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World

Dutch High Speed Line Opens

AMSTERDAM — Dutch Government representatives on Sept. 6 officially opened the high speed line connecting Amsterdam Central Station-Schiphol Airport-Rotterdam Central Station, operated by NS Hispeed — the Netherlands Railways’ high-speed operations brand name. The first trains to run on the line are being hauled by BOMBARDIER TRAXX locomotives, which shorten the travel time between Amsterdam and Rotterdam to 43 minutes. The TRAXX multisystem locomotives operating on the line are leased from Angel Trains Cargo, the locomotives leasing division of Angel Trains International, one of Europe’s leading rolling stock leasing companies. The TRAXX The TRAXX platform of locomotives consists of three
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World

GE Transportation: Evolution Series Locomotive Ready for Russia, 1520-Area Market

MOSCOW — GE Transportation said its Evolution Series locomotive is on display at Russia’s Expo 1520 and ready for the Russian and 1520-area markets. The Evolution Series locomotive represents a $400 million investment by GE over eight years. The innovative locomotive is equipped with a 12-cylinder diesel engine that produces the same 4,400 horsepower as its 16-cylinder predecessor.

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BNSF

AAR Reports Rail Traffic Continues to Register Gains

WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported that rail traffic continues to register incremental gains on a week-to-week basis, but remains down year over year. Rail carloadings were at their highest level since the week ended Dec. 13, 2008. For the week ended Aug. 29, 2009, U.S. railroads reported originating 285,580 cars, down 16.2 percent compared with the same week in 2008. Regionally, carloadings were down 16 percent in the West and 16.6 percent in the East. Intermodal traffic of 202,553 trailers or containers on U.S. railroads was down 15.6 percent from the same week last year. Container
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Amtrak

Second Amtrak Cascades Train between Seattle and Vancouver to Begin Service Aug. 19

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the Province of British Columbia, and Amtrak announced that the long awaited second daily Amtrak Cascades train between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. will begin service on Wednesday, August 19, 2009. The second train is an extension of the existing service between Bellingham and Vancouver, B.C. “Amtrak typically needs 90 days to start up service, so getting the second roundtrip train to BC going so quickly is a major accomplishment for everyone involved,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “The August launch of the new service
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Miscellaneous

Wabtec Forms Joint Venture to Manufacture Brake Equipment for Chinese Rail Market

WILMERDING, Pa. — Wabtec Corp. has formed a 50-50 joint venture in China to manufacture brake equipment for the Chinese rail market. The joint venture is owned by Wabtec and Shenyang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Railways Brakes Co. Ltd., the largest manufacturer of locomotive and freight car brake equipment in China. “This investment builds on our existing presence in China, the largest rail market outside of North America,” said Albert J. Neupaver, Wabtec’s president and chief executive officer. “Our capabilities and technology will be valuable assets in this rapidly growing market.” The joint venture company, Shenyang CNR Wabtec Railway Brake