Compiled by Dave Mears
(NOTE: The expression "ffd" at the end of a news item means "for
further details" and usually represents what is believe to be the most
helpful news resource if a reader wants more information on a particular item.)
(MON) The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that when warning devices and related safety structures at rail-highway grade crossings are installed with federal funds and comply with federal rules, then federal standards for safety will prevail over state standards. The case involved a 1993 crossing crash in Gibson County, TN. in which the vehicle driver suffered fatal injuries. Legal analysts suggested that the ruling may make it more difficult for plaintiffs to prove negligence by railroads in lawsuits stemming from crossing crashes. (ffd: wire services)
(WED) San Francisco, CA.'s Bay Area Rapid Transit announced that it would restructure its service on its recently opened extension to San Francisco International Airport. A BART spokesman said that instead of running the Dublin Line on the new extension, the Pittsburg/Bay Point Line will assume this route. The spokesman added that the change would be effective February 9, 2004. (ffd: NARP)
(WED) Amtrak announced that it would postpone its earlier plans to reduce some travel discounts from 15 percent to 10 percent. This includes the senior citizen discount, which will continue at 15 percent until further notice. (ffd: NARP)
(FRI) Mexico City began a program of handing out books in the city's subway system. A total of 250,000 books were handed out, the first of a plan to hand out approximately 7 million books in total over the next 2 years. The program roots both in Mexico's efforts to improve literacy and, also, in efforts by Mexico City subway officials to try to reduce subway crime. "We are convinced that when people read, people change," said the subway's director, Javier Gonzalez Garza. (ffd: wire services)
(THU) For the week ending December 20, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 3.2 percent from the comparable week last year, down 4.3 percent in the East and down 2.2 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included nonmetallic minerals up 18.7 percent, crushed stone, sand and gravel up 17.9 percent and coke up 11.0 percent; notable traffic decreases included metallic ores down 26.8 percent and coal down 7.0 percent. Also for the week ending December 27, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 9.0 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 12.7 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 7.0 percent, Mexico's TFM's carload rail traffic was up 12.2 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 0.4 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through December 20, U.S. carload rail traffic was approximately unchanged, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 6.7 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 1.2 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 5.3 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 2.6 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 11.2 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) Regional and short line conglomerate Genesee & Wyoming announced that they had reached agreement to acquire 3 shortlines from Georgia Pacific Corporation. The lines being acquired are the 15-mile Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad, the 53-mile Arkansas, Louisiana & Mississippi Railroad and the 57-mile Fordyce & Princeton Railroad. A G&W spokesman said that the short lines were acquired for a total of $55.6 million. (ffd: G&W Corp.)
(TUE) The Pine Belt Southern Railroad file to abandon its line between Roanoke Jct., AL. and Lafayette, AL., totaling approximately 18 miles. (ffd: STB)
(WED) CSX filed to abandon approximately 24 miles of line between Waresboro, GA. and Pearson, GA. (ffd: STB)
None of note this week.
Compiled by Dave Mears
(NOTE: The expression "ffd" at the end of a news item means "for
further details" and usually represents what is believe to be the most
helpful news resource if a reader wants more information on a particular item.)
(MON) A top official of the U.S. Department of Transportation warned of increasing congestion on portions of the U.S. rail system. In a report released by his office, USDOT Inspector General Kenneth Mead noted that "despite railroads' investments, certain parts of the system have become severely congested." Mr. Mead went on to note that steady declines in track miles and railroad employment over the last 20 years have aggravated already crowded track capacities and that, in many regions, the system "cannot accommodate the conflicting demands of both increasing freight movement and increasing commuter and [intercity passenger] traffic." (ffd: wire services)
(MON) New Jersey Transit's new $450 million Secaucus Transfer Station began full operation. The station initially opened on August 4 to Bergen Line passengers only and then on September 6 for weekend-only service to all other lines. The station, located near (but connected with) the New Jersey Turnpike in Secaucus, NJ., allows passengers to transfer between 11 of the 12 New Jersey Transit commuter rail lines serving Northern New Jersey. (ffd: NARP, New York Times)
(MON) The Chicago Transit Authority dedicated its renovated station and adjacent rail yard at 54th St. on the Cermak/Douglas Branch of its Blue Line. The renovation is part of a $482 million rebuilding of the Cermak/Douglas Branch scheduled for completion in January, 2005. A CTA spokesman noted that the project is CTA's largest and most expensive capital improvement project to date. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(MON) The nations of Spain and Morocco announced agreement to build a rail tunnel between their two countries. A spokesman for the two nations said that the tunnel, which is as yet unfunded, would total approximately 25 miles in length linking the continents of Europe and Africa. The spokesman added that initial plans call for the tunnel to be constructed in the comparatively shallow waters of the Straits of Gibraltar, approximately 25 miles west of the British territory of Gibraltar. (ffd: BBC)
(TUE) Baltimore, MD.'s Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum received a $300,000 grant from Maryland's Community Legacy Program. The grant will go toward repairing the museum's roundhouse roof, which collapsed under the weight of snow on February 18, and also that part of the museum's collection damaged in the collapse. "This is an investment in a challenged part of the city and a wonderful statement of significance for the museum," said the museum's executive director, Courtney Wilson. (ffd: Baltimore Sun)
(TUE) The AirTrain light rail line opened in Queens, NY. The line, which totals approximately 8 miles in length and cost approximately $1.9 billion to construct, connects JFK International Airport with the Long Island Rail Road's Jamaica Station and 4 New York City subway lines. Opening ceremonies were marred by a train door closing unexpectedly on New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the line having to be temporarily shut down later in the day for other door problems. AirTrain marks the first time a New York City airport has been served directly by a passenger rail line. (ffd: NARP, New York Times)
(WED) The U.S. Federal Railroad Administration released an "interim final rule" outlining conditions under which communities may impose bans on locomotive horns being blown at highway-rail grade crossings. The rule allow communities to establish or continue "whistle bans" provided that specific safety improvements are made to protection devices and setups at such crossings. The rule is set to take effect December 18, 2004 and will pre-empt existing state and local laws governing "whistle bans". (ffd: USDOT)
(WED) Officials dedicated and reopened the former Chesapeake & Ohio Main St. rail station in downtown Richmond, VA. The station, which was originally opened in 1901 but closed in 1975, will serve Amtrak train services operating between Newport News, VA. and Washington, DC. Amtrak's current station at Staples Mill Road in Richmond's northern suburbs will also continue in service. The following day, Thursday, Amtrak had to temporarily suspend services through Richmond due to the derailment of a CSX freight train at the junction of CSX and NS lines just south of Alexandria, VA. Service was resumed later in the week. (ffd: Richmond Times-Dispatch)
(WED) Officials in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania announced the building of a new rail station at Paradise, PA. The station will allows connection between the Amtrak Philadelphia-Harrisburg Line and the famed tourist line operated by the Strasburg Railroad. The station, which is to cost approximately $2.75 million, will include a turntable for Strasburg Railroad locomotives. The complex is scheduled for completion in late 2004. (ffd: Intelligencer Journal)
(THU) For the week ending December 13, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 0.8 percent from the comparable week last year, up 1.5 percent in the East, but down 2.7 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases include coke up 42.5 percent, crushed stone, sand and gravel up 19.3 percent and non-grain farm products up 18.4 percent; notable traffic decreases included nonmetallic ores down 31.8 percent and coal down 4.5 percent. Also for the week ending December 13, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 6.6 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 8.9 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 8.8 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was up 2.3 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 2.8 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through December 13, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 6.7 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 1.4 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 1.0 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 5.6 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 2.9 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 11.4 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
None of note this week.
None of note this week.
Compiled by Dave Mears
(NOTE: The expression "ffd" at the end of a news item means "for
further details" and usually represents what is believe to be the most
helpful news resource if a reader wants more information on a particular item.)
(SUN) A CSX freight train derailed 28 cars near Atmore, AL. 2 engines of the train also derailed, resulting in the train crew being taken to a local hospital for examination. The cause of the derailment was still under investigation at press time. (ffd: Mobil Register)
(MON) The U.S. Department of Transportation announced $2.85 billion in funding for restoring or improving transit services in Lower Manhattan. The funding includes $1.7 billion for a permanent PATH subway station at the World Trade Center site; $750 million for the new Fulton Street Transit Center, which will link access to 12 different subway lines at or near the site; and $400 million for a new South Ferry subway station, which will replace the single-track, 6-car capacity, loop-track station served by the system's No. 1 and 9 lines with a 3-track, 10-car, stub-end, 2-platform terminal. The new South Ferry subway station will locate immediately adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal now undergoing renovation. (ffd: USDOT)
(MON) Union Pacific and the Mexican railroad Ferrocarril Mexicano debuted a new expedited, all-rail intermodal service offering 7-day transit between Los Angeles, CA. and the primary Mexican industrial centers of Guadalajara and Mexico City. A spokesman for the 2 railroads said that the new service also offers customers expedited crossing of the U.S.-Mexican border by allowing the option of clearing customs within the interior of Mexico. (ffd: UP Corp.)
(WED) A survey by Economic Planning Associates, Inc. indicated that U.S. rail freight and passenger car orders will continue to rise through 2004 and into 2005. The survey indicated that new orders will be spurred by the low number of cars acquired in 2001 and 2002, and the need to replace aging equipment. The survey added that a shortage of domestic castings may constrain rail car production through mid-2004. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(WED) Amtrak announced that its ridership over the Thanksgiving Holiday period appeared to have numbered approximately 600,000 passengers, representing the highest holiday ridership in Amtrak's 32-year history. An Amtrak spokesman said that ticket sales for that period, November 25 through December 1, totaled $30.9 million. The spokesman said that the figures were preliminary and that official numbers would be released shortly. (ffd: Amtrak)
(FRI) The membership of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers voted to merge with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The merger, which was proposed by BofLE and Teamsters leaders earlier in the year, was approved by U.S. BofLE membership 81 percent to 19 percent and by Canadian BofLE membership 63 percent to 37 percent. The absorption of the 140-year old BofLE into the Teamsters will take effect January 1, 2004. (ffd: wire services)
(FRI) The U.S. Federal Railroad Administration and the International Union of Railways signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on railroad security issues. The agreement between the 2 agencies includes a framework for joint initiatives focusing on such subjects as information exchanges, technological research, crisis management and hazardous materials transportation. (ffd: AAR, Progressive Railroading)
(FRI) Amtrak announced several changes to its discount policies. The changes include expanding the military furlough discount such that it is now also good on weekend Metroliner and Acela Express trains. Other changes include reducing the senior citizen discount from 15 percent to 10 percent. The changes take effect January 6. (ffd: Amtrak)
(SAT) A 30-year conductor of Chicago, IL.'s METRA commuter trains commented on the recently published book of his experiences. The book, "That's What I Call Commuting," was written by METRA conductor Mike Holinka, with the assistance of longtime METRA rider Ed Gabrielse, and published by First Books. Mr. Holinka said that he decided to write the book after years of swapping stories with other train and engine personnel. "95 percent of the tales in the book happened to me and 100 percent are true," Mr. Holinka said. (ffd: Chicago Sun-Times)
(THU) For the week ending November 29, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 0.1 percent from the comparable week last year, up 6.2 percent in the East, but down 4.2 percent in the West. Also for week ending November 29, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was down 0.1 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 11.6 percent and Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 0.2 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the month of November, 2003, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 0.3 percent, compared with November, 2002. Notable traffic increases included coke up 28.3 percent, crushed stone and gravel up 12.8 percent and waste and scrap materials up 9.4 percent; notable traffic decreases include metallic ores down 21.4 percent and coal down 2.8 percent. Also for November, 2003, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 8.2 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 9.9 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 0.3 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 7.9 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 8.2 percent, all when ranked with November, 2002.
For the period January 1 through November 30, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 0.1 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 6.7 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 0.5 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 6.1 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 2.5 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 12.4 percent, all when ranked with the same period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) Burlington Northern Santa Fe filed to abandon approximately 60 miles of line between Pawnee, NE. and Endicott, NE. (ffd: STB)
(TUE) Union Pacific granted trackage rights to Burlington Northern Santa Fe between Gibes, ID. And Coeur D'Alene, ID. The purpose of the trackage rights grant is to allow BNSF to deliver and receive rail cars from the Stimson Lumber Co. at Coeur D'Alene, ID. as part of BNSF's agreement to provide haulage service for UP between Spokane, WA. and Coeur D'Alene, ID. (ffd: STB)
(WED) The U.S. Surface Transportation Board rejected the proposal by Conrail-Shared Assets to abandon approximately 1 mile of its Sayreville Running Track in North Brunswick, NJ. The STB rejected the proposal on procedural grounds and requested Conrail-Shared Assets to correctly re-file its request. (ffd: STB)
(MON) Metro North Railroad appointed Sherry Harrington Chief of Operations Services. A MNRR spokesman said the appointment makes Ms. Harrington the first woman to head a MNRR operating department. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(MON) Norfolk Southern announced the following appointments: James Hixon to SVP-Legal & Government Affairs; James Squires to VP-Law; Tony Ingram to SVP-Transportation Network & Mechanical; Mark Manion to SVP-Transportation Operations; Kathryn McQuade to SVP-Finance; Marta Stewart to VP-Controller; Charles "Wick" Moorman to SVP-Corporate Planning & Services; John Rathbone to SVP-Administration; Donald Seale to SVP-Marketing Services; Daniel Smith to SVP-Energy and Properties; and Robert Martinez to VP-Business Development. All of the above appointed individuals will be headquartered in Norfolk, VA. (ffd: NS Corp.)
(THU) The Twin Cities & Western Railroad appointed Mark Wegner SVP & General Manager. Mr. Wegner is a 10-year veteran of the 229-mile TC&W. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
Compiled by Dave Mears
(NOTE: The expression "ffd" at the end of a news item means "for
further details" and usually represents what is believe to be the most
helpful news resource if a reader wants more information on a particular item.)
(SUN) The Long Island Rail Road suffered an on-duty employee fatality. Joseph Boyd, a 17 year veteran of the LIRR, was struck and killed by an LIRR train near Copiague, NY. Mr. Boyd was a flagman with a maintenance-of-way gang preparing to do work on the line's third rail. (ffd: WNBC TV)
(MON) Canadian National announced that it would acquire railroad and related holdings of Great Lakes Transportation LLC. The acquisition includes the 212-mile Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway, the 170-mile Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad, the Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock Company and the Great Lakes Fleet Company, the latter including 8 ships. A CN spokesman said that GLT had been acquired for approximately $380 million. (ffd: CN Corp.)
(MON) Eurostar announced that passenger traffic on its trains between London, England and Paris, France had increased since the opening of the new high-speed rail line through County Kent in England. A Eurostar spokesman said that passenger traffic had increased 11.7 percent in the 3 weeks following the opening, which cut 20 minutes off Eurostar's existing London-Paris travel time. The remaining segment of high-speed line between County Kent and downtown London is still under construction. (ffd: London Evening Standard)
(TUE) Virginia Railway Express, commuter rail operator between Washington, DC. and Northern Virginia, announced that it had acquired 35 more cars for its largely secondhand commuter car fleet. A VRE spokesman said that the cars had been acquired from Chicago, IL. commuter rail operator METRA, and had been built in the 1970s and refurbished in the 1990s. The spokesman added that the cars had been bought from METRA for $1 each because they had originally been acquired for Chicago service with federal funding and so cannot be resold to other railroads at a profit. (ffd: WRC4 TV)
(TUE) The U.S. announced that it would finance the $30 million construction of a new railway line in southern Africa. The funding, to be administered by the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation, will allow construction of a rail line linking the southern African nations of Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi. (ffd: South African Broadcasting Corp.)
(WED) A Port Authority Trans Hudson subway train was operated in a test run over the rebuilt PATH line at the former World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan. The line, which extends to the WTC site from the PATH Exchange Place Station in Jersey City, NJ., had not operated since its WTC station was destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The line includes a temporary station at the WTC site, which will be replaced with a permanent station once the designs for all replacement structures at the site are finalized and approved. The line and its temporary station are expected to reopen sometime next month. (ffd: NY Times)
(THU) The U.S. Senate approved $1.346 billion in federal funding for Amtrak. The National Association of Railroad Passengers reported that Amtrak President David Gunn had, in a recent letter to Congress, stated that although the amount was not the $1.812 billion originally requested by Amtrak for FY2004, the $1.346 billion would allow Amtrak "to operate the existting system and hopefully not worsen the amount of deferred maintenance." The $1.346 billion figure approved by the Senate now goes to a House-Senate Conference Committee for reconciliation, after which both chambers will engage in final debate and voting. (ffd: NARP)
(THU) The European Parliament voted to open freight rail access by 2006 and passenger rail access by 2008. The action of the assembly, which is composed of representatives of European Union member nations, was opposed by several EU governments who favored the postponing of open competition to protect the interest of state railway systems. The parliament's vote will now be considered by a committee of other representatives of EU governments, who will try to reach a compromise plan. (ffd: wire services)
(THU) For the week ending October 18, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 1.5 percent from the comparable week last year, up 1.8 percent in the East and up 1.2 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included non-grain farm products up 16.0 percent, chemicals up 5.9 percent and coke up 3.1 percent; notable traffic decreases included metallic ores down 10.5 percent and motor vehicles and equipment down 4.3 percent. Also for the week ending October 18, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 5.2 percent (at 211,237 units, a new U.S. weekly intermodal record), Canadian carload rail traffic was up 3.9 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 2.0 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 7.0 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 15.2 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through October 18, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 0.2 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 6.6 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was down 0.7 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 6.9 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 1.5 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 16.0 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(TUE) Burlington Northern Santa Fe reported third quarter net income of $203 million, up from $192 million in the third quarter last year. Third quarter revenues were $2.37 billion, up from $2.28 billion in the third quarter last year. BNSF's third quarter operating ratio worsened slightly to 81.8 percent, compared with 81.6 percent in the third quarter last year. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(TUE) Canadian National reported third quarter net income of $294 million, up from $268 million in the third quarter last year. Third quarter revenues were $1.413 billion, down from $1.503 billion in the third quarter last year. CN's third quarter operating ratio worsened slightly to 67.9 percent, compared with 67.8 percent in the third quarter last year. (ffd: CN Corp.)
(WED) CSX reported a third quarter net loss of $103 million, down from $127 million in net income in the third quarter last year. A CSX spokesman said that the results included two special charges, one for $145 million related to a change in CSX's estimate for forthcoming occupational and personal injury claims and a second for $67 million related to the settlement of disputes arising from its 1999 sale of its Sealand subsidiary. Without these charges, CSX said that it would have reported third quarter net income of $109 million. Third quarter revenues were $1.88 billion, down from $2.06 billion in the third quarter last year. (ffd: CSX Corp.)
(THU) Union Pacific reported third quarter net income of $317 million, down from $437 million in the third quarter last year. Third quarter revenues were $2.96 billion, up 3 percent from those in the third quarter last year. (ffd: UP Corp.)
(MON) New Orleans & Gulf Coast Railway filed to lease, from Union Pacific, and operate approximately 7 miles of line between Goldsboro, LA. and Westwego, LA. and, also, approximately 5 miles of line in Harvey, LA. (ffd: STB)
(MON) Norfolk Southern filed to abandon approximately 5 miles of line between Gastonia, NC and Dallas/Gebo, NC. (ffd: STB)
(TUE) Burlington Junction Railway filed to lease, from Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and operate approximately 5 miles of BNSF's Marblehead Line between Quincy, IL. and Marblehead, IL. and, also, approximately 1 mile of BNSF's Moorman Lead Line in Quincy, IL. (ffd: STB)
(TUE) Elgin, Joliet & Eastern granted trackage rights to Burlington Northern Santa Fe over approximately 20 miles of EJE line between Joliet, IL. and Eola, IL. (ffd: STB)
(THU) The Morristown & Erie Railway, doing business as the Maine Eastern Railroad, filed to lease, from the State of Maine, and operate the following lines: 1) the Brunswick to August Branch 2) the Brunswick to Rockland Branch 3) the Atlantic Branch Line. The 3 lines total approximately 86 miles. The lease is subject to existing freight operating rights held by Maine Central Railroad and Springfield Terminal Railway over portions of these lines. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) New York Regional Rail, a New York Harbor terminal railroad, appointed Gordon Kuhn its chairman. Mr. Kuhn was previously a SVP of the former Conrail. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
Compiled by Dave Mears
(NOTE: The expression "ffd" at the end of a news item means "for
further details" and usually represents what is believe to be the most
helpful news resource if a reader wants more information on a particular item.)
(SUN) A METRA commuter train derailed in Chicago, IL. 45 passengers were injured in the accident, which derailed the train's 2 locomotives and 5 cars. Investigators said that the train was approaching the Rock Island District Line's 47th St. interlocking where it was to cross over to another track at 10mph, but instead proceeded through the interlocking at 67mph. (ffd: Chicago Sun-Times, NARP)
(SUN) Spain began operation of a new high-speed rail service between Madrid and the eastern Spanish city of Lerida. The new service, whose trains will initially reach speeds of 125mph and eventually 188mph, shortens rail travel time between the 2 cities to approximately 3 hours. The service is to be extended to Barcelona by 2005. (ffd: Agence-Presse France)
(SUN) China began operation of its first passenger-only rail line. The new line, construction of which began in 1999, links Shenyang, the capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, and Qinhuangdao, a port city in northern Hebei Province. Construction is underway to extend the line, which is double-tracked and electrified, into Beijing, China's capital. (ffd: Xinhua News Agency)
(SUN) A Wheeling & Lake Erie freight train halted runners in the Road Runner Akron Marathon being run in Akron, OH. The runners had to wait for the 70 car train to clear the Summit Street crossing before they could continue. "We thought we could get the train across Summit Street prior to the head of the pack reaching there," commented W&LE spokesperson Bill Callison. "We missed by a little." (ffd: Akron Beacon Journal)
(MON) Metro North Railroad began use of a new centralized traffic control system on its New Haven Line. The new system controls switches and signals on the line between Mt. Vernon, NY., where it connects to MNRR's Harlem Line, and New Haven, CT. The system is controlled out of MNRR's 347 Madison Ave., New York City operations center, where MNRR's Hudson and Harlem Lines are also controlled from. A MNRR official said that the system was installed over a 10 year period and at a cost of $125 million. (ffd: New Haven Register)
(TUE) Los Angeles, CA.'s Metropolitan Transportation Authority was struck by its mechanics. The strike idled MTA bus and subway services, although Metrolink commuter rail services continued to operate. The strikers have asked the MTA to contribute more to their health care fund, which the MTA has said has been mismanaged by the mechanic's union. (ffd: NARP)
(TUE) The Railway Association of Canada released its 11th edition of "Railway Trends", an annual report of the RAC tracking the Canadian rail industry's financial and statistical performance. Among the data included in the report is that Canadian railways totaled 321 billion revenue-ton-kilometers last year, compared with 244 billion revenue-ton-kilometers a decade ago and that revenue-ton-kilometers-per-employee had improved 125.7 percent since a decade ago, the result of a 31.7 percent increase in workload handled by a 35.0 percent smaller workforce. Further details of the report are available on the RAC's website, www.railcan.ca. (ffd: RAC)
(WED) Amtrak reported that it carried a record 24 million passengers in FY2003 just concluded, up 2.7 percent from the number carried in FY2002. Amtrak reported that the largest increases were on its western trains, where ridership grew 6.6 percent. Amtrak also reported notable increases on its "Pennsylvanian" operating between Philadelphia, PA. and Chicago, IL., which gained 64 percent, and on its "Texas Eagle", operating between Chicago, IL. and San Antonio, TX., which gained 20 percent. (ffd: Amtrak)
(WED) The U.S. Federal Railroad Administration reported preliminary safety statistics for the first half of 2003. The FRA reported that highway-rail grade crossing fatalities were down 15.2 percent from the comparable period last year to total 178 and that trespasser fatalities were down 17.1 percent from the comparable period last year to total 267. However, the FRA also reported that train accidents increased 6.2 percent to total 1,637. (ffd: FRA)
(WED) The Canadian Railway Hall of Fame recognized this year's inductees at a ceremony in Edmonton, AB. The Hall of Fame awarded recognition in 4 categories: leaders, heroes, communities and technologies. Also recognized at this year's ceremonies was singer Gordon Lightfoot for his "Canadian Railroad Trilogy." Later in the week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution endorsing (but not funding) the setting up of a U.S. Railroad Hall of Fame in Galesburg, IL. (ffd: RAC, Progressive Railroading)
(THU) The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum received a $500,000 federal grant to assist in the reconstruction of its Baltimore, MD. museum. The museum's roundhouse collapsed last February under the weight of a record Baltimore snowfall. The grant was presented by Maryland's 2 U.S. senators, Barbara Mikulski and Paul Sarbanes. (ffd: WBAL Television)
(FRI) Officials in Carnforth, England reopened their former rail station as a city heritage center. The station, which has been unused for many years, is notable as the set location for the late Sir David Lean's 1945 film, "Brief Encounter", one of the most famous of all films featuring trains. The facility's restoration included restoring and remounting the station's original exterior clock, which was featured prominently in the film. (ffd: wire services)
(SAT) A memorial service was held for the late L. Stanley Crane in Philadelphia, PA. The service and the reception afterwards in memory of Mr. Crane, who had been the former Conrail's chairman in the 1980's and who earlier headed the Southern and Norfolk Southern Railways, was attended by his family and also by many former Conrail employees. Also attending was Norfolk Southern's current CEO, David Goode. Mr. Crane passed away last July at Age 87.
(THU) For the week ending October 11, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 0.9 percent, up 2.9 percent in the East, but down 0.8 percent in the West. Notable traffic increases included coke up 51.3 percent, grain up 13.9 percent and waste and scrap materials up 9.9 percent; notable traffic decreases included metallic ores down 16.8 percent and coal down 2.2 percent. Also for the week ending October 11, U.S. intemodal rail traffic was up 37.5 percent (reflecting the U.S. West Coast docks strike at this time last year), Canadian carload rail traffic was up 6.5 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 4.3 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 6.7 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 11.6 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through October 11, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 0.2 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 6.7 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was down 0.8 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 7.1 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 1.4 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 17.1 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(TUE) Alabama Great Southern Railroad, a wholly owned subsidiary of Norfolk Southern, filed to abandon approximately 1 mile of line in New Orleans, LA. (ffd: STB)
(WED) Almono Corp. filed to abandon its entire line of railroad between the MetalTech plant on the north side of the Monongahela River and its interchange with CSX in Hazelwood, PA. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) CSX filed to abandon approximately 6 miles of its Woodland Subdivision between Rossville Jct., IL. and Henning, IL. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) CSX filed to abandon approximately 12 miles of line between Glenshaw, PA. and Bakerstown, PA. (ffd: STB)
(TUE) Edward "Ned" Breathitt passed away at Age 78. Mr. Breathitt was a former governor of Kentucky who later served as head of Norfolk Southern's Public Affairs Department, having been hired by an NS predecessor railroad in 1972 and later retiring as NS's SVP-Public Affairs in 1992. (ffd: NS Corp.)
(FRI) The Railway Supply Institute announced the following appointments: Gable Enterprises President John Gable as its chairman; ASF Keystone North American SVP-Marketing and Sales William O'Donnell as its vice-chairman; and Standard Car Truck Chairman and CEO Richard Mathes as its secretary-treasurer. (ffd: Railway Age)
Compiled by Dave Mears
(NOTE: The expression "ffd" at the end of a news item means "for
further details" and usually represents what is believe to be the most
helpful news resource if a reader wants more information on a particular item.)
(SUN) The Maryland Transit Administration closed a portion of its Baltimore, MD. light rail line through October 24. Service was temporarily suspended to the line's Patapsco, Cherry Hill, Westport and Camden Yards stops so that work could begin on a 9.4 mile double tracking project, which will double track the remaining single track segments of the line. The project is scheduled for completion by 2005. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(MON) The National Capitol Trolley Museum in Silver Spring, MD. reported that it had sustained significant damage to its streetcar collection in a fire at the museum the previous week. The fire destroyed 8 historic streetcars - 4 Capital Transit cars, 3 Austrian trams and 1 Johnstown Traction car - and the carbarn in which they were housed. Museum officials estimated the loss at between $8 million and $10 million in value. (ffd: Museum press release via Railpace)
(TUE) The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board released a summary of its final report on the April 23, 2002 collision between a Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train and a Metrolink passenger train in Atwood, CA. The NTSB report upheld earlier findings that blamed the collision on the "freight train crew's inattentiveness" to a stop signal indication. The summary further noted that the 2 passenger fatalities were caused by abdominal injuries resulting from impact with tables between facing pairs of seats. (ffd: NARP)
(THU) The U.S. National Railway Labor Conference announced that it had reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. The NRLC bargains on behalf of 32 railroads, including the nation's largest rail freight carriers. Details of the BofLE agreement were not released pending a ratification vote by BofLE members. (ffd: BofLE)
(THU) Chicago Transit Authority President Frank Kruesi formally proposed a raise in its base transit fare from $1.50 to $1.75. Mr. Kruesi said that the increase was necessary to close an $88 million shortfall in the CTA's annual budget. The CTA base transit fare was last raised in 1991. (ffd: Chicago Sun Times)
(THU) Washington, D.C. commuter rail operator Virginia Railway Express released the results of a study undertaken to determine the makeup of its ridership. The study noted that of VRE's approximately 14,000 daily riders, 63 percent were men, 53 percent were 45 or older and 77 percent made more than $75,000 a year. The study also noted that 80 percent were married, 54 percent no longer have children living at home and 56 percent work for the federal government. (ffd: Washington Post)
(FRI) Amtrak announced several service changes effective with its new national timetable starting October 26. Among the changes are the curtailment of 10 Acela Express trips between New York and Washington during weekends, which an Amtrak spokesman said would give mechanical personnel more time for maintenance and reduce the number of mechanical problems incurred by the trains during the week. Also included in the changes is the extension of Amtrak's tri-weekly "Cardinal" train, which presently operates between Chicago and Washington, such that it will now operate on the same route but beyond Washington and to New York. (ffd: NARP)
(FRI) RailAmerica's San Joaquin Valley Railroad announced completion of its Cross Valley Rail Corridor project. The project upgraded 45 miles of the railroad's line between Huron, CA. and Visalia, CA. to accommodate 286,000 pound capacity freight cars. The project was jointly funded by the railroad and by several public agencies, including the governments of several cities along the route. (ffd: RailAmerica)
(THU) For the week ending October 4, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 1.2 percent from the comparable week last year, up 3.6 percent in the East, but down 0.7 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included coke up 36.0 percent, non-grain farm products up 20.0 percent, waste and scrap products up 11.2 percent and primary forest products up 10.0 percent; notable traffic decreases included metallic ores down 19.4 percent. Also for the week ending October 4, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 57.1 percent (reflecting the U.S. West Coast docks strike at this time last year), Canadian carload rail traffic was up 6.1 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 3.7 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 5.5 percent, and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 2.9 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through October 4, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 0.2 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 6.0 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was down 1.0 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 7.2 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 1.2 percent, and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 18.0 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) Allegheny & Eastern Railroad filed to abandon approximately 19 miles of line between St. Mary's, PA. and Emporium, PA. (ffd: STB)
(MON) BG & CM Railroad filed to acquire, from Camas Prairie Railnet, and operate approximately 67 miles of line between Spalding, ID. And Grangeville, ID. (ffd: STB)
(WED) CSX filed to abandon approximately 24 miles of line between Waresboro, GA. and Pearson, GA. (ffd: STB)
(WED) Iowa Northern Railway filed to operate approximately 52 miles of D&W Railroad's Waterloo Industrial Lead in Black Hawk, Buchanan and Fayette Counties, IA. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Paducah & Louisville Railway filed to abandon approximately 5 miles of line between Ilsley, KY. and Dawson Springs, KY. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Union Pacific filed to abandon approximately 1 mile of its Columbia Tap Industrial Lead in Houston, TX. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Union Pacific filed to discontinue operation over Monterey County Transportation Agency's Seaside Industrial Lead, representing approximately 13 miles of line between Castroville, CA. and Seaside, CA. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway filed to acquire, from CSX, rail freight operating rights over approximately 18 miles of line, owned by Metro Regional Transit Authority, between Canton, OH. and Krumroy, OH. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Wyoming & Colorado Railroad filed to abandon approximately 1 mile of line in Laramie, WY. (ffd: STB)
None of note this week.
(CORRECTION: In last week's WRR, I reported that CSX had appointed Jim Fallon SVP-Transportation. This was in error, as Mr. Fallon was already serving in this position. Thanks to WRR Readers Jani Lipps and Joe Seaman for their catch here.)
Compiled by Dave Mears
(NOTE: The expression "ffd" at the end of a news item means "for
further details" and usually represents what is believe to be the most
helpful news resource if a reader wants more information on a particular item.)
(SUN) The Sacramento California Rapid Transit District concluded the first weekend of operation of its new South light rail line. The new line operates from downtown Sacramento to suburban Meadowview Road, a total of approximately 7 miles. (ffd: NARP)
(MON) The U.S. Congressional Budget Office issued a report on Amtrak's effort to achieve self-sufficiency from 1997 through last year, when that goal was reckoned unobtainable. The report criticized the previous Amtrak president, George Warrington, noted that he "continued until February, 2002 to assure Congress that Amtrak was steadily moving toward self-sufficiency, [although] the company was covering its costs through increased debt. By 2002, Amtrak had exhausted its ability to borrow." The report concluded on an ambivalent note, stating that "if policy makers cannot reach agreement about passenger rail issues, then Amtrak is likely to limp along as it has for the past 33 years: not quite satisfying anyone, nor providing the most valued rail service per dollar, but not costing very much relative to the size of the economy and the federal budget." (ffd: Washington Post, CBO)
(TUE) The U.S. Department of Transportation released an update to its strategic plan for the fiscal years 2003 through 2008. The plan continued the department's four previous strategic objectives related to safety, mobility, environmental stewardship and security, but added a fifth strategic objective related to "global connectivity," which it said in a prepared statement "highlights the importance of using transportation systems to move goods and people around the world." "We continue to work toward a safer, simpler and smarter transportation system for the benefit of all Americans," said Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. (ffd: Progressive Railroading, USDOT)
(TUE) CSX rolled out a new e-business application, "ShipCSX Service Schedules," allowing registered users to obtain local carload schedules between all points on the railroad's network. The web-based ShipCSX application now includes the following tools: "Plan," to organize logistics before ordering service; "Ship," to complete and submit shipping instructions; "Trace," to track orders and shipments; and "Pay," to electronically view and pay freight bills. (ffd: CSX Corp., Progressive Railroading)
(TUE) A magistrate in Portsmouth, England banned an individual from ever again using a British passenger train or station. According to British Transport Police, who had sought the ban, Raymond Brain, Age 21, would "almost on a daily basis travel without buying tickets and be abusive to staff and other people using the rail network." In issuing the ruling, believed to be the first of its kind, the magistrate warned Mr. Brain that he risked years in prison if he ignored the order, called him "a complete and thorough nuisance to the community and people on the railways." (ffd: BBC News)
(WED) Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana bought back 51 percent of Mexrail, Inc. from Kansas City Southern, which it had sold to KCS in May, 2003. Under the terms of the earlier sale, TFM retained the right to buy back Mexrail stock for $32.68 million, the amount paid by KCS for it. KCS and TFM's parent, Group TMM, have lately been in a dispute over TFM's future, with Group TMM in August having called off a deal to sell its stake in TFM to KCS for $412 million and KCS most recently having filed a motion in U.S. court seeking an injunction against Group TFM for pulling out of the deal. (ffd: JofC Online)
(WED) New York commuter rail operator Metro North announced that it would hold its Harmon, NY. Shop annual open house on Saturday, October 18. The open house, which features tours of shop facilities and numerous pieces of train equipment, will be held from 10AM through 3PM that date. A Metro North spokesman said that the event would be free of charge and for all ages. (ffd: NERails)
(THU) Amtrak announced that it had averted a planned strike by its rail unions set for Friday, October 3. The previous Monday, Amtrak filed an injunction in U.S. District Court against the strike. Union leaders, who had called for the strike to protest Amtrak's underfunding, agreed to take no action until the court further ruled. "I think the main reason for strike was to call attention to the need for appropriate funding for Amtrak," said John Bentley, a spokesman for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. "If we've done that, even though the strike never got off the ground, then we've been successful in part." (ffd: Washington Times, wire services)
(THU) A U.S. Court of Appeals directed the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to take "a second look" at the STB's earlier approval of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern's planned $2 billion expansion to reach the Powder River Basin coal fields. Although overturning the STB's decision, the court called for only a few additional considerations, commenting that "on the whole, the Board did a highly commendable and professional job in evaluating an enormously complex proposal." The DM&E is seeking to build approximately 280 miles of new line and rehabilitate approximately 600 miles of existing line to reach the fields. (ffd: wire services)
(THU) Members of both parties on the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee criticized the Bush Administration's Amtrak reform plan. Speaking at a committee hearing to consider the plan, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) said "It's a serious proposal [only] if you want the message to be 'shut down the rail service on the long-haul routes and continue the rail service on the eastern corridor'" and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) commented that the plan would result in "the end of Amtrak as a national system." Under the plan, states would be required to pay the operating subsidy for routes within their borders and half of any capital improvements and infrastructure maintenance, with these costs split proportionally for routes that go through more than one state. The plan would take place over a 6 year phase-in period, with states taking on these costs in the final 3 years. (ffd: Bond Buyer, NARP)
(FRI) A spokesman for RailAmerica said that the company was dropping out of the bidding to operate BC Rail, which is being privatized by the Canadian province of British Columbia. The action leaves 3 companies - Canadian Pacific, Canadian National and OmniTRAX - still in the bidding. The RailAmerica spokesman, Wayne August, commented that RailAmerica had withdrawn because CP and CN would receive tax benefits in taking over the operations that RailAmerica would not and said further that "both CP and CN had far more synergies with BC Rail than did RailAmerica." (ffd: Prince George BC Free Press)
(FRI) The Association of American Railroads reminded that the 2003 edition of their Railroad Equipment Report is now available. The annual publication features detailed freight car and locomotive information of railroads operating in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Copes are available to the general public for $60 each and to AAR member railroads for $30 each, and may be purchased by mail or via the AAR website. (ffd: AAR)
(THU) For the week ending September 27, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 1.0 percent from the comparable week last year, down 1.0 percent in the East and down 0.9 percent in the West. Also for the week ending September 27, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 6.8 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 3.7 percent and Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 1.7 percent.
For the month of September, 2003, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 0.1 percent from September, 2002. This month this year versus this month last year, notable traffic increases included coke up 46.4 percent; grain up 13.1 percent and stone, clay and glass products up 8.0 percent; notable traffic decreases included metallic ores down 20.3 percent, primary metal products down 7.3 percent and coal down 2.5 percent. Also for the month of September, 2003, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 2.5 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 1.7 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 0.5 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Mexicana Ferroviaria's carload rail traffic was down 12.6 percent, and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 8.3 percent, all when ranked with September, 2002.
For the period January 1 through September 27, 2003, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 0.3 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 5.1 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was down 1.2 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 7.3 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was up 1.1 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 18.7 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: STB)
(MON) A&R Lines and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway jointly filed to abandon approximately 16 miles of line between Kenneth, IN. and Winamac, IN. (ffd: STB)
(MON) J.K. Lines and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway jointly filed to abandon approximately 17 miles of line between North Judson, IN. and Monterey, IN. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Allegheny & Eastern Railroad filed to abandon approximately 19 miles of line between St. Marys, PA. and Emporium, PA. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) CSX filed to abandon approximately 2 miles its KD Subdivision, Second Creek Spur, in Knoxville, TN. (ffd: STB)
(MON) CSX appointed Jim Fallon SVP-Transportation. Mr. Fallon, who is one of only a few former upper level Conrail executives still with CSX, replaces AL Crown in this position, who recently retired. (ffd: CRTS)
(TUE) George Dixon III was elected chairman of the American Public Transportation Association. Mr. Dixon will also continue his responsibilities as president of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. (ffd: wire services)
(FRI) Pete Sklannik resigned as the head of Northern Virginia commuter rail operator Virginia Railway Express. Mr. Sklannik had been on administrative leave from his position since last August. (ffd: Washington Post)
Compiled by Dave Mears
(NOTE: The expression "ffd" at the end of a news item means "for
further details" and usually represents what is believe to be the most
helpful news resource if a reader wants more information on a particular item.)
(SUN) Area rail service resumed after a side collision between a Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train and a Union Pacific freight train the previous Friday near Ostrander, WA. The accident derailed 6 cars of the BNSF train and 20 cars of the UP train. No injuries were reported in the accident, the cause of which is still under investigation. (ffd: Seattle Times)
(SUN) Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov signed a decree creating the quasi-public Russian Railways Co., to be known in the English language by its Russian acronym RZD. The new company will take over most of the assets and functions of the nation's Railway Ministry, including 87,000 kilometers of track. The company will be headed by former Railways Minister Gennady Fadeyev, who stated that his first goal would be improved coordination of railway services. (ffd: Moscow Times)
(MON) The head of operations of Canadian Pacific Railway called for the world's railways to adopt a uniform international system for planning and executing railway operations. Speaking at an international conference on railway operations in Calgary, AB., CPR SVP-Operations Neal Foot urged railroads to shift away from tonnage-based operations and toward fully integrated and scheduled operations. "By building a coordinated, integrated and scheduled freight railway system, we as an industry will enhance rail's already inherent qualities of speed, safety, energy and labor efficiency," Mr. Foot said.
(MON) California's Caltrain announced a new fare structure and proof-of-payment system for its commuter rail service south out of San Francisco, CA. The new fare structure includes 6 13-mile fare zones and validation of tickets for 4 hours from the time of sale. Also under the new fare structure, Caltrain will no longer sell tickets onboard trains. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(MON) Canadian Transport Minister David Collenette called "obscene" a recently publicized Canadian National Railway internal memo instructing employees to refer to the company only by the initials "CN." Mr. Collenette, a longtime supporter of improved rail passenger and freight services in Canada, went on to call CN "a great Canadian institution, one of the best railways in North America (that) shouldn't apologize for being Canadian." A CN spokesman referred to the controversy as a "tempest in a teapot". (ffd: Canadian Press)
(MON) The New York City Transit Authority announced that it would retire the 88 remaining "Redbird" subway cars still in service by the end of next month. Once retired, the cars will be cleaned, stripped and dumped in the Atlantic Ocean to create artificial reefs for fish, as have approximately 1,100 other "Redbirds." The cars were built in the early 1960's for the subway system's IRT lines. (ffd: New York Daily News)
(MON) The Railway Supply Institute opened its recently relocated offices at 50 F St. in Northwest Washington, DC. RSI's relocation places it in the same building as the Association of American Railroads and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, the latter having moved to 50 F St. earlier this year. (ffd: AAR)
(TUE) The Transportation Communications Union said that it would not participate in the proposed October 3 Amtrak work stoppage called for the previous week by 6 other rail unions to protest the U.S. Congress's underfunding of Amtrak. The TCU represents approximately one-half of Amtrak's unionized employees. Amtrak had earlier said that it would file for an injunction against the proposed work stoppage. (ffd: NARP, wire services)
(TUE) The U.S. Western Governors Association released a statement of support for Amtrak and for improved U.S. passenger rail services. The statement said that "the (state) governors strongly urge the federal government to stabilize intercity passenger rail in the short term, work with the states to determine the structure of the system for the long term, and provide funding and leadership for the future of national intercity passenger rail (service)." (ffd: NARP)
(TUE) A spokesman for New Jersey Transit declined to specify a date for the start of revenue service on the new light rail line between Trenton, NJ. and Camden, NJ. The spokesman, Lynn Bowersox, cited the need for additional testing of signals and training of operators as one reason for the delay. The 34 mile line was originally scheduled for opening in 2002. (ffd: Courier-Post)
(WED) Burlington Northern Santa Fe incurred an on-duty employee fatality. Todd Mohler, Age 35 with 2 years' BNSF service, was killed while switching cars in BNSF's Calway Yard in Fresno, CA. A BNSF spokesman said that the accident is under investigation. (ffd: Fresno Bee)
(WED) Atlanta, GA. was designated the nation's first-ever "Freight Rail Smart Zone". The designation, made by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and by representatives of the Association of American Railroads, CSX, Norfolk Southern and the City of Atlanta, recognized Atlanta for its role as a vital U.S. freight rail hub. The designation went on to note that over 2 million freight cars annually pass through Atlanta and that both CSX and Norfolk Southern have recently opened state-of-the-art intermodal rail facilities in the Atlanta area. (ffd: AAR)
(WED) Groundbreaking was held for a new rail station adjacent to Oakland, CA.'s Oakland Coliseum. The new station, which is expected to be completed by next spring, will be used by Amtrak Capitol Corridor trains and include a direct link to the Bay Area Rapid Transit subway system. (ffd: NARP)
(WED) New York City officials unveiled plans for the redevelopment of the former New York Central West Side elevated rail line in Manhattan. The plans call for the line to be renovated as a public space and to be the centerpiece of new residential and commercial development surrounding it. The line, which is 1.6 miles in length and runs from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street, was last used for rail freight service in the early 1980's. (ffd: New York Times)
(WED) Union Pacific Railroad was cited by Working Mother Magazine as one of the nation's 100 best employers for working mothers. The magazine noted that UP offered several programs for working parents and was also currently constructing a 20,000 square foot child care facility as part of its new headquarters building. A UP spokesman noted that this was the second time the company had been so recognized in the past 3 years. (ffd: UP Corp.)
(THU) The Association of American Railroads's Network Efficiency Management Committee approved new timelines under which all railroads, including regionals and shortlines, must meet minimum event reporting standards. The new timelines call for all railroads to, by January 1, 2004, report car release, actual placement and interchange receipt and delivery events within 24 hours. The committee also said that it would issue new timeliness standards later this year that all railroads would need to meet by January 1, 2005. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(THU) In an unusual public promotion for a freight railroad, regional and shortline conglomerate RailAmerica distributed whistles to the first 10,000 fans through the gates at the Florida Marlins major league baseball game held this date. The whistles, which imitate a train whistle sound, had RailAmerica's logo on one side and the Marlins's logo on the other. The promotion was coordinated with the scheduled appearance of Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis, whose nickname is "D Train". (ffd: Miami Herald)
(FRI) The U.S. Congress temporarily extended funding for the Transportation Equity Act, commonly known as TEA-21, until February 29, 2004. The extended funding, which will be on a pro rated basis, continues funding from the original act that was set to expire on September 30. During the extension, Congress will debate a 6-year reauthorization of the act. (ffd: Railway Age)
(FRI) Norfolk Southern announced a special voluntary separation program for its management employees. The buyout, which is similar to one offered by NS approximately 3 years ago, offers 3 weeks salary for each year of service and continued health insurance for one year beyond separation. In announcing the program, NS SVP-Administration Jim Hixon said that the program "is designed to achieve a reduction in overall staff…to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of NS's non-agreement workforce." (ffd: NS Corp.)
(THU) For the week ending September 20, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 1.7 percent from the comparable week last year, down 1.0 percent in the East - which suffered some rail service curtailments related to Hurricane Isabel - and up 3.9 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included coke up 35.0 percent, grain up 23.7 percent and waste and scrap up 8.8 percent; notable traffic decreases included metals down 11.7 percent and metallic ores down 9.6 percent. Also for the week ending September 20, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was down 1.5 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 1.7 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 3.5 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 17.1 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 10.3 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through September 20, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 0.3 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 5.0 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was down 1.3 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 7.5 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 0.8 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 20.0 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) CSX filed to abandon approximately 17 miles of line between Black Creek, AL. and West Jefferson, AL. (ffd: STB)
(WED) Norfolk Southern filed to abandon approximately 2 miles of line between Bluestone, WV. and Pocahontas, VA. (ffd: STB)
(THU) Burlington Northern Santa Fe granted trackage rights to Union Pacific over the following lines: 1) the Dalhart Subdivision between Dalhart, TX. and Texline, TX. and the Twin Peaks Subdivision between Texline, TX. and Trinidad, CO., both totaling approximately 171 miles 2) the Pikes Peak Subdivision between Bragdon, CO. and Pueblo, CO., totaling approximately 13 miles 3) the Spanish Peaks Subdivision between Pueblo Jct., CO. and Southern Jct., CO., totaling approximately 6 miles. The purpose of these trackage rights is to allow BNSF and UP to implement directional running over lines between Pueblo, CO. and Amarillo, TX. (ffd: STB)
(THU) CSX filed to abandon approximately 24 miles of line between Waresboro, GA. and Atkinson, GA. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) East Tennessee Railway filed to lease, from CSX, and operate approximately 5 miles of CSX's Johnson City Lead and Carnegie Spur lines in Washington County, TN. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Union Pacific filed to abandon approximately 2 miles of its Creamery Spur line in Tempe, AZ. (ffd: STB)
(THU) New York State's Metropolitan Transportation Authority appointed James Dermody President of the Long Island Rail Road. Mr. Dermody is a 45 year veteran of the LIRR, having started as an agent/operator at LIRR's Mastic, NY. station. Mr. Dermody had been LIRR's acting president since the retirement of Ken Bauer last March and was previously LIRR's Chief Transportation Officer. (ffd: Newsday)
(FRI) Robert DeMarco was elected president of Railway System Suppliers, Inc., the trade association representing suppliers in the railway signaling and communications field. Mr. DeMarco is a SVP with Simmons-Boardman Publishing Co., the publisher of Railway Age, Railway Track and Structures, and International Railway Journal. (ffd: Railway Age)
Compiled by Dave Mears
(NOTE: The expression "ffd" at the end of a news item means "for
further details" and usually represents what is believe to be the most
helpful news resource if a reader wants more information on a particular item.)
(MON) The Central Georgia Railroad confirmed having incurred an on-duty employee fatality the previous Friday. Thomas Boyd, Age 45, was killed while switching cars near the SP Newsprint plant in Laurens County, GA. A spokesman for the Central Georgia said that the circumstances of the accident were still under investigation. (ffd: Dublin Courier Herald)
(MON) The U.S. Attorneys Office in Houston, TX. indicted United Transportation Union President Byron Boyd, UTU Special Assistant to the President John Rookard, former UTU President Charles Little and former UTU Director of Insurance Ralph Dennis. The four were charged with conspiring to violate federal mail fraud and wire fraud statutes, and commercial state bribery statutes, by using their positions to solicit and collect cash payments and other things of value from attorneys doing business with the UTU over a 7 year period beginning in 1995. Following release of the indictments, Mr. Boyd issued a statement declaring the charges "unfounded", adding that he had "every intention to pursue this matter to a final and full conclusion that completely exonerates (him)." (ffd: USDOJ, UTU)
(MON) Kansas City Southern announced that it had begun discussions with Grupo TMM to resolve their dispute related to KCS's bid to buy TMM's 41 percent interest in Mexican railroad Transportation Ferroviaria Mexicana, which KCS already owns a 39 percent interest in. The move follows TMM's rejection last month of KCS's offer last April to buy the Mexican railroad for between $400 million and $580 million. KCS had earlier announced interest in combining with TFM and the Texas-Mexican Railway to form a new railroad, tentatively named "Nafta Rail", linking Kansas City in the U.S. with Mexico City in Mexico. (ffd: Kansas City Business Journal)
(MON) The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees announced that their leadership had voted to pursue merger discussions with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. In a prepared statement, the BMWE noted that its discussions follow the planned merger between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Teamsters, which is now pending BLE membership approval later this year. The statement noted that the "resources of the three unions would significantly improve their power to negotiate wages, benefits and working conditions." (ffd: IBT)
(TUE) The Long Island Rail Road and the Metro North Railroad announced that they would begin removing pay phones installed several years ago in cars of their commuter rail car fleets. A spokesman for the LIRR's and MNRR's parent, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said that the pay phones were being removed as a result of their having fallen into disuse due to the widespread ownership and use of personal cell phones. (ffd: WCBS Radio)
(TUE) BNSF Logistics, a subsidiary of Burlington Northern Santa Fe, announced that it would acquire MRS Company of Godfrey, IL. MRS was launched in 1985 by Michael Solomon, who will now become VP-Marketing and Sales of BNSF Logistics. A spokesman said that MRS would continue to operate as a unit of BNSF Logistics, the latter based in Springdale, AR. (ffd: Dallas Business Journal)
(TUE) The New York Transit Museum reopened to the public. The museum, which is operated by the New York City Transit Authority and showcases both historic and contemporary exhibits related to the city's bus and subway services, had been closed for the past 2 years for renovation. The museum is located in a subway station abandoned years ago at Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn. (ffd: New York Times)
(TUE) British Prime Minister Tony Blair presided at a ceremonial opening of the first half of Britain's new high-speed rail line for Channel Tunnel trains. This first portion of the line, operating between the Tunnel near Dover and County Kent and totaling 46 miles in length, will start service on September 28. The remaining portion, from County Kent and to include tunneling under the suburbs and city of London to a terminus at St. Pancreas Station, remains under construction and is projected to open in 2007. (ffd: Agence France-Presse)
(WED) 6 unions representing Amtrak workers announced plans for a 1 day work stoppage on October 3 to protest the U.S. Congress's failure so far to approve Amtrak's FY2004 appropriations request of $1.812 billion. A spokesman for the unions said that they also wanted to use the occasion to call the public's attention to Amtrak's "chronic underfunding." However, a spokesman for Amtrak said that it would seek an injunction against the planned stoppage. (ffd: NARP)
(THU) Railroads made emergency preparations as Hurricane Isabel came ashore near Cape Hatteras, NC. as a Category 2 hurricane. Norfolk Southern held trains normally scheduled to move into eastern Virginia and North Carolina and curtailed operations in storm-affected areas. CSX halted operations on and removed locomotives from all CSX lines east of its Richmond, VA. to Jacksonville, Fl. main lines. Related to CSX's actions, Amtrak suspended service between the Northeast and Florida. Amtrak also operated reduced service on its Northeast Corridor Line and suspended Keystone service west of Philadelphia, PA. due to many downed trees on its Harrisburg Line. Washington, DC.'s Metro suspended bus and subway service on Thursday and commuter rail operators MARC and VRE suspended service on Thursday and Friday. (ffd: NARP, wire services)
(THU) Australian public officials presided at a ceremony marking the linking of the newly constructed rail line between the cities of Darwin and Alice Springs with the existing rail line between Alice Springs and Adelaide. When completed later this year, the lines will form a north-south transcontinental rail route across Australia. The new line is expected to open for freight service next January and for passenger service next February. (ffd: Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
(MON) For the week ending September 13, U.S. carload rail traffic was unchanged from the comparable week last year, up 0.1 percent in the East, but down 0.1 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included coke up 40.2 percent, clay and glass products up 10.8 percent and pulp and paper products up 6.1 percent; notable traffic decreases included metallic ores down 18.5 percent and non-grain farm products down 10.8 percent. Also for the week ending September 13, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 3.1 percent, totaling 206,943 units, a new weekly U.S. record. Also for the week, Canadian carload rail traffic was down 1.2 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 1.5 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 9.4 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 0.3 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through September 13, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 0.3 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 5.2 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was down 1.4 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 7.8 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 0.3 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 21.0 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) Pursuant to an earlier agreement between them, Union Pacific granted Burlington Northern Santa Fe trackage rights on UP's Corpus Christi Subdivision for the purpose of accessing the new Toyota plant near San Antonio, TX. (ffd: STB)
(MON) The SWKR Railroad filed to abandon approximately 20 miles of line between Curtis, AZ. and Charleston, AZ. (ffd: STB)
(THU) The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced the acquisition, from CSX, of approximately 2 miles of line in East Braintree, MA. The line segment will be used for the eventual extension of Greenbush commuter rail line service to the Massachusetts communities of Weymouth, Hingham, Cohasset and Scituate. (ffd: RT&S)
(MON) The Bush Administration nominated Robert Crandall, Louis Thompson and Floyd Hall to fill vacancies on the Amtrak Board of Directors. Mr. Crandall is a former chairman and CEO of American Airlines. Mr. Thompson was employed with the U.S. Department of Transportation and involved with railroad matters there from the late 1960's through 1986, and is most recently with the World Bank. Mr. Hall is from a merchandising career and is also a prominent Republican Party fundraiser. (ffd: NARP)
Compiled by Dave Mears
(NOTE: The expression "ffd" at the end of a news item means "for
further details" and usually represents what is believe to be the most
helpful news resource if a reader wants more information on a particular item.)
(SUN) A passenger train and a freight train collided head-on in the southern African nation of Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia. The crash killed at least 46 persons and injured at least 64 others. Officials were still investigating the cause at press time, but noted that the signals on the line had, for several months, been operating improperly. (ffd: wire services)
(TUE) The Bush Administration called for a FY2004 budget of $900 million for Amtrak, approximately one-half of what Amtrak projects it will need in that fiscal year. The Administration's statement continued previous calls for ending federal funding for long-distance train services, with these services either being discontinued or sustained with state support. In response, an Amtrak spokesman said that "it remains our position that maintaining a national network of trains is a federal responsibility and we're committed to preserving that network." (ffd: NARP)
(WED) The Connecticut Department of Transportation renewed its commitment to rehabilitating the 10 bar cars still in service on the Metro North Commuter Railroad. In a statement related to CDOT's announcement, Commuter Council Vice Chairman Jim Cameron, who had campaigned to eliminate the bar cars and have them converted to high-capacity coaches, said "I'm astounded that anytime anyone talks about the bar cars, there is a tremendous human cry from the people who use them." (ffd: Stamford Advocate)
(WED) Amtrak announced a 3 year agreement with hotels.com under which Amtrak reservation agents will transfer customers interested in lodging to hotels.com booking agents. An Amtrak spokesman said that the new agreement will allow Amtrak customers who express interest in hotel accommodations in the more than 500 cities served by Amtrak to procure them with a single telephone call. (ffd: Amtrak)
(THU) The U.S. Transportation Security Administration, through the U.S. Department of Transportation, issued temporary regulations requiring security checks of Canadian truck and rail operators carrying explosives into the U.S. Under the temporary regulations, explosive carriers must register with the Canadian government's Transport Canada agency, which will then conduct background checks on the carriers, their customers, truck drivers and train crews. The regulations are temporary pending settlement by the U.S. and Canada of comprehensive permanent regulations regarding background checks on individuals transporting hazardous materials across the border. (ffd: USDOT)
(THU) Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern announced expansion of their joint expedited intermodal rail services. Expanding upon earlier introduced southbound expedited services to Mexico, UP and NS said that they would now introduce similar services northbound, from Mexico and Laredo, TX. to selected eastern and southeastern U.S. cities. (ffd: UP Corp.)
(THU) The U.S. Surface Transportation Board announced that it would hear public comments February 27 on its efforts to expedition resolution of rail rate challenges considered under stand-alone cost methodology. An STB spokesman said that the hearing, to be held at STB offices in Washington, DC., would consider existing and new proposals to expedite resolution. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Kansas City Southern announced the opening of a new transloading terminal in Baton Rouge, LA. and the expansion of 2 existing transloading terminals, one at Spiro, OK. and the other at Jackson, MS. A KCS spokesman said that the Baton Rouge terminal will primarily handle plastics and chemicals, that the Spiro terminal primarily handles phosphates and forest products and that the Jackson terminal, which is situated on 55 acres, handles all food grade commodities, fertilizers, dry bulk and liquid commodities, lumber and steel. (ffd: Railway Age)
(THU) For the week ending February 1, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 0.6 percent from the comparable week last year, down 1.1 percent in the East and down 0.1 percent in the West. Also for the week, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 13.5 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 3.5 percent and Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 20.6 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the month of January, 2003, U.S. carload rail was down 0.1 percent when compared with January, 2002. This January versus last January, notable traffic increases included metallic ores up 38.5 percent, coke up 19.7 percent, metals and metal products up 14.3 percent and chemicals up 5.8 percent; notable traffic decreases included coal down 6.5 percent and grain down 4.5 percent. Also for the month of January, 2003, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 11.2 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was down 1.0 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 17.6 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's rail traffic was up 21.1 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 47.2 percent, all when ranked with January, 2002. (ffd: AAR)
(FRI) Canadian National-Illinois Central filed to abandon approximately 3 miles of line in Hattiesburg, MS. (ffd: STB)
(WED) U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta appointed Martin Whitmer Deputy Chief of Staff of USDOT. Mr. Whitmer replaces Vincent Taylor, who last month because the Assistant Secretary for Administration at USDOT. (ffd: USDOT)
(FRI) Montana Rail Link appointed Thomas J. Walsh President and CEO. Mr. Walsh, who had been MRL's EVP, succeeds K. Watts, who has announced plans to retire at the end of 2003. (ffd: ASLRRA)
(FRI) London, England's London Underground subway system appointed Tim O'Toole Managing Director. Mr. O'Toole, an attorney, was president of Conrail from the time of its takeover by CSX and Norfolk Southern in August, 1998 until its dissolution in May, 1999 and continued on as president of the Conrail remnant terminal company, Shared Assets, from June, 1999 until his resignation in early 2001. (ffd: BBC News)
Compiled by Dave Mears
(NOTE: The expression "ffd" at the end of a news item means "for
further details" and usually represents what is believe to be the most
helpful news resource if a reader wants more information on a particular item.)
(SUN) The New York City subway system suffered an on-duty employee fatality. The employee, a subway train conductor whose name was not immediately released, was reportedly leaning out of her train's window at the A Line's Aqueduct-North Conduit Avenue Station when she was struck in the head by a fence post at the end of the station platform. (ffd: New York Times)
(MON) A Norfolk Southern freight train derailed 29 cars at Rocky Ridge, OH. There were no injuries in the derailment, the cause of which was still under investigation at press time. The derailment forced the temporary rerouting of some Norfolk Southern and Amtrak trains. (ffd: Canton Repository)
(WED) On CNN's "Moneyline" program this date, a poll was presented that revealed that 84 percent of those responding favored an annual federal appropriation of at least $2 billion to Amtrak to sustain and improve intercity passenger rail services. CNN noted that the poll was not scientific and reflected only the opinions of those Internet users who chose to participate in the poll. (ffd: CNN)
(THU) In a speech at Chemical Week Magazine's Transportation and Distribution Conference in New Orleans, LA., Basell North America President Chuck Platz criticized U.S. railroads for exercising "monopoly power" over captive shippers. Mr. Platz went on to say that chemical industry leaders and "captive shipper officials" believe that a dialogue will lead to solutions, but added that he believes the federal government will also need to play a role because "the Staggers Act helped foster the current rail-shipper environment." (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(THU) A Canadian Pacific freight train derailed 27 cars near White River, Ontario. There were no injuries in the derailment, the cause of which was still under investigation at press time. The derailment forced the detouring of some CPR trains onto CN's line from Thunder Bay to Sudbury, ON. (ffd: Railpace)
(THU) Officials of Washington, DC.'s Metro subway system said that, pending full board approval, they will install a public toilet in the Huntington station for a one year trial use. The toilet will be a self-cleaning, single-stall unit. Officials added that Huntington Station, which is on the system's Yellow Line, was selected because many passengers using the station have had a long bus or train ride. (ffd: wire services)
(FRI) Amtrak announced that it would close its Chicago Reservations Center effective December 31, 2003, due to increased use of its Internet site and its voice-response-actuated system having reduced manual call volume. Amtrak said that its excess capacity now roughly equals capacity at the Chicago center, whereas closing one of its other 2 centers, in Philadelphia, PA. or Riverside, Ca., would leave it with inadequate capacity. (ffd: Amtrak)
(FRI) The U.S. Customs Service was reported to be considering new rules that would require Canadian transport companies to file cargo data with customs officials prior to the cargo being loaded. The proposed new rules would require Canadian truckers and railways to electronically submit loading data up to 24 hours before the load crosses the Canada-U.S. border. A spokesman for the Railway Association of Canada, Bruce Burrows, said that the rules couldn't be met because rail shippers can't always plan that far in advance. (ffd: Toronto Globe and Mail)
(FRI) VIA Rail Canada announced that it would operate special gourmet trains on 3 Fridays during the Montreal, PQ. High Lights Festival. The trains, which will operate between Toronto, ON. and Montreal on February 14, 21 and 28, will feature meals in the dining car prepared by a chef from the acclaimed Institute de Tourisme et d'Hotellerie du Quebec. (ffd: VIA Rail Canada)
(THU) For the week ending January 18, U. S. carload rail traffic was down 1.9 percent from the comparable week last year. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included non-grain farm products up 42.3 percent, metallic ores up 41.8 percent and metals up 17.2 percent; notable traffic decreases included nonmetallic minerals down 11.7 percent, coal down 10.1 percent and grain down 6.4 percent. Also for the week ending January 18, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 12.4 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was down 2.5 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 13.0 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was up 32.8 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 50.5 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through January 18, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 1.9 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 10.6 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was down 2.3 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 28.2 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was up 17.2 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 34.6 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
STATS CONTINUED - 4TH QTR., 2002 RESULTS - PART 1:
(TUE) Burlington Northern Santa Fe reported fourth quarter net income of $202 million, compared with $177 million in the fourth quarter last year. BNSF further reported fourth quarter revenues of $2.30 billion, unchanged from the fourth quarter last year. BNSF's fourth quarter operating ratio was 80.8 percent, slightly worsened from the 79.4 percent in the fourth quarter last year. In reporting results, BNSF noted having taken a special workforce reduction related charge in the fourth quarter last year. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(TUE) (Note: Figures quoted are in Canadian dollars.) Canadian National reported fourth quarter net income of $22 million, compared with $296 million in the fourth quarter last year. CN further reported fourth quarter revenues of $1.55 billion, compared with $1.53 billion in the fourth quarter last year. CN's fourth quarter operating ratio was 68.3 percent, slightly worsened from 66.1 percent in the fourth quarter last year. In reporting results, CN noted higher expenses for the full year attributable to "weakness in Canadian grain and coal revenues, inclusion of a full year of expenses attributable to the operations of Wisconsin Central, higher expenses associated with the movement of merchandise traffic, special charges associated with workforce reduction and a change in the company's estimated liability for U.S. personal injury and other claims." (ffd: CN Corp.)
(WED) Union Pacific reported fourth quarter net income of $378 million, compared with $275 million in the fourth quarter last year. CN further reported fourth quarter revenues of $3.17 billion, compared with $3.00 billion in the fourth quarter last year. UP's fourth quarter operating ratio was 81.7 percent, slightly worsened from 81.3 percent in the fourth quarter last year. In reporting results, UP noted that it would abolish approximately 1,000 positions this year, mainly through attrition, and that it expected it would need approximately 200 fewer locomotive engineers this year as a result of introducing locomotive remote control technology in its rail yards. (ffd: UP Corp.)
(TUE) The North Carolina & Virginia Railroad filed to lease, from Norfolk Southern, and operate approximately 4 miles of line between Chesapeake, VA. and Butts, VA. (ffd: STB)
(WED) The State of New Hampshire filed to acquire, from the Maine Central Railroad, approximately 9 miles of line between Whitefield, NH. and Gilman, VT. (ffd: STB)
(WED) Kansas City Southern appointed Ronald Russ EVP & CFO. Mr. Russ was previously KCS's SVP & CFO and was earlier Wisconsin Central's EVP & CFO. (ffd: KCS Corp.)
(WED) The Bush Administration announced that it will nominate Michael Schwartz as Chairman and Neutral Member of the Railroad Retirement Board. Mr. Schwartz was previously the director of the Illinois State Department of Central Management Services. If approved by the U.S. Senate, Mr. Schwartz will replace Cheryl Thomas, whose term has expired. (ffd: UTU News)
(THU) Regional and shortline conglomerate RailAmerica announced the retirement of Jack Conser as RailAmerica's SVP-Transportation. Mr. Conser, who had been with RailAmerica since 1992, started his career in 1961 with the Reading Railroad. (ffd: Railpace)
Compiled by Dave Mears
(NOTE: The expression "ffd" at the end of a news item means "for
further details" and usually represents what is believe to be the most
helpful news resource if a reader wants more information on a particular item.)
(MON) New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority scheduled public hearings on its plan to raise the New York City bus and subway base fare from $1.50 to $2.00 by this coming April. An MTA spokesman said that its plans also included the closing of many more token booths, adding that the percentage of bus and subway riders still using tokens had dropped to 9 percent, with all other riders using farecards. The fare increase and token booth closures are part of the MTA's efforts to close a projected $1.7 billion budget gap next year. (ffd: New York Daily News)
(MON) CSX became a charter partner in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new "Smartways Transport" program. An EPA spokesman said that the new program is a voluntary partnership between the EPA and major U.S. corporations that aims to cut by 2012 significant amounts of air pollution and heat-trapping emissions from surface freight carriers. (ffd: CSX Corp., wire services)
(MON) A Boston, MA. area rail commuter was arrested after he stood in front of a commuter train he hadn't been permitted to board. Ruben Guastavino, 20, was told he couldn't board the train at the Ayer, MA. station; he then stood in front of the train, which prevented it from proceeding until police were called. Mr. Guastavino was charged with several offenses, including railroad malicious stopping, railroad obstruction and endangering the public. (ffd: Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise)
(MON) The National Holistic Institute of Emeryville, CA. began offering neck and shoulder massages aboard Amtrak Capitol Corridor Train No. 538, operating between Sacramento, CA. and Auburn, CA. The new service, which costs the recipient $1 per minute, will be available on the train Mondays through Thursdays through February 6. (ffd: NARP)
(TUE) Union Pacific announced that it would seek to reduce company costs by approximately 20 percent, but over this and forthcoming years. "There's no target date as to when there will be that reduction in expenditures of 20 percent", said UP Spokesman John Bromley. The previous day, on Monday, UP abolished 53 positions in its Information Technology Department and said that it expected to make more cuts in that department in the near future. (ffd: Ames Tribune)
(TUE) The U.S. Federal Railroad Administration announced a new Internet-based application and database designed to aid cost-benefit analyses of highway-rail grade crossing investments. An FRA spokesman said that the new application, accessible at GradeDec.Net, may be used to evaluate crossing improvements that include grade separations and crossing closures. (ffd: BofLENews)
(TUE) The Italian Government approved plans to construct a combination road and railway bridge across the Straits of Messina, linking the island of Sicily with mainland Italy. A government spokesman said that the bridge will have 2 railway tracks in the center and a 3 lane highway on each side, and that its suspension span will be the longest in the world. The bridge will require 6 years to construct. (ffd: Iain Frew)
(TUE) The European Union parliament called for EU governments to end national rail monopolies by 2008 and then open up their rail services to competition. However, the EU's call still faces further debate by European transport ministers, including those representing Belgium, France and Luxembourg, who have already gone on record as opposing such plans. (ffd: wire services)
(WED) U.S. Transportation Security Administration Chief James Loy said that the TSA will start turning greater attention to securing railways, buses, ports and pipelines. Mr. Loy said that the agency had been focusing on meeting 36 specific deadlines over the past year to improve airport security and, with those deadlines having been met, the TSA will now commence programs aimed at improving security on these other transport modes. (ffd: Washington Post)
(WED) The Association of American Railroads released its 19th annual edition of "Railroad Ten-Year Trends". The publication, which examines railroad data compiled between 1992 and 2001, is available by mail, fax or via the AAR's website and costs $50 per copy for non-AAR member companies and $50 per copy for AAR member companies. (ffd: AAR)
(THU) The full U.S. Senate approved $1.2 billion in FY2003 funding for Amtrak. The approval rebuffed efforts the previous week in the Senate Appropriations Committee to cut by one-third this funding amount, which Amtrak has said is the minimum amount necessary to sustain all services for the entire fiscal year. Those voting for the $1.2 billion funding included Senator McCain of Arizona, who has been a longtime critic of Amtrak, especially its long-distance services. The funding still requires approval by the U.S. House of Representatives, as part of an omnibus federal appropriations bill, before becoming law. (ffd: wire services)
(THU) The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials released 2 reports on the state of rail transportation. The first, entitled "Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation", notes that passenger trains serve a basic transportation role in many markets throughout the U.S. and are less susceptible to weather or emergency disruptions than are other modes. The second, entitled "Freight Rail Bottom Line Report", notes that $175 billion to $195 billion will ideally be needed over the next 20 years to maintain rail share of total freight and that the industry will be unable to raise an estimated $53 billion of that total. Both reports are available through the AASHTO's website bookstore. (ffd: NARP)
(THU) For the week ending January 11, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 0.7 percent from the comparable week last year, down 0.4 percent in the East and down 1.0 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included non-grain farm products up 61.2 percent, coke up 31.5 percent and metallic ores up 11.3 percent; notable traffic decreases included grain down 6.8 percent, primary forest products down 6.8 percent and coal down 5.3 percent. Also for the week ending January 11, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 9.4 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was down 2.2 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 20.3 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was up 7.1 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 271.8 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through January 11, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 3.7 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 9.6 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was down 2.2 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 21.2 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was up 9.8 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 23.8 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(THU) Burlington Northern Santa Fe filed to abandon approximately 1 mile of line in Seattle, WA. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Canadian Pacific Railway announced that it had sold its Edmunston Spur Line, running between Grand Falls, NB. and St. Leonard, NB and totaling approximately 8 miles in length, to Canadian National Railway. (ffd: BofLE News)
(FRI) Kansas City Southern announced that it had negotiated trackage rights over Canadian National-Illinois Central between Jackson, MS. and Mobile, AL. and, effective immediately, would begin serving traffic to and from the Port of Mobile, AL. (ffd: KCS Corp.)
(FRI) The Wisconsin & Southern Railroad filed to acquire, from Canadian Pacific-Soo Line, the Waterloo Spur Line between Watertown, MI. and Madison, WI., totaling approximately 33 miles. In its filing, WSOR noted that it leased and been operating this line since 1998. (ffd: STB)
(MON) U.S. Surface Transportation Board Chairman Roger Nober appointed John M. Scheib, Esq., as Chief of Staff and Counsel to the STB Chairman. Mr. Scheib was most recently counsel to the Subcommittee on Railroads of the House of Representatives' Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. (ffd: AAR)
(TUE) The Bush Administration announced the elevation of National Transportation Safety Board member John Hammerschmidt to Vice Chairman of the NTSB. Mr. Hammerschmidt replaces Carol Carmody, whose term as Vice Chairman has expired. (ffd: wire services)
(TUE) A. Scheffer Lang died in St. Paul, MO. at Age 77. Mr. Lang was the first U.S. Federal Railroad Administrator and was later Assistant to the President for Staff Studies at the Association of American Railroads. (ffd: Railway Age)
Compiled by Dave Mears
(NOTE: The expression "ffd" at the end of a news item means "for
further details" and usually represents what is believe to be the most
helpful news resource if a reader wants more information on a particular item.)
(MON) Amtrak announced a rollback for selected coach travel of up to 25 percent, as well as a winter travel promotion, which may be combined with the fare rollback, allowing companions to travel for free or a 25 percent discount if traveling alone. The rollback and promotion are available on most Amtrak long-distance routes and not between Northeast Corridor cities. Noting the effect of the sluggish economy, an Amtrak spokesman said that Amtrak ridership was down slightly last year, totaling 23.4 million passenger in 2002 versus 23.5 million passengers in 2001. (ffd: Amtrak, wire services)
(WED) New York State Transportation Commissioner Michael Boardman announced that Amtrak had now agreed to put 2 Rohr Turboliner trainsets, being rebuilt with New York State funds, into service within 90 days. Mr. Boardman had earlier criticized Amtrak for delays in accepting the trainsets, which are targeted for service between Albany, NY. and New York, NY., and for being unable to fulfill earlier commitments to make improvements allowing further increases in train speeds between the 2 cities. The announcement followed a meeting between Mr. Boardman and Amtrak President David Gunn the previous Monday. (ffd: Albany Business Review)
(WED) The New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that the estimated cost of the Manhattan East Side Access Project had increased from $4.35 billion to $5.27 billion. The project, which will utilize the 63rd St. rail tunnels under the East River, will allow Long Island Rail Road trains to reach Grand Central Terminal and use available station capacity there. An MTA spokesman said that were looking to secure 50 percent of the funding from the federal government and then complete the project by 2011. (ffd: Newsday)
(THU) The Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railroad began operation of the former Bangor & Aroostook Rail System. The MM&A is a subsidiary of Rail World, which had successfully bid for the bankrupt B&A's rail assets. (ffd: Railway Age)
(THU) CSX announced a new incentive program aimed at boosting traffic from its regional and shortline rail partners. The new program will award $10,000 to the one regional and $2,500 to the one or two shortlines that generate the highest percentage increase in carloads that they handle with CSX in 2003 over 2002. CSX said that it expects to make the awards at its annual regional and shortline workshop to be held in Jacksonville, FL. in late November or early December. (ffd: CSX Corp.)
(FRI) A federal arbitrator ruled that operating personnel represented by the United Transportation Union had the right to operate locomotive remote control devices in rail switch yards. The ruling arbitrates a dispute between the UTU and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the latter claiming the exclusive right of its members to operate locomotives. In a statement, BofLE International President Don Hahs said that they were "outraged at the decision", adding that it would "compromise safety and lead to widespread job losses." (ffd: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, BoLE News)
(SAT) Amtrak announced that it would discontinue its "Kentucky Cardinal" train, operating between Indianapolis, IN. and Louisville, KY., on or about July 9. In making the announcement, Amtrak President David Gunn said that the train had been started principally to carry express boxcar traffic, which Amtrak had recently announced was losing money and would no longer be carried. Mr. Gunn added that the discontinuance was "not a precursor to more extensive Amtrak route cuts." (ffd: NARP, Railpace)
(THU) For the week ending January 4, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 9.4 percent from the comparable week last year, up 11.2 percent in the East and up 8.2 percent in the West. Also for the week ending January 4, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 9.8 percent, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 2.0 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 22.4 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was up 13.6 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 47.4 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year. (ffd: AAR)
(WED) Union Pacific filed to abandon approximately 1 mile of its Eldora Junction Line in Hardin County, IA. (ffd: STB)
(THU) Burlington Northern Santa Fe filed for overhead trackage rights between Bush, OR. and Albany, OR., a distance of approximately 28 miles. This line is leased by BNSF to the Portland & Western Railroad, which operates local freight service on the line. (ffd: STB)
(THU) Norfolk Southern filed to abandon approximately 3 miles of line between Williamson, WV. and Cinderella, WV. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Union Pacific filed to abandon approximately 2 miles of its Menomonie Industrial Lead in Dunn County, WI. (ffd: STB)
(MON) Kansas City Southern appointed Larry Stevenson SVP-Marketing & Sales and Robert M. Cleator VP-Sales. (ffd: KCS Corp.)
WED) Edward M. Emmett, president of the National Industrial Transportation League, announced his intention to resign on or about May 6. Mr. Emmett has headed the NITL since 1992 and was a notable critic of service disruptions and failures that followed the takeovers of Southern Pacific and Conrail in the 1990's. (ffd: Railpace)
(THU) Burlington Northern Santa Fe announced the following appointments: Jeff Wright AVP-Locomotive Distribution; Michael Shircliff as GM-Southern California Division; John Klaus as GM-Gulf Division; David Freeman as General Superintendent-Transportation-Southeast Lines; Sam Sexhus as General Superintendent-Transportation; Marc Stephens as General Director-Transportation-Gulf Division; and Robert McConaughey as General Director-Transportation-Chicago Division. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(FRI) Kenneth Bauer announce his intention to retire as President of the Long Island Rail Road later this year. Mr. Bauer has headed the LIRR for the past 3 years. (ffd: New York Times)
(FRI) Union Pacific Chairman & CEO Dick Davidson was named "Railroader of the Year 2002" by Railway Age Magazine. In making the announcement, Railway Age Editor William Vantuono said that "in the face of a sputtering economy, the Dick Davidson-led Union Pacific posted one of its best years ever in its 140-year history." (ffd: Railway Age)