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 tsunami wave struck and derailed a crowded passenger train near Telwatta in the island nation of Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon. The wave's impact crushed and drowned at least 802 passengers onboard, possibly more. The train was enroute from Sri Lanka's capital of Columbo to the coastal city of Galle at the time the wave struck. The number killed here is approximately the number that died in the other greatest single railway disaster of all time, which occurred June 6, 1981, when a passenger train ran off a bridge in Bihar, India, killing at least 800 passengers onboard. (ffd: wire services)
(MON) The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board announced that it would reduce its 2005 Tier 2 tax rate from 4.9 percent to 4.4 percent for railroad employees and from 13.1 percent to 12.6 percent for railroad employers. A RRB spokesman said that the tax rate reduction was the result of a gain in Tier 2 assets, which in turn resulted from having invested a portion of those assets in non-U.S. Treasury securities, as is allowed by the Railroad Retirement Act of 2001. The spokesman added that the Tier 1 tax rate which remain at 7.65 percent, matching the Social Security tax rate. (ffd: BNSF Today)
(MON) The National Mediation Board reminded that it was seeking public comment on proposed rule changes governing grievance arbitration in the railroad industry. An NMB spokesman said that the changes, originally proposed on August 12, 2004, relate to the possible establishment of a fee schedule for certain arbitration services. The spokesman added that public comment would be accepted through January 11 and that the full text of the proposed changes was available on the NMB's website. (ffd: BofLE, NMB)
(MON) Union Pacific announced that they and Sacramento County, CA. police had arrested an alleged prolific graffiti vandal. A spokesman said that the suspect, Jonathan Bushaw, is believed to be the graffiti vandal known as "Crooks". The spokesman added that a search of Mr. Bushaw's premises turned up a painter's mask, 6 cameras and more than 100 cans of spray paint. Graffiti on rail cars has been an increasing industry problem, because of the broad audience offered to graffiti "taggings" as the cars move across the country. "It's getting to be uncommon to find a rail car that doesn't have a [graffiti] tag on it,"said UP Special Agent Blair Geddes. (ffd: Sacramento Bee)
(MON) Officials of Kansas City, MO.'s renovated Union Station announced that they were scaling back plans to operate a railroad museum at the station. A spokesman for the station's board of directors said that it had voted 6 months ago to acquire 11 antique rail cars and a vast collection of memorabilia packed inside them from a Milwaukee, WI.-based collector, but that they now planned to fix up only 5 of the cars and sell the other 6, along with some of the duplicate memorabilia. The spokesman added that the museum would likely open by the end of 2006, becoming one more of the approximately 225 railroad museums in North America. (ffd: St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
(TUE) A report issued by a noted auto industry forecasting firm predicted that Toyota would unseat Daimler-Chrysler as the third-leading U.S. seller of cars and trucks by the end of the decade. The report, issued by CSM Worldwide, stated that Toyota, including the Lexus and Scion brands, would account for 14.1 percent of U.S. market share by 2009, slightly ahead of the 14.0 percent predicted for Daimler-Chrysler. The report added that GM and Ford would still remain Nos. 1 and 2 by 2009, with a U.S. market share of 25.0 percent and 19.2 percent respectively. (ffd: Philadelphia Inquirer)
(TUE) China announced that it had begun converting the 126-mile Shanghai-Hangzhou rail line, one of the world's last mainline steam operations, to electric operation. A government spokesman said that work to electrify the line was expected to be complete by mid-2006. The spokesman added that, when complete, the line would be the first double-track electrified railway in the Yangtze River Delta area. (ffd: Shanghai Daily)
(WED) The Wall Street Journal reported on the work by Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific to complete the double-tracking of their respective lines between the Chicago, IL. gateway and Los Angeles, CA., whose ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the nation's busiest freight entry point. Comparing it loosely to the race approximately 140 years ago to complete the first transcontinental rail line, the report noted that BNSF was way ahead of UP, with approximately 90 percent of BNSF's Transcon Line now double-tracked versus approximately 30 percent of UP's line, but that UP was working to narrow the gap, having acquired an additional track-laying machine system last spring that BNSF had planned to buy. (ffd: Wall Street Journal)
(THU) The American Civil Liberties Union announced that it was in discussions with New Jersey Transit to ensure that homeless persons were not discriminated against at NJT train and bus stations. An ACLU spokesman said that they had undertaken the discussions following the arrest last January of a homeless woman at NJT's Hoboken, NJ. rail station on trespassing charges, later dismissed. An NJT spokesman noted that NJT regulations do not prohibit anyone from occupying a single seat in a station waiting room, adding that NJT would work to have its employees enforce its regulations and related policies uniformly to both its customers and the general public. (ffd: New York Newsday)
(THU) A Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train derailed 32 cars near Casselton, ND. The derailment blocked BNSF's main line through North Dakota Thursday into Friday, with the line being reopened approximately 7PM on Friday. The train, mainly open-top hopper cars carrying coal, had been enroute from Wyoming's Powder River Basin to Superior, WI. when it derailed. (ffd: wire services)
(THU) For the week ending December 25, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 7.0 percent from the comparable week last year (which also included the Christmas holiday), up 14.9 percent in the East and up 2.0 percent in the West. Notable traffic increases included crushed stone, sand and gravel up 32. 7 percent, lumber and wood products up 29.5 percent and nonmetallic minerals up 26.8 percent; notable traffic decreases included non-grain farm products down 31.0 percent and metallic ores down 7.7 percent. Also for the week ending December 25, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 25.7 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 18.6 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 19.2 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was up 30.3 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 72.7 percent.
For the period January 1 through December 25, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 2.9 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 10.3 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 6.9 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 0.6 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was up 4.3 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 10.1 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) The Indiana & Ohio Central Railroad granted the Indiana & Ohio Railway overhead trackage rights over approximately 28 miles of IOCR line between Springfield, OH. and Fayne, OH. According to the STB filing, the purpose of the trackage rights is to enable IORY to "provide more efficient and economical routings and service for traffic."(ffd: STB)
(MON) The Portland & Western Railroad filed to lease, from Union Pacific, and operate approximately 1 mile of line in the vicinity of Willsburg Jct., OR. (ffd: STB)
(TUE) Omni Trax's Kettle Falls International Railway filed to acquire, from Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and operate 1) approximately 30 miles of line between West Kettle Falls, WA. and the U.S.-Canadian border, and 2) approximately 29 miles of line between the U.S.-Canadian border and San Poil, WA. KFR also filed to lease, from BNSF, and operate 1) approximately 5 miles of line between Kettle Falls, WA. and West Kettle Falls, WA., and 2) approximately 79 miles of line between Chewelah, WA. and the U.S.-Canadian border. (ffd: AAR, STB)
(TUE) Watco's Mission Mountain Railroad began operation of 2 lines, 1) between Eureka, MT. and Stryker, MT., and 2) between Columbia Falls, MT. and Kalispell, MT. Both lines, which together total approximately 40 miles, are being leased from Burlington Northern Santa Fe. (ffd: Railway Track & Structures)
(WED) The State of South Dakota granted overhead trackage rights to the Dakota Southern Railway over the state-owned line between Mitchell, SD. and Sioux City, IA., totaling approximately 142 miles. According to the STB filing, the purpose of the trackage rights is to facilitate improved interchange of DSRC traffic. (ffd: STB)
(WED) Watco's Stillwater Central Railroad began operation of the line between Wheatland, OK. and Oklahoma City, OK. The line, which totals approximately 15 miles, is being leased from Burlington Northern Santa Fe. (ffd: Railway Track & Structures)
(FRI) The Central New York Railroad took over operations and maintenance of the former Erie main line between Binghamton, NY. and Port Jervis, NY. The line is being leased under a 20-year agreement with Norfolk Southern, which will retain overhead trackage rights over the line. The CNY is controlled by Delaware Otsego, the Cooperstown, NY.-based parent company of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway. (ffd: Trains)
None to Report for 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) The U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General issued his annual report on the state of Amtrak. In his report, Inspector General Kenneth Mead noted the railroad’s deferring of maintenance, stating that “the existing system is not sustainable at current funding levels…the total funding Amtrak receives from all sources is not sufficient to maintain the current system in a state of good repair.” The report went on to suggest discontinuing especially unprofitable long-distance trains to focus instead on shorter-distance corridor services, a strategy which industry analysts have viewed as politically tenuous. (ffd: NARP, New York Times, wire services)
(MON) The Pennsylvania state legislature adjourned without providing additional transit funding. As a result, Philadelphia’s SEPTA issued 1,400 initial layoff notices and said that it would have to increase fares up to 25 percent and curtail weekend services by late January. Pittsburgh’s PAT announced plans to cut 500 employees, increase its base fare from $1.75 to $2.50, curtail one-third of its bus routes and end all Saturday, Sunday and holiday service. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, formerly the mayor of Philadelphia, was reported to be considering new solutions to provide additional funding prior to the planned service reductions being implemented. (ffd: Philadelphia Inquirer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
(MON) The Federal Railroad Administration announced that it would again delay publishing its final ruling related to “quiet zone” highway-rail crossings. An FRA spokesman said that the delay was to allow additional time to consider the many public comments received related to the new rule, which would allow the blowing of locomotive horns to be banned by communities only at crossings equipped with certain warning and protection devices. The spokesman added that the new rule would now be issued in January and become effective April 1. (ffd: FRA)
(MON) A Norfolk Southern freight train derailed 30 cars near Elko, GA. The train, principally carrying automobiles on multilevel cars, had been operating on the NS main line between Macon, GA. and Valdosta, GA. An NS spokesman said that no one was injured in the derailment and that there were no hazardous material problems. (ffd: Macon Telegraph)
(MON) A European railway conference was held in Berlin, Germany. The conference was attended by over 200 representatives of European railroads, infrastructure companies and related industries. Conference business included presentations on strengthening European railroads to help create a sustainable transport system attendant with plans to enlarge the European Union. Commented Philippe Roumeguere, CEO of the International Union of Railways, “It is clear that there is a global need for ambitious action plans and decisions related to railways.” (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(TUE) General Motors was reported to be close to selling its Electro-Motive Division. Under the reported sale terms, EMD would be jointly purchased by Greenbriar Equity Group, a $700 million equity fund, and Boston-based Berkshire Partners, a $3.5 billion buyout fund. The sale is reportedly contingent on the favorable conclusion of a new contract for employees represented by the United Auto Workers at EMD’s LaGrange, IL. plant. EMD, which GM has owned since the 1930s, is the world’s largest manufacture of diesel-electric locomotives, employing approximately 3,000 workers and with principal operations at LaGrange and London, ON. (ffd: Reuters, Railpace)
(TUE) Passenger rail operator Connex North America was awarded a 5-year contract to operate Southern California’s Metrolink commuter rail services. The award was made by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, which oversees and funds Metrolink. Metrolink operates 7 commuter rail routes serving greater Los Angeles, carrying approximately 40,000 passengers daily. Amtrak, which was eliminated from the contract bidding last month, will continue as operator until Connex takes over on July 1, 2005. (ffd: Metro Magazine)
(TUE) The U.S. Department of Transportation reported that railroad police were appropriately enforcing employee-related policies. A USDOT spokesman said that, out of 136,808 railroad police cases last year, employees were the subject of less than 1 percent, with two-thirds of those related to trespassing. The USDOT report had been requested by the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee in response to allegations by rail labor unions of improper use of railroad police to enforce personnel policies. (ffd: AAR)
(TUE) A Union Pacific freight derailed 3 locomotives and 25 cars near Notus, ID. A UP spokesman said that the train, principally made up of empty auto carriers and refrigerated boxcars, was enroute from North Platte, NE. to Hermiston, OR. when it derailed. The spokesman added that there were no injuries and no hazardous material problems. (ffd: Idaho Press-Tribune)
(WED) The congressional newsletter The Hill reported that 21 Republican congressmen who had written Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK.) in support of full funding for Amtrak had transportation funding for their district deleted by Mr. Istook from the recent omnibus appropriations bill. The newsletter reported that the deletion took the 21 congressmen by surprise, especially Rep. John McHugh (R-NY.), who reportedly “came close to physical blows” with Mr. Istook as a result. Mr. Istook, an Amtrak critic, is chairman of the House Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury and Independent Agencies. (ffd: The Hill)
(FRI) Indian Railways announced that it would work to restore the Rajasthan-Sindh rail link between India and Pakistan, which has been out of service since 1965. A railways spokesman said that restoration of service would include conversion of the line to a common gauge and that service was expected to start by October, 2005. Despite their respective countries being close to conflict in recent years related to territorial disputes over the Kashmir region, Indian and Pakistani railway officials have continued to work together to restore rail links at several points of crossing between the 2 nations. (ffd: Press Trust of India)
(THU) For the week ending November 20, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 2.5 percent from the comparable week last year, up 3.5 percent in the East and up 1.6 percent in the West. Volume totaled 33.2 billion ton-miles, a new weekly U.S. record. Notable traffic increases included metallic ores up 14.4 percent, lumber and wood products up 11.0 percent and coal up 6.4 percent; notable traffic decreases included motor vehicles and equipment down 11.1 percent, grain down 6.7 percent and non-grain farm products down 17.9 percent. Also for the week ending November 20, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 13.1 percent – and at 238,961 units, a new weekly U.S. record – Canadian carload rail traffic was down 2.6 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 0.9 percent, Mexico’s Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana’s carload rail traffic was down 4.2 percent and TFM’s intermodal rail traffic was up 24.1 percent.
For the period January 1 through November 20, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 2.8 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 9.8 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 7.1 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 0.2 percent, TFM’s carload rail traffic was up 3.5 percent and TFM’s intermodal rail traffic was up 8.1 percent. (ffd: AAR)
(TUE) The Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado Railroad filed to acquire, from Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and operate BNSF’s former Imperial Subdivision Line between Culbertson, NE. and Imperial, NE. and, also, BNSF’s former Wymore Subdivision Line between Franklin, NE. and Oxford Jct., NE., all totaling approximately 89 miles of line. (ffd: STB)
(WED) Canadian National and Union Pacific announced a series of “routing protocols,” including the following: traffic moving between Western Canadian and Texas will be blocked for interchange at Superior, WI.; traffic moving between Wisconsin, Arkansas and Texas will be blocked for interchange at Salem, IL.; and traffic moving between Eastern Canadian and the South-Central U.S. will be blocked for interchange at Memphis, TN. A spokesman for the 2 railroads said that changes will improve transit times for this traffic by bypassing the Chicago gateway. (ffd: CN Corp., UP Corp.)
(WED) Rio Valley Railroad filed to lease, from Union Pacific, and operate approximately 18 miles of line in and around Harlingen, TX. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) The Surface Transportation Board approved Union Pacific’s earlier filing to abandon approximately 4 miles of its San Jose Industrial Lead in Santa Clara County, CA. (ffd: STB)
(MON) GE Equipment and Rail Services appointed Tammee Thompson to head its new intermodal rail car services group. A GE spokesman said that Ms. Thompson would be responsible for initiatives including expanding GE’s presence in the Mexican intermodal market. (ffd: GE Corp., Progressive Railroading)
(WED) Amtrak appointed David Smith Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Smith was most recently CFO of the Tennessee Valley Authority. (ffd: Amtrak, 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.)
(SUN) While 2 CSX freight trains were passing each other near Little Falls, NY., cars on the first train derailed, which then caused cars on the second train to also derail. A total of 34 cars were derailed with no injuries reported. The accident closed CSX’s main line between Albany, NY. and Syracuse, NY. into Monday. Amtrak’s Empire Service trains using this line were also temporarily canceled (ffd: Trains)
(MON) Canadian Pacific Railway confirmed that it incurred an on-duty employee fatality on October 27. Christopher Lewis, Age 29 with approximately 1-1/2 years service, was killed while switching cars at Cambridge, ON. Burlington Northern Santa Fe also suffered an on-duty employee fatality on Monday. Brian Henry, Age 45 with approximately 6 months service, was killed when he stepped off his stopped eastbound freight train into the path of an approaching westbound freight train at Bowdoin, MT. Later in the week, Federal Railroad Administration Acting Administrator Betty Monro issued an “urgent safety message” noting that 7 railroad employees had been killed in on-duty accidents in the past 60 days and reminding railroads to continue carrying out the recommendations of FRA’s Switching Operations Fatality Analysis Working Group. (ffd: Progressive Railroading, UTU)
(MON) NBC’s Washington, DC. station WRC-TV reported that CSX had voluntarily begun rerouting hazardous material rail shipments away from the Washington area. The station said that this information had been furnished by 3 area congressman and had also been confirmed with officials of the Department of Homeland Security. CSX’s action follows publicized concerns, reported in last week’s WRR, that the sabotaged release of hazardous chemicals moved on CSX’s line skirting government and residential buildings in Southwest and Southeast Washington had the potential to kill or injure thousands. (ffd: WRC TV)
(MON) Amtrak’s issued its new system timetable effective this date. Among service changes going into effect is the increase, to 11, of Acela Express weekday roundtrips between New York, NY. and Boston, MA. Also effective are changes in Florida Service, with the “Palmetto” now operating between New York and Savannah, GA. only and on a daylight schedule, and the “Silver Star” again routed via Tampa, FL. Also this date, Amtrak said that it would begin strict enforcement of its baggage policy limiting each passenger to 2 pieces of carryon luggage and 3 pieces of checked luggage. (ffd: Amtrak)
(MON) Little Rock, AR. opened the first leg of its River Rail Streetcar Line. The new service initially operates over 2.5 miles of line between Little Rock and North Rock, with a planned future extension to Little Rock Airport. (ffd: NARP)
(TUE) Voters nationwide participated in the presidential election and also voted on 31 rail and transit-related initiatives at the state and regional level, reportedly the most ever presented on a single election day. In Florida, voters repealed their earlier passage of an amendment to the state’s constitution mandating construction of a high-speed passenger rail network. However, Denver, CO. area voters approved a sales tax increase to fund construction of more light rail lines, expansion of bus routes and creation of a commuter rail network, all over a 12-year period. Altogether, 24 of the 31 initiatives were passed. (ffd: NARP, Progressive Railroading)
(TUE) The Federal Railroad Administration proposed new standards of crashworthiness for new and rebuilt locomotives. The proposed standards include new anti-climbing features, collision posts, short-hood structures, under-frame structural improvements and strengthened external fuel tanks. An FRA spokesman said that the agency would accept public comment on its proposals through January 3, 2005. (ffd: Progressive Railroad, USDOT)
(TUE) An Amtrak passenger who had phoned in a bomb threatening the train on which he was riding was sentenced in Madison, WI. Michael Conwill, Age 35, of Anchorage, AK. was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison and also ordered to pay Amtrak $28,552 in restitution. Mr. Conwill testified that he made his July 6 threat from his mobile phone because he was angry at being served food on board that contained hot peppers, which he said he was allergic to. The sentencing judge also ordered Mr. Conwill to undergo a mental health evaluation while in prison. (ffd: UTU, wire services)
(WED) An empty Washington Metro subway train backed into another subway train with approximately 70 passengers aboard. Approximately 20 of its passengers were injured in the accident, which occurred on the system’s Red Line near its National Zoo station. The accident upended the rear car on the empty train and demolished about one-third of it. A Metro spokesman commended the operator of the impacted train, who warned passengers that it was about to be struck in time for them to brace and protect themselves. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. (ffd: wire services)
(WED) Canadian rail industry officials held their own version of the U.S. rail industry’s “Day On The Hill.” The event was held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. Organizers of the event said that they planned to promote the industry’s impact on the Canadian economy and environment to encourage lawmakers to draft “meaningful” rail legislation. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(THU) New York State’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority scaled back its earlier announced fare increases and service cuts, saying that they would now not need to be as drastic as earlier feared. An MTA spokesman said that the $2 base bus and subway fare would remain, but that the price of 7-day and 30-day Metrocards would rise and that commuter rail fares would increase by about 5 percent. The spokesman also said that the planned layoff of over 1,000 employees would be canceled (ffd: New York Times, UTU)
(FRI) Burlington Northern Santa Fe announced that they had begun testing a new track inspection reporting system. The new system utilizes a disconnected laptop-based tool that allows track inspectors to evaluate and record track status and then upload the collected data at the end of their shift. Called the BNSF Track Inspection Management System, it was developed jointly by BNSF’s Engineering and Technology Departments, in collaboration with representatives of the Federal Railroad Administration. (ffd: AAR)
(FRI) The Discovery/Times cable network announced the airing of a world premiere documentary entitled “Trouble On The Tracks.” A Discovery/Times spokesman said that the program would cover issues of current interest related to rail-highway grade crossing and rail trespasser fatalities, and is based on a recent series of New York Times articles by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Walt Bogdanich. The show will air on the Discovery/Times Channel at 9 PM on Sunday, November 14. (ffd: Discovery/Times Channel)
(THU) For the week ending October 30, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 1.8 percent from the comparable week last year, up 0.8 percent in the East and up 2.6 percent in the West. Also for the week ending October 30, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 12.4 percent – and at 235,876 units, was also a new weekly U.S. record. Finally for the week ending October 30, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 0.2 percent and Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 3.5 percent.
For the month of October, 2004, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 1.9 percent, compared with October, 2003. Notable traffic increases included metallic ores up 17.1 percent, crushed stone and gravel up 7.4 percent and coal up 1.5 percent; notable traffic decreases included grain down 6.4 percent and motor vehicles and equipment down 5.5 percent. Also for the month of October, 2004, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 10.8 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 3.1 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 1.7 percent, Mexico’s Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana’s carload rail traffic was up 11.8 percent and TFM’s intermodal rail traffic was up 30.8 percent.
For the period January 1 through October 30, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 2.9 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 9.6 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 7.6 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 0.3 percent, TFM’s carload rail traffic was up 3.2 percent and TFM’s intermodal rail traffic was up 7.0 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) The Surface Transportation Board granted emergency service authority to the Arkansas Midland Railroad to allow it to continuing operating approximately 40 miles of Union Pacific line between Dermott, AR. and Warren, AR. The authority allows AKMD to continue operating the line until its formal lease agreement with UP becomes effective. (ffd: STB)
(MON) The Surface Transportation Board approved Great Northwest Railroad’s earlier request to abandon the line between Orofino, ID. and Jaype, ID., totaling approximately 28 miles. (ffd: STB)
(WED) The State of Washington announced that it had purchased the Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad, totaling approximately 300 miles of line. The line was purchases from Watco, Inc., which will continue to operate the line under a 15-year lease. (ffd: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Trains)
(WED) The Red River & Western Railroad filed to abandon approximately 28 miles of line between Carrington, ND. and Bowdon, ND. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) The Surface Transportation Board approved the lease and operation, by Buckingham Branch Railroad, of the CSX line between Clifton Forge, VA. and AM Jct., VA., totaling approximately 190 miles of line, and, also, the sublease and operation of the NS line between Gordonsville, VA. and Orange, VA. The line between Orange and Clifton Forge is also used by Amtrak’s tri-weekly Cardinal passenger train. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Burlington Northern Santa Fe filed to abandon approximately 44 miles of line between Glendive, MT. and Circle, MT. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) The Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad filed to abandon approximately 9 miles of line between Humboldt Jct., MI. and the end of track at Republic Mine, MI. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) R.J. Corman Company filed to abandon approximately 36 miles of its Dawkins Line, between Dawkins, KY. and Evanston, KY. (ffd: STB)
(THU) Portec Rail Products announced that they had reached agreement to acquire Kelson Technologies of Vancouver, BC. (ffd: AAR)
(FRI) Burlington Northern Santa Fe announced the following appointments: Dick Ebel to AVP-Automotive Marketing; Julie Piggott to AVP-Direct Marketing; and Paul Bischler to AVP & Assistant Controller. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
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 American Railway Car Institute announced that orders were placed for 20,315 new freight cars in the third quarter this year. An ARCI spokesman said that this brought orders so far this year to 58,382 cars, with an undelivered backlog of 61,052 cars. The spokesman added that deliveries have been constrained by a very tight supply of castings. (ffd: Railway Age)
(MON) The head of Chicago, IL. commuter rail operator Metra said that the Chicago Transit Authority’s campaign to increase transit funding was appearing more and more to be an effort to take funding away from Metra. Metra Chairman Jeffrey Ladd said that his agency would no longer work with the CTA to gain increased funding from the Illinois state legislature and would instead focus on making “sure that what we have isn’t taken away.” The CTA has asked the legislature to restructure the 21-year-old funding formula that disburses funding to it, Metra and suburban bus operate Pace. The CTA has noted that it provides 81 percent of mass transit trips in the region, while Metra and Pace have noted that they provide 50 percent of mass transit service when measured in terms of passenger miles. (ffd: Chicago Tribune)
(MON) A Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train derailed 25 cars near Collins, MT. A BNSF spokesman said that no injuries were reported in the accident and that no hazardous materials were aboard. The train, a BNSF unit grain train, was enroute from Mellete, SD. to Seattle, WA. and totaled 107 cars in length. (ffd: wire services)
(TUE) The Federal Railroad Administration announced a $482,000 grant to study video captured by forward-facing cameras on locomotives in North Carolina. The cameras were earlier put on the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s locomotives used for the state’s Piedmont Service passenger trains, which are operated by Amtrak between Charlotte, NC. and Raleigh, NC. An FRA spokesman said that the data would be used to analyze trespasser and highway-rail grade crossing accidents and near-misses. (ffd: USDOT)
(TUE) Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway announced a series of cooperative agreements aimed at improving rail service to and from the Port of Vancouver, BC. The specifics of the agreement include improved access for CPR to Fraser Surrey Docks via the CN line, reciprocal access to the port’s North Shore and South Shore locations and additional reciprocal access to CN’s Thornton Yard and CPR’s Coquitlam Yard. A spokesman for the two railroads noted that Vancouver was Canada’s largest and busiest port. (ffd: CN Corp., CPR Corp.)
(WED) The Federal Railroad Administration announced that it would delay release of a new rule related to whistle bans at highway-rail grade crossings. The new rule, which was originally to be published about October 28, will allow whistle ban at crossings only where specific crossing protection devices and related measures have been put in place. An FRA spokesman said that a new rule is now expected to be released sometime in January and that the delay is the result of over 1,400 related public comments having been received and the agency needing more time to review them all. (ffd: wire services)
(WED) New Jersey Transit opened its new Montclair State University Station in Little Falls, NJ. The station features a coffee and pastry shop, 4 elevators, a climate-controlled pedestrian overpass connecting to a center island platform and a 1,500-space parking deck. The station locates on NJT’s Montclair-Boonton commuter rail line. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(FRI) President Bush signed into law a corporate tax bill passed last week following legislative reconciliation by the U.S. House and Senate. Included in the bill is the gradual elimination of the 4.3 cents per gallon tax on diesel fuel, with total elimination by January, 2007. Also included is a program of federal tax credits for short line infrastructure upgrades and maintenance. Under the program and for every dollar spent on qualified investments, a Class 2 or Class 3 railroad will earn 50 cents in tax credits. These credits will then accumulate to a cap determined by multiplying the number of miles of track owned or leased by the railroad by $3,500. (ffd: Railway Track and Structures)
(THU) For the week ending October 16, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 2.0 percent from the comparable week last year, up 2.2 percent in the East, but down 1.8 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included metallic ores up 17.4 percent, crushed stone, sand and gravel up 8.2 percent and grain products up 8.0 percent; notable traffic increases included motor vehicles and equipment down 5.7 percent and grain down 4.2 percent. Also for the week ending October 16, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 9.5 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 2.9 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 5.1 percent, Mexico’s Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana’s carload rail traffic was up 14.1 percent, and TFM’s intermodal rail traffic was up 23.2 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year.
During the week ending October 16, 2 new rail traffic records were set: total U.S. rail volume for the week was a record 33.1 billion ton-miles and U.S. intermodal rail traffic was a record 231,255 units.
For the period January 1 through October 16, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 3.0 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 9.5 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 7.9 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 0.2 percent, TFM’s carload rail traffic was up 2.8 percent and TFM’s intermodal rail traffic was up 5.7 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
STATS CONTINUED – 3RD QTR., 2004 RESULTS – PART 1:
(WED) Norfolk Southern was the first of the major North American railroads to publish their quarterly results. NS reported net income of $235 million, up 72 percent from the third quarter last year; this amount excluded a noncash gain of $53 million relating to the recent Conrail remnant terminal company financial reorganization. NS revenues were $1.9 billion, up 16 percent from the third quarter last year. NS’s operating ratio was 74.7 percent, 5.8 points better than the 80.5 percent in third quarter last year. (ffd: NS Corp.)
(THU) Union Pacific reported net income of $202 million, down from $317 million in the third quarter last year. UP revenues were $3.08 billion, up from $2.96 billion in the third quarter last year. A UP spokesman noted “unprecedented fuel prices and high operating costs resulting from our service inefficiencies” related to third quarter results. UP’s operating ratio was 86.4 percent, 6.4 points worse than the 80.0 percent in the third quarter last year. Related to UP’s efforts to hire more personnel to replace retiring workers, UP reported its average employee count to be 49,021 in the third quarter this year versus 46,369 in the third quarter last year. (ffd: UP Corp.)
(MON) RailAmerica confirmed that its Indiana & Ohio Railroad had completed its purchase of 107 miles of CSX line between Cincinnati, OH. and Columbus, OH. (ffd: RailAmerica Corp.)
(MON) Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad filed to abandon approximately 1 mile of line in Linden, CA. (ffd: STB)
(TUE) CSX filed to abandon approximately 10 miles of line between Franco, WV. and Saunders, WV. (ffd: STB)
(WED) Norfolk Southern filed to abandon approximately 34 miles of line between Burkeville, VA. and Pamplin City, VA. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Burlington Northern Santa Fe filed to abandon approximately 7 miles of line between Hanna Jct., ND. and McCanna, ND. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Canadian Pacific/Soo Line filed to abandon approximately 29 miles of line between Devils Lake, ND. and Harlow, ND. (ffd: STB)
(MON) Burlington Northern Santa Fe announced a reorganization of its Northern California and Southern California Divisions. Rob Reilly will head the new Los Angeles Division, which will include the Alameda Corridor and Harbor Subdivisions, and the San Bernardino Subdivision west of Bandini, CA. Michael Shircliff will head the new California Division, which will include the former Northern California and Southern California Divisions not included in the new Los Angeles Division. BNSF also announced the retirement of Northern California Division General Manager Steve Weatherby effective November 1. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(THU) The Association of American Railroads appointed Bill Thompson as Railroad Program Manager to the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency program, also known as CREATE. The program was created by the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago to identify and arrange critically needed improvements to Chicago area rail and highway transportation infrastructure. An AAR spokesman said that Mr. Thompson would be responsible for all engineering and construction aspects of the railroad industry’s involvement in CREATE. (ffd: AAR)
(FRI) Burlington Northern Santa Fe appointed Charles Shewmake AVP-State Government Affairs. Mr. Shewmake has been with BNSF since 1988. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
Further concerning the October 4 Norfolk Southern on-duty employee fatality: James Southworth, the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigator in charge, has written me to advise that this accident occurred in Harrisburg Yard, as originally reported. Thank you, James.
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) Japan marked the 40th anniversary of its Tokaido Shinkansen Line, more familiarly known as its "bullet train" service. When opened in 1964, the line, which operates 345 miles between Tokyo and Osaka, ran 60 trips a day at a maximum speed of 130mph. Today, the line operates 300 trips a day at a maximum speed of 170mph and last year had an average arrival and departure delay of only 6 seconds. (ffd: Japan Times)
(MON) Burlington Northern Santa Fe suffered an on-duty employee fatality. Geoffrey McIntyre, Age 57 with approximately 40 years service, was killed at the BNSF shops in Topeka, KS. A spokesman said that Mr. McIntyre, who was a machinist, was working on a rail press when a component struck him in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on the shop's concrete flooring. (ffd: WIBW-13 News)
(MON) Norfolk Southern suffered an on-duty employee fatality. A Norfolk Southern spokesman said that the fatality occurred at the NS yard at Lucknow, west of the Harrisburg, PA. train station. The name and service of the deceased, as well as the circumstances of the accident, were not immediately available. (ffd: Harrisburg Patriot-News)
(MON) The U.S. Congress voted a further extension of the Transportation Equity Act, TEA-21. This most recently extension is until May 31, 2005. The House and Senate have so far been unable to agree on and pass a new version of the multiyear, multibillion dollar transportation spending law. A spokesman for the American Public Transportation Association said that it seemed more likely that TEA-21 reauthorization will be dealt with by the next Congress. (ffd: APTA, Railway Age)
(MON) Burlington Northern Santa Fe announced that it would close its Burlington, IA. shops by year's end. The shops, which have operated there in some form for 146 years, have had its workforce reduced to only 39 positions in recent years. A BNSF spokesman said that the affected employees would be offered transfers to BNSF's Galesburg, IL. shops. (ffd: Burlington Hawk Eye)
(MON) The Senate passed legislation aimed at further improving rail tank car safety. The new legislation would initiate a review of tank car inspections, begin development of design standards for pressurized tank cars and conduct further studies related to the safety of older tank cars. The legislation now goes to the House for consideration and debate. (ffd: wire services)
(MON) A Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train derailed 36 cars near Nasmith, SD. A spokesman said that the train was a unit grain train enroute from Shelby, SD. to Kalama, WA. The spokesman added that there were no injuries in the derailment, the cause of which is still under investigation. (ffd: Golden Triangle News)
(TUE) Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell pledged to develop a plan to find needed funding for state transit agencies. We are going to fashion a plan to send help, said Gov. Rendell. Philadelphia transit operator SEPTA and Pittsburgh transit operator PAT, both of which supplement their farebox revenue through special and not routing funding appropriations, have announced that they will have to significantly raise fares and curtail services if funding is not forthcoming to meet their projected budget deficits. (ffd: Philadelphia Inquirer)
(TUE) Burlington Northern Santa Fe announced completion of this year's portion of the railroad's ongoing project to double track its Transcon Line between Chicago, IL. and Los Angeles, CA. A BNSF spokesman said that approximately 33 miles of double track was added to the line this year and that approximately 60 more miles of double track are planned for next year. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(WED) CSX announced that it had signed an agreement with the State of Virginia to undertake approximately $65 million in state-funded improvements to CSX's line between Richmond, VA. and Washington, DC. The agreement follows complaints made the previous week by Virginia state officials that CSX was continuing to delay the improvements, funding for which was appropriated by the state in 2000. In a letter to Governor Mark Warner, CSX CEO Michael Ward noted that the agreement was the first of its kind for CSX and many of its terms and conditions have set a precedent that should make our business dealings easier in the future. (ffd: RichmondTimes Dispatch)
(WED) Kansas City Southern announced that Mexico's Foreign Investment Commission had reversed its decision of the previous week and now endorses KCS's acquisition of Grupo TMM's ownership stake in Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana Railway. Approval from the commission is necessary for a company headquartered outside of Mexico to gain majority control of a Mexican company. KCS now has until June 15, 2005 to complete the purchase of TFM, which would then create an approximately 6,000-mile rail system running from the U.S. Midwest through Mexico. (ffd: Kansas City Star)
(WED) Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell debuted the first of 26 commuter rail cars recently acquired by the state second-hand from Virginia Railway Express. The cars, which will continue with VRE markings until sometime next year, cost the state approximately $14 million. The cars will be used in the state's Shore Line service operating between New Haven and New London, which will in turn allow the return of 26 cars presently in that service to Metro North service operating between New York and New Haven. (ffd: Stamford Advocate)
(WED) New York City officials announced that the former New York Central High Line on Manhattan's west side would become an elevated city park. The line, which was last used for rail freight service in 1980, runs approximately 1-1/2 miles between the connection to Amtrak at 34th St. and Gansevoort St. in Manhattan's now-fashionable Meatpacking District. City officials said that the conversion would require approximately $60 million to $100 million in design and construction costs. Many plans have been proposed for the line over the last two decades, including one that would have turned the line into the world's longest swimming pool. (ffd: USA Today)
(WED) Canadian Pacific Railway officials announced that they would again run their traditional holiday trains, one in the U.S. and one in Canada. The trains, which are decorated with lights and displays, will tour 25 locations in the U.S. and 50 locations in Canada and include live stage shows. The U.S. train will start its journey on December 1 in Scranton, PA., concluding in Minot, ND. on December 16. (ffd: CPR Corp.)
(THU) Union Pacific suffered an on-duty employee fatality. Shawn Young, Age 31, was killed when a car he was walking alongside derailed and fell on him. Mr. Young had been a UP employee since last August. The accident occurred in Springfield, IL. (ffd: Springfield State Journal Register)
(THU) The Association of American Railroads and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association announced an expansion of the Rail Industry Agreement, which was established in 1998. A spokesman for these organizations said that, under the expanded agreement, so-called paper barrier provisions will be clarified, with intentions that include enabling a small railroad that purchases a line from a large railroad to interchange traffic with a third railroad. The spokesman added that the expansion will also make the Rail Industry Working Group a formal part of the agreement initiative. (ffd: AAR, Progressive Railroading)
(THU) Officials of Washington, DC.'s Metro subway system approved a $236 million upgrade to the subway's electrical power distribution system. A Metro spokesman said that the upgrade would allow sufficient power to enable the operation of 8-car subway trains; Metro presently operates only 4 or 6-car length trains. The spokesman added that Metro hoped to lengthen about one-third of its trains to 8 cars by 2008, allow approximately 30,000 more riders during peak periods. (ffd: Washington Post)
(THU) The Association of American Railroads announced that it had chosen Virginia Tech's College of Engineering to host an affiliated laboratory for research in critical technical areas of railroading. An AAR spokesman said that it would provide Virginia Tech with an annual grant of $200,000 to establish a railway technologies laboratory. AAR also supports affiliated labs at Texas A&M and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (ffd: AAR)
(THU) Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler announced $7.8 million in state grants to fund several rail freight improvement projects in Pennsylvania. These grants provide the capital necessary to maintain and expand rail freight operations in Pennsylvania, said Sec. Biehler. Included in the grants is $500,000 to Norfolk Southern for engineering of a connecting track from its Lurgan Branch to its Port Road Secondary near Lemoyne, PA. (ffd: Railpace)
(FRI) The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a $73.8 million federal grant for the New York City East Side Access Project. The project involves the design and construction of a new, alternative route for Long Island Rail Road commuter trains into a new terminal between the Grand Central complex, utilizing the 63rd St. tunnels constructed for LIRR trains several years ago. A USDOT spokesman said that this most recently grant brings the total federal funding for this project to $155.3 million; approximately $6 billion required for the project's completion. (ffd: USDOT)
(FRI) In an effort to assist the recovery of the Florida tourism industry, Amtrak announced a special 20 percent discount on all travel to Florida. An Amtrak spokesman said that Auto Train travel is included in the sale and that all trips must be made before October 28. (ffd: NARP)
(THU) For the week ending October 2, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 0.9 percent from the comparable week last year, down 5.4 percent in the East, but up 6.0 percent in the West. Also for the week ending October 2, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 8.8 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 8.5 percent and Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 1.1 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the month of September, 2004, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 0.8 percent from September, 2003. This September versus last September, notable traffic increases included metallic ores up 17.5 percent, primary metal products up 13.2 percent and coal up 2.6 percent; notable traffic decreases included nonmetallic minerals down 21.3 percent and motor vehicles and equipment down 7.2 percent. Also for September, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 9.5 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 3.1 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 1.9 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was up 15.2 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 21.9 percent, all when ranked with September last year.
For the period January 1 through September 30, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 3.0 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 9.5 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 8.1 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 0.2 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was up 2.3 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 4.6 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(SUN) Texas Southwestern Railroad began operating Burlington Northern Santa Fe's former Carlsbad Subdivision, which SWRR is leasing from BNSF. The line runs between Loving Jct., NM. and Clovis, NM., totaling approximately 263 miles. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(THU) Burlington Northern Santa Fe agreed to grant Union Pacific trackage rights over BNSF's line between Mill Creek., OK. and Joe Jct., TX., totaling approximately 51 miles. The purpose of the trackage rights is to permit UP to move ballast trains for its maintenance-of-way projects. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Illinois RailNet announced that it had purchased, from Burlington Northern Santa Fe, 2 rail lines totaling approximately 25 miles. The 2 lines are between Oregon, IL. and Mt. Morris, IL. and between Zearing, IL. and LaSalle, IL. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(SUN) William "Bill" Schmidt passed away at Age 90. Mr. Schmidt began his railroad career on the Milwaukee Road in 1936 and was an editor of Railway Age from 1942 to 1956. Mr. Schmidt, who was also a well-known speaker on railroads, continued to work in the industry until 1989. (ffd: Railway Age)
(MON) The Association of American Railroads appointed Jeff Usher Senior Director-Business Services. Mr. Usher was previously a manager with the former Conrail and with Norfolk Southern. (ffd: AAR)
Rail services supplier Greenbrier Corporation appointed Benjamin Whitely Chairman. Mr. Whitely succeeds Alan James, who will continue to serve Greenbrier's board. (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) Amtrak debuted its revised and improved website. New features include fare information presented upfront in the booking process, the ability to query train status from the home page and an improved online reservation cancellation and refund process. The website may be found at http://www.amtrak.com/. (ffd: Amtrak)
(MON) The new Argentine Connection opened in Kansas City, KS. The new connection includes a flyover-type junction with 3 levels of rail traffic: the new bridge at top for Burlington Northern Santa Fe east-west traffic, Union Pacifics High Line bridge in the middle and BNSFs Santa Fe Junction at grade where its east-west and north-south lines cross. The connection, which extends approximately 2 miles between the Kansas City Terminal Railway in Kansas City, MO. and BNSFs Argentine Yard in Kansas City, KS., cost approximately $60 million to construct. It was funded through bonds issued in Missouri and in Wyandotte County, KS., which will be repaid by KCT over a 20-year period. (ffd: BNSF Corp., Omaha World-Herald)
(TUE) CSX initiated a quiet zoneon a 4-mile stretch of its line in Chicago, IL. and surrounding suburbs. In the zone and as a result of the installation of improved grade crossing protection devices, locomotive horns will not be sounded unless hazardous or emergency conditions occur. The zone, which is ultimately intended to lessen the number of horn blasts heard by residents on or near the line, was sponsored and funded by the State of Illinois and the Illinois Commerce Commission. (ffd: CSX Corp.)
(WED) The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD. announced that it would reopen the weekend of November 13-14. The museum, which holds an extensive collection of locomotive, cars and related exhibits, has been closed since the snowfall of a February, 2003 blizzard collapsed the roof of its historic roundhouse building. (ffd: B&O Museum)
(THU) Hurricane Ivan made landfall near Mobile, AL., the most recent of several strong hurricanes to have made landfall on the Southeastern U.S. this hurricane season. Railroads in the area made extensive preparations, including CSX suspending service on its line between New Orleans, LA. and Tallahassee, FL. and Norfolk Southern suspending service on its line between Meridian, MS. and Birmingham, AL. Amtrak also suspended its passenger train services north and east out of New Orleans. Earlier in the week, CSX and Union Pacific jointly operated 2 special trains of diesel fuel and gasoline to destinations in Florida hard-hit by earlier Hurricane Frances. (ffd: CSX Corp., Norfolk Southern Corp., Progressive Railroading)
(THU) Washington, DC.s Metro subway system announced that it would open the 3-mile extension of its Blue Line from Addison Road to Largo Town Center on December 18. Also to open, on November 20, is the new Red Line station at New York Avenue. These expansions are the first for the Washington Metro since the completion of the original 103-mile system in May, 2001. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(FRI) Mexicos Foreign Investment Commission advised that it would not authorize Kansas City Southerns intended acquisition of Grupo TMMs shares of Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana Railway. A spokesman for KCS and TMM called the FICs decision not in the spirit of the North American Free Trade Agreement,adding that they would seek reconsideration of the decision and remained confident that the acquisition would ultimately be approved. The Mexican FIC must approve transactions in which a foreign company becomes majority owner of a Mexican-based company. (ffd: Railway Age)
(THU) For the week ending September 11, which included the Labor Day Holiday this year, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 7.5 percent from the previous year, down 15.4 percent in the East and down 1.1 percent in the West. Also for the week ending September 11, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was down 8.8 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was down 5.9 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 10.4 percent, Mexicos Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicanas carload rail traffic was up 20.9 percent and TFMs intermodal rail traffic was up 30.9 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through September 11, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 3.2 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic as up 9.4 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 8.5 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 0.1 percent, TFMs carload rail traffic was up 1.2 percent and TFMs intermodal rail traffic was up 3.7 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) The U.S. Surface Transportation Board granted approved CSXs earlier application to abandon its Beaver Creek Spur, totaling approximately 2 miles of line in and near Dunleary, KY. (ffd: STB)
(THU) Alliance Terminal Railroad filed to lease, from Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and operate approximately 13 miles of line between Haslet, TX. and Saginaw, TX. (ffd: STB)
(THU) The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees elected Freddie Simpson President and Perry Geller Secretary-Treasurer. Mr. Simpson and Mr. Geller's election makes permanent their earlier appointments as acting president and secretary-treasurer. (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) CSX reopened its line between Albany, NY. and Buffalo, NY., following a 37 car derailment the previous day. The accident occurred near Schuyler, NY. A CSX spokesman said that no one was injured in the derailment and that, although a car carrying hazardous materials was derailed, there was no hazmat release. (ffd: Herkimer Evening Telegram)
(TUE) New Jersey Transit opened an approximately 1 mile extension of its Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Line. The extension serves 3 new stations: 2nd Street and 9th Street in Hoboken and Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken. An NJT spokesman said that a further northward extension of the line, to North Bergen, is expected to be completed and opened by Summer, 2005. (ffd: NARP, Progressive Railroading)
(TUE) The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board reported a decreased number of rail transportation deaths in 2003 compared with 2002. The NTSB report noted 2 intercity rail passenger fatalities in 2003 versus 7 in 2002, 173 light rail transit, heavy rail transit and commuter rail fatalities in 2003 versus 220 in 2002 and 329 crossing crash fatalities in 2003 versus 357 in 2002. The downward trend contrasts with the nearly 25 percent increase in crossing crash fatalities reported the previous week by the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration for the first half of 2004 versus the first half of 2003. (ffd: NTSB, Railway Age)
(TUE) Rail IT supplier RMI announced that it had entered into an agreement with Union Pacific to provide car hire settlement and reporting services for approximately 50 shortline railroads connecting with UP. An RMI spokesman said that it expected to have all the shortlines online for these services by October of this year. (ffd: RMI Corp.)
(WED) The independent federal commission investigating the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks issued a supplementary report recommending that time and money be spent to protect U.S. passenger transport modes additional to aviation, including trains, transit and ships. "Other transportation modes are at risk and have significant vulnerabilities," said the report. Among the report's recommendations is the conversion of the existing "no-fly" list of possible terrorists to a "no-transport" list. (ffd: Los Angeles Times, wire services)
(WED) Pennsylvania's Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority approved a new proposal to construct and operate a station on Amtrak's Harrisburg Line adjacent at the recently expanded Harrisburg International Airport. An authority spokesman said that approximately $8 million in funding is already in place for the station, estimated to cost approximately $12.5 million, and that they were working with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to secure the remaining funding. The proposal reimburses Amtrak approximately $2.8 million for necessary track, station and catenary improvements. (ffd: NARP, York Daily Record)
(WED) Burlington Northern Santa Fe announced the expansion of its Car-Rail Service for transporting privately owned vehicles between BNSF-served auto terminals and surrounding areas. A BNSF spokesman said that it would now also offer this service between Midwest cities and Phoenix, AZ. The spokesman added that an individual may either have their vehicle picked up at their residence or drop it off at a terminal, and that the cost for this service started at $495. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(THU) The Association of American Railroads held its scheduled Fall Peak Season Service Forum in Kansas City, MO. At the conference, representatives of major U.S. railroads presented their plans for dealing with the peak season. Several representatives noted that the U.S. rail system is straining under increased demand, including Burlington Northern Santa Fe's Chief Marketing Officer John Lanigan, who said that BNSF had seen 3 years of "normalized growth" compressed into this past year. Several shipper representatives attending the conference, which one newspaper reported as a standing-room-only crowd, expressed skepticism of the railroads ability to deliver service, including BP Solvay's Logistics Director Mike Scherm, who said it now took longer for his company to have its products delivered by rail than it did in 1995. (ffd: Financial Times, Dallas Morning News)
(THU) The Subcommittee on Transportation and Treasury of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, approved $1.213 billion in funding for Amtrak for FY2005. The amount is approximately Amtrak's FY2004 appropriation, more than the $900 million wanted by the Bush Administration, but less than the approximately $1.7 billion Amtrak earlier said was necessary to correctly sustain its operations and maintenance. An industry newsletter suggested that a final appropriation may not be voted on by the full House and Senate until after the election or possibly early 2005. (ffd: NARP, wire services)
(THU) ABC News broadcast a report on the potential vulnerability of the U.S. rail system to terrorist attacks. The report singled out the transport of hazardous materials as a possible terrorist target and included interviews with several individuals who noted the potentially catastrophic impact of large hazmat releases at certain locations, such as on the rail line that passes through government and commercial office complexes in Southwest Washington, DC. NBC News also broadcast a similar report on Saturday. (ffd: ABC News, NBC News)
(THU) For the week ending September 4, which did not include Labor Day, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 10.8 percent from the comparable week last year, which did include Labor Day. Also for the week, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 27.4 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 12.4 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 12.2 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was up 8.7 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 30.4 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through September 4, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 3.6 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 10.0 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 8.9 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 0.2 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was up 0.7 percent and TFM s intermodal rail traffic was up 3.0 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(TUE) Twin State Railroad filed to abandon approximately 20 miles of line between St. Johnsbury, VT. and Lunenburg, VT. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Great Northwest Railroad filed to abandon approximately 28 miles of line between Orofino, ID. and Jaype, ID. (ffd: STB)
(THU) Brock Adams passed away at Age 77. Mr. Adams was U.S. Secretary of Transportation for 2 years under President Jimmy Carter and was earlier a congressman from Washington State. (ffd: Philadelphia Inquirer)
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) Union Pacific railroad police discovered 29 suspected illegal immigrants hiding in a boxcar in Santa Teresa, TX. The stowaways, all from Mexico, included 2 children. A U.S. Border Patrol spokesman said that all found were in good condition and would shortly be returned to Mexico. (ffd: KFOX TV)
(MON) A slow-moving remnant of Tropical Storm Gaston dropped nearly 12 inches of rain in 3 hours on Richmond, VA., flooding portions of the city and its surrounding areas. As a result of the flooding, Amtrak train service over CSX's line between Richmond and Newport News, VA. was suspended through Thursday. Norfolk Southern's line between Burkeville, VA. and West Point, VA. was also washed out, with service projected on that line projected to return by Friday. (ffd: NARP, NS Corp.)
(MON) Canadian Pacific Railway president Rob Ritchie said that CPR would likely expand its infrastructure in Western Canada provided it receives assurances from the Canadian government against open access. Mr. Ritchie referred to a "constant undertone" from the government favoring open access, which he said makes multimillion dollar infrastructure spending an unsafe investment. Noting that an increased demand for CPR rail freight services that has led to several system bottleneck, Mr. Ritchie said that the railroad could increases its capacity by as much as 25 percent by double tracking several hundred miles of its lines in Western Canada. (ffd: The Canadian Press)
(MON) Burlington Northern Santa Fe began using its new electronic FRA Blue Card. The Blue Card, which details a locomotive's inspection and maintenance information and was previously always manually filled out, will now be composed and completed electronically. A BNSF spokesman said that its electronic Blue Card could be printed at any time by any BNSF Mechanical Department location. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(MON) Rail IT supplier RMI debuted a new product, RailConnect Index. An RMI spokesman said that the product consists of data from approximately 40 percent of U.S. shortline and regional railroads and aggregates approximately 50 percent of all shortline carloads. The spokesman added that it would provide "a means of analyzing traffic trends in the industry." (ffd: RMI Corp.)
(TUE) Via Rail employees represented by the Canadian Auto Workers ratified a new 3-year contract. The union represents approximately 90 percent of Via Rail's agreement employees. The new contract calls for a series of wage increases over a 3-year period and improved fringe benefits. (ffd: Railpace)
(TUE) The U.S. Surface Transportation Board approved a 10-year extension of TTX Corporation's (a.k.a. Trailer Train's) authority to pool cars. The previous authority was set to expire on October 1. In making its ruling, the STB rejected pleas by 11 other car leasing and related companies to limit TTX's pooling to intermodal flat cars only, stating that TTX's pooling "...results in improved asset utilization, largely because of TTX's understanding of railroad network operations, its extensive experience in fleet management and its direct relationship with its railroad members." (ffd: Railway Age)
(WED) The U.S. Federal Railroad Administration reported that rail-highway crossing crash deaths totaled 196 persons in the first half of 2004, an increase of 24.8 percent over the first half of 2003. In a related story, U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General Kenneth Mead announced that his office would conduct a comprehensive investigation of the FRA's oversight of crossing safety. The effort follows a series of articles published several weeks ago in the New York Times, which alleged that railroads had failed to properly report accidents, the FRA had not properly investigated accidents and that railroads had sometimes destroyed or altered evidence relating to accidents. (ffd: New York Times, Railway Age)
(THU) Burlington Northern Santa Fe suffered an on-duty employee fatality. Glen York, a locomotive engineer, was killed while switching cars in BNSF's Clovis, NM. yard. A BNSF spokesman said that the root cause of the accident was still under investigation. (ffd: BofLE, wire services)
(THU) The Republican National Convention concluded in Madison Square Garden, above Pennsylvania Station, in New York, NY. Due to security concerns, all but 2 entrances to Penn Station were closed, Amtrak required reservations on nearly all its trains through the station, New Jersey Transit diverted its Midtown Direct trains to Hoboken Terminal and also prohibited the use of overhead luggage racks on its trains. Many commuters opted not to commute during the RNC, with NJT reporting ridership on the line into Penn Station down 60 percent and on the line into Hoboken Terminal down 50 percent on Thursday. (ffd: Amtrak, NJT, wire services)
(THU) Preparations were made for the Florida landfall of Hurricane Frances. CSX suspended rail operations south of Jacksonville, FL. as the storm approached. Amtrak canceled train services between New York, NY. and Miami, FL. and also its Auto Train and Sunset Limited trains out of Orlando, FL. Miami's Tri-Rail commuter rail service was also suspended for the duration of the storm. (ffd: Amtrak, CSX, wire services)
(THU) The Shellpot Bridge in Wilmington, DE. reopened after having been closed for 10 years. The bridge, which is on the former PRR freight bypass route around Wilmington and provides access to Norfolk Southern's Edgemoor Yard from the south, was rebuilt with funding from the State of Delaware and the Delaware Department of Transportation. Delaware will be reimbursed for the project's approximately $14 million cost over a 20-year period from per car tolls collected from NS. An AEI reader has been installed to count freight cars crossing the bridge. (ffd: RT&S)
(FRI) Amtrak announced that it would stop hauling mail and express traffic on or about October 1. "Mail and express no longer makes business sense for Amtrak and has negatively impacted the quality of our passenger service, so the decision has been made to exit the business," said Amtrak President David Gunn. Amtrak also announced forthcoming service changes related to the decision, including operating its Palmetto train between New York, NY. and Savannah, GA. only and, also, combining its Three Rivers and Pennsylvanian trains and ending the Three Rivers run west of Pittsburgh, PA. An Amtrak spokesman said that its Silver Star train would be rerouted to provide service to Tampa, FL. and that service between Pittsburgh, PA. and Chicago, IL. would continued to provide by its Capitol Limited train. (ffd: Amtrak, NARP)
For the week ending August 28, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 1.0 percent from the comparable week last year, up 2.3 percent in the East, but down 0.1 percent in the West. Also for the week ending August 28, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 11.4 percent -- at 226,074 units, a new U.S. record -- Canadian carload rail traffic was up 5.5 percent and Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 2.1 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the month of August, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 1.5 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 10.8 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 9.9 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 0.9 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was up 11.6 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 24.5 percent, all when ranked with August, 2003.
For the period January 1 through August 31, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 3.3 percent from the same period last year. The first 8 months of this year versus the first 8 months of last year, notable traffic increases include grain up 7.5 percent, chemicals up 5.2 percent and coal up 3.1 percent; notable traffic decreases included food products down 3.3 percent and motor vehicles and equipment down 2.2 percent. Also for the period January 1 through August 31, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 9.5 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 8.8 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 0.1 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was up 0.5 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 2.2 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) Shortline conglomerate Genesee & Wyoming announced that it had leased the assets of the Peoria and Pekin Union Railway, totaling approximately 20 miles of line in Tazewell and Peoria Counties, IL. The line will be operated as the Tazewell & Peoria Railway. (ffd: G&W Corp.)
(MON) Shortline conglomerate Genesee & Wyoming announced that it had purchased the CSX's former Savannah Wharf Branch, totaling approximately 7 miles of line in and around Savannah, GA. The line will be operated as part of G&W's Golden Isles Terminal Railroad. (ffd: G&W Corp.)
(MON) Union Pacific filed to abandon its San Jose Industrial Lead, totaling approximately 4 miles of line in San Jose, CA. (ffd: STB)
(TUE) Pursuant to a request by Kansas City Southern, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board voted to reconsider KCS's acquisition of Mexrail and its Texas Mexican Railway subsidiary. KCS recently reached agreement with Mexico's Group TMM to acquire its 51 percent ownership stake in Mexrail for $32.7 million. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(TUE) Shortline conglomerate RailAmerica announced that it had completed the sale of its Australian railroad, Freight Australia, to the Pacific National consortium. A RailAmerica spokesman said that they would use the $204 million proceeds from the sale to reduce company debt. (ffd: RailAmerica Corp.)
(THU) KWT Railway filed to acquire, from CSX, and operate approximately 13 miles of line between McKenzie, TN. and Dresden, TN. (ffd: STB)
(THU) Riceboro Southern Railway filed to acquire, from CSX, and operate approximately 19 miles of line between Ogeechee, GA. and Riceboro, GA. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Canadian National announced the selection of Great Canadian Railtour Company to operate former BC Rail tourist train services out of Whistler, AB. BC Rail, formerly owned by the British Columbia government, was absorbed into Canadian National earlier this summer. (ffd: CN Corp.)
(FRI) Twin State Railroad filed to abandon approximately 20 miles of line between St. Johnsbury, VT. and Lunenburg, VT. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Union Pacific filed to abandon approximately 29 miles of line between Perry, IA. and Dawson, IA. (ffd: STB)
(MON) The Railway Association of Canada announced Bruce Burrows as its acting president. Mr. Burrows, who was previously RAC's VP-Public Affairs & Government Relations, will serve until a permanent successor is found for Bill Rowat, who retired as RAC president last July. (ffd: AAR)
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) Canadian National suffered an on-duty employee fatality. Ronald Beck, a 30-year CN employee, was crushed to death between 2 rail cars. The accident happened while switching a car onto a siding at Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada. (ffd: CBC)
(SUN) Amtrak's new system timetable went into effect. Changes in Amtrak services included 4 new Acela Express trips operating weekdays and weekends between Washington, DC. and New York, NY., replacing Metroliner trips. Also, the "International", which had operated through between Chicago, IL. and Toronto, ON., Canada, is replaced by the "Blue Water", which will operate between Chicago and Port Huron, MI., with connections to Via Rail Canada train service to Toronto. (ffd: Amtrak, wire services)
(MON) Canadian National announced that it was selling its CANAC subsidiary to Savage Companies of Salt Lake City, UT. Excluded from the transaction is CANAC's Remote Control Division, which produces BELTPACK and other locomotive remote control products. (ffd: CN Corp.)
(TUE) The Metropolitan Transportation Authority acted to seek proposals from firms to design and build the initial phase of New York City's planned Second Avenue subway line. The new line, small portions of which were completed several decades ago, will require 16 years to complete and run between 125th St. in Upper Manhattan to Hanover Square in Lower Manhattan. Decisions are expected in May related to the project's environmental impact and federal funding commitment. (ffd: The White Plains Journal)
(WED) 2 freight trains collided at slow speed near the top of Cajon Pass, on the outskirts of Hesperia, CA. One of the trains was that of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and the other was Union Pacific's. No one was injured in the collision, which derailed 5 cars. The cause of the collision was still under investigation at press time. (ffd: The Los Angeles Times)
(WED) The New York City Police Department announced initial plans to search every train operating through Penn Station during the Republican Party Convention being held atop the station complex in Madison Square Garden August 30 through September 2. The search will include New York City subway trains, Amtrak intercity trains, and Long Island Railroad and New Jersey Transit commuter trains. "It's our goal to check every train, physically, with dogs and with police officers, before it comes into Penn Station," said New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. "I think we're going to be well prepared." (ffd: Newsday)
(THU) The Association of American Railroads reported that a surge of hiring for the rail industry is expected over the next several years. An AAR spokesman said that railroads expect to hire more than 80,000 workers during the next 6 years and about 140,000 total over the next 10 years. The spokesman said that most of the hiring results from expected industry retirements, with about 40 percent of the industry's current workforce eligible to retire within the next decade. (ffd: AAR, Progressive Railroading)
(FRI) The U.S. Congress again extended the current Transportation Equity Act, which was originally set to expire last September 30. The extension, the third since September 30, is to allow the U.S. House and Senate additional time to reconcile their differing versions of TEA replacement legislation. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(FRI) Chicago, IL. commuter rail operator Metra announced a pilot program to install thick thorn-bush hedges at locations where fencing has failed to keep individuals from cutting across railroad tracks. "It's just an idea," said Dennis Morgan, Metra's Director of Safety. "I read recently that thorn-bush hedges work as a deterrent and can be very aesthetically compatible with a community." Mr. Morgan added that such bushes are harder to cut through and grow back fast when damaged. (ffd: Chicago Daily Herald)
(THU) For the week ending April 24, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 3.7 percent from the comparable week last year, up 5.2 percent in the East and up 2.4 percent in the West. Notable traffic increases included coke up 33.6 percent, grain up 20.9 percent and motor vehicles and equipment up 16.3 percent; notable traffic decreases included metallic ores down 21.0 percent and non-grain farm products down 9.0 percent. Also for the week ending April 24, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 13.6 percent and at 213,104 units, a new weekly U.S. record. Further for the week ending April 24, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 10.2 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 0.9 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was up 25.3 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 28.9 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through April 24, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 3.2 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 7.9 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 6.9 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 0.5 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 5.4 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 7.9 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(TUE) Burlington Northern Santa Fe reported net income of $193 million for the first quarter this year, up from $187 million in the first quarter last year. Revenues in the first quarter this year were $2.45 billion, up from $2.2 billion in the first quarter last year. BNSF's first quarter operating ratio improved to 83.3 percent, compared with 84.3 percent in the first quarter last year. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(TUE) Canadian Pacific Railway reported net income of C$24 million in the first quarter this year, down from C$102 million in the first quarter last year. A CPR spokesman noted the effect of a worst-in-eight-years avalanche and a loss in foreign exchange on first quarter results. Revenues in the first quarter were C$887 million, up from C$879 million in the first quarter last year. CP's first quarter operating ratio worsened slightly to 86.9 percent, compared with 86.6 percent in the first quarter last year. (ffd: CP Corp.)
(WED) CSX reported net income of $30 million in the first quarter this year, down from $99 million in the first quarter last year. Revenues were $1.96 billion in the first quarter this year, compared with $2.02 billion in the first quarter last year. CSX's operating ratio comparisons were not immediately available. (ffd: CSX Corp.)
(THU) Kansas City Southern reported net income of $3.4 million in the first quarter this year, down from $13.6 million in the first quarter last year. A KCS spokesman noted the effect of lower equity earnings off of KCS's stake in Grupo TFM, debt retirement costs and higher tax expense on first quarter results. Revenues in the first quarter this year versus the first quarter last year increased $8.2 million or 5.9 percent. KCS's first quarter operating ratio improved to 84.0 percent, compared with 93.3 percent in the first quarter last year. (ffd: KCS Corp.)
(THU) RailAmerica reported net income of $1.3 million in the first quarter this year, down from $4.3 million in the first quarter last year. A RailAmerica spokesman noted the effect of a charge related to the sale of Chilean railroad Ferronor on first quarter results. Revenues were $97.0 million in the first quarter this year, compared with $86.5 million in the first quarter last year. RailAmerica's first quarter operating ratio worsened slightly to 80.8 percent, compared with 77.9 percent in the first quarter last year. (ffd: RailAmerica Corp.)
(THU) Union Pacific reported net income of $165 million in the first quarter this year, down from $429 million in the first quarter last year. A UP spokesman noted the effect on first quarter results of systemwide train crew shortages and, also, a single $35.8 million judgment against it in a crossing accident injury verdict recently upheld by the Arkansas Supreme Court. Revenues were $2.89 billion in the first quarter this year, compared with $2.73 billion in the first quarter last year. UP's first quarter operating ratio worsened slightly to 89.1 percent, compared with 86.5 percent in the first quarter last year. (ffd: UP Corp.)
(MON) Burlington Northern Santa Fe filed to abandon approximately 5 miles of line between Hoxie, AR. and Walport, AR. (ffd: STB)
(MON) Burlington Northern Santa Fe filed to abandon its Walnut Ridge Industrial Spur in Lawrence County, KS., totaling approximately 3 miles of line. (ffd: STB)
(MON) Burlington Northern Santa Fe filed to abandon approximately 6 miles of line between Quadlock, WA. and Olympia, WA. (ffd: STB)
(TUE) Mississippi Tennessee Railroad filed to abandon approximately 44 miles of line between New Albany, MS. and Houston, MS. (ffd: STB)
(TUE) Mississippi Tennessee Railroad filed to abandon approximately 44 miles of line between New Albany, MS. and Houston, MS. (ffd: STB)
(TUE) Norfolk Southern filed to abandon approximately 8 miles of line between Mackeys, NC. and Plymouth, NC. (ffd: STB)
(WED) Burlington Northern Santa Fe filed to abandon approximately 40 miles of line between Superior, NE. and Reynolds, NE. (ffd: STB)
(WED) Kansas City Southern filed to abandon its Second Street track in Kansas City, MO., totaling approximately 2 miles of line. (ffd: STB)
(THU) MVC Transportation filed to acquire, from P&LE Properties, the track facilities of the former Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad's McKees Rock Yard, totaling approximately 15 miles of track. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) CSX filed to abandon approximately 2 miles of line in Pinnelas County, FL. (ffd: STB)
(WED) Shortline conglomerate OmniTrax appointed Darcy Breed EVP-Rail Operations. Mr. Breed, formerly GM of OmniTrax's Hudson Bay Railway, succeeds Robert Park, who was named OmniTrax's COO last February. OmniTrax also announced the following additional appointments: Greg Sullivan as GM-Hudson Bay Railway; Kevin Woods as GM-Okanagan Valley Railway; and Dennis Sawchuk as GM of the Okanagan Valley Railway. (ffd: OmniTrax Corp.)
(WED) Allan Rutter, Chief Administrator of the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration announced his intention to leave the FRA in June, 2004. Mr. Rutter, who will becomes Executive Director of the North Texas Tollway Authority, cited family reasons for his decision to return to Texas. (ffd: wire services)
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 Jersey Transit announced that it would not resume passenger service to 3 stations on its Lower Boonton Line that have been closed since the completion of the Montclair Connection in 2002. An NJT spokesman noted that resumption of service would require $26 million in immediate track and structure improvements and cost $3 million to operate annually, while taking in only $108,000 annually in fares. The spokesman added that New Jersey Transit Executive Director George Warrington will appoint a panel to consider improved bus services in the area of the 3 closed stations. (ffd: The Burlington County Times)
(TUE) The U.S. District Court of Appeals dismissed a suit brought by Guilford Rail against the U.S. Surface Transportation Board relating to the operation of Amtrak's Downeaster trains between Boston, MA. and Portland ME. The suit alleged that the STB could not rule that the trains are safe to operate on Guilford tracks at speeds up to 79 mph; Guilford has maintained that the trains must operate at speeds of up to only 59mph until further track improvements were made. With the 79mph maximum speed already approved by the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration, the ruling appears to clear the way for the trains to operate to the higher speed. (ffd: NARP, wire services)
(TUE) A Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train derailed 29 cars near Essex, MT. The cars were part of a 110 car train of mainly corn enroute from Sioux City, IA. to Pasco, WA. The derailment blocked BNSF's main line through Essex, but the line was reopened the following day. (ffd: The Billings Gazette)
(THU) A spokesman for New York State Governor George Pataki announced that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey would provide an additional $32 million toward resumption of rail freight service to and from New York City's borough of Staten Island. The funding will go toward rehabilitation of the freight line running along the northern coast of Staten Island, which last saw service in the 1990s. The spokesman added that New York City had earlier obtained federal funding toward resuming service on the line and that the Port Authority is also constructing a new connection between the line and the Conrail-Shared Assets's Chemical Coast freight line in New Jersey. (ffd: State of New York)
(THU) Metro North Railroad announced that it would purchase 120 additional Class M-7 electric commuter rail cars from Bombardier for approximately $260 million. The order adds to the 300 M-7's purchased by MNRR and the 678 M-7's purchased by Long Island Rail Road since 1999. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg had earlier protested the additional purchase to MNRR's and LIRR's parent, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, claiming that the order would deprive New York City Transit of its due share of capital funding. (ffd: Railway Age)
(THU) A freight train believed to be carrying explosives blew up near the city of Ryongchon in North Korea. The explosion was believed to have killed approximately 154 persons and injured approximately 1,300 others. Details of the explosion were sketchy due to news restrictions imposed by North Korea's hard-line communist government, but relief workers back from the site said that the explosion appeared to have destroyed approximately 129 nearby buildings and damaged approximately 120 others. (ffd: wire services)
(THU) For the week ending April 17, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 6.2 percent from the comparable week last year, up 3.9 percent in the East and up 8.1 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included petroleum products up 20.5 percent, nonmetallic minerals up 17.8 percent and metals up 15.8 percent; notable traffic decreases included primary forest products down 4.6 percent. Also for the week ending April 17, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 12.1 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 13.3 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 13.1 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was up 7.6 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 24.1 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year.
For the period January 1 through April 17, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 3.2 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 7.6 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 6.7 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 0.5 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 7.0 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 6.7 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
STATS CONTINUED -- 1ST QTR., 2004 RESULTS:
(WED) Norfolk Southern reported net income of $158 million for the first quarter this year, down from $209 million in the first quarter last year. An NS spokesman noted that income in the first quarter last year also included gains from a required accounting change related to removing railroad crossties and from discontinued operations resulting from the sale of a motor carrier subsidiary. Revenues in the first quarter this year were $1.7 billion, up from $1.56 billion in the first quarter last year. NS's operating ratio improved to 79.6 percent in the first quarter this year, compared with 85.2 percent in the first quarter last year. (ffd: NS Corp.)
(FRI) Canadian National reported operating income of $290 million for the first quarter this year, up from $274 million in the first quarter last year. Revenues in the first quarter this year were $1.056 billion, down from $1.098 billion in the first quarter last year. CN's operating ratio improved to 72.5 percent in the first quarter this year, compared with 75.0 percent in the first quarter last year. (ffd: CN Corp.)
(WED) Burlington Northern Santa Fe granted overhead trackage rights to Stillwater Central Railroad between Tulsa, OK. and Sapulpa, OK., totaling approximately 11 miles. The purpose of the trackage rights is to allow SCRR to interchange with the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad at BNSF's Cherokee Yard. (ffd: STB)
(THU) Riverport Railroad filed to acquire, from the Carrol County Local Redevelopment Authority, approximately 50 miles of line located at the former Savanna Army Ammo Depot near Savanna, IL. Riverport had previously been leasing these lines. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Florida West Coast Railroad filed to abandon approximately 13 miles of line between Trenton, FL. and Newberry, FL. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Canadian Pacific/Soo Line agreed to renew local trackage rights to Union Pacific between Comus, MN. and Rosemount, MN., totaling approximately 27 miles. Trackage rights were originally granted in 1901, but had expired in 2001 and were temporarily extended pending formal agreement on renewal. (ffd: STB)
(TUE) Houston, TX. area bus and light-rail transit operator Houston METRO appointed Frank Wilson President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Wilson was most recently a consultant with AECOM Enterprises and was earlier transportation commissioner for the State of New Jersey. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(WED) Mac Fleming retired as President of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees. Mr. Fleming had served as BMWE's president for 14 years. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(THU) Union Pacific appointed Scott Moore General Manager-Public/Private Partnerships, a new position. Mr. Moore was most recently UP's Director-Government Affairs. (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.)
(TUE) Trains operating on the Union Pacific main line through Reno, NV. began using a temporary bypass track. Concurrent with the bypass track becoming operational, digging will begin on the city's $264 million trenching project, which will put 2.1 miles of the line below grade, eliminating 11 grade crossings in Reno's downtown area. The project is targeted for completion in Spring, 2006. (ffd: AAR)
(TUE) The U.S. Federal Railroad Administration requested comments from interested parties on how the U.S. Department of Transportation should develop and implement procedures for fair and competitive bidding by Amtrak and non-Amtrak operators for State-supported intercity passenger rail routes. The request is mandated by the omnibus appropriations bill that funds transportation programs for FY2004. (ffd: NARP)
(WED) The U.S. Transportation Security Administration announced that it would test the feasibility of security checks for rail passengers. A TSA spokesman said that the tests would be conducted at New Carrollton, MD. station just outside Washington, DC., which is served by Amtrak, MARC commuter trains and the Metro subway system. The spokesman said the TSA is presently looking at a range of technologies and that testing is expected to begin by the end of May. (ffd: wire services)
(THU) For the week ending April 10, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 0.7 percent from the comparable week last year, down 0.3 percent in the East and up 1.5 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included lumber and wood products up 8.2 percent, grain up 5.9 percent and coal up 4.6 percent; notable traffic decreases included motor vehicles and equipment down 11.0 percent and food and food products down 9.0 percent. Also for the week ending April 10, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 6.4 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 0.1 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 4.5 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 7.5 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 30.9 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through April 10, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 3.0 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 7.2 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 6.2 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 1.5 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 7.9 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 8.5 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
None of note this week.
(WED) Canadian National appointed Stan Jablonski VP-Sales and Jean-Jacques Ruest VP-Marketing. Mr. Jablonski was most recently CN's VP-Forest Products and Mr. Ruest was most recently CN's VP-Industrial Products. (ffd: CN Corp.)
(FRI) R. J. Corman Railroad appointed Sherman Petree President. Mr. Petree, who was most recently an assistant superintendent with CSX in Huntington, WV., succeeds Ron Boles, who recently retired. (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.)
(MON) The U.S. Federal Railroad Administration released its preliminary accident and injury statistics for U.S. railroads for 2003. For the year, on-duty employee fatalities were 19, compared with 20 the previous year; grade crossing fatalities were 325, an 8.96 percent decrease from 357 the previous year; and trespasser fatalities were 507, a 6.11 percent decrease from 540 the previous year. Also, the employee injury rate per 200,000 man-hours was 2.65, a 9.76 percent decrease from 2.94 the previous year. However, the train accident per million man-hours was 3.87, a 3.1 percent increase from 3.76 the previous year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) A Union Pacific freight train derailed 40 cars into Soldier Creek, near Silver Lake, KS. The derailment also caused a bridge supporting the track to collapse. No injuries were reported in the derailment, the cause of which is still under investigation. A UP spokesman said that the railroad hoped to have a temporary bypass track around the derailment open by Wednesday. (ffd: Casper Star-Tribune)
(MON) U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta said that he would support an increase to the Bush Administration's proposed $900 million FY2005 federal funding for Amtrak if Congress passed the Administration's controversial Amtrak reform plan. If Congress passes the reform legislation, we will propose $1.4 billion per year for 2006 through 2009, Mr. Mineta said. The plan would pass along much of the responsibility for funding rail passenger services to the states following a multiyear transition period. Mr. Mineta made his comments while touring CSX's Huntington, WV. locomotive shops, CSX's largest locomotive repair facility. (ffd: Huntington Herald-Dispatch)
(TUE) Canada marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of Toronto, ON.'s subway system. The celebration included various activities centered at Toronto Union Station. The subway, Canada's first, originally served 12 stations, but has since been expanded to serve a total of 69 stations. (ffd: Toronto Transit Commission)
(THU) The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security issued a warning of possible terrorist threats against buses and trains in major U.S. cities this summer. The FBI and DHS suggested that passenger rail and transit operators consider removing trash bins, improve lighting, increase law-enforcement presence and limit access points to their systems. (ffd: NARP, wire services)
(THU) The nation of South Korea began service on its new high-speed passenger rail line. The line operates from the capital city of Seoul to the cities of Busan in the southeast and Mokpo in the southwest. The line uses TGV-style trains to achieve speeds of up to 186mph, utilizing new high-speed tracks from Seoul through Daejeon and Daedgu and existing but upgraded and electrified tracks to Busan and Mokpo. (ffd: NARP)
(FRI) The U.S. House of Representatives approved reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act. The House bill authorizes $275 billion in transportation-related funding over a 6-year period and varies from the reauthorization bill earlier passed by the Senate, which authorizes 6-year funding to $318 billion. The House and Senate bills will now be worked on by a House-Senate conference committee for resolution. The latest extension of the current TEA expires April 30. (ffd: Railway Age)
(THU) For the week ending March 27, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 3.1 percent from the comparable week last year, down 0.7 percent in the East and up 6.5 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included coke up 36.3 percent, waste and scrap materials up 15.8 percent and crushed stone, sand and gravel up 11.8 percent; notable traffic decreases included non-grain farm products down 20.6 percent and metals and metal products down 11.6 percent. Also for the week ending March 27, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 8.3 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 6.3 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 0.4 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 11.0 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 5.5 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through March 27, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 3.0 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 7.1 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 6.2 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 2.0 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 7.6 percent, and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 6.6 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) RailAmerica announced that it had agreed to sell its Australian railroad, Freight Australia, to Pacific National, an Australian rail freight logistics firm. A RailAmerica spokesman said that Pacific National had agreed to pay $214 million for Freight Australia, which RailAmerica purchased in 1999 from the Victorian State Government for $103 million. The spokesman added that the sale was attendant with RailAmerica's announced intentions to reduce our debt and focus on growing our core North American rail business. (ffd: RailAmerica Corp.)
(WED) Union Pacific filed to discontinue service and trackage rights over 2 segments of the Paramount Industrial Lead, which is owned jointly by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Orange County Transportation Authority, and also locates in these two counties. The first line segment totals approximately 1 mile and the second totals approximately 10 miles. (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 poll released by the American Public Transportation Association revealed that Americans, by a large majority, support public transit. The survey results showed that 80 percent of Americans believe increased investment in public transportation will strengthen the economy and reduce traffic congestion, air pollution and energy consumption, and that 76 percent support increased public funding to expand and improve public transportation services. The survey was conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide Corp. for the APTA. (ffd: APTA)
(MON) Amtrak announced that the project to rebuild the Rohr Turboliners for Amtrak Empire Services in New York State would be scaled back. An Amtrak spokesman said that only 4 Turboliners trainsets would now be rebuilt, instead of the 7 originally planned. The spokesman added that an additional car would be put in each trainset to increase seating capacity. The Turboliner project is being co-funded by New York State, with the rebuilding being performed by Super Steel Schenectady in Schenectady, NY. (ffd: wire services)
(TUE) The National Transportation Safety Board issued a report commenting that more than half of the 60,000 rail tank cars in service and carrying hazardous materials are not built to current industry standards and are more likely to break open after derailing. The comments were included in an NTSB report relating to a January, 2002 tank car derailment near Minot, ND. in which hazardous materials were spilled and poisonous fumes were released that killed 1 person and injured 333 others. The report recommended that the Federal Railroad Administration study older tank cars and rank them by the likelihood of their coming apart in a crash, and also develop standards for new tank car construction. (ffd: NTSB, wire services)
(TUE) A Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train derailed 31 cars near White Earth, ND. There were no injuries in the derailment. A BNSF spokesman said that the cause of the derailment was under investigation. The derailment blocked the BNSF line until Thursday. (ffd: KMXA TV, wire services)
(WED) Metro North Railroad suffered an on-duty employee fatality. Robert Ard, Age 46, was killed while switching commuter rail cars early Wednesday morning in MNRR's Stamford, CT. rail yard. Mr. Ard was an MNRR conductor. (ffd: WNBC)
(WED) In an unusual event in New York City, a locomotive rolled loose and traveled for approximately 1 mile before coming to a halt. During the course of its runaway trip, the locomotive, which belonged to the Long Island Rail Road, struck several vehicles at crossings, injuring the occupants of these vehicles, 2 of them critically. The locomotive traveled on tracks of the Bushwick Branch and finally came to a stop at Varick Avenue in Brooklyn. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that the cause of the accident was under investigation. (ffd: wire services)
(WED) New Jersey Transit's Board of Directors approved construction of a commuter rail link to the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, NJ. Funding for the link, expected to cost approximately $150 million, was authorized last December by the Port of New York and New Jersey. An NJT spokesman said that the new line would be a loop off NJT's Pascack Valley Line and that construction was expected to start in 2005 and be complete by 2007. NJT's Board also approved a $43.5 million link between the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Line and a new Hudson River ferry terminal at Weehawken, NJ. (ffd: Newsday)
(WED) The National Transportation Safety Board announced that toxicology tests on the remains of one of 2 crewmembers operating a UP freight train involved in a February 21 collision near Carrizozo, TX. were positive for marijuana. An NTSB spokesman said that tests were positive for Anthony Rodella, Age 57, the engineer who died in the collision. Tests were negative for Jeffrey Bohler, Age 32, who was also killed in the crash, and were also negative for the crewmembers of the freight train that Rodella's and Bohler's train struck. The spokesman added that the test results would be sent to an additional testing laboratory for further verification. (ffd: NTSB, wire services)
(WED) The U.S. Department of Transportation released its first monthly Transportation Services Index. A USDOT spokesman said that the TSI is intended as a new monthly economic indicator intended to measure the performance of the economy as reflected in air and rail passengers and freight. The first data released indicated a TSI of 118.5 for December, 2003, representing a 1 percent increase between November and December. (ffd: USDOT)
(THU) 10 bombs exploded nearly simultaneously aboard several passenger trains in and near the Spanish capital of Madrid. The bombs caused the deaths of over 200 persons and injured nearly 1,400 others. Although terrorists advocating a separate state for Spain's Basque region were initially blamed for the attacks, attention shifted over the next several days to their possibly being the actions of other terrorist organizations, including al-Qaida. In the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin advising state officials, police, rail and transit agencies to increase their security alertness in light of the attacks. (ffd: wire services)
(THU) Officials of the Altoona, PA. Railroaders Memorial Museum and Osram Sylvania Corporation announced a celebration to mark the 150th anniversary of the completion of Altoona's landmark Horseshoe Curve. A spokesman noted that Osram Sylvania is the successor to Sylvania Corporation, which took several celebrated pictures of the Horseshoe Curve during its 100th anniversary celebration in 1954 utilizing over 6,500 Sylvania Blue Dot flashbulbs. The spokesman said that celebration festivities, which are scheduled for July 4, would include an extensive fireworks display and a commemorative relighting of the Curve. (ffd: Railroaders Heritage Corp., Norfolk Southern Corp.)
(FRI) The former Soviet state of Kazakhstan announced plans to build a railroad ultimately linking China with Eastern Europe. A spokesman for Kazakhstan National Railways said that the railroad, which is not yet funded, would take approximately 4 years to construct at a cost of approximately $3.5 billion. The spokesman said that the railroad would provide a more expedition rail link out of China to Eastern Europe, the only existing link being a line off of the Trans-Siberian Railway out of Eastern Russia. (ffd: wire services)
(THU) For the week ending March 5, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 4.0 percent from the comparable week last year, up 2.4 percent in the East and up 5.5 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included coke up 54.5 percent, grain up 17.6 percent and waste and scrap materials up 14.1 percent; notable traffic decreases included primary forest products down 14.0 percent and non-grain farm products down 4.9 percent. Also for the week ending March 5, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 10.8 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 14.5 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 1.1 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 9.4 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 4.8 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through March 5, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 2.9 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 6.5 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 5.0 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 1.8 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 9.8 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 10.2 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(WED) California's Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District filed to acquire, from Northwestern Pacific Railroad Authority, approximately 66 miles of line between Healdsburg, CA. and Lombard, CA. via Schellville, CA. The purpose of the acquisition is to preserve the rail line for possible future commuter rail service. (ffd: STB)
(THU) Burlington Northern Santa Fe filed to abandon approximately 3 miles of line in and near South Hutchinson, KS. (ffd: STB)
(THU) Columbia Basin Railroad filed to lease, from Clark County, WA., and operate approximately 14 miles of line between Vancouver Jct., WA. and Battle Ground, WA. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Heart of Georgia Railroad filed to lease, from Ogeechee Railway, and operate approximately 43 miles of line between Midville, GA. and Vidalia, GA. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Georgia Midland Railroad filed to lease, from Ogeechee Railway, and operate 1) approximately 15 miles of line between Roberta, GA. and Fort Valley, GA. 2) approximately 13 miles of line between Fort Valley, Ga. and Perry, GA. 3) approximately 29 miles of line between Dover, GA. and Metter, GA. 4) approximately 22 miles of line between Ardmore, GA. and Sylvania, GA. (ffd: STB)
(MON) The Canadian government announced that it had dismissed Via Rail President Marc LeFrancois. Mr. LeFrancois's departure follows that of Via Rail Chairman Jean Pelletier last week. Both Mr. Pelletier and Mr. Francois had recently come under severe criticism related to Via Rail's handling of government sponsorship monies. (ffd: Montreal Gazette)
(FRI) RailAmerica appointed William Pagonis Chairman. Mr. Pagonis had previously been RailAmerica Vice Chairman. A RailAmerica spokesman said that Gary Marino would continue to serve as its President and CEO. (ffd: RailAmerica Corp.)
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) Thieves in the former Soviet state of Ukraine stole a displayed steam locomotive from an open-air museum in the city of Donetsk. A police spokesman said that the locomotive was probably pulled off site by a crane, whose operators used false documents authorizing the locomotive to be moved to a new location. The spokesman said that the locomotive was probably stolen for its scrap value. (ffd: Trains)
(MON) The U.S. Congress voted a second extension to the existing TEA-21 highway and transit improvement program, which was originally set to expire September 30. The extension, for another 2 months, allows Congress further time to debate a reauthorization bill, which the Bush Administration has proposed at $256 billion over a 6-year period, the Senate has passed at $318 billion and the House of Representatives is still considering to a level of $375 billion. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(MON) Norfolk Southern announced the start of what it said was the longest length coal haul in the U.S. The move, which is handled jointly with the Union Pacific, takes coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin and transports it more than 2,600 miles to a Connectiv Energy power plant near Atlantic City, NJ. "We believe this is the longest west-to-east coal movement in the U.S.," an NS spokesman said. (ffd: NS Corp.)
(WED) The European Union proposed plans to ease cross-border rail freight movements. The plans are aimed at increasing rail freight movements in EU member nations, which presently total only 8 percent of all cargo that is transported. The plans also include measures to compensate passengers for late or canceled rail services. The plans must be approved by both EU governments and the European Parliament, which have still not agreed on previous EU proposals relating to rail safety issues. (ffd: wire services)
(THU) Florida Governor Jeb Bush announced that he and the state's Chief Financial Officer, Tom Gallagher, would lead an effort to repeal the state constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2000 that requires construction of a Florida high-speed rail network. The governor has been a longtime opponent of state high-speed rail, claiming that voters did not know the ultimate cost of what they had approved. The repeal effort will require 488,000 signatures before it can be put on the next Florida ballot. (ffd: NARP)
(THU) Canada's Northern Development Minister announced that the Ontario government was abandoning its 3-year effort to privatize the Ontario Northland Railway. The minister, Rick Bartolucci, announced that the railway would remain in public hands, but that steps would be taken to improve its financial health. The privatization effort found no buyers and was met by protests from those in areas served by the Ontario Northland, who feared that privatization would result in the railway's total or partial closure. (ffd: The Canadian Press)
(THU) A report was released indicating that Canada's freight railways hauled 28 percent more freight in 2002 than they did in 1990, but did so using diesel fuel at a lower rate of consumption. The report, which was jointly released by the Railway Association of Canada and Environment Canada, credited the purchase of more fuel-efficient locomotives and related new technology for the fuel savings. The report also noted that Canada's passenger railways transported 53.8 million passengers in 2002. (ffd: AAR)
(FRI) The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced that it would close Boston, MA.'s North Station during this summer's Democratic National Convention at the Fleet Center, which adjoins North Station. An MBTA spokesman said that, during the closure, Fitchburg Line passengers would change to the "T" Red Line at Porter Square; Lowell Line and Eastern Line passengers would change to buses at Anderson and Lynn; and Reading Line passengers would change to the "T" Orange Line at Malden Center. An MBTA spokesman said that closing North Station during the convention was necessary for security and to help relieve congestion at and near Fleet Center. In a related story, New York City officials said that Pennsylvania Station would remain open during the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden. (ffd: NARP, New York Times)
(FRI) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Customs and Border Protection implemented new rules related to monitoring freight shipped into and out of the U.S. The new rules include requiring railroads to electronically submit to the Bureau incoming cargo data no later than 2 hours before freight arrives in the U.S. A Bureau spokesman said that failure to forward such information could significantly delay shipments. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(THU) For the week ending February 28, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 8.1 percent from the comparable week last year, up 7.0 percent in the East and up 9.1 percent in the West. Also for the week ending February 28, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 9.3 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 9.1 percent and Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 14.9 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through February 28 - the first two months of this year - U.S. carload rail traffic was up 2.7 percent compared with the first two months of last year. Comparing the first two months this year with the first two months last year, notable traffic increases included coke up 35.6 percent, crushed stone, sand and gravel up 12.5 percent, and grain up 8.8 percent; notable traffic decreases included metallic ores down 10.9 percent and motor vehicles and equipment down 6.7 percent. Also for the period January 1 through February 28, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 3.9 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 2.1 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 9.8 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 10.9 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) The U.S. Surface Transportation Board approved BNSF's application to abandon approximately 60 miles of line between Pawnee, NE. and Endicott, NE. (ffd: STB)
(WED) Timber Rock Railroad filed to lease, from Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and operate approximately 30 miles of line between Kirbyville, TX. and Silsbee, TX. (ffd: STB)
(THU) The U.S. Surface Transportation Board approved Burlington Northern Santa Fe's request to construct approximately 850 feet of new line off its Stockton Subdivision Line to access the new Quebecor World printing and distribution facility in Merced, CA. (ffd: STB)
(MON) The Canadian Government announced that it had dismissed Jean Pelletier from his position as Via Rail chairman. Mr. Pelletier had recently come under rebuke for criticizing a former Via employee, Myriam Bedard, who had publicly questioned VIA's handling of sponsorship monies. Mr. Pelletier had referred to Ms. Bedard, a former Canadian Olympic athlete, as a "pitiful" single mother seeking publicity. (ffd: Toronto Star)
(MON) Union Pacific's logistic subsidiary appointed Wayne Tatro President and CEO. Concurrent with the appointment, the subsidiary, formerly known as Timera, Inc., will now be known as PS Technology. Mr. Tatro had previously been the subsidiary's VP-Business Development. (ffd: Railway Age)
(WED) The United Transportation Union suspended Byron Boyd from his position as the union's president. Mr. Boyd is scheduled to go to trial starting March 22 on racketeering charges. A UTU spokesman said that Mr. Boyd's duties would be assumed by UTU Assistant President Paul Thompson. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(THU) RailAmerica appointed Thomas Owen SVP-Marketing and sales-North American Group. Mr. Owen was earlier RailAmerica's AVP-Agricultural Products. (ffd: RailAmerica Corp.)
(FRI) Burlington Northern Santa Fe announced the following appointments: Fritz Draper as VP-Business Development; Steve Bobb VP-Business Unit Operations and Support; Kevin Kaufman Group VP-Agricultural Products. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
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 Union Pacific freight train derailed 2 locomotive and 41 cars near Grizzly Creek, CO. There were no injuries in the derailment, the cause of which was still under investigation at press time. The accident also caused the temporary rerouting of Amtrak's "California Zephyr" train. (ffd: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel)
(TUE) Metro North Railroad resumed scheduled weekday morning and evening peak period train services. Shortages of available commuter rail cars, many of which had been rendered out-of-service by severe winter weather, had forced MNRR to cancel numerous peak period trains since the start of the month. MNRR issues a statement advising that it is continuing to repair weather-damaged cars, but that its expects that car shortages will continue into the near future. (ffd: MNRR, Railpace)
(WED) A runaway freight train derailed and caught fire in Iran. The fires spread to 5 villages along the line, which killing 320 persons and injuring more than 460 others. An Iranian official said that a failure of the train's braking system was being investigated as the possible cause of the accident. (ffd: wire services)
(WED) Baltimore, MD.'s Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum announced plans for a grand reopening November 13 and 14. The Museum has been closed since its roundhouse roof collapsed under the weight of a record snowfall in February, 2003, which also damaged part of the Museum's collection. In announcing the planned reopening, Museum Executive Director Courtney Wilson reported that, of the $30 million needed for repair and restoration, approximately $19 million will be provided by insurance proceeds and approximately $5 million in donations has been received, but that more than $5 million must still be raised to complete the repair and restoration process. (ffd: B&O Railroad Museum)
(FRI) Canadian National was struck by approximately 5,000 employees represented by the Canadian Auto Workers Union. The strike followed the conclusion of last-minute talks between CN and the union which failed to reach agreement. A CN spokesman said that the railroad would attempt to maintain normal freight services "with management staff performing key CAW functions." Both CN and CAW representatives pledged not to interrupt passenger rail services operated by Via Rail and other authorities over CN lines. (ffd: wire services)
(FRI) The Association of American Railroads reported that the U.S. railroad industry expects to hire approximately 80,000 new employees over the next 6 years. The AAR said that the expected surge of hiring, believed to be the most extensive in more than 2 decades, is largely the result of recent changes to railroad retirement laws, which restored full retirement at Age 60 with 30 years' service. The AAR said that the bulk of hiring would be for train and engine personnel and that major rail hubs, such as Chicago, IL. and Kansas City, MO., would be cities with among the largest number of openings. (ffd: Boston Globe)
(FRI) The government of Belgium announced that it would provide its 210,000 government workers with free rail tickets for their commutes. A government spokesman said that the program is intended to give their workers an incentive to avoid driving on Belgium's increasingly congested highways. The spokesman added that the program will start for government workers on March 1 and may be extended to private-sector workers sometime in 2005. (ffd: NARP)
(SAT) 2 Union Pacific freight trains collided near Carrizozo, NM. The accident, which occurred when a train taking a siding was struck nearly head-on by another train approaching on the main from the opposite direction, killed 2 crew members in the locomotive that was struck. The cause of the collision, which occurred at approximately 8AM Saturday, was still under investigation at press time. (ffd: wire services)
(THU) For the week ending February 14, U.S. carload rail traffic was down 0.3 percent, up 0.1 percent in the East, but down 0.6 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included coke up 51.1 percent, nonmetallic minerals up 14.4 percent, and waste and scrap materials up 9.3 percent; notable traffic decreases included metallic ores down 23.4 percent, non-grain farm products down 19.2 percent and motor vehicles and equipment down 4.2 percent. Also for the week ending February 14, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 6.1 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 7.6 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 6.1 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 16.7 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 4.8 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through February 14, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 0.9 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 5.8 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 2.4 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 0.1 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 9.9 percent, and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 16.2 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(SUN) The Timber Rock Railroad announced that it would lease, from Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and operate approximately 30 miles of line between Silsbee, TX. and Kirbyville, TX. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(WED) Canadian Pacific/Delaware & Hudson filed to abandon approximately 2 miles of its Troy Branch between Green Island, NY. and Cohoes, NY. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) The U.S. Surface Transportation Board approved CSX's earlier filing to abandon approximately 33 miles of line, between LaCrosse, IN. and Wellsboro, IN. and between North Judson, IN. and Malden, IN. (ffd: STB)
(MON) Jervis Langdon passed away at Age 99. Mr. Langdon was a longtime rail executive, having been a president of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the Rock Island Railroad, as well as trustee and then president of the Penn Central Railroad. Mr. Langdon was also the grandnephew of American humorist Mark Twain and in 1982 donated Quarry Farm, where the author wrote some of his most famous books, to Elmira College to become a center for Mark Twain studies. (ffd: Elmira Star Gazette)
(WED) Rail manufacturer and supplier Bombardier Corporation appointed Andre Navarri as president of its rail transportation group. (ffd: Progressive Railroading)
(WED) Short Line and terminal railroad operator OmniTrax appointed Alfred Sauer EVP-Marketing and Strategic Planning. Mr. Sauer was most recently RailAmerica's SVP-Marketing and Sales. (ffd: OmniTrax Corp.)
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) Burlington Northern Santa Fe announced that it had closed its 2,000th rail-highway grade crossing in the 4-year period between January, 2000 and December, 2003. A BNSF spokesman said that the closings were the result of continuing initiatives to close little-used or redundant crossings. The spokesman added that the closings represent 6 percent of the approximately 30,000 crossings on BNSF. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(MON) Norfolk Southern intermodal subsidiary Triple Crown Services announced that it would double the capacity of its Ft. Wayne, IN. terminal and maintenance center. A Triple Crown spokesman said that the increase would allow it to do more Roadrailer and related maintenance in-house instead of subcontracting it out. The spokesman added that Triple Crown also plans to shortly start service to the Minneapolis, MN. area. (ffd: Triple Crown Services)
(TUE) Norfolk Southern suffered an on-duty employee fatality. Donald Gunn, Age 56, was fatally injured when he fell from a ladder he was climbing and struck his head on the ground. The accident occurred at NS's Corning, NY. switching yard. (ffd: Railpace)
(WED) Canadian National and CSX announced that they had jointly developed an electronic tool offering customers "instantaneous interline pricing" for carload shipments moving between their railroads. Called "A + B Pricing," the new system allows railroad account managers to retrieve and combine CN's and CSXT's respective revenue requirements to quote an interline price for any origin, destination and carload commodity. A spokesman for the 2 railroads said that they expected to make it available on their respective web sites for customers to directly access later this year. (ffd: CN Corp.)
(WED) Cleveland, OH's Regional Transit Authority announced that 2003 saw a 1.5 percent increase in ridership, the first such increase since 1997. Referring to the numbers, RTA CEO & GM Joe Calabrese said, "We spent the last 3 years improving methods of customer feedback, replacing more than half our aging bus fleet with new vehicles, and putting increased emphasis on customer service we believe we have turned the corner, and expect even more riders in 2004." (ffd: RTA)
(THU) New York City officials debuted final design plans for a permanent transit hub at the former World Trade Center site. The design includes a station bathed in sunlight, with a dome that can be opened skyward in commemoration of the September 11 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 persons at the site. The station will link 14 subway lines with Port Authority Trans Hudson subway service to New Jersey, and also ferry services across the Hudson River to New Jersey. Officials said that they hoped to complete the hub by 2009, concurrent with the completion of the 1,776 foot tall Freedom Tower also planned for the site. (ffd: wire services)
(FRI) The Association of American Railroads announced the release of the 20th annual edition of its "Railroad Ten-Year Trends" publication. The publication includes comparative railroad data for the years 1993 through 2002. The publication, $100 for non-AAR member railroads and $50 for AAR member railroads, may be order by writing or phoning the AAR, or through the AAR website, www.aar.org. (ffd: AAR)
(THU) For the week ending January 17, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 5.0 percent, up 5.0 percent in the East and up 4.7 percent in the West. This week this year versus this week last year, notable traffic increases included nonmetallic minerals up 28.0 percent, coke up 20.1 percent and waste and scrap material up 16.2 percent; notable traffic decreases included non-grain farm products down 19.6 percent and motor vehicles and equipment down 6.7 percent. Also for the week ending January 17, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 6.9 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 5.8 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 4.3 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 6.4 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 18.1 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through January 17, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 0.9 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 4.0 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 4.1 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 0.4 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 9.6 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 22.7 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
STATS CONTINUED - 4TH QTR., 2003 RESULTS - PART 1:
(THU) Union Pacific reported 4th Qtr., 2003 net income of $551 million, up from $378 million in 4th Qtr., 2002. A Union Pacific spokesman noted that UP realized a gain on the sale of its Overnight trucking subsidiary during the quarter. UP operating income was $333 million fourth quarter this year, down from $368 million fourth quarter last year. The UP spokesman added that the company planned to hire as many as 3,200 new employees in 2004, mainly t&e personnel, up from 2,400 new employees hired in 2003. (ffd: UP Corp., wire services)
(TUE) Continuing its earlier announced intent to divest itself of some non-North American rail operations, shortline and regional conglomerate RailAmerica announced that it had entered into an agreement to sell its interest in Chilean Railroad Ferronor for $18.1 million. The sale is to an affiliate of RailAmerica's Chilean partner, Andres Pirazzoli y Cia., Ltda. (ffd: RailAmerica Corp.)
(TUE) Union Pacific agreed to grant temporary overhead trackage rights to Burlington Northern Santa Fe over approximately 31 miles of UP's Dallas Subdivision between Dallas, TX. and Ft. Worth, TX. The purpose of the rights is to allow BNSF to bridges its train service while it performs maintenance on its on line between these points. (ffd: STB)
(THU) The Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad filed to merge the Allegheny & Eastern Railroad, the Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad and the Bradford Industrial Railroad into the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, with the B&P as the surviving entity. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) International Steel, which earlier absorbed the assets of Bethlehem Steel, announced the sale of the Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England Railroad to a consortium of investors, which includes former Bethlehem Steel executives. The new company will be known as Lehigh Valley Rail. A spokesman for the consortium said that their plans include the building of a new rail-to-truck distribution terminal on Bethlehem, PA.'s South Side. (ffd: The Morning Call)
(FRI) The Lamoille Valley Railroad filed to abandon approximately 97 miles of various lines in Caledonia, Washington, Orleans, Lamoille and Franklin Counties in VT. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) RailAmerica announced that it had completed its acquisition of the Central Michigan Railway. The Central Michigan operates approximately 100 miles of line between Midland, MI. and Durand, MI. (ffd: RailAmerica Corp.)
(TUE) RailAmerica announced the following appointments: Michael Howe as SVP & CFO; Matthew Devine as SVP-Corporate Development; and Daniel Hershman as VP-Litigation Counsel. (ffd: RailAmerica Corp.)
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.)
(TUE) Union Pacific announced that it would transfer over 1,038 positions from St. Louis, MO. to Omaha, NE. A UP spokesman said that the transferring positions are in the areas of accounting, finance and customer service, and also include those positions of UP's wholly owned technology subsidiary, Transcentric. The spokesman added that the transferring positions would be relocated into UP's new 19-story, 1.1 million-square-foot headquarters complex now under construction in Omaha that is scheduled for completion in August. (ffd: wire services)
(WED) Norfolk Southern suffered an on-duty employee fatality. Steven Hall, Age 40, was killed when he fell under the wheels of a freight car he was switching. The accident occurred in NS's switching yard in Kankakee, IL. (ffd: Conrail Technical Society)
(WED) Burlington Northern Santa Fe announced that it would begin a new service to transport privately owned automobiles. A BNSF spokesman said that the new service, known as Car-Rail, will start March 8 and initially be offered between Phoenix/Tucson, AZ. and Chicago, IL. or Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. The spokesman added that the service was being operated in partnership with vehicle carrier Autolog Corp. and the BNSF subsidiary BNSF Logistics. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(THU) Passenger rail service resumed between the nations of India and Pakistan. Service had been suspended for the last 2 years related to tensions between the 2 countries. The train traveling between them, known as the Samjhauta Express, runs between the Pakistani city of Lahore and India's capital city of New Delhi. (ffd: NARP)
(FRI) The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics announced the release of the 2004 edition of its annual Pocket Guide to Transportation. The guide covers data on the U.S. transportation system, transportation safety and security, and transportation's impact on the U.S. economy. The guide may be purchased by phone, mail or via the BTS's website, www.bts.gov. (ffd: USDOT)
(FRI) The nation of China announced that it had abandoned earlier plans to build a maglev railway between Beijing and Shanghai. A spokesman for China's Railway Ministry said that improved passenger rail services between the cities, which are approximately 750 miles apart, would instead use conventional railway technology. (ffd: wire services)
(FRI) The first freight train to run the length of Australia's new north-south transcontinental rail line departed from the southern coastal city of Adelaide for the northern coastal city of Darwin. The new line, which was constructed over the last 3 years, bridges a gap of several hundred miles between Alice Springs in the south to near Birdum in the north. A spokesman for the Australian government said that passenger rail services over the line would begin on February 1. (ffd: NARP)
(THU) For the week ending January 10 - the first full week of 2004 - U. S. carload rail traffic was down 3.2 percent, down 4.4 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 coke up 36.1 percent, grain up 15.9 percent and waste and scrap materials up 15.0 percent; notable traffic decreases include motor vehicles and equipment down 27.4 percent, lumber and wood products down 13.3 percent and coal down 6.5 percent. Also for the week ending January 10, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 1.1 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 2.3 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 3.1 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 12.9 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 28.4 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) Illinois Central filed to abandon approximately 1 mile of line in Prichard, AL. (ffd: STB)
(MON) Norfolk Southern filed to abandon approximately 2 miles of line of its "Old R Line" in Charlotte, NC. (ffd: STB)
(TUE) Burlington Northern Santa Fe agreed to grant temporary trackage rights to Union Pacific between Keddie, CA. and Klamath Falls, OR., totaling approximately 203 miles. The purpose of these temporary trackage rights is to facilitate forthcoming scheduled maintenance on UP's line between these points. (ffd: STB)
(WED) Indiana Rail Road filed to lease, from CSX, and operate approximately 2 miles of line in Bloomington, IN. (ffd: STB)
(WED) PAV Railroad filed to acquire, from N&T Railway, and operate all of N&T's lines in or near Canton, OH., totaling 21 miles. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Bay Colony Railroad filed to acquire, from CSX, and operate approximately 6 miles of line in Bristol Company, MA. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Lamoille Valley Railroad filed to abandon approximately 97 miles of line in Caledonia, Washington, Orleans, Lamoille and Franklin Counties, VT. (ffd: STB)
(WED) Shared Assets, the Conrail remnant terminal company, announced that Ron Batory had been named its President and COO. Mr. Batory, who was been with Shared Assets for 5 years, was previously the President of the Belt Railway Company of Chicago. Mr. Batory succeeds Gregory Weber, who has announced his intention to retire in the Spring. (ffd: CSX Corp., NS Corp.)
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.)
(TUE) The Association of American Railroads announced the release of their publication, "2003 Edition of Railroad Facts." This pocket-sized reference booklet contains notable rail statistics and graphics ending with the year 2002, including some data from as far back as 1929. Copies of this publication may be purchased from the AAR for $15 each for persons not with AAR-member railroads and $10 each for persons with AAR-member railroads; quantity discounts are available. (ffd: AAR)
(WED) The U.S. Federal Railroad Administration announced a $233 million loan to the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad. The loan will be administered under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program. The DM&E is planning to build several hundred miles of new line and rehabilitate several hundred miles of existing line to access the Powder River Basin coal fields. (ffd: USDOT)
(WED) GATX Rail announced that they had purchased and will lease back 1,176 high-capacity, covered hopper cars suitable for transporting plastic pellets. A GATX spokesman said that the cars will be deployed under a long-term lease arrangement to Equistar Chemicals of Houston, TX. (ffd: GATX Corp.)
(THU) The U.S. Department of Transportation acknowledged a proposed internal restructuring plan whereby the Office of Pipeline Safety would be merged into the "structurally and operationally similar" Federal Railroad Administration, which would then become the Federal Railroad and Pipeline Administration. Relatedly, USDOT's Research and Special Programs Administration would be reorganized and redesignated as the Research and Innovative Technology Administration. Although elements of the proposed reorganization would be accomplished administratively, some changes would need to be authorized by the U.S. Congress. (ffd: Railway Age)
(FRI) Minnesota's Northstar Corridor Development Authority announced that it had scaled back its proposed commuter rail service for the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. region. The original proposal called a commuter rail line 82 miles between St. Cloud and Minneapolis, while the scaled back proposal calls for a 40-mile line between Big Lake and Minneapolis. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced that he now favors the line, after having opposed it for several years as a state legislator. (ffd: NARP)
(SAT) The Long Island Rail Road and the Metro North Railroad instituted a maximum $2.50 fare for weekend train trips between stations entirely within in New York City. A spokesman for the railroads' parent Metropolitan Transportation Authority said that the new fare plan is part of a 6-month pilot program and responds to criticism of inequitable fares for LIRR and MNRR train trips entirely within the city. (ffd: New York Daily News)
(SAT) A museum devoted to the works of famed photographer O. Winston Link opened in the former Norfolk & Western passenger station in Roanoke, VA. The station, which was rebuilt in 1947 from plans designed by the famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy, was donated to the City of Roanoke in 1997. The station also houses the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. (ffd: The Charlottesville Hook)
(THU) For the week ending January 3, 2004, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 2.9 percent from the comparable week in 2003. Also for the week ending January 3, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 10.5 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 13.4 percent and Canadian intermodal rail traffic was down 4.3 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week in 2003.
For the Full Year 2003, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 0.1 percent and U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 6.8 percent from Full Year 2002. At 9.94 million units, intermodal rail traffic for 2003 set a new U.S. record. Also for the Full Year 2003, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 1.5 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 5.3 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 2.8 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 10.9 percent, all when ranked with Full Year 2002. (ffd: AAR)
(THU) Shared Assets, the Conrail remnant terminal company, filed to abandon approximately 1 mile of the Sayreville Running Track in North Brunswick, NJ. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Burlington Northern Santa Fe filed to abandon approximately 60 miles of line between Pawnee, NE. and Endicott, NE. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) CSX filed to abandon approximately 15 miles of line between Rowlesburg, WV. and Albright, WV. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Norfolk Southern filed to abandon approximately 1 mile of line in Coatesville, PA. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Union Pacific filed to abandon approximately 1 mile of its Columbia Tap Industrial Lead in Houston, TX. (ffd: STB)
(TUE) Burlington Northern Santa Fe appointed John Hickerson AVP-Truckload Marketing. Mr. Hickerson was previously President of Roadway Next Day Corporation of Akron, OH. (ffd: BNSF Corp.)
(WED) Canadian National appointed Paul Waite VP-IMX (Intermodal Excellence). Mr. Wait was previously CN's AVP-Domestic Marketing. (ffd: CN Corp.)
(THU) Railway Age Magazine named Robert Ritchie 2004 Railroader of the Year. Mr. Ritchie is President and CEO of Canadian Pacific Railway. A Railway Age spokesman commented, "While 2003 wasn't a stellar year for the railway industry as a whole there were a few bright spots. One of the brightest was the performance of the Rob Ritchie-led CPR." (ffd: Railway Age)
(FRI) Regional and short line conglomerate RailAmerica appointed M. Scott Linn SVP-North American Rail Group-Eastern Corridor. Mr. Linn was previously RailAmerica's VP-Engineering. (ffd: RailAmerica Corp.)
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 Reading & Northern Railroad freight train derailed in Pittston, PA. 27 cars derailed in the accident. No injuries were reported. The cause of the derailment was still under investigation at press time. (ffd: Railpace)
(WED) New York City marked the last day of use of transit tokens. The tokens, which were bought at booths and were used on the city's buses and subways for over 50 years, have been replaced by electronically encoded MetroCard fare cards, which were first used in 1994. The tokens were only good for bus fares on this final day of use, having been phased out for subway use in mid-2003. (ffd: New York Daily News)
(THU) The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers was officially merged into the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The merger followed a December 5 ratification vote by each union's membership. Effective this date, the BofLE is now known as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET). (ffd: BofLE)
(THU) Houston, TX. began revenue service on its new light rail line, known as Houston Metrorail. The line, totaling approximately 8 miles in length, runs from Main St., Houston south to suburban Reliant Park. (ffd: NARP)
(FRI) The U.S. Department of Energy released a study forecasting that coal will generate 52 percent of the nation's electricity by 2025, up from 50 percent currently. The study also forecast that total U.S. coal consumption would increase from 1.07 billion tons in 2002 to 1.57 billion tons in 2025, and production from 1.1 billion tons in 2002 to 1.54 billion tons in 2025. (ffd: USDOE)
(THU) For the week ending December 27, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 5.6 percent from the comparable week last year, up 4.3 percent in the East and up 6.3 percent in the West. Also for the week ending December 27, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 11.0 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 31.3 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 4.5 percent, Mexico's Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana's carload rail traffic was down 15.5 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was down 11.4 percent, all when ranked with the comparable week last year.
For the period January 1 through December 27, U.S. carload rail traffic was up 0.1 percent, U.S. intermodal rail traffic was up 6.8 percent, Canadian carload rail traffic was up 1.5 percent, Canadian intermodal rail traffic was up 5.3 percent, TFM's carload rail traffic was down 2.8 percent and TFM's intermodal rail traffic was up 10.9 percent, all when ranked with the comparable period last year. (ffd: AAR)
(MON) The City of Venice, IL. filed to abandon approximately 2 miles of railroad it owns, specifically, between Branch St. Yard in St. Louis, MO. and the Illinois State Line at Venice, IL. and, also, between Venice, IL. and McKinley Jct., IL. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) CSX filed to abandon approximately 33 miles of line, specifically, from LaCrosse, IN. to Wellsboro, IN. and from North Judson, IN. to Malden, IN. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) The U.S. Surface Transportation Board approved CSX's earlier filing to discontinue service over approximately 1 mile of its Second Creek Spur Line in Knoxville, TN. (ffd: STB)
(FRI) Short line and regional rail conglomerate Railroad Development Corporation announced that it had completed purchase of the Iowa Interstate Railroad and the assets of Heartland Rail Corporation. The Iowa Interstate extends between Bureau, IL. and Council Bluffs, IA. (ffd: RDC Corp.)
(FRI) The Seminole Gulf Railway filed to abandon approximately 13 miles of its Venice Branch between Sarasota, FL. and Venice, FL. (ffd: STB)
None of note this week.