voluntary mitigation agreements between CN and communities. “Our voluntary mitigation agreement

STB Grants Final Approval for Texas Line

December 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board (Board) announced it has issued a decision granting final approval for Southwest Gulf Railroad Company (SGR) to construct and operate a rail line in Medina County, Texas, subject to environmental mitigation conditions. The Board identified three environmentally acceptable routing alternatives, any one of which SGR may now build. The new rail line will extend from Vulcan Construction Material’s planned limestone quarry in the north central part of Medina County to a connection with the Del Rio Subdivision of the Union Pacific Railroad Co. near Dunlay, Texas. Limestone aggregate from the quarry will be transported

CN, Schererville, Ind., Agree on Mitigation Plan for EJ&E Transaction

December 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO — CN announced an agreement with the Town of Schererville, Ind., located 28 miles south of Chicago, that would mitigate the impact on the community of CN’s proposed acquisition of the principal lines of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E). Under the agreement, CN will assist in the creation and maintenance of quiet zones in Schererville, and take various steps to improve train operations, communications, and emergency preparedness in the municipality. The agreement is contingent upon regulatory approval of CN’s proposed acquisition of the EJ&E. The transaction is being reviewed by the Surface Transportation Board (STB), which

BNSF Honors Three Shortline Railroads for Partnership Excellence

December 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Columbia Basin Railroad (CBRW), Louisiana & Delta Railroad (L&D) and the Texas Northwestern Railway (TXNW) each received a BNSF Shortline Achievement Award at this year’s 13th Annual Shortline Conference. “BNSF is pleased to honor these shortline railroads for their ability to provide intense customer focus, resourcefulness, operational flexibility, and a local presence in their communities,” said Pete Rickershauser, BNSF vice president, Network Development. “These shortlines have gone beyond our expectations to build new business for our railroads and new service products for our shared customers. We see their roles expanding in the future as they

FRA Announces Disaster Relief Funding for Small Railroads

November 26, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration is accepting applications from states for $20 million in grant funding to help small Class II and Class III railroads that sustained infrastructure damage as a result of recent natural disasters. Under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair Grant Program, federal grant funds may be used to repair and rehabilitate damage to railroad infrastructure sustained due to hurricanes, floods, and similar events in counties declared to be major disasters by the President from Jan. 1 to Nov. 6. Among the possible uses of the funds are restoration of railroad rights-of-way, bridges, and signals. Prospective grantees

STB Sets CORP Sale Price

November 20, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board announced it has established $16.6 million as the purchase price of the Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad Inc.’s (CORP) 111-mile railroad line, running from Danebo to Cordes, Ore. In a prior decision, the Board had ordered CORP to sell the line to the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay. The Board-established figure is approximately $2.9 million less than the $19.5 million that the Port testified it had available for the Line’s purchase. The Port must decide by Dec. 1 whether to accept the terms of sale established by the Board’s decision. If the Port

DM&E Joins CP Holiday Train in a Decade of Giving

November 10, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

MINNEAPOLIS — Food banks in more than 100 North American communities will be front and center when Canadian Pacific’s tenth annual Holiday Train gets underway. A brightly decorated CP train will collect food and money for local food banks, raise awareness in the fight against hunger and, help communities across CP’s newly expanded network celebrate the holiday season. “The Holiday Train is North America’s largest rolling fundraiser and a cherished tradition for our employees and the communities where we operate,” said CP President and CEO Fred Green. “We’re especially pleased to welcome employees and communities throughout our newly acquired DM&E

STB: CORP Must Sell Line

October 31, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The Surface Transportation Board has ordered the Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad Inc. (CORP) to sell a 111-mile railroad line running from Danebo, Ore., to Cordes, Ore., to The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay. In a separate decision, the Board granted CORP authority to abandon a 94-mile segment of the Line in the event that a sale of the Line is not completed. In reaching its decision, the STB found that the Line meets the five “public convenience and necessity” criteria for a forced sale under the “feeder line” provision of the agency’s statute enabling shippers and