Short Line/Regional – Page 17

House Approves Rail Safety Bill; Billions to go to Passenger Rail

September 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives has approved legislation that proponents say will improve the Nation’s intercity passenger rail system and the safety of the nation’s railroads. The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 will increase funding for Amtrak over the next five years, require new safety controls on trains that help reduce crashes, allow states to regulate solid waste processing facilities along rail lines and allocate funding for improvements to Washington’s Metro transit system. The legislation sets “an aggressive deadline” of 2015 for implementation of positive train control (PTC)

Hurricane Ike Causes Rail Freight Downturn

September 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off sharply during the week ended September 20 in comparison with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported. Much of the decline can be attributed to disruptions caused by Hurricane Ike which struck the Gulf Coast Sept. 13. Total volume was estimated at 32.8 billion ton-miles, down 6.8 percent from the comparable week last year. Carload freight in the week totaled 312,662 cars, off 7.8 percent from last year. Volume was down 10.4 percent in the West and 4.3 percent in the East. Intermodal volume, which is

G&W: Ike Not Expected to Impact Q3 Financial Results

September 25, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

GREENWICH, Conn. — Genesee & Wyoming Inc. said that Hurricane Ike is not expected to have a material impact on its financial results in the third quarter of 2008. GWI’s subsidiary, Galveston Railroad, provides rail service at the Port of Galveston, which was directly struck by Hurricane Ike. Galveston Railroad’s equipment and property did not sustain significant damage from the hurricane. However, local and port-related rail service is expected to remain suspended into the fourth quarter of 2008. The suspension is not expected to have a material impact on GWI’s financial results. — Edited from PRNewswire-FirstCall

Pacific Harbor Line Becomes First All Low-Emission Railroad in U.S.

September 14, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Pacific Harbor Line Inc. said it has completed renewal of its locomotive fleet, becoming the first all low-emission railroad in the nation. All PHL locomotives now meet or exceed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s stringent “Tier 2” standards to reduce air pollutants. In addition to consuming less fuel, particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions have been cut by at least 70 and 46 percent, respectively, according to PHL President Andrew Fox. PHL ran the last of its older non-low emission (pre-Tier 0) locomotives in May 2008. The $30 million project enabled PHL to replace its fleet with 22

Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad Receives FRA Grant for Bridge Replacement Project

September 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad (BPRR) is receiving a $245,000 from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a railroad bridge replacement project located between Karns City and Bruin, Penn. The Chicora Bridge project will replace a 13-foot deteriorating wood pile bridge with a new concrete box culvert that will increase the capacity of the bridge to support heavier railcars. Grant funds will also be used to perform safety inspections on four other BPRR bridges along the same rail line.

Portland & Western Railroad to Use FRA Grants for Bridge and Track Work

September 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding two grants to the Portland & Western Railroad (PNWR). The first is $129,431 to supplement a larger, ongoing project to replace over eight miles of track between Willamina and Whiteson, Oregon with continuous welded rail capable of handling heavier rail car loads and accommodating higher train speeds. These federal funds will be used specifically to rehabilitate a siding and improve several highway-rail grade crossings. The PNWR is providing $32,358 in matching funds for this project. The second grant is in the amount of $1,386,766 to continue work on a project to

New England Central Railroad Receives FRA Grants for Bridge and Tunnel Upgrades

September 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding two grants to the New England Central Railroad (NECR). The railroad will receive $960,000 with the NECR is providing $240,000 in matching funds for structural repairs to a 1860s vintage rail tunnel located in Burlington, Vt. The repairs include removing old brick, installing tunnel liner, and improving drainage which is intended to extend the life of the tunnel by up to 20 years. The tunnel is located on a branch line of the railroad which has a critical rail interchange with the Vermont Railway that serves northern Vermont. The second grant

St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad to Install New Rail in Vermont with FRA Grant

August 29, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad is receiving a $924,510 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to supplement an ongoing project to upgrade about 18-miles of track between North Stratford and Norton, Vt. The grant funds will be used to install approximately three miles of continuous welded rail that support safer operations, heavier rail car loads and higher track speeds. In addition, the railroad is providing $231,128 in matching funds.

Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad Receives FRA Grant to Replace Cross Ties

August 29, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding a $100,000 grant to the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad that will be used to replace approximately 1,625 cross ties along a 25-mile segment of track between Cloe and Creekside, Penn. These funds will supplement a larger ongoing rehabilitation project to upgrade this line with safety improvements that will permit trains that deliver coal to the Edison Mission Homer City Power Plant to operate at higher speeds. In addition, the railroad is providing $25,000 in matching funds.

Mudslide Causes Deraiment in Iowa

July 9, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

GUTTENBERG, Iowa – A mudslide caused four locomotives to derail and crash into the Mississippi following, authorities said. The locomotives were pulling and Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad freight train at the time of the derailment. “Early reports indicate that a large boulder and embankment slide occurred in the area of the derailment,” the railroad said in a statement, according to The Associated Press. “It is suspected that heavy rain saturations weakened the bluff embankment causing the slide.”