News Archive (November 28 through December 4)

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.

Sunday, December 4

• Norfolk Southern, K.C. Southern in venture (Reuters)
  NS spends $300M for additional capacity on KCS's 320-mile Meridian Speedway.
• Orr train speed suit filed by CN (Mesabi Daily News)
  Canadian National files suit to block Minnesota city's attempt to regulate train speeds.
• Railcars full of hazards (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  Philadelphia joins Washington, Cleveland, and Chicago in attempt to ban cargo.
• Canadian Nat'l to Spend $1.3B on Projects (AP)
  CN to spend $1.3B on infrastructure, productivity initiatives, and strategic projects.
• Norfolk Southern Museum Will Open December 5 (NS)
  NS will open company museum in Norfolk on Monday.
• Trans-Asian railway network moves closer (Bangkok Post)
  Agreement could provide integrated rail link from Asia to Europe and Africa.
• More freight trains could be diverted through the region (Gainesville Sun)
  CSX considers rerouting traffic to free up Orlando rails for commuter trains.
• CP Rail's Holiday Train lights up Fort Edward station (Post-Star)
  Canadian Pacific's sixth annual holiday train stops at Ford Edward, New York.
• Amtrak: Tragedy or farce? (Roanoke Times)
  Opinion: Amtrak President Gunn was fired due to success in rehabilitating company.
• Amtrak's Future (Washington Post)
  Opinion: Amtrak board that fired the company's president is inadequate.
• BNSF offers to buy polluted area (AP)
  Railroad to buy property contaminated by diesel fuel from pre-1986 operations.
• Judge upholds random subway bag searches (Newsday)
  Federal judge upholds NYPD searches of subway rider bags.
• SEPTA mum on bids for railcars (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  Philadelphia transit agency won't name bidders for 104 railcars
• PATCO extension into Glouco overdue (Courier-Post)
  Opinion: Growing population and traffic requires rail expansion into South Jersey.
• Light Rail Service Resumes (AP)
  Baltimore reopens light rail after double-track construction.
• Tri-Rail issues delay warnings (Sun-Sentinel)
  CSX will suspend 21 miles of signals near Fort Lauderdale to put new track in service.

Thursday, December 1

• Bush, in reversal, clears $1.3B in aid to Amtrak (Star Ledger)
  Funding package requires changes to food service and first class service.
• Negotiators: Transit Strike Talks Not Going Well (WABC)
  New York City subway and bus workers' contract expires December 15.
• Monorail accident caused by human error (AP)
  Seattle monorail collision was caused by human error, shutting down service until 2006.
• Amtrak expansion urged (State Journal-Register)
  Midwest High Speed Rail Association seeks more trains on three Illinois routes.
• All Aboard: Aggravation for Amtrak (Conservative Voice)
  Opinion: Fired Amtrak president was an experienced manager seeking reforms.
• Fired Amtrak chief stood in the way of reform (Baltimore Sun)
  Opinion: Amtrak should focus on serving densely populated corridors such as Northeast.
• Union Pacific Deploys Mobile Digital Video Surveillance (Telematics Journal)
  UP selects Wabtec VideoTrax for surveillance on locomotive fleet.
• Plan to fund rail projects is approved (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
  Virginia state Rail Advisory Board approves funding plan; critics question freight projects.
• Union Pacific Railroad revamping Colton facility (Daily Bulletin)
  UP spends $30 million to upgrade its west Colton locomotive-repair facility.
• Canadian National Reaches Labor Deal (AP)
  CN reaches agreement with Algoma Central Association of Railway Unions.
• No ticket? $74, just for being on platform (Jersey Journal)
  NJ Transit tickets individuals who loiter at light rail station platforms.
• Rail Freight Traffic Up in Holiday Week (AAR)
  Intermodal traffic rises 4.4% over last year, driving overall volume up 1.7%.
• Freights delay MBTA trains (Boston Globe)
  CSX dispatching cited in Boston commuter rail delays.
• KCS Holiday Express rolls into town (Port Arthur News)
  Kansas City Southern holiday train visits Port Arthur Texas on Wednesday.
• Union Pacific coal train derails in western Kansas (AP)
  UP derails 22 coal cars in Kansas on Tuesday.
• Freight train derails in town (Sheboygan Press)
  Union Pacific derails three cars in Sheboygan, WI.
• CSX roils New River City (Philadelphia Inquirer)
  City of Philadelphia battles CSX over riverfront access along tracks.
• Rail Yard Poses Safety Concerns (WTVM)
  Columbus Georgia to study safety of Norfolk Southern yard.
• Providence and Worcester Railroad Announces Management Changes (PWX)
  P. Scott Conti elected to succeed Orville R. Harrold as President.

Wednesday, November 30

• NTSB: Trains Hauling Gases Must Slow Down (AP)
  Following January crash in Graniteville SC, federal safety officials say trains carrying poisonous gasses must slow down in populated areas.
• Study: Overhaul Baltimore's Rail Lines (AP)
  FRA study in response to 2001 fire recommends overhaul of passenger and freight routes, including construction of new tunnels west of downtown.
• Safety Measures Proposed After Train Wreck (NY Times)
  NTSB says new switch device must "compellingly capture the attention of employees."
• State reaches $76 million deal with BNSF (AP)
  New Mexico to buy nearly 300 miles of track between Belen and southern Colorado.
• South Blvd. light-rail line delayed (Charlotte Observer)
  Charlotte light rail opening delayed four months until August 2007.
• New Subway Cars Promise All Kinds of Information (NY Times)
  NYC subway test train demonstrates new cars to be delivered starting in 2007.