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Leaner,
meaner,
and a whole
lot cleaner
That's what Obama wants in a high speed
rail system. A global search is on
for the necessary technology PLUS
Managing
diesel engine
emissions
Industry Indicators
TRAFFIC ORIGINATED Short line and regional traffic index
CARLOADS WEEK 28 ENDING JULY 18, 2009 Carloads Carloads %
MAJOR U.S. RAILROADS originated originated Change
By commodity 2009 2008 % Change Carloads, by commodity June ’09 June ’08
Grain 18,829 25,649 –26.6%
Farm products ex. grain 816 681 19.8% Chemicals 38,687 38,632 0.1%
Metallic Ores 4,205 8,684 –51.6% Coal 16,621 21.954 -24.3%
Coal 128,414 144,791 –11.3% Crushed stone, sand, and gravel 18,784 23,613 -20.5%
Nonmetallic minerals 4,885 6,010 –18.7% Food and kindred products 14,186 12,901 -10.0%
Grain mill products 8,283 8,622 –4.0%
Food & kindred products 7,677 8,603 –10.8% Grain 23,238 25,421 -8.6%
Primary forest products 1,774 2,352 –24.6% Grain mill products 8,584 7,682 11.7%
Lumber & wood products 2,210 3.713 –40.5% Lumber and wood products 6,865 10,993 -37.6%
Pulp, paper & other 5,918 7,305 –19.0% Metallic ores 2,924 4,278 -31.7%
Chemicals 27,269 30,639 –11.0%
Petroleum products 5,436 6,585 –17.4%
Metals and products 13,987 29,573 -52.7%
Stone, clay, and glass 7,213 9,070 –20.5% Motor vehicles and equipment 7,017 8,774 -20.0%
Coke 2,729 4,164 –34.5% Nonmetallic minerals 2,127 2,991 -26.9%
Metals & products 6,783 12,426 –45.4% Petroleum products 1,521 1,865 -18.4%
Motor vehicles & equip. 7,676 11,279 –31.9% Pulp, paper, and allied products 16,671 22,033 -24.3%
Waste & scrap 8,202 10,731 –23.6%
All other carloads 4,780 4,739 0.9% Stone, clay, and glass products 13,123 15,783 -16.9%
TOTAL cars loaded 268,553 327,197 –17.9% Trailers/containers 30,419 41,180 -26.1%
Waste and scrap materials 9,981 14,392 -30.6%
CANADIAN RAILROADS All other carloads 84,569 99,100 -14.7%
All commodities 57,810 76,473 –24.4%
MEXICAN RAILROADS
Total carloads, June: 2009 vs. 2008
All commodities 12,543 13,534 –7.3% June 2009 — 309.304
U.S. TOTAL 28 weeks: 7,337,655 • % change from 2008: –19.1% June 2008 — 381,085
CANADIAN TOTAL 28 weeks: 1,666,531 • % change from 2008: –24.0% 220,000 240,000 260,000 280,000 300,000 320,000 340,000 360,000 380,000 400,000
MEXICAN TOTAL 28 weeks: 317,670 • % change from 2008: –14.8%
NORTH AMERICAN TOTAL 28 weeks: 9,321,856 • % change from 2008:–19.9% Copyright © 2009. All rights reserved.
Transportation
(other than train and
engine) Maintenance-
Maintenance of of-way and
6,856 equipment and structures
(3.46%) stores
28,619 35,382
(—0.72%)
Source: Surface Transportation Board (—3.75%)
News/Columns Departments
4 From the Editor 1 Industry Indicators
8 Update 6 Industry Outlook
44 Short Line/Regional 7 Market
Perspective 36 Letters
37 People
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37 100 Years Ago
38 Advertising Index
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25 40 Professional Directory
41 Classified
Features
14 Getting America
up to speed
28 Shades of green
this could relieve the pressure. The survey also indicates that a majority of shippers do not plan to WESTERN OFFICES
file any rate action against a railroad during the next 12 months. The results, compared to last 20 South Clark Street, Suite 2450,
Chicago, IL 60603
quarter’s, suggest that shippers believe that current pricing practices are not out of line.” 312/683-0130 ; Fax: 312/683-0131
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FRA issues PTC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Engineering Editor: Tom Judge
Editorial Assistant: Wanda Welty
The Federal Railroad Administration last month announced proposed rules designed to prevent
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train-to-train collisions through the use of Positive Train Control (PTC). The Notice of Proposed 46 Killigrew Street
Rulemaking (NPRM) prescribes how railroads must use PTC systems. FRA noted that, under Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 3PP, United Kingdom
the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, major freight railroads and intercity and regional rail Telephone: 011-44-1326-313945
Fax: 011-44-1326-211576
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must function and indicate how FRA will assess a PTC plan before it can become operational. Director, Special Projects
Robert G. Lewis
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Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman described to the National Gover- address label to Subscription Department, Railway Age,
P.O. Box 10, Omaha, NE 68101-0010, or call toll free 1-800-
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each article. Payment should be sent directly to CCC. Copy-
the Heartland Corridor between the Port of Virginia and Columbus, ing for other than personal or internal reference use with-
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ing Corp. is prohibited. Address requests for permission on
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Railway Age welcomes the submission of unsolicited
will create 41,000 “green jobs over the next decade and shift more than a manuscripts and photographs. However, the publishers will
not be responsible for safekeeping or return of such materi-
million trucks a year off the highways and onto rails, saving more than 150 million gallons of fuel al. Member of:
annually as well as reducing carbon emissions by nearly two million tons a year.” It will take more
strategic initiatives like these, Moorman said, to prepare the railroads to handle their share of
freight volumes that transportation economists predict will grow 86% by 2035. “Our nation’s
transportation network is a complex, interdependent system that demands our combined creative
efforts to operate it most efficiently,” Moorman said. “Our experience at Norfolk Southern has
shown that by working together in public-private partnerships, we can achieve far more in far less
time and with far greater public benefits than any of us can by working alone.” SIMMONS-BOARDMAN
SBP PUBLISHING CORPORATION
Of like mind (left to right): CN’s Hunter Harrison, CSX’s Michael Ward, BNSF’s Matt Rose, and Union Pacific’s Jim Young,
though cautious, believe freight rail traffic volumes may have hit their recessionary lows. They and other railroad executives
don’t forecast a quick turnaround, however, and note they’ll continue to implement cost control measures.
I
ncreasing numbers of Wall Street analysts seem to have redis- of $308 million, or 78 cents per share, compared with $385 mil-
covered Class I railroads, or at least their collective freight lion, or 93 cents a share, in the second quarter of 2008. Revenue
traffic, as a leading economic indicator (though some, such as fell 25% to $2.19 billion. Earnings beat the consensus estimate
Dahlman Rose & Co. director Jason Seidl, also Contributing of 62 to 64 cents per share. “While the economy continues to
Editor to Railway Age, staked out the terrain long ago). Some significantly impact our business, there are some signs that we
of those analysts insist the industry hasn’t yet hit its low. Though may be seeing the bottom in many markets,” said CSX Chair-
cautious, Class I railroad executives largely think differently. man, President, and CEO Michael J. Ward, presaging Harrison’s
On July 20, Canadian National Chairman, President, and similar observation six days later.
CEO E. Hunter Harrison, commenting on CN’s earnings, stat- Union Pacific Corp. July 23 said its second-quarter profit was
ed, “I think we’ve seen the bottom.” CN reported second-quar- better than expected despite lower freight volumes and revenue.
ter profit fell 16%, with net income at C$387 million (US$350 CEO Jim Young noted, “Although we expect it will be some
million), or 82 Canadian cents per diluted share, compared with time before the economy recovers, it appears that volume levels
C$459 million, or 95 Canadian cents per diluted share, in the may have hit the bottom as the economy seems to have stabi-
comparable 2008 quarter. Operating income fell 18% to C$583 lized.” UP’s net income of $468 million, or 92 cents per share,
million. Its revenue declined 15% to C$1.8 billion (US$1.6 bil- was down 12% from the second quarter of 2008, when it
lion). But operating expenses fell 14% due to cost-containment notched $531 million, or $1.02 per share. Excluding a one-time
measures and a “significant reduction” in fuel prices compared benefit from a $72 million land sale, UP reported earnings per
with the comparable quarter, CN said. CN's operating ratio share of 78 cents, better than the consensus estimate of 74 cents
increased by one percentage point to 67.3%. anticipated by Wall Street. Quarterly revenue fell to $3.30 billion
Said Harrison, “The second quarter of 2009 saw a continua- from $4.57 billion in the comparable 2008 period; analysts had
tion of significant weakness in most of our commodity groups as expected $3.38 billion. Freight volume fell 22%.
a result of the current recession in North America and difficult Crediting cost control measures and lower fuel prices, BNSF
global economic conditions, with all groups but coal registering the same day reported that second-quarter earnings rose to $404
double-digit declines in carloadings.” million, or $1.18 per diluted share, compared with second-quar-
On July 14, CSX led off the earnings reports, noting a sec- ter 2008 earnings of $350 million, or $1.00 per diluted share.
ond-quarter earnings decline of 20% that nonetheless beat Wall The 2008 earnings figures included a 31 cent per-share charge
Street consensus estimates, as the company announced earnings related to environmental matters in Montana. Earnings results
8 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com
soundly surpassed analyst earnings-per-share expecta-
tions of $1.00. BNSF said operating expenses for the
quarter declined $1.25 billion, or 33%, to $2.52 bil-
lion, compared with second-quarter 2008 operating
expenses of $3.76 billion. Freight revenue fell $1.13
SupplyBriefs
billion, or 26%, to $3.22 billion in the quarter com- EMD design, supply, operation, and
pared with $4.35 billion a year ago. BNSF attributed California’s Department of Trans- maintenance of an INOVIA auto-
the decline in part to a decrease in fuel surcharges of portation last month dedicated an mated people mover (APM) at Sky
about $600 million. F59PHI locomotive, originally Harbor International Airport. A
Said BNSF Chairman, President, and Chief Exec- built by EMD in 2001, as part of design-build contract is valued at
utive Officer Matthew K. Rose, “We are beginning its Amtrak California service $186 million; under a separate,
to see BNSF’s volumes stabilize in our more eco- “green” fleet. EMD has installed $69 million contract, Bombardier
nomically sensitive businesses, and because of our its 710ECO™Repower upgrade will operate and maintain the 2.2-
continued focus on productivity combined with our package with the latest micro- mile PHX Sky Train for 10 years
long-term market opportunities, we are well posi- processor-controlled locomotive following its scheduled comple-
tioned to benefit when the economy recovers.” engine technology for lower emis- tion in 2012. "This is the largest
Norfolk Southern July 28 reported second-quar- sions, increased fuel economy, new-start APM contract in North
ter net income of $247 million, or 66 cents per dilut- greater reliability, and predictable America in a decade, and we are
ed share, compared with $453 million, or $1.18 per maintenance costs.The upgraded confident it will serve as the
diluted share, for the second quarter of 2008. That locomotive will now achieve EPA model for other cities and air-
exceeded by two cents per share analyst EPS esti- Tier 2 emissions performance, ports seeking modern transit solu-
mates of 64 cents, though after the report analysts two levels cleaner than required tion," said Michael Fetsko, vice
noted the outcome was boosted by a one-time mea- for this model, Caltrans said. president APM, Systems Division,
sure. Analysts also praised NS’s cost control mea- Bombardier Transportation.
sures, noting operating expenses for the quarter were BOMBARDIER
$1.4 billion, down 29% from the same period a year Toronto Transit Commission has RAILCOMM
ago. Norfolk Southern’s operating ratio was 74.8%, finalized its C$851million (US$735 RailComm will provide a wireless
up from 71.1% during the second-quarter of 2008. million) deal with Bombardier remote control yard system at
Operating revenue was $1.9 billion, down 33%. Transportation for 204 100% low- CSX’s Osborn Yard in Louisville,
Said NS CEO Wick Moorman, “[T]he measures floor Flexity streetcars.The cars Ky. RailComm’s Domain Operations
we are taking to control expenses while maintaining will be delivered beginning in Controller (DOC®) system will
our industry-leading service levels have enabled us to 2012 through 2018, with final offer remote control to several
post solid second-quarter results, while at the same assembly taking place at Bom- GETS HydraSwitch machines.
time we continue to invest in projects that position us bardier’s facility in Thunder Bay, DOC® will be configured to control
for the eventual economic recovery.” Ontario.The agreement allows for all switches individually as well
On July 30 both Kansas City Southern and Cana- an additional 400 vehicles to be as provide eNtrance eXit (NX)
dian Pacific reported, with different results. KCS ordered later as part of Toronto’s routing functionality.
reported second-quarter net income declined more “Transit City Plan” to expand the
than 86% to $6.7 million, 7 cents per share, com- streetcar system with nearly 75 L.B. FOSTER
pared with $50.5 million, or 56 cents a share, in the miles of new routes. Overall, the L.B. Foster Co. is supplying transit
second quarter of 2008. That fell short of Wall Street contract represents the largest rail and associated products for
analyst projections of 8 cents a share. CP, crediting a single order ever for light rail CTA's Dearborn Subway Project
one-time gain from the sale of a share of the Detroit vehicles worldwide, Bombardier under a $6.5 million contract,
River Tunnel Partnership, saw quarterly net profit says. In the U.S., Phoenix has delivering 80-foot rail sections,
rise to C$157.3 million ($145 million), or 93 Cana- awarded contracts worth $255 direct fixation fasteners, insulat-
dian cents a share, compared with C$154.7 million, million to Bombardier for the ed joints, and rail insulators.
or C$1, in the comparable 2008 quarter.
A Metro-North Hudson Line train plies the rails on its way to both old and
new Yankee Stadiums (top center), but the railroad now also uses the wye
to deliver riders to and from the new ballpark from both the Harlem and
New Haven lines, as well, bypassing traditional endpoint Grand Central
Terminal.
alk to U.S. passenger rail advocates about the best regional railroad
Portec Rail Products, Inc., has reported reduced revenues and IBM signed a new five-year information technology (IT) agreement with
earnings for both the second quarter and the first half of 2009, Amtrak to provide data center services including mainframe, mid-range
but President and Chief Executive Officer Richard J. Jarosinski server, security services, asset management and desktop support ser-
said he was “pleased with our overall performance in what con- vices for 10,000 workstations nationwide.The contract continues a
tinues to be a tough economic climate.” He said demand has relationship dating back to 1994. IBM services include support of the
come from “a wide range of freight and transit customers, who infrastructure for Amtrak’s reservation system as well as the corpora-
find value in our ability to significantly reduce their operating tion’s entire computing infrastructure.“IBM’s strong record of delivery
expenses. Our friction management product group continues to excellence for Amtrak has allowed them to reduce operational costs and
lead our performance with significant growth in the current increase productivity while focusing on their core business and cus-
quarter and year-to-date periods. Despite a challenging econom- tomers,” said IBM Global Technology Services Vice President,Travel and
ic environment, we are satisfied with the performance of our Transportation Industry Steve Welsh.
track component and wayside data management groups.”
Portec reported net income of $2.2 million or $0.23 per NEW YORK MTA
share for the three months ended June 30, 2009, and $3.3 mil-
lion or $0.35 per share for the six months ended June 30, 2009. New York’s MTA has released both its 2010 Preliminary Budget and pro-
These compare to unaudited net income of $2.4 million or posed Four-Year Financial Plan for 2010-2013.The MTA Board will not
$0.25 per share, and $3.8 million or $0.39 per share, for the consider a final budget until December, but MTA says the release allows
three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. Average for an extended period of public discussion about the MTA's finances
basic and diluted shares outstanding were 9.6 million for all peri- and budget proposals.The 2010 budget, as released, includes no service
ods presented. Net sales for the three and six months ended June cuts or fare increases beyond those already planned, MTA said, adding
30, 2009 were $26.5 million and $48.7 million, respectively, that projected cash balances were $29 million in 2009, $39 million in
while net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 2010, and $1 million in 2011.“Manageable” deficits are projected for
were $30.2 million and $55.0 million, respectively. 2012 and 2013. MTA also cited “significant” spending restraints con-
tributing to save $64 million in 2010.These savings grow to $279 million
by 2013.The financial plan anticipates a continued falloff in real estate
ARRA funds for transit security tax revenue and ridership due to recession. It also includes the 2009
On July 29, the Department of Homeland Security awarded Mid-Year Forecast, which reflects changes from the February 2009 plan
nearly $78 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act resulting from the passage of legislation to stabilize the MTA's short-
Transit Security Grant Program funding for approximately 240 term finances. The plan includes a 7.5% fare increase in both 2011 and
new law enforcement officers at 15 U.S. transit systems. In addi- 2013.
tion to hiring new officers, police departments with dedicated MTA METRO-NORTH RAILROAD
transit bureaus will hire anti-terrorism personnel, purchase anti-
terrorism equipment, and obtain and train explosive-detecting MTA Metro-North Railroad has awarded a $7.9 million contract to
canines. The following agencies will receive the funding: Progress Rail Services to overhaul six 3,000-hp F40PH locomotives in use
• Amtrak: $6,343,500 on its West of Hudson service (NJ Transit’s Port Jervis and Pascack Val-
• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ley lines). Both lines originate at NJT’S Hoboken Terminal and are operat-
(WMATA): $9,650,064. ed by NJT. Work will be performed at Progress Rail Services’ Mayfield,
• Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA): Ky., facility. The overhaul includes rebuilt main diesel engines and main
$685,980. and auxiliary generators, and new HEP generator sets for passenger
• Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for Chicago Police coach lighting, heating and air conditioning. Planned engine modifications
Department: $4,869,000. will meet the January 2010 EPA emission requirements for newly reman-
• Northeast Illinois Commuter Railroad Corporation ufactured engines to reduce PM (particulate matter) and NOx (nitrogen
(Metra): $1,670,988. oxide) emissions. Progress Rail Services will also replace the locomo-
• Metro Transit (Twin Cities): $1,328,700. tives’ 1,800 gallon fuel tanks with 2,500 gallon tanks to reduce the
• Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA, Buffa- amount of time they need to be out of service for fueling at Hoboken
lo): $2,234,070. Terminal. Completion is set for December 2011.The contract has a $2.6
• New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (for million option to overhaul two additional F40 locomotives by June 2012.
NYPD): $35,904,000. Metro-North’s West of Hudson locomotive fleet consists of 15 units—
• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA): eight F40PHs and seven GP40s.The latter were overhauled by the
$1,396,830. MotivePower Division of Wabtec, Boise, Idaho, between 2006 and July
• Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA): $2,085,000. 2008 at a cost of $8.1 million.
• Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTH.
(SEPTA): $4,458,870.
• Puerto Rico Department of Transportation & Public Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) has awarded a
Works: $965,193. three-year, $20 million contract to RailPros, Inc. for on-call project man-
• Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART): $1,362,690. agement, construction management, and staff augmentation services.
• Houston Metro: $3,040,560. RailPros will provide services for such projects as Positive Train Control,
• King County (Wash.) Department of Transportation: the Orange County Service Expansion Program, the Perris Valley Line,
$1,906,530. and Maintenance-of-Way Information Systems.
T
he current surge of interest in high regard rail as the mode with the brightest Paris-Lyon market and 70% of the Paris-
speed rail has taken a long time to future because of its green credentials Bordeaux market. Air France has become
gather momentum since the world’s and its ability to help solve congestion so worried about the onslaught from rail
first dedicated high speed railway, the problems. on its short-haul routes that it is planning
Tokaido Shinkansen, opened in Japan in But it is not simply the appeal of high to become a high speed rail operator
1964. Today, a real network is rapidly speed rail that is winning people over.
emerging in Europe, currently involving The investment required is too great for
seven countries but with several more that to be the case and relatively poor
waiting in the wings. In Asia, Japan has countries like Morocco and Turkey could
expanded its network to around 1,500 not afford to build high speed lines on
miles, Korea has built its first line, and these grounds alone. It is the proven abil-
China is well on the way to having the ity of high speed rail to get people to
world’s largest high speed network. switch from road and air to rail.
All the countries that have built high High speed rail is dealing a real blow
speed railways so far, already had well- to airlines in Europe. There are virtually
developed national passenger
rail services. But now high
speed development is shifting High speed around the world
to countries with only rudi- In operation Under construction Planned Maximum speed
mentary or even no long-dis- (miles) (mph)
tance passenger rail. These (km/h)
include Saudi Arabia, Europe 3,649 1,989 5,283 218 350
Argentina, and Brazil. Turkey 128 335 1,042 155 250
What is driving this trend? Japan 1,524 367 362 186 300
China Mainland 2,940* 2,067 3,146 218 350
There are several factors. The
China Taiwan 214 186 300
image of a Japanese Bullet Korea 205 51 186 300
train streaking past Mount India 1,646 Undecided
Fuji quickly became a symbol Iran 308 155 250
of modernity in the 1960s, Saudi Arabia 342 186 300
and helped to change public Morocco 423 186 300
perception of rail transporta- U.S. 225 802 150 240
tion as an outmoded relic of Argentina 441 200 320
the steam age. This was rein- Brazil 310 186 300
* Includes lines opening later this year or early in 2010
forced in the 1980s by the
Pent-up
demand?
An under-
statement!
The Federal Railroad
Handicapping U.S.
Administration has
received 278 pre-applica-
tions for high speed rail
T
Ray LaHood said.
The desire to invest he railroad supply community already has Administration says its geographic choices for
outstrips current fiscal voted: It sees a huge potential business HSR will be made on merit, not politics, but
market being generated by the Obama even polite skeptics note it’s possible to satisfy
ability, since the pre-
Administration’s $8 billion “down payment” the first criterion while not slighting the poten-
applications’ fiscal
to finally get U.S. high speed rail moving—“or tial political payback. Few industry voices will
requests far exceed the
moving again,” one industry observer notes go on record predicting the rise of one U.S.
$8 billion coming from cautiously. HSR choice over another, but of the 10 candi-
the American Recovery Just who enters the HSR sweepstakes isn’t dates (11, counting the Northeast Corridor),
and Reinvestment Act critical to the big players. Equipment suppliers four strong options have emerged as likely win-
(ARRA), more commonly such as Bombardier, Siemens, Alstom, and ners, based on industry comments encapsulat-
known as the federal Ansaldo STS make it clear they’ll be in a bid- ing the current handicapping done behind the
stimulus package, for the ding war for any given U.S. HSR project, if scenes—an evaluation that could go out the
High-Speed Intercity Pas- not every one. Even dark horses such as window once the Federal Railroad Administra-
senger Rail competitive Madrid, Spain-based Patentes Talgo SA can’t tion makes its recommendations this fall.
grant program. Even be counted out, given the builder’s U.S. pres- California Corridor: Budget crisis extraordi-
including the pledge by ence in the Pacific Northwest (through naire or not, Californians last fall committed
the Obama Administra- Amtrak’s Cascades service) and its recent con- $9.9 billion in state bonding capability to help
tion to back an addition- tract with the state of Wisconsin. fund a high speed route linking the Bay Area
al $5 billion for high “I guarantee those companies that have with Los Angeles and San Diego—the largest
speed rail funding in been involved in high speed rail in Asia and state commitment within the U.S. to date, and
coming years through Europe are in America right now meeting certain to sway the minds of sympathetic feder-
the Congressional appro- those folks that are putting proposals together al representatives, including House Speaker
priations process, bol- to tap into our $8 billion,” Transportation Sec- Nancy Pelosi and the state’s U.S. Sens. Barbara
stering the amount avail- retary Ray LaHood has noted. Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, who have pledged
able to $13 billion, the So, too, does it go for planners and contrac- to capture part of the $8 billion federal pie.
current supply of funds tors. Throughout 2009 heavyweight contrac- Moreover, the state’s actual HSR planning
tor Parsons Brinckerhoff has added several peo- process is in advanced stages. Finally, Califor-
measures only 12.7% of
ple with conspicuous experience with HSR nia’s geographic position is a clear counter-
the submitted demand.
and/or with government. Others, such as weight to the Northeast Corridor, the sole
Pacific Northwest Corridor: Residents Amtrak’s existing skeletal service linking to Jacksonville, Fla., and also to Atlanta,
of Washington and Oregon, known for the two nations. International coopera- strikes some as too large a route struc-
being environmentally conscious, have tion for HSR is possible, but problematic. ture. But its northern end, backed by
supported passenger rail and show a will- Southeast Corridor : It would serve pro-rail North Carolina and by Virginia,
ingness to step up to HSR. But the corri- the Southeast, but its best chance for no stranger to federal largesse or to resid-
dor foresees Vancouver, British Colum- implementation may be to “look north” ual business benefits from the NEC,
bia, as one anchor, and the two states, to link with Amtrak’s Northeast Corri- could bode well for part of the route.
along with Amtrak, only resolved customs dor. The ambititous size of the proposed Empire Corridor: New York State has
issues this summer with Canada on route, stretching from Washington, D.C. approached CSX to seek a third track
linking Buffalo and Albany, tieing the
stretch to its “near-HSR” Albany-to-New
York route. But the state has its own
budget woes, and has postponed or
shunned more modest increases for the
route since the late 1980s.
Keystone Corridor: Amtrak trains also
offer “near HSR” service between
Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylva-
nia’s capital, and ridership has risen—
proof that incremental improvements can
bolster demand. But a realistic upgrade
to HSR standards of the mountainous
route between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh
is problematic from a physical standpoint,
even if cooperation with owner Norfolk
Southern was locked in.
South Central Corridor: The Texas-
based candidate suddenly has backing
from businesses with clout, reportedly
including Southwest Airlines. But the
Texas legislature has been notably hostile
to funding passenger rail in any capacity,
including this current year, and meets
only every other year. Lacking leadership
from Texas, any HSR effort involving the
Lone State State, Arkansas, and Okla-
homa appears unlikely in the short term.
Gulf Coast Corridor: “I don’t see it,”
two separate sources told Railway Age. A
Houston-New Orleans-Atlanta HSR
effort would dovetail with the Southeast
Corridor, but given the other, higher vis-
ibility HSR opportunities for both Flori-
da and Texas, the likelihood of such a
route being led by Louisiana, Mississippi,
and/or Alabama appear dim at best.
Amtrak’s Sunset Limited may finally
return to this route this October—a step
up, but nowhere near HSR.
Northern New England Corridor: An
Albany-Boston-Montreal routing appeas
tortured on amap, faces international
coordination issues similar to the Pacific
Northwest Corridor, and also competi-
tion from the venerable NEC, which
offers a less risky opportunity to generate
rail ridership in New England.
S
ituated around an hour’s drive east of Prague, Czech double-deck trailers fitted with AGV trucks and part of its trac-
Republic, the eight-mile Velim test circuit is one of only tion system shattered the world speed record for conventional
a handful of places in the world where trains can be test- rail, reaching 357 mph on the Paris-Strasbourg TGV Est high
ed at 125 mph without venturing onto the main line. Velim is speed line. The series of tests carried out in the run up to the
playing a central role in the testing of Alstom’s new-generation record-breaking run in April 2007 gave Alstom a unique oppor-
high-speed train, the AGV, which is currently being prepared tunity to measure and validate the aerodynamic, acoustic, and
for use in Italy where the first trains will enter service in 2011. vibratory performance of many aspects of the new train.
The 225 mph AGV is the culmination of nearly 10 years’ After a period of static and low-speed testing at Alstom’s La
development work by Alstom, and builds on almost three Rochelle facility in western France, the first dynamic testing
decades of experience in the very-high-speed sector, which phase took place at Velim between May and September 2008,
began with the delivery of the first TGV trains for French when speeds were gradually raised to 125 mph. These tests cov-
National Railways (SNCF) in 1981. Since February 2008, the ered wheel/rail and pantograph/catenary dynamics as well as
prototype seven-car train has undergone a program of rigorous traction system and aerodynamic performance. Alstom also test-
static and dynamic testing in France and the Czech Republic. ed acoustics and the performance of the braking system under
Like all previous generations of Alstom high speed trains, normal and reduced adhesion conditions at different speeds. In
AGV is articulated, meaning a seven-car train runs on eight November 2008, testing moved to TGV Est in France, where
trucks. However, the time-honored TGV configuration of over 12 nights AGV traveled more than 4,660 miles at speeds
power cars and articulated trailers has given way to a fully-artic- up to 225 mph. This allowed Alstom to test the dynamic behav-
ulated design with distributed power, and for this reason AGV ior of the train and its components on a line used for commer-
is configured in groups of three cars, or “triplets.” The outer cial operations.
vehicle of each triplet is the driving car, which is equipped with In June, the test program returned once more to Velim,
a power truck and transformer, while the other two vehicles where the AGV will complete 6,200 miles of running before
carry power equipment, with a second power truck on the inner moving to Italy for the start of main line testing, which will take
vehicle. On a seven-car train, two triplets sandwich a central place on the Rome-Florence line between October 2009 and
“key” vehicle, which carries auxiliary equipment. March 2010. VUZ, the Czech company that operates the Velim
The triplet and key car configuration results in a train that is test track, has certification from the Italian Railway Authority
truly modular, ranging from a seven-car, 433-foot-long train to (Cesifer) for testing rolling stock, which means many of the
a 14-car, 826-foot formation, although Alstom says it has even requirements for certification can be met before the train arrives
examined the possibility of producing a 26-car version for in Italy. AGV’s permanent magnet synchronous motors give a
China. Even before the first train was unveiled in February power/weight ratio of around 30 hp/ton, compared with
2008, the capabilities of the distributed power system had around 25 hp/ton for previous generations of TGV. These
already been demonstrated to good effect. In April 2007, a spe- motors are extremely compact, occupying a third less space than
cially-adapted train formed of two TGV power cars and three asynchronous motors, and the use of magnets, which create the
trains on
freight railroads
Washington Marriott Hotel • Washington, D.C. October 19-20, 2009
A two-day conference devoted to developing common ground among
passenger and freight rail interests.
North America’s freight rail system plays host to a growing network of regional, inter-
city, and light rail passenger services. Passenger and freight rail interests must deal
with issues of compensation, liability, grade crossing safety, signaling and train control
requirements, capacity constraints, and maintaining the integrity of freight service.
Finding common ground can be problematic. These issues have taken on greater
significance with the Obama Administration’s focus on passenger rail development Joseph C. Szabo
and high speed services. Federal Railroad
Administrator
Conference topics
Matt Rose, tapping the experts for solutions to challenging problems
BNSF • Passenger growth on freight rail: How soon and how much?
Chairman, • Higher speed or high speed rail: should we jog before we run?
President and • should liability laws be changed?
CEO, BNSF • Passenger/freight cost sharing
Keynote Address Joseph H. Boardman
• Lessons learned from the european high speed experience
President
and CEO, Amtrak
presented by
agenda
Monday, October 19 New Directions in Rail Safety Coffee Break sponsored by PTMW, Inc.
Registration Moderator: Jim Michel, Senior Program
Manager-Railroads, HNTB Corporation Capitol Corridor Chapter X: Building
Continental Breakfast sponsored by Panelists: Michael Long, Deputy Regional On-Time Reliability
Veolia Transportation Administrator, FRA; additional panelists TBA Gene Skoropowski, Managing Director,
Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority
Keynote Address Energy Break sponsored by HDR
Matt Rose, Chairman, President and CEO, Program TBA
BNSF Railway A Change in Liability Law?
Tim Gillespie, Independent Consultant; Bill Luncheon co-sponsored by Amtrak and CSX
New Challenges for Freight Railroads Newman, VP-Government Relations, Conrail Transportation
Moderator: William C. Vantuono, Editor, (retired). Panelists from AAR and APTA TBA Presentation of Railway Age’s W. Graham
Railway Age Claytor Jr. Award for Distinguished Service to
Panelists: Jay Westbrook, AVP-Passenger and FRA Non-Compliant Vehicles: Operational Passenger Transportation
Commuter Operations, CSX; H. Craig Lewis, VP, and Safety Challenges
Corporate Affairs, Norfolk Southern; DJ Mitchell, Paul Stangas, Director-Systems Engineering & The European High Speed Rail Experience
AVP-Passenger Operations, BNSF; Tom Mulligan, Design, New Starts Projects, NJ Transit; Al Fazio, Kevin Foy, MultiModal Practice, Oliver Wyman
Director-Passenger Operations, Union Pacific General Manager, Services, Bombardier
Transportation North America Passenger and Freight Cost Sharing in the
Coffee Break sponsored by Oliver Wyman United Kingdom
Cocktail Reception sponsored by Herzog Transit John Tunna, AVP Passenger Rail, TTCI
High(er) Speed Rail: How Soon? Services, Inc.
Moderator and Speaker: Al Engel, VP and How it All Comes Together:
Tuesday, October 20
High-Speed Rail Director, AECOM Thinking Intermodally
Continental Breakfast sponsored by Parsons
Panelists: David Carol, Market Leader, High Gil Carmichael, Founding Member, University of
Brinckerhoff
Speed Rail, Parsons Brinckerhoff; Kevin Sheys, Denver Intermodal Transportation Institute
K&L Gates LLP; Pete Sklannik, Senior Manager, Keynote Address Adjourn
Planning & Special Projects, Parsons Brinckerhoff; Joseph Boardman, President and CEO, Amtrak
Roelof van Ark, Vice President-North America, Speaker Gifts sponsored by B&I Transportation
Alstom Transport Freight Trains on Passenger Railroads Online Conference Proceedings sponsored
Moderator: Roy Blanchard, Principal, by AllRail, Inc.
Luncheon co-sponsored by Norfolk Southern The Blanchard Company Name Tag Lanyards sponsored by RailComm
and HNTB Corp. Panelists: Paul Vilter, AVP Host Railroads, Amtrak; Delegate Gifts sponsored by Bombardier
Guest speaker: Joseph Szabo, Federal Railroad Josh Putterman, Vice President, Operating Transportation
Administrator Strategy, RailAmerica; Reilly McCarren, Pens sponsored by Alstom Transport
Chairman, Arkansas & Missouri Railroad
Program subject to change/augmentation
Co n f e r e n C e r e g i s t r at i o n f o r m 37-002-1850
Billing address for card ______________________________________ Please send this completed form, or a photocopy, with your
payment to: Jane Poterala, Conference Director
____________________________________________________________
Railway Age, 345 Hudson St., 12th Flr. New York, NY 10014
T: (212) 620-7209 | F: (212) 633-1165 | conferences@sbpub.com
Email receipt to _____________________________________________
SPECIAL REPORT ON HIGH SPEED RAIL
magnetic field for the motor to function, tion on the conventional network as well
makes them more energy efficient than as the European Rail Traffic Management
their predecessors. System (ERTMS) is used on high speed
The test train is equipped to operate lines.
on all four power systems commonly AGV will make its debut in 2011 with
found in Europe—1.5kV d.c., 3kV d.c., Nuevo Trasporto Viaggiatori (NTV), the
15kV a.c. and 25kV a.c. AGV has already world’s first open-access high speed train
been extensively tested on all of these sys- operator. NTV is investing $1.26 billion
tems except 15kV a.c., and Alstom is now in its high speed services, which will
focusing on achieving optimum perfor- operate from Turin, Milan, and Venice in
mance under the 3kV d.c. and 25kV a.c. the north to Naples, Salerno, and Bari in
systems used in Italy. the south, with an hourly service on the
Particular attention is being given to core Milan-Bologna-Rome-Naples corri-
the interface between the contact wire dor. NTV’s fleet of 25 11-car AGV trains
and the pantograph at this stage. The is being funded through a 12-year leasing
pantographs are situated on either side of contract, and Alstom will maintain the
the connection between the driving vehi- trains for 30 years.
cle and the center vehicle of each triplet, Assembly NTV’s first production vehi-
meaning they are particularly exposed to cle was completed in July at La Rochelle,
turbulence from the nose of the train. where the first two production trains will
Roof-mounted cameras have been be assembled, with the first being deliv-
installed to observe the behavior of the ered next year. The remaining 23 will be
pantograph. The prototype train is also assembled at Alstom’s Savigliano site in
equipped with the Italian software pack- Italy. A contract was also signed in June
age, and drivers cabs carry screens for the for construction of a $126 million main-
Italian SCMT signaling system for opera- tenance depot at Nola, near Naples.
Incremental HSR
Hot trains, cold calculations
By Tom Judge, Engineering Editor
D
edicated (“true”) high speed or incremental (“higher ture using a typical 2007 cost day. The totals shown in the table
speed”) using existing rights-of-way? With the exception on this page are cost per mile in a warm, damp climate within a
of California, most proposed HSR projects around the 15-MGT-density range. Costs will be higher for FRA Class 5
nation are of the latter variety. The Obama Administration is (80 mph freight/90 mph passenger) and Class 6 (110 mph)
providing funds for HSR projects, and states are scrambling to track because of tighter geometry and engineering tolerances,
get a share of those billions (p. 18). How can realistic mainte- and because of projected higher 2010 material and labor prices.
nance costs for incremental projects be ZETA-TECH prepared a case study
determined? How much per-mile cost is Standard maintenance using the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative
too much? costs per mile of track (MWRRI). The MWRRI proposes a net-
ZETA-TECH Associates, Inc., under work of routes linking Chicago with other
contract to the Federal Railroad Adminis- • Surfacing $7,000 Midwestern cities. The proposal calls for
tration, has been developing HSR costing • Rail & welding 3,600 16 to 60 passenger trains per day—far
methods for several years, using the fol- • Ties 3,500 fewer trains than in the Northeast Corri-
lowing guidelines: • Switch & road dor—but MWRRI routes would have any-
• Use numerical figures as much as pos- crossing ties 13,000 where from 6 to perhaps 35 or more
sible, rather than mathematical symbols. • Ballast 900 freight trains on some of the suggested
• Start with known wear-and-tear and • Drainage, brush HSR route segments. The maximum pas-
fatigue metrics. and weeds 10,800 senger speed will be 110 mph, with
• Consider using the continuing cost of • Track inspection 2,400 freight at less than 70 mph.
upkeep as a “steady-state” shared cost. • Vehicles 6,200 What are the likely resulting shared
ZETA-TECH developed some exam- • Overheads 12,600 maintenance costs per mile? “ZETA-
ples of a steady-state maintenance program • Total $60,000 TECH estimated costs are allocated in
based on regional passenger rail infrastruc- two ways,” says Director-Economics,
Operations, and Strategic Planning Jim Blaze. “First, we used a calculated the allocation of those costs for three strategic oper-
work unit model. This calculates quantities of maintenance ating scenarios using engineering maintenance models and a
activity as a function of various operating parameters, and then special allocation model called TrackShare™. The allocation used
assigns a cost per work unit. Next, we used a bottom-up analysis several traffic densities on each of three scenarios between less
construct. This process builds track maintenance costs up and than 5 MGT and greater than 30 MGT annual density.” Table
uses the quantities of workers and materials required. We devel- 1 (opposite page), “Four key variables for allocation,” summa-
oped this model with HNTB. Both methods include m/w rizes important variables. Blaze points out this is a shortened
operating expenses and cyclic capital costs such as regular 3x4 matrix version. The actual results cover a 9x9 matrix of 81
renewal of rail, ties, ballast, and so on.” cells.
The work unit model was developed in cooperation with “To simplify, let’s reduce this to an examination of just two
BNSF. It calculates work unit costs for each track segment as a track density and track class allocation case studies, using the
function of: top and bottom section,” he says. “Detailed likely costs at an
• Track-miles (main, branch, siding, yard). 80% freight/20% passenger train mix are reflected in Table 2.
• Miles of curves, by severity. These numbers are the minimum expected cost per track-mile
• Traffic, both annual MGT and number of trains. using 2003 prices.” (ZETA-TECH does have a process for sub-
• Number of turnouts, diamonds, and highway crossings. stituting current 2009 or projected-year prices.)
• CWR (continuous welded rail) mileage. Table 3 shows the maximum costs expected at 80% freight
• Rail defects per mile, TQI (Track Quality Index). and 20% passenger trains with four different traffic density
• Climate and accessibility. groups. What if there were 80% passenger trains on the line?
The bottom-up cost calculation uses Amtrak maintenance Table 4 shows the minimum expected cost per track-mile using
practices and standards. It sums up costs from the number of 2003 prices; Table 5 shows the maximum expected cost per
workers and quantities of materials. track-mile, again using 2003 prices. Because there are so many
“ZETA-TECH estimated the likely costs and the likely cost passenger trains in this scenario, there is less traffic density on
allocations for the MWRRI high speed passenger network,” such tracks as the paths available for freight trains would be
Blaze notes. “We calculated annual per-mile maintenance costs much less with such intensive passenger train use.
for several scenarios. The work was undertaken for the FRA. We “Now, maintenance costs for sharing high speed and moder-
ate high speed track can be estimated ahead of time based upon
this detailed 2004 study,” Blaze says. “These maintenance costs
have to be adjusted to reflect 2009 prices of materials and labor
and projected into future-year operating expenses.”
New-construction or upgrade costs can also be estimated
using other models. ZETA-TECH expects that all new con-
struction of an FRA Class 5 or 6 track parallel to an existing
slower speed freight track would price out at a broad range of
$3.5 million to $8 million per mile to build. The higher costs
reflect allowances for track flyovers and crossing protection
being added for a new set of parallel tracks above FRA Class 4.
ZETA-TECH concludes that it is practical for freight and high-
er speed passenger trains to continue to share rights-of-way in
the U.S. As illustrated here, the cost of shared trackage can be
calculated using relatively inexpensive models like TrackShare™
to set equitable cost sharing for the much more track-intensive
high speed trainsets. RA
R
ailroads may be the most environmentally benign device), CO (carbon dioxide), and HC (unburned hydrocar-
transportation mode, but they still face serious emis- bons) are now part of everyday locomotive language.
sions compliance challenges. It wasn’t too long ago There are numerous ways to get to the brightest shade of
that locomotive builders and diesel engine manufactur- green, and building compliant equipment boils down to choic-
ers cleared a relatively large hurdle, the U.S. Environmental es—and tradeoffs. The most challenging is the tradeoff between
Protection Agency’s Tier 2 standards. Now, the stricter Tier 3 is NOx and PM. “Tune for one, or cleanup for the other?” says
looming, and Tier 4 will soon follow. Tier 3 is effective for Electro-Motive Diesel Manager-Emissions Compliance David
locomotives manufactured in 2012; Tier 4 is effective in 2015. Brann. Advancing ignition timing, though it improves fuel
Tier 3 standards for new locomotives, like previous standards, economy and lowers PM due to better combustion efficiency,
will most likely to be met by engine modifications and adjust- increases NOx levels. Retarding ignition drops NOx, but raises
ments. Tier 4, however, will require specialized—and costly— PM as combustion efficiency and fuel economy suffer. The
equipment, some of which will decrease fuel efficiency. industry’s principal locomotive builders and engine manufactur-
The “green” lingo that not all that long ago seemed foreign ers—EMD, GE Transportation, National Railway Equipment
to railroads has, like communications and signals, added more Company, MotivePower division of Wabtec. R.J. Corman
acronyms to the industry’s vocabulary: PM (particulate matter), RailPower, Brookville, Cummins, Caterpillar, Detroit Diesel—
NOx (nitrogen oxide), SCR (selective catalytic reduction), DPF are searching for middle ground.
(diesel particulate filter), AECD (auxiliary emissions control Tier 4 is intended to force after-treatment, as it requires a
The latest addition to the range is the QSK50. Its 50 liter V16 configuration delivers clean
power with exceptional durability, reliability and low life cycle costs, making it the perfect
choice for Ultra Low Emission Locomotives. Its proven power cylinder, one-piece cast iron
block, heavy duty crankshaft and connecting rods provide a long life to overhaul of up to
875,000 gallons of fuel burned, with no mid-life overhaul required.
The QSK50 is available from 1800–2000hp for line-haul locomotive and switcher applications,
with EPA Tier 2 and CARB ULEL certifications.
Cummins Inc.,
Box 3005, Columbus, IN 47202-3005, USA
Innovation you can depend on
Tel: 1-800-DIESELS (1-800-343-7357)
Email: enquiries.engines@cummins.com
www.everytime.cummins.com
LOCOMOTIVE EMISSIONS
GE TRANSPORTATION
GE Transportation’s Trip Optimizer fuel management system works much like
cruise control on an automobile. It’s described as an energy management system
that optimizes fuel consumption. It uses GPS, a digital track database, and track
algorithms that automatically learn the train’s characteristics. It calculates a fuel-
optimal speed profile for the trip and then automatically controls the throttle to
maintain that planned speed. Train crews retain responsibility for safe operation of
the train and can engage or disengage the system at any time.
90% reduction in NOx and a 93% reduc- “Switching operations and emissions of
tion in PM from uncontrolled levels. PM line-haul locomotives in yards and con-
can be cleaned through use of a DPF, gested areas are included.” Some of the
and NOx can be lowered with an SCR, EPA’s rulings may need continual adjust-
but here again there are tradeoffs. ment. For example, an AECD equipped
“There’s not a lot of real estate on board with GPS can automatically adjust igni-
a locomotive for extra equipment,” tion timing as a locomotive enters or
according to R.J. Corman Railpower Vice leaves territories with varying local emis-
President-Locomotives Mitch Gillispie. sions standards, but the EPA is being
DPFs and SCRs take up extra space, and rather strict with how this device is
have unique maintenance requirements, deployed. BNSF and Union Pacific have
he notes. Favoring optimized combus- an EPA-certified memorandum of under-
tion requires an SCR, which doesn’t standing with the California Air
require maintenance—but does require Resources Board that permits them to
replacement. A DPF, which uses a sub- operate AECD-equipped EMD and GE
strate material to absorb PM, is self- road locomotives in California’s South
cleaning, but only to a certain degree. Coast (Los Angeles) Air Basin. However,
For high-horsepower road locomotives the EPA has so far refused to grant a cer-
equipped with a large diesel engine, a tificate for AECD-equipped locomotives
DPF can be a massive, clumsy piece of to operate into Mexico, which has no
equipment, but an SCR scales up better emissions standards. EMD and GE have
for a large engine. “It’s like squeezing filed comments with the EPA requesting
Jello in your hand,” says Gillispie. “All this be changed.
combustion byproducts have to go some- One newer EPA requirement is that
where.” all locomotives complying with Tiers 3
As with Tier 2, Tiers 3 and 4 “will and 4 be equipped with idle reduction
require most locomotives to meet stan- devices, either when new or before they
dards on a long-haul line-haul cycle that are placed back into service after an over-
emphasizes high-load operation, and a haul. Engines must be shut down after a
switch cycle that emphasizes idle and maximum 30 minutes idling, and can be
low-load operation,” says David Brann. restarted only to protect the engine, keep
batteries charged or compressed air supplies up, or to accom- facturers like Caterpillar and Cummins have been able to
modate crew comfort or safety. Equipment that does this, along expand their rail industry offerings. For example, Cummins has
with the means to continuously monitor performance, is avail- certified its new, 16-cylinder, 50-litre QSK50 locomotive
able from companies like Hotstart® Manufacturing, ZTR, Lat- engine to meet U.S. EPA 40CFR Part 1033 Tier 2 and Euro-
Lon, Railhead, and Wi-Tronix. These suppliers and others have pean Union Stage IIIA rules. “The engine achieves the required
been able to combine their technologies. line-haul composite NOx of 4.0g/hp-hr and is recognized by
The development of genset (or “engine-dominant hybrid”) CARB as a ULEL (ultra-low-emissions locomotive) engine,”
locomotives offered by NREC, MotivePower, and Railpower, says Cummins Rail Business Marketing Director Chris Riley.
and rebuild/upgrade products like EMD’s 710ECO™ Repower, “Our MRCS (Modular Common Rail System), Quantum elec-
are rapidly changing the locomotive landscape. Engine manu- tronics, and advanced combustion expertise have been utilized
on the QSK50 to meet these emissions
levels. The QSK50 builds on the success
of the Cummins QSK19 in ULEL appli-
cations and is an excellent choice for rail-
roads that need a 2,000-hp, single
engine, low-emissions locomotive.”
The V-16, 50-liter QSK engine fea-
tures ratings from 1,800-2,000 hp for
line-haul locomotive and switcher appli-
cations and provides “over 45% reduction
in NOx compared to Tier 1,” says Riley.
“It uses the same power cylinder and fuel
system as the 700-hp inline-6 QSK19
and the 1,500-horsepower V-12 QSK38.
The MCRS fuel system maintains high
injection pressures regardless of engine
speed, for exceptional performance at
every rpm, raising fuel economy and low-
ering operating costs, all while providing
improved response and load pickup with
lower noise and vibration compared to
competitive unit injection-style systems.
Quantum electronics offers programma-
ble features that optimize engine perfor-
mance to specific duty cycles and job
requirements, provide continuous moni-
toring of engine conditions, and adjust
for peak operation.”
I
n the present challenging economic environment, where busi- plex railcar fleet; controlling maintenance costs; and improving
ness travel has been curtailed, GE Capital-Rail Services “is railcar utilization. Among the topics:
opening its doors virtually to customers across North • Railcar Basics: providing overviews on general car types
America,” according to Communications Leader Farrah Aper. (hoppers), most common components needing repair, and typi-
“In past years, traditional shop open houses were hosted, cal preventative maintenance areas.
enabling customers to network among industry professionals, • Maintenance Management Strategies: making sense out of
GE CAPITAL-RAIL SERVICES
share best practices, and tour maintenance facilities. This year, data, trending costs, and developing improved maintenance
we’ve been leveraging virtual web technology through a new practices.
webinar series, ‘Managing Your Rail Fleet Through Tough • Industry Changes, including ATSI (The Association of
Times.’” American Railroads’ Advanced Technology Safety Initiative).
GE says its primary goal is to help customers identify their • Shop Talk: shop selection and factors affecting shop cycle
railcar fleet problems and better understand what can be done to time.
solve them. Prior to the program’s March 2009 launch, GE sur- Each session is 50 minutes in length, including the presenta-
veyed customers about their current needs and problems. Three tion and time for questions and answers.
key themes emerged from the results: managing a highly com- GE Rail Services President and CEO Joe Lattanzio says the
webinar series “is keeping customers in touch with GE’s • Sunoco: “Both thorough and simple to follow, the GE Rail
approach to railcar fleet management and encouraging commu- Services webinars continue to be a good source of information
nity engagement. The more someone understands the industry for veteran and novice rail shippers. GE provides industry spe-
and its nuances, the more effective they are in adapting to the cific information during each seminar while making it simple and
industry’s ever-changing environment. This is an excellent way interesting to follow. Also, the webinars allow for more conve-
for us to share our experiences and knowledge from managing nience during the day, both on time and on travel. We look for-
one of the largest fleets in North America, and to learn from our ward to attending more webinars in the future.”
customers about issues they confront in managing their own • Evonik Degussa: “These days we are getting more involved
fleets.” GE, however, will continue to support personalized shop with the day-to-day operations of fleet management, as compa-
visits upon customer request. nies cut back and our fleets get bigger. Ten years ago, fleet man-
Executive Vice President-Customer Operations Sameer Gaur agers would focus solely on negotiating rates; today we are
says the webinars, described as “value-added virtual face time,” explaining how to use the cars, ordering parts, and auditing
“help us to identify key customer touch points and to better repair bills. The webinars are a great complement to the Sayre
understand concerns.” Adds Executive Vice President-Sales and Shop events (opposite page) we have attended in the past. They
Services Kareen Gray, “The webinars have provided our team make it easier for us to manage our fleets.”
with a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by For additional information, go to www.ge.com/railservices
our customers and help us to develop creative solutions.” or email rail.webinar@ge.com to register for a session.
GE says customers are finding the webinars useful.
• Nova Chemical: “We are all managing the same issues, and Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in the July issue under
the webinars help us to benchmark internally and confirm we are the headline “FleetMaintenance.com,” which is an automotive
doing the right things.” industry website. We reprint it here for clarification. RA
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Fax: (312) 683-0131 The Priory, Syresham Gardens Media Point & Communications SRL (312) 683-5022
gsokulski@sbpub.com Haywards Heath, RH16 3LB Corte Lambruschini Fax: (312) 683-0131
United Kingdom Corso Buenos Aires 8 dokon@sbpub-chicago.com
AK, AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, KS, MN, MO, MT, NE, Tel: +44-1444-416368 V Piano, Int 9
NM, ND, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, WY, Canada – Fax: +44-1444-458185 16129 Genoa, Italy WEBSITE DIRECTORY
AB, BC, MB, SK de@railjournal.co.uk +39-10-570-4948 Jeff Sutley
Heather Disabato Fax: +39-10-553-0088 345 Hudson St., 12th Floor
20 South Clark Street info@mediapointsrl.it New York, NY 10014
Suite 2450 (212) 620-7233
Chicago, IL 60603 Fax: (212) 633-1863
(312) 683-5026 jsutley@sbpub.com
Fax: (312) 683-0131
hdisabato@sbpub.com
STRATEGIC PLANNING:
• COMMUTER RAIL TRANSITIONS
• FRA COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS
Kansas City Office • OPERATIONS AUDITING
(913) 661-2424
OPERATIONS TRAINING & CONSULTING:
www.tcsrailservices.com
OTHER SERVICES: • ENGINEER TRAINING & CERTIFICATION
• STAFFING • EXCELLENT HISTORY WITH FRA, NTSB
• INTERIM MANAGEMENT • MECHANICAL & PART 238(QMP)
WANTED TO PURCHASE
LOCOMOTIVE & RAILCAR BROKERS
STERLING AUCTION SERVICES, LLC
has active Buyers and Sellers for all of your
Locomotive and Railcar needs and transactions.
Contact Robert Mertz at (210)-545-3600
Wanting to Purchase rwmertz@sbcglobal.net
Wanting to purchase wheel shop equipment to include: Texas License #16399
1 only 600 ton mount/demount press
1 only wheel boring machine (preferably c.n.c. controlled)
1 only axle turning lathe (preferably c.n.c. controlled)
EQUIPMENT SALE/LEASING
Wanting to Hire
Diesel mechanic engineer with lots of experience to manage shop
and customers.
Request information and send resumes to:
2502 Elm Street, Regional Road 35,
PO Box 670 STN B, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 4R6
Physical Address: 1 Foundry Road, Sudbury, Ontario, P3A 4R7
Phone: 705.674.5626 • Fax: 705.566.0371
email: rrafuse@dieselelectric.ca
www.dieselelectric.ca
Available
For Lease 5,150 cu. ft. pressure differen-
tial (PD) covered hoppers.
Food grade interior linings
RECRUITMENT
Professional Railroad Placement Services, Inc.
“Serving the Railroad industry Nationwide”
Reidler can help you comply with the FRA ruling by offer-
ing prismatic reflective yellow delineators that meet their
specifications.
• 4" x 150 fl Rolls (kiss-cut available)
• 400 candlepower retroreflection
• Application instructions provided
Give us a call at 800-628-7770 for more information
The Leader in Railroad Markings since 1926
EMPLOYMENT
Let us keep you on track at
Diesel Electric Services Inc.!
We are A.A.R. certified and located in Sudbury, Ontario. Let us look
after your car fleet to avoid delays. We have on staff certified car
men, electricians and mechanics all highly qualified in locomotive
repairs of all types including mandatory inspections.
Watco Transportation Services, a nationwide provider of
We have locomotives for sale and lease and a direct access to any short-line freight transportation, is seeking motivated and
parts required. For your convenience, our facilities are accessed from experienced people to join its team.
C.N., C.P. and the O.V.R. main lines. If you have a problem with any
rolling stock we have the capabilities to get you back on track! POSITIONS INCLUDE
Train and Engine Service, Maintenance of Way,
We are also looking to expand our staff and thus looking for a highly Locomotive, Marketing and Management.
qualified diesel mechanic engineer with lots of experience to manage
our shop and customers. All Watco Transportation positions include Railroad
Retirement, Health/Dental benefits and 401k. To view a
Request information and send resumes to: 2502 Elm Street, Regional detailed list of all career opportunities with the Watco team
Road 35, PO Box 670 STN B, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 4R6 please visit our website at www.watcocompanies.com and
Physical Address: 1 Foundry Road, Sudbury, Ontario, P3A 4R7 submit an online application.
Phone: 705.674.5626 Fax: 705.566.0371
email: rrafuse@dieselelectric.ca • www.dieselelectric.ca Equal Opportunity Employer
The qualified candidate will possess at least five to ten years of man-
agement and supervisory experience with a railroad and/or railroad
contracting firm, will be familiar with AREMA and FRA standards,
have the ability to read and draft railroad engineering documents,
possess good communication skills, and have the ability to compre-
hend written and oral instructions. A college degree in civil or
mechanical engineering is strongly preferred. Competitive salary
based on experience, excellent benefits and bonus potential.