Canada – Page 4 – Railfanning.org

Amtrak Unveils First ARRA Funded Rail Car to be Restored and Returned to Service

July 16, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Amtrak unveiled the first of 81 passenger rail cars to be removed from storage, restored to good condition, and returned to service as part of a program to add seating capacity to trains across its national system using funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman. The ARRA is better known as the “bailout” by most Americans. “The real story today is about people — the Amtrak passengers who will ride in these rehabilitated cars and the workers who are doing a great job bringing them back to life,”

Canadian Pacific and IBM Sign a Five-Year Services Agreement

April 30, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

TORONTO — IBM has signed a five-year renewal with Canadian Pacific to provide strategic outsourcing services. This current infrastructure agreement includes mainframe, database, architecture and project management services. IBM will continue to operate the information technology infrastructure for the Calgary, Alberta-based railway. This renewal provides CP with effective cost management while improving services to customers. “With the current economic situation, there is a growing need to build smarter transportation systems around the world,” said Saad Toma, general manager, Global Technology Services, IBM Canada. “IBM will continue helping Canadian Pacific optimize technology to reduce operational costs and to improve fluidity of

Canadian Pacific Drives for Greater Efficiency

November 13, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CALGARY — In advance of its Investor Conference in Toronto, Canadian Pacific said it is aiming for “greater efficiency.” “Canadian Pacific is driving greater efficiency into all aspects of the business,” said Fred Green, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are accelerating our efficiency efforts and will continue with our disciplined approach to pricing and yield to deliver value to our shareholders despite the uncertainty of the economic climate.” “Canadian Pacific plans capital investment in 2009 consistent with the current economic conditions,” said Kathryn McQuade, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “We are pacing our capital investments to match

Amtrak Downeaster and Empire Service Show Dramatic Increases in Ridership and Revenue

November 7, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK – As Amtrak ridership across the country grew last fiscal year, some of the largest increases were seen in routes that travel through New England. The Downeaster, operating daily between Portland, Maine and Boston, Mass., showed a dramatic 31 percent increase in comparison to passenger counts for the same time period a year ago. Downeaster trains carried 474,492 passengers during Fiscal Year 2008, which ended Sept. 30, 2008. Ticket revenue climbed by over 36 percent to over $6.5 million during the same period compared to Fiscal Year 2007. “Our continued ridership growth is certainly impacted by the global

CP Spirit Train Challenges Ontarians to Help Canadian Athletes Get to Podium in 2010

October 10, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

TORONTO — The Canadian Pacific (CP) Spirit Train is challenging Ontarians to show their enthusiasm and passion for Canadian athletes, helping them boost their current second place standing internationally to first by the time the 2010 Games arrive. “Truth is, our Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes are well on their way to success in 2010 and more Canadians need to recognize this,” says Paul Rosen, Sledge Hockey gold medalist and ambassador for the Canadian Pacific Spirit Train. Rosen is touring with the CP Spirit Train, sharing his inspiring story and 2010 gold medal hopes with thousands of Canadians. The Spirit

Toronto Transit Commission Orders Composite Ties

May 31, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — The Toronto Transit Commission ordered specialty-engineered composite railroad switch ties from Axion International, the company said. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), a public transport authority, operates buses, streetcars, subways and advanced light rapid transit in Toronto, Ontario. Axion, in conjunction with Rutgers University, has developed plastics technology that uses almost 100 percent recycled plastic. Axion’s structural products have the distinct advantage of being environmentally friendly as well as providing superior products to customers, officials say. Officials tout that the company’s products address the increasing worldwide environmental concerns for deforestation coupled with the specific goals for recycling,

Amtrak Empire Corridor Train Service Disrupted in New York Due Possible Broken Water Pipe

February 10, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — Because of a possible broken water pipe causing water over the tracks north of Penn Station, Empire Service will be disrupted Saturday, Feb. 9 between Albany and New York City. As a result, two southbound and two northbound trains between Albany and New York ( Nos. 239, 259, 252 and 254) have been canceled. Passengers scheduled on those trains will be re-accommodated on other trains that will originate and terminate at Croton Harmon where passengers will be provided alternate transportation to/from Penn Station. The Lake Shore Limited (New York to Chicago) and the Adirondack and Maple Leaf

Ridership Surges as Amtrak Celebrates National Transportation Week

May 15, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – In recognition of National Transportation Week, Amtrak today announced that ridership across the country reached 14.3 million during the first seven months of the fiscal year, an increase of 5 percent over last year. The biggest growth was in Amtrak’s short-distance corridors outside the Northeast — routes of 500 miles or less — with more than 12.3 million passengers traveling. The Amtrak-owned Northeast Corridor (Washington, DC – New York – Boston) continues to be the railroad’s busiest route, with 5.7 million passengers traveling during the first seven months of the fiscal year (October 1, 2006 – March 31,

Union Pacific Responds to Unsolicited Mini-Tender Offer

May 11, 2004 Railfanning.org News Wire

Union Pacific Corporation said May 11, 2004, it had been notified of an unsolicited “mini-tender” offer by TRC Capital Corporation (TRC) of Toronto, Canada, to purchase up to 2 million shares, or less than 1 percent, of the outstanding common stock of Union Pacific at a price of $56.80 per share.

CPR: Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure Should be National Priority

December 31, 2003 Railfanning.org News Wire

Canada urgently needs a long-term strategy to address looming capacity constraints in the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure, Rob Ritchie, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Pacific Railway, said here Dec. 5.