News Archive (December 11 through December 17)

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.

• US seeks tougher security for hazardous rail cargo (Reuters)
  Bush administration proposal calls for railroads to monitor tank cars with toxic chemicals.
• President of Amtrak Is Said to Oust 5 of Its Top Officials (New York Times)
  New Amtrak president fires CFO, VP Sales, police chief, and communications director.
• DM&E waits to hear on federal loan (Minnesota Public Radio)
  Decision on $2.3 billion federal loan could come as early as January.
• New DM&E Powder Basin line would cause delays - BNSF (Reuters)
  BNSF claims expansion would delay intermodal; DM&E says claim is anticompetitive.
• BNSF, CN competition heats up (Memphis Business Journal)
  BNSF will reintroduce intermodal container service between Northwest and Memphis.
• Duluth ponders commuter rail (Minnesota Public Radio)
  Feasibility study expected for 150-mile route between Twin Cities and Duluth.
• N.J. must wait for rail project (Courier Post)
  Funding for preliminary work on a new Hudson Tunnel has been delayed a year.
• Rail service gets $60 million boost (Times Union)
  New York State pledges $60M over three years for passenger and freight rail projects.
• Santa's train is steaming to town (The Columbian)
  BNSF Santa Special, powered by steam locomotive SP&S 700, visits Vancouver, WA.
• Amtrak official suggests extending Heartland Flyer route to Tulsa (AP)
  Oklahoma City to Forth Worth route could be extended to Tulsa.
• Amtrak's Downeaster celebrates fifth-year anniversary (AP)
  Boston to Portland route has served more than 1.4 million in its first five years.
• Council kills light rail, blames federal government (Ottawa Citizen)
  Lack of guaranteed funding causes Ottawa City Council to cancel light rail project.
• Freight line eyed for light rail (Rocky Mountain News)
  Denver transit planners say heavy commuter rail on Union Pacific track is only option.
• Railroad claims more study needed in avalanche zones (Hungry Horse News)
  BNSF seeks further analysis of the impacts of using artillery to control snow.
• Union Pacific begins testing new filter for diesel trains (CBS)
  UP places new exhaust filter on an Oakland yard engine to test emissions impact.
• CP will get millions in state aid for improvements (The Business Review)
  New York state funds new intermodal facility on the Delaware & Hudson.
• Finances put the brakes on light-rail work (Sacramento Bee)
  Sacramento transit officials say they have funding for only one more rail expansion.
• Tunnel could make light rail come up short in Redmond (King County Journal)
  Tunneling under downtown Bellevue could cause funding shortage for Seattle light rail.
• Light Rail Line To Amtrak Depot Opens (AP)
  Sacramento light rail extended to Amtrak station; plans call for airport link.
• Amtrak ridership to Chicago soars (St. Louis Dispatch)
  Ridership on expanded Chicago routes rises 35 to 61% from a year ago.
• Capitol Corridor riding high (San Francisco Chronicle)
  Amtrak's Oakland to Sacramento route has increased from 3 to 16 round-trips per day.
• $50 million earmarked for rail, terminal (Virginian-Pilot)
  Virginia to spend $50M on rail projects, including rail rerouting in Portsmouth and Suffolk.
• Canadian Pacific Railway announces 2007 planned capital investment (CP)
  CP increases capital spending 5% to $885-$895 million.
• County confirms railroad looking: Denies rezoning is for CSX (News & Reporter)
  Residents picket in opposition to proposed CSX terminal in Chester County, SC.
• Rail Freight Traffic Up During 1st Week of December (AAR)
  US intermodal and carload freight volumes rise 1.6% and 3.5%, respectively.
• No injuries, spills in train derailment (AP)
  CSX derails 21 cars in Marriottsville, Maryland.
• BNSF derailment in Wash. rekindles call to move rails (Peace Arch News)
  Citizens group to pressure BNSF to move tracks inland.
• 1 fired, 2 on leave over derailment of MARTA train (AP)
  Two train operators suspended, and dispatcher fired, for derailment on Atlanta's MARTA.
• Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Reports Traffic for November 2006 (GWR)
  Shortline and regional rail operator's carloadings rise 2.5% due to acquisitions.