News Archive (May 2 - May 8)

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

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Saturday/Sunday, May 7-8

• Metro Detroiter plans energy-efficient railway (Detroit News)
  Firm designs a transit system that runs on hydrogen and solar power.
• JR West workers followed derailment with boozing, golf, parties (MDN)
  Japan railway says problems lie in company culture rather than individual employee attitude.
• Vital Amtrak links in rural America threatened by cuts (Boston Globe)
  Conservative senators and their local colleagues will break with the president on Amtrak.
• How Everyone Jumped Aboard a Railroad to Nowhere (NY Times)
  Construction will begin in 2006 to convert the railway into an urban oasis above NYC.
• Govt considers railway links with central Asia (Pakistan Daily Times)
  Railway project would link Pakistan ports with Central Asia and beyond.
• SouthCoast rail study gets funds (Standard-Times)
  Plan would expand Boston's MBTA commuter rail to New Bedford and Fall River.
• BNSF lawsuit effort continues (The Hawk Eye)
  City of Burlington and BNSF Railway are six months from their face-off in court.
• City monitoring growing rail traffic (San Marcos Daily Record)
  The city of San Marcos, Texas, is compiling data on the UP trains traversing the city.
• Tuckerton Railroad may get a new home (Asbury Park Press)
  Jersey Shore Live Steam may have a permanent home for miniature steam locomotives.
• Debating BART-to-S.J. (San Jose Mercury News)
  Readers debate the merits of extended San Francisco's BART to san Jose.

Friday, May 6

• Focus on Vancouver, CPR tells governments (Globe and Mail)
  Vancouver is on its way to becoming a mega-port to rival Hong Kong this decade, so long as Prince Rupert to the north does not stymie its expansion, says Canadian Pacific chief.
• China to build first cross-desert railway (Xinhua)
  Construction will begin this year on a 1,390km railway to cross China's deserts.
• 9 cases of objects on railway tracks reported in one day (MDN)
  A bicycle, stones, and other objects have been placed on railway tracks in Japan.
• More train overruns, delays reported across the country (Yomiuri Shimbun)
  More train irregularities involving overruns and delays have occurred since Japan crash.
• Study to consider east coast railway route (ABC)
  $20 million study will consider an inland freight link from Melbourne to Brisbane, Australia.
• Maker of Acela aims for quicker brake fix (Boston Globe)
  Bombardier is considering a new type of brake disc to replace those that cracked.
• Bush Nominates Hawley for TSA Chief (AP)
  Edmund "Kip" Hawley nominated head of the Transportation Security Administration.
• Wrecks stall U.P. operations (Daily Nonpareil)
  UP derailments in Nebraska and Illinois have forced officials to reroute trains.
• Tracks reopen following derailment (AP)
  BNSF reopened route in North Dakota after 25 train cars loaded with soybeans derailed.
• SEPTA to resume rebuilding of El (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  A new contractor is to be hired; riders and residents should expect major disruption.
• Dole helps celebrate receipt of $193 million for light-rail line (AP)
  Charlotte, North Carolina received federal funds for 9.6-mile light rail project.
• Altamont Commuter Express ridership up, delays down (Lodi News-Sentinel)
  Ridership increases as on-time performance improves between Stockton and San Jose, CA.
• VRE Fares Are About To Increase (AP)
  New Virginia Railway Express fares are expected to raise $1 million.
• Track worries neighbor (Albany Democrat-Herald)
  Resident is concerned about track conditions of the Portland & Western Railroad.
• Bangor train depot back on track after renovation, rededication (AP)
  Passengers of Amtrak's Pere Marquette in Bangor now have a newly renovated depot.
• City-BNSF reach deal on crossings (Macomb Journal)
  BNSF and the city of Macomb, Illinois agree to close some crossings, improve others.
• BNSF: Zero tolerance for trespassing (Casper Star Tribune)
  BNSF police ask the public to stay off railroad property in Wyoming.
• All aboard for railroad history (News-Leader)
  Museum in Springfield, MO offers photos, videos, paintings, artifacts, models, and more.
• Greenbrier to sell 4.5 mln shares at $26.50 each
  Railcar equipment manufacturer will offer 4.5 million shares.

Thursday, May 5

• CP boss says West Coast ports expansion should focus on Vancouver (CBC)
  Vancouver should be given priority to create a "mega-port," despite Prince Rupert plans.
• JR West officials went bowling after Amagasaki derailment disaster (MDN)
  A group of 43 JR West workers went to an office bowling party hours after fatal crash.
• U.S. Rail Traffic Up in April (AAR)
  U.S. railroads originated 1,396,037 carloads of freight in April 2005, up 2.5%.
• Commuter rail wins vital federal nod (Salt Lake Tribune)
  Ogden to Salt Lake City commuter rail is now one step closer to becoming a reality.
• A Warning Signal for Amtrak (Business Week)
  S&P may cut Amtrak's debt rating due to uncertainty over future funding and operations.
• Amtrak chief visits county to brief leaders on rail's future (Lancaster New Era)
  Upgrades to Lancaster station and track will transform local passenger-train service.
• Service resumes on Metra's Rock Island line (Chicago Sun Times)
  A BNSF freight train derailed near Chicago's downtown Loop before dawn Thursday.
• Watchdogs urge vote vs Union Pacific directors (Reuters)
  Groups combat what they view as excessive executive pay packages at UP.
• Canadian Pacific ups quarterly dividend (MarketWatch)
  CP increased its quarterly dividend 13.2%, to 15 Canadian cents a share.
• Railroad Giant (Duluth News Tribune)
  The world's largest (36-axle) rail car arrives in Duluth to await a ship bearing oil equipment.
• Freight Train Derails Across Vermont Border (AP)
  Train derails while crossing the Connecticut river at the New Hampshire - Vermont border.
• Judge grants class action in Minot derailment lawsuit (AP)
  Class-action status granted to lawsuit against CP over a January 2002 derailment in Minot.
• Amtrak on the ropes (Missoula Independent)
  Editorial: Bush administration is unwilling to accept a national rail service that's not profitable.
• Metro wins appeal on trains (Beacon Journal)
  Local residents fail to block the extension of excursion train service in Cuyahoga Falls.
• BART fares poorly in cost comparison (San Francisco Chronicle)
  Riders seething about proposed fare increases already pay more than other cities.
• Fargo-area officials reviewing agreement for 'quiet zone' (AP)
  City officials are reviewing draft agreements with BNSF to establish "quiet zone."
• Boonslick Residents Protest Bridge Demolition (Boonville Daily News)
  "Save the Bridge" protestors hope to persuade Union Pacific leaders to negotiate.
• Spend Boost for Union Pacific (Railway People)
  UP will spend $295 million to increase capacity on its Sunset Route.
• Latest subway strike called off (BBC)
  A planned subway strike across Glasgow has been called off at the last-minute.
• Railway delays plan to shut down line (CBC)
  Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway has delayed application for abandonment.
• Saudi Investors Plan Company for Railway Project (MENAFN)
  Project involves 1000+ km to link east and west regions.
• Railroad had many names, many owners (The Oregonian)
  33-mile Lewis & Clark Railroad renamed the Portland-Vancouver Junction Railroad.

Wednesday, May 4

• Japanese trains getting new brakes (AP)
  West Japan Railway started installing a new emergency braking system last week.
• JR resumes installing new ATS (Japan Times)
  Japan service will not be restored until an automatic train stop (ATS) system is installed.
• Metrolink Engineer Describes Fatal Crash (NBC 4)
  An engineer involved in a January Los Angeles commuter train crash testifies in court.
• Railroad Reaches Agreement (Marshall County Journal)
  South Dakota is on the verge of selling 368 miles of state-owned rail line to BNSF.
• Judges Halt D.C. Law Banning Toxic Cargo (Washington Post)
  DC can't enforce its ban on hazardous rail shipments, while CSX seeks to overturn law.
• Railroad evicted (Waldo Village Soup)
  City has ordered the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad to remove all equipment.
• Crews remove railcars after CN derailment (Globe and Mail)
  CN worked through the night to clear a 42-car freight train derailment in British Columbia.
• Train derails North of Valdosta (WALB)
  14 cars of a Norfolk Southern soybean train derailed north of Valdosta, Georgia.
• Two Union Pacific Coal Trains Derail (AP)
  Officials are investigating how an eastbound train rear-ended another near Fremont, NE.
• Railroad to pay cost of damage in spill (AP)
  NS will pay residents and business owners who had property damaged in Graniteville, SC.
• Train depot part of East Lincoln Hwy. development plans (The MidWeek)
  UP depot could be a highlight of a development plan in DeKalb, Illinois.
• Railway workers plan strike (Jakarta Post)
  Indonesia railway workers will call for national strike if working conditions don't improve.
• Subway strike still on as new row flares (Glasgow Evening Times)
  Glasgow's subway could be shut down by another four days of strikes.
• Wabtec gets $5M Canadian rail deal (Pittsburgh Business Times)
  Wabtec will make 500 end-of-train devices for Canadian National worth $5 million.
• Monorail project's bid process questioned (Seattle Times)
  Seattle Monorail Project is accused of violating its own bidding rules.
• NJ Transit asks questions of train riders (Star-Ledger)
  NJT is spending $400,000 to hand out more than 100,000 rider questionnaires.
• SEPTA Union Bosses Meet (KYW)
  As an extended contract deadline looms in mid-June, unions discuss negotiation strategies.
• Bombardier wins US$94M rail car order (CBC)
  Bombardier will supply Docklands Light Railway in London with 24 rail cars.
• Prevention is key message at today's 9th annual Rail and Road Safety Day
  GO Transit event says public education is key to promoting rail safety.

Tuesday, May 3

• Iran links Persian Gulf to Central Asia (Tehran Times)
  "New Silk Road" connects Persian Gulf port with Central Asia.
• Iranian President inaugurates Mashhad-Bafq railroad (Payvand)
  1,000-km route joins Persian Gulf waters to Iran's central parts and northeastern neighbors.
• Rail Stations No Ticket to Success (Wall Street Journal)
  Businesses can't rely on rush-hour crowds, so they must get creative.
• Use of emergency brake contributed to train derailment (KRT)
  Emergency brake contributed to Japan derailment as it entered a curve at excessive speed.
• Train balanced on left wheels for last 100 meters, police say (Japan Times)
  Japan train was going 108 kph into a 70kph curve when emergency brakes were applied.
• Kansas City Southern Reports Gain in First Quarter 2005 Results
  KSU revenue benefited from increased carloadings, yields, and fuel surcharges.
• Russia to help build Iranian railroad (RIA Novosti)
  A 375 km railroad will pass through northern Iran, linking Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan.
• Afghanistan May Build Its First International Rail Link in 2006 (Bloomberg)
  Government plans 100km railway linking Kandahar and Pakistan.
• Pro-Amtrak whistle-stop tour planned for Hi-Line (Havre Daily News)
  The two-day tour will extend from Glasgow to Whitefish, Montana.
• Amtrak ridership up 14 percent on line from Chicago to Port Huron (AP)
  Ridership has risen 14 percent in the first year of a revised route.
• Union Pacific Engineers Rewarded For Saving Fuel
  Railroad is expanding a program that rewards fuel-saving efforts of locomotive engineers.
• Two UP trains collide (Fremont Tribune)
  Two employees were injured when their train struck the rear of a stationary freight.
• Train derails in Interior (Broadcast News)
  CN Rail says no one was hurt when a train derailed in the B.C. interior Monday.
• Train Wreck Hearing Begins (ABC7)
  Man to stand trial on murder and arson charges from the Metrolink train derailment.
• Train derail evacuees seek answers from SB (San Bernardino County Sun)
  Residents demand that the city conduct an independent investigation into the crash.
• Second malfunction in two days strands riders on Las Vegas Monorail (AP)
  Communications malfunction stranded passengers Monday, 24 hours after similar problem.
• Routine may have fooled two women killed by train (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  SEPTA train carrying no passengers struck and killed two women in Philadelphia suburb.
• All aboard SLO's Wine Train (San Luis Obispo Tribune)
  Beginning May 27, L.A. residents can board the San Luis Obispo Daylight Wine Train.
• Railroad Hotel may become museum (Pantagraph.com)
  Plan would restore the Forrest Railroad Hotel as a museum in Illinois.

Monday, May 2

• Rails to the Lower 48 (Daily News-Miner)
  Supporters believe an Alaska-Canada-Lower 48 rail line is a legitimate goal. Governments of Alaska and the Yukon will jointly study the economic and social benefits.
• Alaska railroad makes no sense: expert (CBC)
  Rail transport expert says a railway to Alaska makes little financial sense.
• Canadian Pacific Railway Exploring Opportunities for Southern Indiana Rail Line
  CP is examining third party interest in its 92-mile track from Fayette to Bedford, Indiana.
• Genesee & Wyoming Reports 15.1% Increase in Net Income
  Solid growth in North American regional business helped offset high diesel fuel prices.
• Genesee & Wyoming Announces Senior Management Appointments
  CFO promoted to president, as part of management changes for succession plans.
• Grand visions for historic terminal are taking shape (Jersey Journal)
  Project is designed to restore the historic Hoboken Ferry Terminal to its former glory.
• Kiski Junction Railroad ends scenic, heritage rides (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
  Owner cites insurance, fuel costs, and lack of volunteers for the end of tourist operations.
• Train Mishap in Maxville (Canadian Press)
  Derailment forces evacuations and cancels service between Montreal and Ottawa.
• New Metroliner Schedule Begins (Amtrak)
  Schedule further restores premium service between Boston-New York-Washington.
• Amtrak, the railroad that can't, without more cash (Star-Ledger)
  "The debate goes on and on, but they can't seem to reform it and won't adequately fund it."
• Empire Builder runs right through Wisconsin (Beyond Milwaukee)
  Chicago to Seattle/Portland route is one of Amtrak's most scenic.
• Train derails downtown in Ardmore; no on hurt (Huntsville Times)
  Five cars of a 70-car CSX railroad freight train jumped the tracks in Alabama.
• Are you safe? Columbia racing to bolster response to train wrecks (The State)
  Columbia and USC are working to refine their response to potential train accidents in SC.
• Stricter rules sought for shipping hazardous material by train (AP)
  Four New Jersey mayors express concerns over the safety of hazmat transport by rail.
• Plan for private commuter rail line canceled (WCAX)
  Low sales cancels plan for privately run commuter rail line in the Burlington, Vermont area.
• Leak at Idaho BNSF depot spawns song, jokes, cocktail recipe (AP)
  Opponents of a refueling depot turn to new techniques to permanently shutdown the facility.
• Subways to get big makeover (New York Daily News)
  MTA will spend $900 mln in the next five years to make over 44 subway stations.
• Metro gets green light for work on rail extensions (Houston Business Journal)
  FTA approval given for preliminary engineering of Houston rail extensions.
• Train Weekend revives railroad history of city (Huntsville Times)
  Train lovers got to relive Huntsville's good old days during The Great Train Weekend.
• Tweetsie Railroad Faces Deadline To Determine Future (AP)
  In 2007, the 50-year leases will expire on land in Watagua County, North Carolina.