Amtrak
Weather
Commuter Rail
R Montague tubes close for 14 months of Sandy-related repairs
MTA New York City Transit has started so-called “Fix&Fortify” work to the R Subway Line Icon Montague Tubes. The work, which began Aug. 2, will last for 14 months. The MTA is well into the most extensive and wide-ranging reconstruction effort in its history after Superstorm Sandy decimated the subway system last fall. The Greenpoint and Montague Tubes suffered extensive damage during the storm, when they were flooded with salt water along with seven other interborough subway tubes. The work amounts to a near rebuilding of the link which connects Downtown Brooklyn with Lower Manhattan. The work will be completed
Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific Prepares for the Red River Flood
EMERSON, Alberta – Canadian Pacific has temporarily closed its rail line connecting Emerson and Winnipeg due to flooding on the Red River in southern Manitoba. Company officials will be available for comment on flood preparations in Emerson on Monday morning while flood management measures are put in place. CP has worked with emergency management officials, its customers and communities in preparation for the flood. Service on the rail line will be restored as soon as the flood threat passes, the track is inspected and it is safe to return the line to service, the railroad said.
Amtrak
Chicago Hub and Other Services Affected by Severe Weather
CHICAGO — Severe weather from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest has caused Amtrak rail infrastructure and railcar issues, affecting deployment cycles for equipment and train crews, the railroad said. Several trains to and from Chicago are being canceled in order to prepare to properly re-deploy equipment and crews. Illinois Service Lincoln Service Train 305 will be combined with Lincoln Service Train 307 to originate in Chicago on December 23. Illini Train 393, the afternoon departure from Chicago to Carbondale on December 23, and Saluki Train 390, the morning departure from Carbondale to Chicago on December 24, are both cancelled, with
BNSF
Hurricane Ike Causes Rail Freight Downturn
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
CSX
CSX: Weather to Reduce Q3 Operating Income
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. said that the financial impact of recent storms in the Gulf Coast and Midwest is now expected to reduce third quarter operating income by $40 million to $50 million and earnings per share by six to eight cents. The impact is primarily related to asset write downs, business interruption and reroute expenses, the company said. — PRNewswire-FirstCall
Amtrak
Service Alert: Chicago Hub Service — Heavy Rains Result in Track Closures
The remnants of Hurricane Ike have been dumping heavy rains on the states of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Missouri. The resulting temporary closure of various railroad routes is leading to the cancellation of some Amtrak service, with other Amtrak trains operating subject to significant delays. Amtrak is working with the owners of the routes to restore normal service as soon as possible. Passengers with travel plans in these states are urged to call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL to confirm the operation of their trains and the status of alternate transportation. Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle, Chicago-Springfield-St. Louis Trains 303, 304, 305,
Miscellaneous
Weather Impacts Rail Freight Traffic to Start September
WASHINGTON — At least partly because of weather-related issues (Hurricane Gustav at the beginning of the week and Tropical Storm Hanna later in the week), freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off during the first week of September in comparison with the corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today. Both this year’s week and the comparison week from last year included the Labor Day holiday. Total volume was estimated 32.0 billion ton-miles, down 3.3 percent from the comparable week last year. Carload freight in the week totaled 306,340 cars, off 3.5 percent from last year.
Amtrak
Service Alert: Hurricane Ike — Sunset Limited, Crescent, Texas Eagle, Heartland Flyer & City of New Orleans Affected
Amtrak has begun to restore some service temporarily suspended due to the landfall of Hurricane Ike. Nevertheless, all passengers who have travel plans through September 15 in the affected areas on the Los Angeles-San Antonio-New Orleans route of the Amtrak Sunset Limited, Chicago-Fort Worth-San Antonio route of the Amtrak Texas Eagle or Chicago-Memphis-New Orleans route of the Amtrak City of New Orleans are urged to call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL. Those passengers with telephone contact information in their reservations are being called by Amtrak and offered options including future travel dates. Ticketed passengers affected by this service suspension will be eligible