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AMTRAK REACTS TO STB RULING

Amtrak reacted positively to a Surface Transportation Board (STB) ruling issued yesterday on a contract dispute that has delayed the restoration of passenger rail service between Boston and Portland, but raised concerns with some aspects of the decision.

"The STB ruling marks an important step on the way to bringing trains back to Maine," said George D. Warrington, Amtrak's acting president. "Amtrak and Maine have waited patiently for the Board to complete its work and we are gratified that most issues were resolved in Amtrak's favor. However, we are concerned with the Board's resolution of some issues, particularly in the area of liability. These issues are complex and very technical in nature and we will need the opportunity to fully review and analyze the substance of the decision before commenting further."

Warrington said Amtrak would confer immediately with the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA), which contracted with Amtrak to run the service, on how to proceed on the basis of the STB ruling. The STB had been asked to resolve a contract dispute between Amtrak and Guilford Rail System regarding the upgrade of tracks owned by Guilford in Maine and New Hampshire that are needed to run the service. -Amtrak

 

CONRAIL  NEWS

OCS TO RIDE AGAIN

Conrail will host various railroad officials from Norfolk Southern on portions of an upcoming Office Car Special trip.  On Monday and Tuesday, intermodal facilities at Harrisburg and Triple Crown facilities will be "observed" on the fly.  The train will not actually detrain passengers for a walking tour, but will operate through or by the yard sites.  The passengers will briefly detrain at Reading-Franklin St. on Monday.

On Sunday night, Conrail OCS-401 will depart Altoona on May 31 at 21:00 ET.  Train will be operating to Philadelphia via Amtrak with an early morning arrival.  On Monday June 1, OCS-101 will depart Philly at 10:00 ET and operate via Amtrak, arriving Harrisburg at 12:30 ET.  The train will be turned on the Capitol Wye at 13:00 ET and continue east to Reading-Franklin St.  The Reading arrival is marked for 14:10 ET and departure at 14:15 ET for Philadelphia-30th Street station.  The arrival at Philly is scheduled for 16:30 ET. On Tuesday June 2, OCS-102 will depart Philly at 09:00 ET with a "quick" run to Perryville, MD, arriving there at 09:55 ET.  Train will operate the Port Road Secondary and Royalton Branch, passing Shocks at 11:25 ET.  An 11:55 ET arrival in Harrisburg will be followed by a reverse move at the Rockville Wye to turn the train.  OCS-102 will continue past CP-Harris at 12:30 ET, Phoenix at 14:40 ET and arrive Philly at 16:00 ET.  A 17:00 ET departure will see OCS-102 depart westbound via Amtrak, with a 19:30 ET scheduled arrival in Harrisburg for fuel.  The train will continue to Toledo, OH.

The full schedules are available above in the normal ERN format. -Kevin Burkholder
 
C32-8 HELPER UNITS?

HLP-40E departed Canton Yard (MP 97, Fort Wayne Line) at 20:25 ET with Ballast Express C32-8's 6614 and 6610, headed east to the Cleveland Line to assist a stalled train at around MP 71.5. -Don Narris

SD70 / 70MAC UPDATE

Conrail SD70's 2557-2561 are now in various stages of construction at Altoona, PA.  The first SD70 is due to be released the second week of June.  These units will be equipped with cab signals and LSL and assigned to former Conrail territory after the NS/CSX acquisition.

SD70MAC's 4142 and 4143 left Altoona, on ATPI-9 yesterday. The pair should be assigned out of Conway today.  The only remaining SD70MAC 4144 should be completed and released in the next ten to twelve days.

 

CSX CORPORATION  NEWS AND INFORMATION

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS EXTENDED

CSX Corporation announced today that its Board of Directors has extended the company's shareholder rights plan provisions, which are designed to protect shareholders against coercive takeover tactics. The Board adopted a new rights plan that is essentially the same as the company's 1988 rights plan, which will expire shortly.

In taking the action, the company declared a dividend distribution of one preferred share purchase right on each share of common stock outstanding on June 8, 1998. The new rights plan will expire June 8, 2008.

The CSX Board gave careful consideration to all issues and viewpoints and concluded that the rights plan benefits shareholders by encouraging prospective acquirers to negotiate so that the Board may obtain the best result for shareholders. -CSX Corporation

 

RAILTEX  SYSTEM

EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS
RailTex, Inc. yesterday announced the appointment of Mr. James R. Davis as Vice President-Operations of RailTex Service Company, Inc. and Mr. Joseph P. Jahnke as Treasurer, effective May 27, 1998.  Mr. Davis joined RailTex eight years ago and has served the Company in various general manager positions, including Regional General Manager.  Most recently he served as Interim Vice President- Operations.  Mr. Jahnke has been with RailTex for three years and has served in various finance and treasury positions, most recently as Director of Finance.

In addition, RailTex Canada, Inc. announced the appointment of Mr. Peter E. McCarron as President of RailTex Canada, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of RailTex, effective May 27, 1998.  Mr. McCarron joined RailTex in 1993 and most recently served as Regional General Manager for RailTex.  In Mr. McCarron's new position, he will be responsible for all Canadian operations and two of the Company's railroads in New England; the New England Central Railroad and the Connecticut Southern Railroad.  In addition, Mr. McCarron and his support team will be closely working with the Canadian Class I railroads to review acquisition opportunities and to develop significant new business for the Company's existing Canadian properties. -Railtex

INDUSTRY NEWS

EW&S CLARIFICATION
The EWS JT42CWR 66002 that is being tested at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, CO.  The reason for testing at the TTC is to analyze the performance of the new radial truck which was developed for this model, plus some design-type testing for EW&S and Railtrack in the UK. -Brad Alexander

614 EXCURSIONS

Iron Horse Enterprises announces ten excursions featuring ex-C&O 614, to be run in October and November.

To order tickets, call 908-236-2200 (Visa/Mastercard accepted), or write IHE; 1 Railroad Avenue; Lebanon, NJ 08833.

The first four trips will be on the Amtrak main line between Philadelphia (30th St) and Harrisburg.  These trips will run Sept 19-20 and 26-27. Tickets are available at $85 (coach) and $250 (First Class). Child coach tickets are $50.  Amtrak has agreed to provide 15 Amfleet coaches, 2 Amdinettes, and 2 baggage cars, which will be on the front of the train fitted with wooden slats for those who insist on hearing the sound and fury of the 614 and eating her cinders. It is expected that the train will be turned at Rockville.  At least one multiple runby will be executed (probably at Lancaster, but other locations are being scouted). The only condition placed on these trips is a favorable mechanical inspection of the engine, which should be accomplished within the next two weeks.

Amtrak is expected to provide specially discounted tickets for those traveling to Philadelphia to ride the four excursions. Details will be available when tickets are mailed out.

Six trips are planned from Hoboken to Port Jervis on Oct 10-11, 17-18 and 31-Nov 1.  The first four are definite, and the last two are conditional on receiving expected NJT approval.  Coach tickets will be $75 ($50 for children) and $250 for first class.

The 614 is expected to deadhead from Hoboken to Philadelphia and return over the NEC, subject to clearance tests.  These dates have not yet been confirmed, and revenue passengers will NOT be carried.

Amtrak is talking about running a Railfair at 30th St during the time that 614 will be there.

It is possible there will be additional trips, involving rare mileage, in November.  IHE is not ready to make public the proposed routing, pending successful negotiations, but the 614 is expected to spend the winter at
Steamtown. -John Harmon