Author: Douglas John Bowen

PA mulls PATH extension toward Newark Airport

Years after rejecting recommendations from New Jersey rail advocates to extend PATH service directly to Newark Liberty International Airport, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Thursday announced its intent to study the idea of getting part of the way there, extending PATH service beyond its current terminus at Newark-Penn Station along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor to Newark Airport/Rail Station, connecting with the airport monorail system there.

August employment down from July

Class I railroad employment totaled 161,134 in August, down 0.54% from July, though maintaining an edge of 0.64% over August 2011, according to figures released Thursday by the Surface Transportation Board.

NS shares dip on earnings warning

Norfolk Southern announced late Wednesday that third-quarter 2012 earnings are expected to be in the range of $1.18 to $1.25 per diluted share, “primarily due to volume declines in certain markets and lower revenues from fuel surcharges.”

Intermodal again powers U.S. freight mix

U.S. freight carload traffic for the week ending Sept. 15 lagged behind the comparable week in 2011, down 2.9%, continuing a yearlong trend, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday. Counterbalancing that was the continued strength of U.S. intermodal volume for the week, up 3.9% compared with the same week last year.

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Anacostia Rail Holdings promotes two

Chicago-based Anacostia & Pacific Co. Wednesday announced John K. Secor is retiring as president of the Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC) at the end of October, to be succeeded by Michael D. Stolzman, current president of Pacific Harbor Line (PHL). Otis L. Cliatt, vice president of PHL, will be promoted to PHL’s president.

Bombardier, EMD team up to export locomotives

Bombardier Transportation and Electro-Motive Diesel ( a subsidiary of Progress Rail Services) announced Wednesday that they are joining forces to assemble diesel-electric locomotives in India. Bombardier will deliver locomotives to EMD for export to Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. Bombardier and EMD made the announcement at the InnoTrans 2012 exhibition in Berlin.

APTA: LRT paces 2Q public transit ridership

Light rail transit ridership maintained its strong U.S. growth trend in the second quarter of 2012, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) said Tuesday. LRT ridershp rose 4.3% during the quarter compared with the second quarter of 2011, pacing an overall public transit ridership for the quarter of 1.6% compared with a year ago.

FRA funds third track for northern Virginia

The Federal Railroad Administration Monday announced its intent to release $74.8 million for 11 miles of a third track for use by Virginia Rail Express (VRE), CSX, and Amtrak in northern Virginia.