News Archive (January 15 through January 21)

This page contains a railroad news archive for a single week. For all recent rail news, please see RailServe.com's RailNews Home Page.

Note: Some stories may no longer be available, or a fee may be required for full access.

• Senators Try Again to Fund and Reform Amtrak (Washington Post)
  Legislation would provide Amtrak $3.2B/yr in return for efficiency and state support.
• NJ Transit's new Hudson rail tunnel clears hurdle (North Jersey Media)
  FTA approves NJ Transit plan for new trans-Hudson tunnel to NYC.
• Amtrak would connect Madison, Milwaukee (UWM Post)
  Amtrak's Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha service could extend to Madison by 2010.
• Tunnel repairs on track (Baltimore Sun)
  Senate bill would fund Amtrak tunnel improvements in New York, Baltimore, and DC.
• Governor pursues plan for commuter-rail lines (Arizona Republic)
  State involvement increases likelihood of Tucson-Phoenix rail link by 2012.
• Commuter-rail plan gets bumpy public reception (Orlando Sentinel)
  Orlando area residents concerned with service frequency, ridership, and loss of homes.
• Snowless railroad tracks lure animal herds to death (Pioneer Press)
  Train speeds reduced and food scattered nearby in attempt to reduce animal deaths.
• BNSF working exclusively with Victorville on hub (Desert Dispatch)
  BNSF intermodal facility could bring 20,000 jobs to Victorville, California.
• Riding the rails from PA (New Jersey Herald)
  New report projects ridership for proposed Scranton-NYC commuter rail service.
• Valley rail service backers unite (Morning Call)
  Forum discusses rail service for PA's Lehigh Valley, including links to Philly & NYC.
• Amtrak exec says it can keep long-distance trains (Reuters)
  Amtrak president says conversion to state corridors can improve long distance rail service.
• Amtrak seeks to build state relationships (Daily Progress)
  Virginia is among the states Amtrak's courting for funding of regional corridors.
• Probe: Trains Can Be Easy Terror Targets (AP)
  Pittsburgh Tribune reporter finds little changed in rail security nationwide.
• Feds, industry team on railroad safety (AP)
  FRA teams with chemical and transportation firms on improved tankcar design.
• Short-line railroad business grows (Patriot-News)
  North Shore Railroad grows from 1,500 carloads in 1984 to 28,000 in 2006.
• Light Rail 'Feasible' in Eastern Iowa Corridor (KCRG)
  Study says passenger rail service between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City would cost $35M.
• Tracks reopen amid cleanup (Courier-Journal)
  CSX resumes service in Bullitt County KY, three days after 25-car derailment and fire.
• Derailment probe continues as lawsuit is filed (AP)
  CSX says no train handling issues found in KY derailment; residents seek class action suit.
• Cities seek disclosure of train cargo (Courier-Journal)
  Louisville KY officials seek details of hazardous shipments to aid in emergency response.
• Officials seek to protect railroads (AP)
  Legislation in North Dakota Senate would force railroads to reveal risks to local officials.
• Rail Freight Traffic Off During Latest Week (AAR)
  Carload freight and intermodal volumes decline 5.9 and 0.7%, respectively.
• BNSF Begins Track Maintenance Between Bakersfield and Fresno (BNSF)
  BNSF to spend $17.5M on four-week track renewal project of 105 mile subdivision.
• Amtrak San Joaquins Affected By Track Work (Amtrak)
  Buses substitute for some trains between Bakersfield and Fresno through February 20.
• Residents consider new challenge to railroad plan (Roanoke Times)
  Elliston Virginia residents oppose Norfolk Southern plan for intermodal freight yard.
• Railroad moves more coal out of Wyoming (AP)
  Union Pacific moved 194 million tons of coal from northeast Wyoming mines last year.
• Microsoft rides the rails again with Train Simulator (GameSpot)
  Microsoft plans sequel to popular 2001 PC release Train Simulator.
• CTA fires 5 over Blue Line derailment (Chicago Sun-Times)
  Chicago Transit Authority fires five track maintenance employees following July derailment.
• LIRR tops other area railroads: higher risk overall (Newsday)
  Long Island Rail Road has higher rate of passenger injuries than other NYC railroads.
• City rails need repairs (Yale Daily News)
  $33M repair shop at New Haven Rail Yard expected to improve commuter rail service.
• Today's builders hurdle barriers unknown in transcontinental era (Deseret News)
  Challenges of Utah commuter rail project differ greatly from transcontinental route.
• Engineers on CN’s former GTW territory renew labor contract (CN)
  Canadian National renews contract with BLE&T members on Grand Truck Western.
• Amtrak Reopens KC-St. Louis Line After Storm (AP)
  Trees and debris have been removed, allowing return of St. Louis to Kansas City service.
• Indonesian train derailment kills at least five (Reuters)
  Passenger train plunges into dry river bed, killing 5 and injuring nearly 100.
• Train Derails in Lufkin (KTRE)
  Union Pacific derailment in Lufkin Texas caused by broken rail.
• CSX train derails in Waynesboro (News Leader)
  CSX derails 10 coal cars in Waynesboro Virginia.
• Officials investigate derailment (Albany Democrat-Herald)
  Portland & Western derails 9 cars in Albany Oregon; track defect suspected.