News Archive (February 6 through February 12)

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.

Thursday/Friday, February 9-10

• LIRR, Amtrak on same track with commuter rail link (Newsday)
  Amtrak and Long Island Railroad agree to $7 billion Grand Central commuter rail link.
• Federal Railroad Administration working on DM&E loan application (AP)
  Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern awaits decision on $2.5B loan for Powder River Basin.
• UP Acquiring 60 New Generation Environmentally Friendly Locomotives (UP)
  Union Pacific purchases low-emission locomotives for its Los Angeles Basin rail yards.
• Bush Proposes $80 Million for Utah's First Commuter Rail (BYU NewsNet)
  Budget proposal includes $80M for commuter rail between Salt Lake City and Ogden.
• Commuter rail's foray to Lakewood delayed (Seattle Times)
  Steep slopes and dangerous road crossings to delay Seattle's commuter rail expansion.
• Rail Employees on Track for Safest Year Ever (AAR)
  Employee injury rate hits all-time low in 2005.
• Intermodal, Carload Freight Up on U.S. Railroads (AAR)
  Intermodal and carload freight volumes rise 6.7% and 4.1%, respectively, last week.
• Amtrak Forecast: Codes Continue Into Spring (Frommers)
  Discount codes are available for Northeast and national travel on Amtrak.
• Investors drive RailPower shares off the tracks (Globe and Mail)
  Hybrid-power locomotive manufacturer's stock falls 40% over warranty expenses.
• CP rail accident in North Dakota shouldn't be 'lottery ticket' (AP)
  Canadian Pacific argues that Minot derailment claims are excessive.
• CN agrees to spend $1.25M to help river recover (Canadian Press)
  Canadian National assists in recovery of Cheakamus River after last summer's spill.
• Track record: 1.5B rode subway (New York Daily News)
  New York City subway ridership hits highest level in more than 50 years.

Tuesday, February 7

• FreightCar America Reports Quarterly Net Income of $1.38 Per Share (FA)
  Railcar maker's 2005 income of $45.4 million follows a loss of $25.9 million in 2004. Sales nearly double to $927 million as the order backlog rises to a record 20,729 units.
• Deal: No rail line in Cumberland County
  County commissioner may kill Corridor One commuter rail in Central Pennsylvania.
• Lawmakers and planners to discuss new freight line (Logistics Management)
  San Diego County considers building freight line to reduce truck traffic.
• N.J. Starts Bomb-Screening of Train Riders (AP)
  Airport-style x-ray machines installed at New Jersey PATH train station.
• Critics wonder about future of line (AP)
  Montana farmers question BNSF's use of 18-mile route for rail car storage.
• BNSF's Economic Development Efforts Lead to $1.3B in Investments (BNSF)
  BNSF facility investments led to the creation of 7,000 jobs in 2005.
• Back on the train gang (CNN)
  High speed rail captures greater share of intercity travel from airlines.
• Amtrak reopening Northwest routes (AP)
  Service between Seattle and Vancouver resumes following landslides.
• Aboriginal band suing CN Rail over oil spill (Canadian Press)
  The Paul First Nation sues Canadian National over Lake Wabamun spill last August
• Bush's budget includes $107 million for Portland area transit (AP)
  Budget includes $80 million for light rail extension and $27 million for commuter rail.
• Norfolk light rail included in federal budget for first time (Virginian-Pilot)
  Federal Transit Administration approves Norfolk's $204 million light rail project.
• Bush budget puts $55M aside for North Shore connector (Business Times)
  Pittsburgh to receive $55 million in federal funds for tunneling under Allegheny River.
• Feds recommend reimbursement for NJ light rail (AP)
  Bush budget allocates $100 million reimbursement for Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.
• NJ Transit expands Light Rail options (Times Herald-Record)
  Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to be extended north of Hoboken this month.

Monday, February 6

• CPR sees rail mergers coming down track (Globe and Mail)
  Canadian Pacific CEO says booming Asian trade could result in North America mergers.
• Working on the railroad (St. Louis Business Journal)
  Union Pacific, BNSF, and Norfolk Southern to add hundreds of jobs in St. Louis region.
• Railroad renaissance? (Financial Post)
  Business at Canadian National and Canadian Pacific is surging, but for how long?
• Trolley service suspended for a year (News 14 Carolina)
  Charlotte Trolley suspended during light rail construction.
• Alstom wants $1B subway contract (Canadian Press)
  Alstom seeks bid for Montreal subway contract; Quebec minister favors Bombardier.
• Blasts From the Past (New York Times)
  Former 1.5-mile elevated freight line to be converted to a NYC park by 2008.
• CSX Transportation Track Work Underway (CSX)
  Track work begins from Richmond to Newport News and Rocky Mount to Florence.
• Pacific Northwest Service Disrupted by Mudslides South of Seattle (Amtrak)
  Amtrak Cascades and Coast Starlight service modified due to mudslides.