The Cross-Tie Archives – Page 2

Buttrey Selected as Temporary Chairman of STB

January 1, 2006 The Cross-Tie

The Surface Transportation Board announced Dec. 20 that it has voted to elect Board Member W. Douglas Buttrey to serve as the agency’s Chairman, until President George W. Bush designates a Chairman for the agency.

Cross-Tie Completes Three Years of Publishing

December 10, 2005 The Cross-Tie

Railfanning.org’s Cross-Tie publication, a monthly e-zine distributed freely to subscribers, has completed three years of publication.

Success Story? Twenty-Five Years Ago, Railroads Changed Forever, But the Debate Continues Over Whether the Staggers Act is a Success

November 1, 2005 The Cross-Tie

WASHINGTON — On Oct. 14, 1980, the fate of American railroads changed. Congress passed the Staggers Act, legislation that deregulated the industry. But a quarter of a century later, the debate over the law rages on. By 1980, between a fifth and a third of the railroad industry was bankrupt, the byproduct of government regulation. An investor could have made more money putting money into the typical savings account than investing in the railroad industry. Maintenance was, to say the least, sub par and the rate of wrecks was skyrocketing. Despite the grim outlook of the railroad industry, it was

Railroads Return to Service After Hurricanes Pound Gulf Coast

October 1, 2005 The Cross-Tie

Major railroads worked to return service after a pair of hurricanes pounded the Gulf Coast, left thousands homeless and destroyed much of the region’s infrastructure.

A Brewing Battle: Poor Management Leads to Millions in Losses

September 15, 2005 The Cross-Tie

WASHINGTON — Poor management controls of Amtrak’s food and beverage service lead to millions in losses annually, reports reveal. The Amtrak Inspector General (IG) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), at a recent Congressional hearing, outlined their separate reviews of Amtrak’s food and beverage service and the substantial losses incurred by Amtrak due to poor management. According to the IG’s review, Amtrak’s food and beverage operations lose up to $150 million each year. The IG figures do not incorporate losses resulting from theft, which were discussed in the hearing as being significant. The GAO review found that for every dollar

Department of Homeland Security Lowers Threat Level for Mass Transit Network

September 1, 2005 The Cross-Tie

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced Aug. 12 that the national threat level for mass transit is being reduced from Code Orange to Code Yellow. Mass Transit lines, however, vowed to remain vigilant.

Hurricane Katrina Causes Rail Disruptions in La., Miss.

September 1, 2005 The Cross-Tie

Due to Hurricane Katrina and severe damage across the Southeast, Amtrak had little choice but to implement a revised service plan for three trains that pass through New Orleans.

Traffic Booming on Historic ‘Stormy’

August 31, 2005 The Cross-Tie

Railroaders call it the “Stormy” for its wild summer thunderstorms. Historians call it the Sunset Route. It has become a vital link handling booming traffic, and to address this growth, the 760-mile Union Pacific corridor between Los Angeles and El Paso is in the midst of an on-going effort to add capacity.

Nation’s, World’s Transit Systems on High Alert Following London Blasts; House OKs New Rail Terror Penalties

August 1, 2005 The Cross-Tie

Transportation systems and railroads throughout the United States — and the world — went on high alert following terrorist attacks in London.

N.J. Transit Approves Alignment for New Trans-Hudson Rail Tunnel

August 1, 2005 The Cross-Tie

The project to double rail capacity between New Jersey and New York took a step forward July 27, when the N.J. Transit Board of Directors approved the locally preferred alignment (LPA) of the Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel.