Bombardier earnings reach record $1 billion
Bombardier Inc. announced Thursday that it earned a net profit of $1 billion in the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, a record, on revenue of $19.7 billion. The train and plane manufacturer earned $317 million on
news
Industries invest $2.2 billion along NS lines
Norfolk Southern customers invested $2.2 billion in new and expanded facilities along the railroad’s lines in 2008. The investment is expected of generate 136,000 carloads of new rail traffic annually and create 3,623 new jobs
UATP cardholders add Amtrak access
Washington, D.C.-based Universal Air Travel Plan, Inc. (UATP) has added Amtrak as a corporate partner, allowing corporate card holders to make Amtrak purchases at all points of sale with their UATP cards.
FTA OKs TriMet preliminary engineering for Orange Line
Portland, Ore.’s TriMet will proceed with preliminary engineering for its sixth light rail line, this one to Milwaukie, Ore., with approval from the Federal Transit Administration. FTA’s approval allows TriMet to proceed
Trainyard Tech acquires GE’s PROYARD™
Trainyard Tech, LLC has signed an agreement with General Electric Transportation Systems Global Signaling to acquire GE’s PROYARD™ product line. The agreement was signed March 26; transfer of technology and business will
Analyst: Old king coal a (mildly) depressed old soul
The economy and competition from natural gas is dealing coal production a one-two punch, and that will hurt railroad traffic, according to the latest Dahlman Rose & Co. forecast. “U.S. coal demand
Global Railway Industries revenue rises in 4Q, 2008
London, Ontario-based Global Railway Industries, Ltd. says its revenue increased 68% to C$61.8 million (US$49 million), for fiscal year 2008 compared with year-earlier totals, while fourth-quarter revenue rose 59% to C$16.6 million
Analyst: Fewer amber trains of grain
A reduction in acres of grain planted is “not helpful for rail volumes” since today’s plantings will determine carloadings for fourth-quarter 2009 through second-quarter 2010, according to Morgan Stanley & Co. analysts
ASLRRA President’s Awards, Jake Awards announced
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has recognized seven railroads with its President’s Award, honoring companies “that truly achieved exemplary safety accomplishments, both for the year and over extended
Rail fatalities down 13.5% in January
New safety statistics posted on the Federal Railroad Administration’s website Wednesday show that railroad fatalities declined 13.5% to a total of 45 in January compared with January 2008. Trespasser fatalities were down 15.4% to 22
Commentary
From the Editor: The Children’s Investment what’s-its-name
By William C. Vantuono, Editor Does anybody remember The Children’s Investment Fund? You know, the all-knowing activist hedge fund that spent much of 2007 and 2008 strutting about, hurling criticisms at CSX,
CP sells major stake in Detroit River Tunnel
Canadian Pacific Railway will receive $C110 million (US$86.9 million), plus additional proceeds of $C22 million based on future freight volume, in a transaction that will see Borealis Infrastructure acquire a majority interest in the Detroit
Palo Alto challenges California HSR plan
Palo Alto, Calif., is hiring legal counsel to object to plans by the California High Speed Rail Authority to route trains along Caltrain right-of-way. The city council claims the authority’s 2008 environmental
CN names four to Operations leadership slots
Canadian National Tuesday announced the appointment of four executives to leadership positions in operations, effective immediately. CN said Gordon Trafton (pictured), senior vice-president, Southern Region, is now senior vice-president, Strategic Acquisitions and
Merger planned for GO Transit, Metrolinx
Ontario provincial leaders have introduced legislation to merge GO Transit, the transit system serving metropolitan Toronto, with Metrolinx, the regional planning agency charged with growing public transit in the Greater Toronto Area.
RailAmerica exec is ASLRRA “Safety Person of the Year”
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has named Robert D. Jones, vice president of RailAmerica’s West Region, as the 2008 “Safety Person of the Year.” Jones was cited for
Rail-shipper accord reported on “re-reg”
Washington sources said Monday that railroads and shippers are expected reach agreement on so-called "re-reg" legislation within about two weeks following intense and highly confidential negotiations involving all the key players: carriers, "captive shippers," legislators
Analyst sees second-half switch for rails
Goldman Sachs analyst David Feinberg advised clients in aresearch note that he expects railroads to experience a turnaroundbeginning in this year’s secondhalf, though he now believes their loss of volume during the year will be as
Alton & Southern expands RailComm DOC system
Alton & Southern Railway Co. has expanded its existing RailComm Domain Operations Controller (DOC®) System by adding 14 remotely controlled power switch machines at the Bowl and Crest sections of its yard.
Railway writer Fred Houser dies at 84
Frederick N. Houser, Jr., a distinguished railway technical writer who worked for Railway Age (as an associate editor) and Railway Locomotives & Cars (as editor) from 1955 to 1974, died March 26, in Stoneboro, Pa. In addition