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| MAY 3, 1998 |
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EASTERN RAILROAD NEWS
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- I. NortheastDirect trains that run from Boston and Springfield, Mass. to Washington, Richmond and Newport News, Va., which was up six percent. NortheastDirect is Amtrak's single largest service nationally, accounting for one of every four riders carried. Ridership in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut improved 3.3 percent while Virginia ridership since October is up 11 percent.
- II. Keystone trains that connect Harrisburg, Philadelphia and New York and Clocker commuter trains that connect Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York City, up 23.8 percent. Ridership within the Harrisburg-Philadelphia Keystone Corridor was up over 15 percent with strong gains in Harrisburg, Lancaster and Paoli.
- III. Empire trains serving New York State increased in ridership by 6.6 percent, marking 16 consecutive months of growth. The Hudson Valley Corridor between Albany and New York City continues to be strong with ridership out of Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff and Hudson maintaining double digit growth rates. -Amtrak
F59 ON THE MOVE
Amtrak F59 #453 was the trailing unit on SENF-2 on Saturday evening. The unit was taken to Hornell - GEC Alsthom for painting (and possibly setup or testing) on Conrail BUOI-3. This unit looks like it's only about 70' long and very boxy. -Andy Kirk
NORTHEAST RIDERSHIP GAINS
Amtrak ridership growth in the Northeast accelerated to 8.8 percent during the winter as 92.8 percent of all trains arrived on time, according to figures released today.
From January through March, 2,786,124 passengers boarded Amtrak trains in the Northeast, an 8.8 percent increase over the same period in 1997. The growth rate outpaced the eight percent ridership increase posted from October through December. For the entire six-month period, which marks the first half of Amtrak's 1998 Fiscal Year, more than 5.8 million riders used Amtrak in the Northeast.
The ridership growth has been carried by strong performance in New York, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and Virginia and a resurgence in travel in southern New England. Amtrak's premium Metroliner service between New York and Washington, whose ridership was impacted by a threatened strike last fall, rebounded strongly during the winter. March ridership aboard Metroliners was the best for that month in 10 years. On-time performance during the winter hit 92.8 percent. Of the 8,926 trains Amtrak operated, 8,284 arrived on time.
"With the advent of 150 mph High-Speed Rail service now just a year away, Amtrak is strengthening its customer base throughout the Northeast with quality service, consistent on- time performance and improved equipment," said Stan Bagley, acting president of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. "Ridership surged during the winter despite relatively warm weather through much of the Northeast and cheap gasoline which has suppressed even higher demand for rail travel."
Major gains were achieved
aboard:
RAILAMERICA ACQUIRES MICHIGAN RAIL LINE
RailAmerica, Inc. and CSX Transportation Inc. (CSXT), a business unit of CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX), today announced that CSXT has sold a 51 mile rail line in Michigan to RailAmerica's wholly-owned subsidiary, the Saginaw Valley Railway Company (SGVY). SGVY will commence rail service on this line immediately. This transaction increases RailAmerica's total trackage operated by its two railroads in Michigan to over 225 miles. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Located in Michigan's "Thumb" region, the line runs from just east of Saginaw to Brown City, Michigan, and serves customers such as Parrish & Heimbecker, Michigan Agricultural Commodities, Terra International and Star of the West Milling. SGVY anticipates moving several thousand carloads of commodities annually over the line, including agricultural products such as grain, corn, fertilizer and soybeans. The line, which will be known as SGVY's Brown City Subdivision, connects with RailAmerica's flagship railroad and SGVY's sister railroad, the Huron and Eastern Railway Company (HESR), at Vassar, Michigan. SGVY will also interchange with CSXT at Saginaw. Customer service and train dispatching for this line will be coordinated through RailAmerica's new regional transportation office and centralized dispatching center in Vassar.
RailAmerica, Inc. Chairman, President and C.E.O. Gary O. Marino said, "We are excited to add this rail line to our Michigan cluster of railroads. Now new customers on this line will enjoy the benefits of RailAmerica's personalized, frequent rail service, while also maintaining access to a national rail network that makes these shippers more competitive in the world marketplace."
James Derwin, CSXT's Assistant Vice President Asset Management added, "We are pleased to expand our relationship with RailAmerica, and in Michigan in particular, where we interchange numerous products with their railroads. CSXT and its customers have benefitted from the local focus and attention to service that short line operators like RailAmerica provide, while at the same time maintaining a valuable feeder network to the national rail system."-CSX Corporation
SO MANY TRAINS, SO LITTLE TRACK
The single track Lurgan Branch and Hagerstown Secondary continue to see heavy volumes of traffic. This route is the primary route to and from the Norfolk Southern gateway at Hagerstown, MD. Traffic flow on the route has shifted recently due to a weekday (except Friday) maintenance blitz. Most traffic is operating during the night and early morning hours. The following trains are scheduled to operate over this route: TV-211, TV-212, TV-213, TV-214, RR-265, RR-266, ALNS, NSAL, NSSE, SENS, NSOP, OPNS, and several scheduled locals. In addition to the intermodal and freight traffic, coal traffic off of the CSX has been heavy recently. UDK, UDP, and UIR coal loads have become almost daily with XCX trains returning the empties. The continued daylight curfew has continued to affect TV-211, pushing their schedule back three hours on departure and usually holding them at Ross until the 15:00 ET scheduled curfew is lifted. -Kevin Burkholder
SD70MAC TRACK
| 4130 | Indianapolis, IN | 5/3/98 | 21:52 CT | ELIN-2A |
| 4131 | Indianapolis, IN | 5/3/98 | 21:52 CT | ELIN-2A |
| 4132 | Selkirk, NY | 5/3/98 | 11:00 ET | Not Assigned |
| 4133 | Selkirk, NY | 5/3/98 | 11:00 ET | Not Assigned |
| 4134 | Indianapolis, IN | 5/3/98 | 05:12 CT | ELIN-2B |
| 4135 | Indianapolis, IN | 5/3/98 | 05:12 CT | ELIN-2B |
| 4136 | CP-47, NY | 5/3/98 | 09:40 ET | INSE-2 |
| 4137 | CP-47, NY | 5/3/98 | 09:40 ET | INSE-2 |
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Conway, PA |
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Conway, PA |
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ALTOONA-JUNIATA SHOP REPORT
Juniata Shops in Altoona
continue to see several insourcing projects in addition to the manufacture
and maintenance of Conrail units. The E44 (formerly Amtrak 502) has
been in the paint shop getting a new coat of Pennsylvania Railroad paint.
The Conrail Lease C30-7's are being cycled through for 3-year air modifications.
The last five SD70MAC's are currently on the floor in various stages of
construction. The 4140 and 4141 should be released in the next week.
With the completion of the 70MAC's, Juniata will set up for the manufacture
of the (NS) SD70's. Several leased units are also being cycled through
for various repairs.
| Amtrak |
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Receiving PRR Paint |
| Conrail |
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3-year Air modification |
| Conrail |
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Modifications |
| Conrail |
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3-year Air modification |
| Conrail |
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3-year Air modification |
| Conrail |
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Gear Train Defect |
| Conrail |
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3-year Air modification |
| LMS |
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Modifications/Returned dead from CN |
| NJT |
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HEP Modifications |
| NJT |
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HEP Modifications |
| NJT | 4129 |
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HEP Modifications |
| Conrail | 4140 |
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SD70MAC New Manufacture |
| Conrail | 4141 |
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SD70MAC New Manufacture |
| Conrail | 4142 |
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SD70MAC New Manufacture |
| Conrail | 4143 |
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SD70MAC New Manufacture |
| Conrail | 4144 |
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SD70MAC New Manufacture |
| Conrail | 6279 |
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Modifications |
| Conrail | 6662 |
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Ditch Lights/Walkway Lights added |
| Conrail | 6665 |
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Ditch Lights Added |
| NS | 8574 |
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Accident Repairs |
CONRAIL LEASE FLEET DWINDLING
A recent order for Conrail-leased
units to be returned is apparently being followed through. The large
group of SD40-2 and SD45-2 units leased to CN has dwindled to six.
The LMS C40-8W fleet continues to soldier on for Union Pacific and Canadian
National. The CN units are a six-month annual lease that will see
LMS 715 to 730 returned in June. The units on UP are long-term leased
and will continue to work for the UP. Here is the current lease list:
| LMS
700 Leased to UP
LMS 701 Leased to UP LMS 702 Leased to UP LMS 703 Leased to UP LMS 704 Leased to UP LMS 705 Leased to UP LMS 706 Leased to UP LMS 707 Leased to UP LMS 708 Leased to UP LMS 709 Leased to UP LMS 710 Leased to UP LMS 711 Leased to UP LMS 712 Leased to UP LMS 713 Leased to UP LMS 714 Leased to UP |
LMS
715 Leased to CN
LMS 716 Leased to CN LMS 717 Leased to CN LMS 718 Leased to CN LMS 719 Leased to CN LMS 720 Leased to CN LMS 721 Leased to CN LMS 722 Leased to CN LMS 723 Leased to CN LMS 724 Leased to CN LMS 725 Leased to CN LMS 726 Leased to CN LMS 727 Leased to CN LMS 728 Leased to CN LMS 729 Leased to CN LMS 730 Leased to CN LMS 731 Leased to CN LMS 732 Leased to CN LMS 733 Leased to CN LMS 734 Leased to CN LMS 735 Leased to CN LMS 736 Leased to CN LMS 737 Leased to CN LMS 738 Leased to CN LMS 739 Leased to CN |
Conrail 6001
Leased to BNSF
Conrail 6005 Leased to BNSF Conrail 6006 Leased to BNSF Conrail 6008 Leased to BNSF Conrail 6009 Leased to BNSF Conrail 6020 Leased to BNSF Conrail 6021 Leased to BNSF Conrail 6026 Leased to BNSF Conrail 6027 Leased to BNSF Conrail 6028 Leased to BNSF Conrail 6440 Leased to CN Conrail 6471 Leased to CN Conrail 6479 Leased to CN Conrail 6654 Leased to CN Conrail 6658 Leased to CN Conrail 6663 Leased to CN Conrail 6664 Leased to CN Conrail 7683 Leased to AAR Conrail 7904 Leased to Tropicana Conrail 8054 Leased to AIT School Conrail 9558 Leased to AIT School Conrail 9582 Leased to Midwest Steel Conrail 9590 Leased to Ameriport |
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