Buffett's Berkshire boosts stake in BNSF
Jan 10, 2008
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. bought 29,600 more shares of Burlington Northern Santa Fe stock, giving Berkshire ownership of 17.4 percent of the nation's second-largest railroad. Buffett's company now owns 60.9 million shares of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Inc., which is based in Fort Worth, Texas. Its shares rose $2.21, or 2.8 percent, to $80.06 Thursday. Read More.. Read more...
Electrical union ratifies labour contract with CN
Jan 08, 2008
Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union have ratified a five-year collective agreement at CN's (TSX:CNR) Canadian operations. The agreement providing improved wages, fringe benefits and other benefits affects about 700 workers who maintain Canadian National Railway's signals and communication systems in Canada. Read more... Read more...
Railroad Union, Lawmakers Decry Camp Cars
Jan 03, 2008
The people who maintain railroad tracks often do their job in isolated parts of the country. But Norfolk Southern, one of the nation's biggest railroads, still houses some workers in so-called "camp cars," or converted sleeper cars, instead of motels. The worker's union has condemned living conditions, and Congress is also considering a ban. Listen to the story on NPR.. Read more...
Japan confirms world's fastest maglev plan
Jan 01, 2008
Japanese rail operator Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Central) has announced it will build the world's fastest maglev system, with 310mph (500km/h) vehicles running along a 180-mile (290km) track between Tokyo and central Japan. According to Reuters, the 5.1 trillion yen ($44.7bn) project will be completed by 2025, and while JR Central has not confirmed the final destination, previous reports suggested a "first phase" between Tokyo and the central industrial city of Nagoya, with a later extension to Osaka. Read More... Read more...
First Natural Gas Locomotive Put into Operation
Dec 17, 2007
After completing experimental stages and having obtained the necessary authorization, Ferrocarril Central Andino (FCCA), the consortium operating a railway in Peru linking the port of Callao with Huancayo and Cerro de Pasco, put a locomotive running on compressed natural gas into operation. At the presentation of the converted locomotive, Olachea gave details on the company's plans to modernize the railway company. Read More... Read more...
Feds deny railroad's request to sell Michigan lines
Dec 11, 2007
The Surface Transportation Board denied a proposal by Norfolk Southern and Kansas short-line operator Watco Cos. Inc. to form a joint venture that would operate nearly 300 miles of Michigan track. "Because of all the time we spent addressing the concerns (of affected parties), the decision today is a disappointment," Norfolk Southern spokesman Rudy Husband said. Read More... Read more...
Plans to Fix U.S. Rail Could End Road & Sky Gridlock
Dec 05, 2007
This months' Popular Mechanics Magazine has an in depth article on the possible future of consumer rail travel. It's been a long held belief of many railroaders that Maglev trains are too expensive and energy thirsty to be practical though perhaps the article and video will change a few minds. Click here to read it. Read more...
London Underground to get half mile LED Video Display
Dec 03, 2007
London is poised to light up a half-kilometer-long LED display in the tunnel between Heathrow and Paddington Station. Manufactured by Canadian firm SideTrack, the simulated video system -- which is composed of 360 individual LED bars synchronized to train speeds -- will replace a static version already installed along the same Heathrow Express route. Read More... Read more...
