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RailwayAge

www.railwayage.com

Serving the railway industry since 1856


August 2009

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.

INTERMODAL WEEK 28 ENDING JULY 18, 2009


U.S. RAILROADS
Trailers 30,407 49,510 –38.6% Railroad employment Class I linehaul
Containers 159,134 184,006 –13.5%
Total units 189,541 233,516 –18.8% carriers, June 2009
CANADIAN RAILROADS (% change from June 2008)
Trailers 1,547 2,012 –21.8%
Containers 38,624 49,730 –22.3% Executives,
Professional and
Total units 40,198 51,742 –22.3% officials, and staff
administrative
Transportation assistants
MEXICAN RAILROADS (train and engine) 10,047 13,276
Trailers 43 39 10.3% 55,434 (—0.02%) (—3.13%)
Containers 5,322 6,758 –21.2% (—17.45%)
Total units 5,365 6,797 –21.1%
U.S. TOTAL 28 weeks: 5,182,786 • % change from 2008:–17.2% Total
CANADIAN TOTAL 28 weeks:1,121,283 • % change from 2008:–16.2% employees:
MEXICAN TOTAL 28 weeks: 133,646 • % change from2008: –22.1% 149,614
NORTH AMERICAN TOTAL 28 weeks:6,437,715 • % change from 2008:–17.1%
Estimated ton-miles (billions), U.S. Class I railroads % change
2009 2008 % Change from June
Week 289.9 28.7 34.7 –17.3% 2008:
Total Weeks 1- 28 780.4 954.1 –18.2% —8.45%
Source: Weekly Railroad Traffic, Association of American Railroads

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%)

Employment continues to slip


Rail employment fell 8.45% in June compared with year-ago
figures, according to the Surface Transportation Board,
though total employment was down just 1.27% from the pre-
vious month. As in previous months, transportation (other
than train and engine) held firm, this time gaining 3.46%.
Executives, officials, and staff assistants slid a modest
0.02%, while maintenance-of-way and structures dipped
0.72%. The three other job categories categorized by STB
showed more significant losses.

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 1


RailwayAge ––––––– CONTENTS
AUGUST 2009

How far will


$13 billion go in
moving the United States
into the world of high
speed rail? We’re about
to find out.
page 14

Cover photo by Bombardier Transportation

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
37 Meetings
37 100 Years Ago
38 Advertising Index
39 Website Directory

25 40 Professional Directory
41 Classified

Features
14 Getting America
up to speed

28 Shades of green

34 Seminar series benefits


Web customers
18 34
visit us at www.railwayage.com
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www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 3


from the

editor William C. Vantuono

“Gussied-up prairie schooners”


T
hose of you who have been called the concept a ‘somersault backward issue of Car & Driver Magazine, David E.
involved in the high speed rail into the 19th century,’ and threatened to Davis Jr.—the dean of automotive jour-
business for a while may recall, move Southwest’s corporate headquarters nalists—said: “If I were [Obama’s] car
with acid reflux, Herb Kelleher, out of the state of Texas entirely. The czar, I would strongly suggest that we can
the man who, with some creative legal Texas High Speed Rail Authority ulti- have no national automotive policy until
shenanigans, single-handedly succeeded mately rejected the arguments of Kelleher we have fully comprehensive transporta-
in killing the Texas TGV in the early and his lawyers, voting unanimously to tion and energy policies. This is serious
1990s. Let’s go back to Don Itzkoff’s award the franchise to Texas TGV. But business. We desperately need high speed
“High Speed Currents” column in the Southwest drew blood through its cam- transcontinental trains based on the
July 1991 issue of Railway Age (p. 14) for paign of attrition, and the battle may only European and Japanese models, just as we
some perspective: be beginning.” need some modern version of the old
“[Its] emergence into the national interurban rail systems.”
spotlight parallels a new, broader accep- The airline that heaped I had to take off my bifocals and hold
tance of high speed ground transporta- Car & Driver up to my nose to make sure
tion as a significant future travel option scorn on a high speed I wasn’t imagining things, especially since
for Americans. But recent events in Austin I’d gotten used to reading silly anti-pas-
. . . teach a lesson in reality as well—that
project in Texas and senger-rail rants from (thankfully) now-
changing the entrenched domestic, polit- helped kill it isn’t going retired columnist Patrick Bedard, who
ical, economic, and institutional order to once called the New York City subway the
accommodate new high speed ground to get the last laugh. “electric sewer.”
transportation systems will not be easy. Then there’s this from Association of
“In Texas, the opposition came from Kelleher proved quite shrewd. He American Railroads President and CEO
Southwest Airlines. Southwest, which probably knew that, just like the TGV’s Ed Hamberger: “America’s freight rail-
itself was an upstart carrier when it chal- effect on French domestic air service, roads support the goal of increased pas-
lenged the established majors two decades 200-mph trains streaking across the Texas senger rail investment. It’s good for our
ago, tried to prevent both high speed rail prairies would send his airline, which at economy and the environment when
franchise applicants, Texas TGV and that time was still a mostly regional carri- more people and goods move faster by
FasTrac, and the Texas High Speed Rail er, crashing and burning. His tenacity rail.” Our privately owned freight rail net-
Authority from continuing the application paid off for him. The Texas TGV died, as work, he said, “is the literal foundation
process (in part on the terms that the did other high speed rail projects, such as for high speed rail in America.” And of
Authority’s directors were improperly Florida Overland eXpress (killed by course (and we agree): “We are critical
staggered) and succeeded in postponing another Texan). stakeholders that need to be engaged
hearings for a week. Southwest attorneys It has taken nearly 20 years to over- from the very beginning of project plan-
also interposed literally hundreds of come the entrenched order that Don ning and development. Passenger and
objections to evidence introduced by Itzkoff so eloquently talked about in these freight efforts to grow and expand must
both applicants and other parties, creating pages. We now have an enlightened complement, not compromise, one
such disruptions that FasTrac moved that Administration in Washington (thank another.”
Southwest be fined for abuse of process. you, Mr. President, for this month’s See our special report on high speed
At the Authority’s hearing that com- “leaner-meaner-cleaner” cover line), and a rail beginning on p. 14. And be sure to
menced on March 25, a small army of supportive Congress. It’s going to take a attend our 16th Annual Passenger Trains
Southwest lawyers assaulted the applica- lot more money than Obama’s initial $13 on Freight Railroads Conference, Oct.
tions of both prospective franchises on billion to build a high speed network in 19-20 in Washington. See pp. 22-23 for
every conceivable front.” this country, but it’s a good start, $13 bil- details, or go to http://www.rail-
It gets better: “Not content to leave lion more than we’ve ever had. wayage.com/conferences/passenger-
the battle solely to his lawyers, Southwest Favorable opinions on high speed rail trains-on-freight-railroads.html.
Chairman Herb Kelleher waded into the are coming from unexpected places.
fray, too. Kelleher derided high speed Commenting on the state of America’s
trains as ‘gussied-up prairie schooners,’ automotive industry in the July 2009

4 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


industryoutlook RailwayAge
EDITORIAL AND
Analyst survey: Pricing practices not out of line EXECUTIVE OFFICES
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Railroad shippers anticipate an average base rate increase of 3.3% during 212/620-7200; Fax: 212/633-1863
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the next six to twelve months, according to a new survey conducted by
New York-based investment bank Dahlman Rose & Co. The 2009 2Q ARTHUR J. McGINNIS, Jr.,
President and Chairman
Rail Shipper Survey finds railroads expecting to continue facing pricing ROBERT P. DeMARCO, Publisher
bdemarco@sbpub.com
pressure in the upcoming months. The projected increase is lower than in
WILLIAM C. VANTUONO, Editor
past quarterly surveys—3.6% was expected in the first quarter of 2009 and wvantuono@sbpub.com
3.5% in the fourth quarter of 2008. Survey respondents were U.S. compa- Managing Editor: Douglas John Bowen
dbowen@sbpub.com
nies that use rail to transport a range of materials, including metals, petro- Senior Editorial Consultant: Luther S. Miller
leum, and chemicals, as well as building, consumer, and paper products, Contributing Editors: Alex Binkley,
Roy H. Blanchard, Greg Gormick,
said Dahlman Rose Director of Rail, Trucking, and Air Freight Research Lawrence H Kaufman, Anthony D.
Kruglinski, Ron Lindsey, William D.
and Railway Age Contributing Editor Jason H. Seidl (pictured): “Although the near-term out- Middleton, Jason H. Seidl
look remains bleak for railroads, shippers expect their businesses to pick up and grow 4% on aver- Corporate Art Director: Wendy Williams
age across multiple industries in the next year. The results show that agricultural products, metals, Associate Art Director: Phil Desiere
and petroleum products are leading the way for best anticipated growth; chemicals, building Corporate Production Director:
Mary Conyers-Brown
products, and consumer products expect lower growth. The results bode well for the railroads Marketing Director: Peter Sexton
and the broader market in the long term. It is clear from our survey that pricing pressure exists in Conference Director: Jane Poterala
the marketplace. However, if shipper optimism for business growth turns out to be well-founded, Circulation Director: Maureen Cooney

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
E-mail: tjudge@sbpub-chicago.com
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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
INTERNATIONAL OFFICES
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
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operators must submit PTC plans to FRA for approval by April, 16, 2010. PTC must be fully in International Editors: David Briginshaw,
place by the end of 2015. The proposed rules will specify how technically complex PTC systems Andrew Roden, Keith Barrow
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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6 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


RUSSIAN CARBUILDER TAPS U.S. DESIGNER
market
North America
Amtrak: Selected engineering, architec- Starfire Engineering & Technologies, Inc. has provided designs for three freight cars to Tikhvin
ture, and planning firm TKDA to pro- Railway Car Building for use in Russia and Eastern Europe. Starfire has designed a covered hop-
vide design services for the new Cascades per, container flat (pictured), and gondola to date.To build these cars,Tikhvin has established an
maintenance building, warehouse, and $800 million, 728,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on a former Transmash site 125 miles
administrative and health/welfare build- east of St. Petersburg, Russia. Developed by ICT Group, the facility employs 3,500 people. Freight
ing at the King Street coach yard in Seat- car series production is scheduled to begin in 2010, with an annual capacity of 10,000 cars.The
tle, Wash. The King Street facility servic- first cars to be completed are Type 12-9761 76.5-ton bottom-discharge open hoppers.Tikhvin says
es Amtrak’s long distance Empire Builder similar cars account for about 40% of the Russian fleet; around half of these are scheduled for
passenger trains and Sound Transit replacement.Tikhvin will also produce heavy castings for contract customers, and a wheel plant
regional trains. Before Amtrak, the with an annual capacity of 50,000 wheelsets is planned.
Empire Builder was operated by the
Great Northern Railway (now part of design-build expansion of DART’s Blue The contract is the third ASTS USA has
BNSF), which TKDA’s founders helped Line light rail system. PB is a subcontrac- received in recent years from Metro-
construct more than 100 years ago. tor to Austin Bridge & Road LP, the North to replace the railroad’s relay-
project’s lead. The extension runs 4.5 based signaling control system with the
Commonwealth Railway (Suffolk, Va.): miles from DART’s existing Downtown microprocessor-based MicroLok II® con-
Will be incorporating RailComm’s Track Dallas Garland station to a new Down- trol system, interconnected over a
Warrant Control functionality into its town Rowlett station. Revenue service is fiberoptic communications network.
existing Domain Operations Controller scheduled for December 2012.
System (DOC®). Commonwealth has State of Wisconsin: Will purchase two
dispatched trains within CTC territory MTA Metro-North Railroad: Awarded a 14-car, 420-passenger trainsets from Las
by accessing RailComm’s web-enabled contract to London-based DeltaRail Rozas, Spain-based Patentes Talgo S.A.
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) “pay-as-you- Group Ltd. to supply the WheelChex® for Amtrak’s Hiawatha between Milwau-
go” delivery model, eliminating capital wheel impact load measuring system, kee and Chicago. The agreement
equipment procurement constraints. which is being installed in the four-track includes an option to buy two more
Through SaaS, Commonwealth Railway Park Avenue Tunnel serving Grand Cen- trainsets if the state gets federal stimulus
is remotely dispatched by parent Genesee tral Terminal in New York City. M-N money to extend rail service from Mil-
& Wyoming’s Portland & Western Rail- also awarded Ansaldo STS USA an $8.7 waukee to Madison. Talgo will perform
road, Salem, Ore. million contract to design and furnish final assembly at facilities to be built in
38 pre-wired signal houses and cases for Wisconsin. Amtrak currently operates
Dallas Area Rapid Transit: Awarded a a portion of Metro-North’s New Haven Talgo equipment on its Cascades service
contract to Parsons Brinckerhoff to pro- Line, spanning 17 miles, from Wood- in the Pacific Northwest; Talgo sub-
vide engineering design services for a lawn, N.Y., to Riverside, Conn. sidiary Talgo, Inc., is based in Seattle.

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 7


Update
Second-quarter financials
Have we reached the bottom?

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.

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 9


Update
Transit:
Marketing does matter

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

T “brands,” and two names pop up as exemplars of marrying marketing to


performance: Chicago’s Metra, and New York’s Metro-North.
Says Metra Marketing Director Jim Bonistalli, “You can have the best mar-
keting program, but if the train is late, it doesn’t matter.” Says Metro-North
President Howard Permut, “The centerpiece of all our marketing discussions
has always been how to get more customers on a train.”
That’s not a matter of simple addition. Both Metra and Metro-North have
to constantly cope with ridership turnover, as established riders move out of
their service area or, more recently, lose their jobs. “Ridership turns over every
year; we probably turn 15% to 18% of our customer base over every year,” Bon-
istalli notes. “We’re constantly building from an eroding customer base.”
Both railroads for years have pursued a broader service reach. Permut points
to Metro-North’s early discovery in the 1980s of life beyond Grand Central
Terminal “Once we figured where those ‘other’ riders were going, we decided
to take some chances; we said, ‘Let’s add some trains to Stamford (Conn.), to
White Plains, and fill empty seats on deadhead runs.’” In so doing, Metro-
North took a radical step: It was willing, almost eager, to tinker with operations
dramatically “because we had a marketing opportunity,” Permut says. Middle
management was encouraged to take chances. “If you’re right, you keep going;
if you’re wrong, you make a change.”
Metra’s Bonistalli concurs. “Our primary customer is the traditional work
trip to the Chicago CBD. [But] even if ridership there is only stable, we’ll see
growth through non-traditional sources. The recreational market is a growing
market for us, and we’ve sold the experience of a train ride.” Here, Metra lever-
ages marketing tools liberally. “The existing summer program we have person-
alizes the trip, which helps make it a seamless trip.” Via Metra’s website, poten-
tial customers can access connecting services, event planners, and walking
tours. “On average, we’re receiving 1,000 requests a week, so we’re tapping
into people who aren’t the traditional users of the system,” Bonistalli says.
Metra also welcomed bikes on trains beginning in 2006. “Though we are lim-
ited to some degree, we do tout that on our website and our public train sched-
ules: which trains carry bikes and the number they will carry,” Bonistalli says.
And Metra employs direct response programs, and a new residents program

10 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


schooling potential new customers on Metra’s offerings, in con- Bonistalli. Other Metra partners include PACE, which provides
junction with realtors, which Bonistalli says operates “as a quasi- bus and paratransit service to six Chicagoland counties (includ-
sales force for us” in areas Metra serves. ing its namesake county). “It’s a significant market; the revenue
Permut says Metro-North unashamedly tests “other people’s generated now is a real factor,” he says.
good ideas,” including one from Virginia Railway Express, and a A better marketing mindset is important within the rail ranks
valet parking service option developed in southern California. themselves, Permut says. Metro-North’s latest effort in this
But the railroad isn’t simply a follower. Touting “brand new” regard: Rail service for New York Yankees games via the new
handheld ticketing machines Metro-North conductors now Yankee Stadium Station, which opened in May. The railroad
carry on board, Permut says, “We’re the only railroad in Ameri- could have just stopped existing trains previously bypassing the
ca, I believe, that has done away with duplexes, in cooperation site on its Hudson Line. It opted instead to provide direct ser-
with our unions—they helped design it—and it was done in- vice to the new station on game days from the Harlem and New
house by our information technology people. The marketing Haven lines, as well, via the wye at Mott Haven Junction in the
angle to all this is twofold: People can read their receipts.” The Bronx (see photo). The change in operations was challenging
technology gives Metro-North a quick, exact report of ticket enough; Permut notes that while the railroad can plan its extra
sales each day, allowing it to see where customers are going and, service to coincide with a targeted ballgame start, “after the
perhaps, where they might wish to go. game, there’s no schedule,” and departing trains enter the
In Chicagoland, Metra struck gold with potential weekend Metro-North system jockeying for position with regularly sched-
riders in spectacular fashion, generating marketing buzz nation- uled consists—in traditional terms, an operational headache.
wide: “A $5 weekend pass, an unlimited ride pass, that we put in Customer service and marketing emphasis make the pains
place in 1992,” Bonistalli says. He adds pointedly, “We still have worth it, Permut says. “We are carrying 10% of people going to
it at the same price. It helps grow recreational ridership, and it’s the game, and we think it will continue to grow.”
tied to our family program, where kids 11 and under ride free.” Metra’s recent new starts also “have been a success from a
Indeed, the program’s success has come at a price; capacity is marketing standpoint,” Bonistalli says. With service linking
decreasing as demand increases. Metra is willing to accept that, Union Station to O’Hare International Airport, and extension of
Bonistalli says, because “we become part of their transportation the Union Pacific line from Geneva to Auburn, for example,
thought process, an option. We’ve broken down some of those Metra’s service reach has expanded; it’s touted that vigorously.
mindsets that the train is only to and from work.” But those rid- For both Metra and Metro-North, the goals change as the
ers often require more; Metra’s summer package “promotes playing conditions do, save one: making sure the riding cus-
CTA connecting services” required for specific events. Joint tomer gets the value of the service each railroad markets.
CTA/Metra brochures are also a staple marketing tool, says —Douglas John Bowen

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 11


Update
The Russians are moving, the Russians are moving—fast!
With an international corps of
reporters aboard, Russia’s new,
Siemens Transportation Systems-built
high speed train, the EVS1 Sapsan
(top, in tow), made a demonstration
run between Moscow and St. Peters-
burg on July 30 at a top speed of 155
mph.
In regular service, the EVS1 Sap-
san, an electric train of the Velaro RUS
series, will cut travel time between the
two cities to 3 hours 45 minutes. Cur-
rently the fastest train travel time is 4
hours 30 minutes (bottom, with older
equipment). The average time for air
travel from Moscow to St. Petersburg
(including trips to and from the air-
port, flight registration, and flying
time) is at least 5 hours.
“The involvement of Russian scientists and spe-
cialists in the Sapsan production project provides a
good impetus to the introduction of cutting-edge,
innovative technology to Russian industry,” said
Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin. He
said that foreign producers have declared their will-
ingness to shift train production to Russia if orders
for trains are increased.
Sapsan is Russian for “Peregrine Falcon.”

12 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


Portec sees positive signs Transit Briefs
in challenging quarter AMTRAK

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.

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 13


SPECIAL REPORT ON HIGH SPEED RAIL

Getting America How far will $13 billion go in


up to speed moving the United States into the
world of high speed rail?
We’re about to find out.
THE UNITED STATES BOASTS THE WORLD’S MOST EFFICIENT FREIGHT RAIL tuono has vigorously promoted for the past 18 years, in the pages of
system—privately operated, privately built and maintained, and produc- this magazine as well as in annual, sold-out conferences on the sub-
ing profits, even in the gloom of recession. ject that he conducts annually in Washington D.C. It’s a realistic view
The U.S. is also home to a ragged passenger train system, pub- of what appears to be immediately possible with the $13 billion
licly and penuriously funded, that is viewed even by some of its offered by the Administration.
devoted friends as more third-world than world-class. The Obama plan is a strong start, and it may well trigger
Now, after many a false start, it appears that radical change is public/private partnerships that will generate many more billions. But
coming to the passenger scene. A milestone initiative launched early for now, what $13 billion will pay for is resignaled and upgraded
this year by the Obama Administration—and just getting up to speed, track in a limited number of existing corridors, for incrementally
administratively—is designed to begin the process of moving the faster service, as well as preliminary work on such visionary projects
U.S. into the expanding universe of high speed passenger rail. as a planned California system that all by itself will consume an esti-
What Americans can now aspire to, over the long term, is what mated $44 billion.
much of Europe and Asia have already grown accustomed to—fleets In the pages that follow, International Railway Journal Editor-in-
of futuristic trains speeding between major cities at 186 mph to 214 Chief David Briginshaw fills you in on the world picture; Railway Age
mph and capturing markets long controlled by air carriers. Managing Editor Douglas John Bowen describes the scramble among
What Americans are likely to get, for the short term, is “high the states for a piece of the starter money; IRJ Associate Editor
speed” in a relative sense: the current working definition encompass- Keith Barrow describes one of the latest examples of high speed
es 100- to 110-mph trains that would be a huge advance in much of technology; and Engineering Editor Tom Judge outlines what incre-
the country where the top speed is often 79 mph. Call it “incremen- mental high speed improvements could cost.
tal high speed”—an approach that Railway Age Editor William C. Van- —Luther S. Miller, Senior Editorial Consultant

14 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


Time to climb on board
By David Briginshaw, French TGV and a decade later by the no flights anymore between Paris and
Editor-in-Chief, International ICE in Germany. This century has seen a Brussels, and Air France has suspended
Railway Journal complete reversal of attitudes to rail by flights between Paris and a number of
the public and politicians, which now French cities. Rail now has 90% of the

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

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 15


SPECIAL REPORT ON HIGH SPEED RAIL

when the European market opens up to competition at the end


of this year.
French National Railways (SNCF) used to regard a three-
hour journey time as the upper limit for rail to compete effec-
tively with air. But a rail trip time of four hours or even longer
is now sufficient to get airline passengers to switch to rail. This
is because of increased congestion at airports, the additional
time it takes to pass through airport security measures, and poor
reliability, which have all combined to make air travel less attrac-
tive. Conversely, passengers appreciate the uninterrupted nature
of rail travel downtown-to-downtown, because it allows them
to use their travel time more effectively and less stressfully than in train weight, improved aerodynamics, and the introduction
flying or driving permits. of more compact and more efficient traction equipment (see
Rail’s environmental credentials are second to none. Accord- IRJ Associate Editor Keith Barrow’s story on the AGV, p. 21)
ing to the International Union of Railways (UIC), traveling by has made it viable to increase the operating speed to 200 mph
rail is on average three to 10 times less CO2 intensive compared in France, and now 218 mph in China and Spain.
with road or air transportation, and two to five times more Higher operating speeds are also extending the reach of high
energy efficient. Strategically, an electrified railway is the only speed rail. For example, the 820-mile high speed line now
form of land transportation that can be powered by any fuel, under construction from Beijing to Shanghai will have a maxi-
something that politicians need to take seriously. mum speed of 218 mph.
Technical advances are allowing high speed trains to travel One thing is clear as far as the infrastructure is concerned: If
faster without generating more noise or CO2 emissions, and the decision is made to build a high speed line, then it must be
without increasing energy consumption. A few years ago, 186 built to the highest and most modern standards. A railroad built
mph was regarded as the upper limit for economical operation today will probably still be in operation 150 years from now. So
of high speed trains. Indeed, SNCF did not think it desirable or ideally, it should be engineered for 250 mph operation.
economically viable to run trains faster than this. But reductions What exactly do we mean by high speed rail? The baseline is

16 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


normally regarded as 125 mph. Up to
this speed, conventional rail technology is
perfectly adequate, though in the U.S. it
will need to be supplemented with Posi-
tive Train Control on corridors shared
with freight trains. But to operate trains
above 125 mph demands special mea-
sures. For example, electric traction
becomes mandatory because diesel tech-
nology has not evolved beyond 125 mph
operation. Some form of cab signaling is
necessary. The trains themselves need to
be built to higher standards, with special
attention being paid to reducing noise
both inside and outside the train,
strengthening the suspension and braking
systems, and at the same time reducing
the axle load. In Europe, an 18.7-ton
axle load has become the norm, but
Alstom’s new AGV will improve on this.
The Japanese 700-Series trains have a
12.5-ton axle load. A low axle load is
vital to minimize energy consumption
and reduce the impact on the track of
high speed operation.
Why build a high speed line, when
surely it would be cheaper to upgrade an
existing line and get most of the benefits?
Unfortunately, the answer is not that
simple. The first question that needs to
be asked is, what should the journey time
be to offer a commercially-attractive ser-
vice between the cities that need to be
connected by rail? German Rail (DB) has
a good rule of thumb: The train needs to
half as fast as the airplane but twice as fast
as the automobile. The desired journey
for a given distance will determine the
maximum speed, which can then be used
to decide whether upgrading is sufficient
or new construction is required.
However, the the cost of upgrading
an existing line can be frighteningly
expensive, and unlikely to solve capacity
problems unless a lot of extra tracks are
laid in the process. Indeed, upgrading
could reduce capacity on a mixed-traffic
line. Widening the gap between the slow-
est and fastest trains eats up capacity, and
requires highly-disciplined traffic control
to manage trains efficiently.
So, America, what are you waiting for?
Rekindle that pioneering spirit, take
advantage of the political window of
opportunity that has opened, and start
building. Whether it is incremental
improvements or dedicated high speed, it
will be long overdue.
www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 17
SPECIAL REPORT ON HIGH SPEED RAIL

Pent-up
demand?
An under-
statement!
The Federal Railroad

Handicapping U.S.
Administration has
received 278 pre-applica-
tions for high speed rail

high speed rail


grant funding totaling
$102 billion. “The
response has been
tremendous and shows
that the country is ready
for high speed rail,” Sec- By Douglas John Bowen, AECOM, have beefed up staff in similar fash-
retary of Transportation Managing Editor ion.
But where will the players play? The

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

18 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


U.S. passenger rail route that ranks by some (if not all) mea-
sures as “high speed.”
Chicago Hub Network: President Obama’s “home turf” can-
didate also carries several real advantages: The hub route serves
several states, with numerous origin/destination pairs and a
recognition of current rail service, however paltry, on many of
the routes now served by Amtrak. Incremental improvements,
such as raising speed limits on portions of the Chicago-St. Louis
route from 5 mph to 40 mph, offer a large if unglamorous
return on investment that could make “HSR” look good. The
Hub also has benefited from solid and steady marketing leg-
work by the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, a 501(c)3
not-for-profit organization.
Florida Corridor: The Sunshine State has flubbed at least two
attempts to implement a HSR network, with state officials over-
riding public sentiment in at least one instance and an early
attempt at public-private partnership funding falling through. compete for funds,” and though the NEC suffers from at least a
But the concept refuses to go away, and “they’ll get it right one $3 billion backlog in infrastructure needs, a million here and
of these days,” one observer notes. Add to that some realpoli- there could offer demonstrable improvements to Amtrak’s
tik—President Obama carried Florida in the 2008 election, but showcase.
just barely—and Florida’s candidacy becomes a real possibility. Those evaluating the remaining candidate routes are quick to
Northeast Corridor: It’s technically not a “candidate” for note that all are feasible from a physical standpoint, but in many
HSR, since by some measures it already measures up. But the cases are burdened with a history of local disinterest, overcome
Department of Transportation has acknowledged “opportuni- only lately by state governments smelling federal funding and
ties for the Northeast Corridor from Washington to Boston to claiming they wanted HSR all along. Among these:

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 19


SPECIAL REPORT ON HIGH SPEED RAIL

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.

20 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


First the TGV,
now the AGV
Alstom’s next-generation high-speed train, the Automotrice à Grande Vitesse (AGV), is
set to make its debut in Italy in 2011. International Railway Journal Associate Editor
Keith Barrow reports from the Velim test track in the Czech Republic, where Alstom is
preparing the prototype AGV for the start of testing on the Italian network.

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

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 21


passenger
Sixteenth Annual Conference

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

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CONFERENCE FEE AND HOTEL: The registration fee for Passenger Trains on Freight Railroads is $825, which includes admission to all conference sessions,
conference documentation containing all available proceedings, and social events. The Washington Marriott Hotel has set aside a block of rooms at $259 single/
double for conference attendees. These will be held until 30 days prior to the conference; those reserving after that date will rely upon room availability. We sug-
gest that you contact the hotel directly at (202) 872-1500 for room reservations (mention group code “Railway Age”). You will receive room confirmation directly
from the Washington Marriott Hotel. CANCELLATION POLICY: Confirmed registrants who cancel less than one week prior to the conference are subject to a
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Please register me for the PASSENGER TRAINS ON FREIGHT


RAILROADS CONFERENCE, Washington, D.C., Oct. 19-20, 2009.
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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.

24 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


SPECIAL REPORT ON HIGH SPEED RAIL

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,

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 25


SPECIAL REPORT ON HIGH SPEED RAIL

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-

26 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


Incremental HSR
m/w cost calculations
Table 1: Four key variables for allocation
Annual tonnage Traffic mix Curvature FRA Class
<5 MGT 80% freight Light Class 4
20% passenger
5 -15 MGT Equal Moderate Class 5
15- 30 MGT 80% passenger Severe Class 6
20% freight

Table 2: Minimum expected cost per track-mile,


80% freight/20% passenger
FRA Class <5 MGT 5-15 MGT 15-30 MGT >30 MGT
4 $27, 107 $32,107 $43,460 $63,136
5 $19,846 $35, 523 $48,484 $71,442
6 $33,808 $40,662 $55,807 $83,442

Table 3: Maximum expected cost per


track-mile, 80% freight/20% passenger
FRA Class <5 MGT 5-15 MGT 15-30 MGT >30 MGT
4 $39,362 $49,283 $69,464 $102,356
5 $43,255 $54,323 $76,619 $114,189
6 $49,184 $62,253 $87,856 $132,603

Table 4: Minimum expected cost per


track-mile, 80% passenger/20% freight
FRA Class <5 MGT 5-15 MGT 15-30 MGT >30 MGT
4 $32, 691 $48,955 * *
5 $35,537 $54,049 * *
6 $38,612 $60,319 * *

Table 5: Maximum expected cost per


track-mile, 80% passenger/20% freight
FRA Class <5 MGT 5-15 MGT 15-30 MGT >30 MGT
4 $47,909 $74,677 * *
5 $51,650 $82,421 * *
6 $56,497 $82,006 * *

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

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 27


EMD
Shades of green
There’s more than one way to tame a diesel engine
to meet the EPA’s increasingly strict emissions rules.
By William C. Vantuono, Editor

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

28 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


Every Track
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The latest addition to the range is the QSK50. Its 50 liter V16 configuration delivers clean
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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

30 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


LOCOMOTIVE EMISSIONS

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.”

Save fuel, lower emissions


An optimally running diesel engine will
conserve fuel and, by extension, reduce
emissions. Operating a locomotive opti-
mally can do the same, and a host of sys-
tems to assist locomotive engineers with
“hitting that sweet spot,” like New York
Air Brake’s LEADER, have been devel-
oped.
One of the newest technologies is GE
Transportation’s Trip Optimizer fuel
management system, described by Prod-
uct Manager David Eldredge as a cruise
control system (much like that in an
automobile or aircraft, where the opera-
tor is always in complete control) for a
locomotive.
Trip Optimizer, a product of

32 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


Ecoimgination SM, is described as “an
advanced energy management system
that optimizes fuel consumption based
on a specific train’s makeup and route.”
It uses GPS, a digital track database, and
advanced track algorithms that automati-
cally learn the train’s characteristics
throughout the trip. It evaluates train
length, weight, grade, track conditions,
weather, and locomotive performance “to
calculate the most efficient way of run-
ning the train while maintaining smooth
train handling. It calculates a fuel-optimal
speed profile for the trip and then auto-
matically 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.” Trip Optimizer can
be deployed on Evolution Series locomo-
tives as a turnkey system, and can be
combined with GE LOCOTROL® Dis-
tributed Power. “There’s lots of energy
to be saved,” says Eldredge. “Fuel sav-
ings has a direct correlation to reduced
emissions.” Besides long-haul running,
Trip Optimizer can be used in applica-
tions like slow-speed control at a mine,
for loading freight cars.
GE tested Trip Optimizer on 19
Canadian Pacific GE Evolution® Series
locomotives in three subdivisions with
significantly different geographical char-
acteristics. Revenue-service tests showed
fuel savings ranging from 6% to 10%,
depending on territory. GE is now equip-
ping 200 CP locomotives.
Here’s an unusual way to conserve
fuel and cut down on emissions: Change
your light bulbs—not the headlamps, but
the 17 or so incandescent bulbs found on
a locomotive carbody (interior general
purpose, marker boards, step lights)—
with LEDs. Railhead’s Locomotive LED
Bulbs, which have a 50,000-hour life
expectancy, run on 4 watts instead of 50,
lowering the electrical load on the loco-
motive, thus reducing fuel consumption
and emissions.
Railhead’s Tom Poulsen estimates
that, a fuel cost savings of $1,400 to
$4,000 annually per locomotive is possi-
ble. For large railroads like UP, NS, CSX,
and BNSF, which can each burn through
up to a quarter-million incandescent
bulbs annually, the potential carbon foot-
print reduction is huge. RA

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 33


INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Seminar series benefits


Web customers
How GE Capital-Rail Services uses technology to
assist customers with service and utilization issues.

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

34 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


GE Capital-Rail Services webinar topics include Railcar Basics,
Maintenance Management Strategies, Industry Changes, and Shop Talk.

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

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 35


letters
Multiple-unit vs. 40 years and would like to share a few
comments that support some of the
locomotive-hauled comments made in the article and may
help to quantify comparisons.
To the Editor: Multiple-unit consists, in some oper-
Your article in the June issue (p. 17) is ating scenarios, will provide shorter sta-
an important consideration for passenger tion-to-station times and allow closer
railroads. I have been involved in analyz- headways than will locomotive-hauled result in such performance comparisons
ing this subject periodically over the past consists. The underlying mechanics that are tractive effort per pound of train
weight and horsepower per ton of train
weight.
Shorter trip times may be achieved
with MU consists most significantly at
relatively short station spacings—less
than 10 miles and especially at less than
three miles—by reducing the time to
reach maximum speed. At the lower
speeds, this acceleration may be limited
by available adhesion at the wheel/rail
interface or possibly by other factors
such as propulsion system limits. So if
adhesion is limited, the more axles pow-
ered the higher the low-speed accelera-
tion.
At higher speeds, available horsepow-
er at the rail limits available accelerating
force. The higher the speed the lower
the force, since horsepower is propor-
tional to force times velocity. So depend-
ing on the maximum number of cars to
be powered by one locomotive, and the
comparative horsepowers per ton of MU
and locomotive-hauled consists, one will
accelerate better than the other at the
higher speeds.
Potentially shorter headways with
MU consists are a result of reducing the
time for the leading train out of the sta-
tion to achieve the distance necessary to
allow the following train out of the sta-
“If We Say We’ll Do It, We’ll Do It.” tion to depart.
I agree that life cycle cost and opera-
Where we live, a man’s word is gold. Our products are the solution of choice tional considerations are important, as
When we promised the industry that for Burlington Northern Santa Fe, mentioned in the article. For example,
we’d develop the best all-around Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, the maximum number of cars to be pow-
applications for plugging spike holes CSXT and Norfolk Southern. ered by a single locomotive should be
and repairing rail seat abrasion on part of such a comparative evaluation.
concrete ties, we kept our promise. Call us today or visit our website: Diesel MUs, if used exclusively in a
800.333.9826 • wvcorailroad.com consist, can achieve performance similar
We are the industry leader in providing to electric MU consists in performance-
innovative new wood and concrete tie
challenging situations. DMU engine load
remediation products and application
systems for today’s railroads.
rate may limit acceleration at low speeds
as compared to that of EMU consists.
Phil Strong, Rail Vehicle Consultant
PS Consulting; Mastic Beach, N.Y.
www.psrailvehicleconsulting.com

36 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


people meetings
September 16-18
RSI 2009 Expo. Chicago Hilton &
HIGH PROFILE Towers, Chicago. Amanda Trainor,
(202) 347-4664; Email: trainor@rail-
Hill International pro- in finance and investment from George Washington waysupply.org. Website: www.rail-
moted Thomas J. University and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Lehigh waysupply.org/convention/announce
Spearing III to University. 2009.aspx.
President of Hill’s
Project Management Greg J. Nazarow was named a September 20-23
Group (Americas), Vice President with Gannett AREMA 2009 Annual Conference &
Marlton, N.J.. Fleming. Nazarow serves as a Expo. Chicago Hilton & Towers,
Previously, he was senior rail operations analyst Chicago. AREMA Conference
Hill’s SVP and Chief with Gannett Fleming Transit Department, (301) 459-3200, ext. 703;
Spearing Strategy Officer. & Rail Systems, a division of Website:
Spearing will be Gannett Fleming specializing in www.arema.org/eseries/scriptcon-
Hill International
responsible for all proj- transit and railroad track, sig- tent/custom/e_arema/meet-
ect management operations throughout the nal, communication, and elec- ings/2009Conf/2009_conf_info.html.
U.S. Spearing has 25 years of operational and Nazarow tric traction design. With more
business development experience in architec- Gannett Fleming than 17 years of related experi- September 23-24
ture, engineering, and construction manage- ence, Nazarow holds a bachelor AREMA Committee 2 Track
ment. Prior to rejoining Hill in 2007, he of science in mechanical engineering from Tufts Measuring Systems Fall Meeting
worked with STV Group, Inc. Before that, he University and a master of business administration Hilton Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
spent 10 years with Hill, most recently as a from Babson College. Denis Zilmer, (763) 478-2282; Email:
Vice President. Spearing earned his B.B.A. in denis.g.zilmer@Loram.com.
computer and information science from Temple
University, his B.S. in construction manage- UNION PACIFIC—David Giandinoto appointed September 23-24
ment and his B.S. in civil engineering from General Superintendent, Transportation Services 2009 Ohio Conference on Freight
Spring Garden College, and his M.S. in man- for the Chicago Service Unit, replacing Rod Toledo Hilton Hotel, Toledo, Ohio.
agement from Rosemont College. Richardson, who moves to Superintendent, Warren Henry, (419) 241-9155, ext.
Intermodal Operations in Oakland, Calif., in turn 129; Email: henry@tmacog.org;
Parsons Brinckerhoff Website: www.tmacog.org.
has named Clifford replacing Terry Ryan, who is retiring. Kurt Zalar
Eby, former FRA appointed General Superintendent, Transportation
October 4-7
Acting Administrator Services for the Denver Service Unit, replacing
APTA Annual Meeting. Orlando,
and Deputy John Rourke, who also is retiring. Ruben Lopez
Fla. (202) 496-4800. Email: meet-
Administrator, as replaces Zalar as Superintendent, Transportation ings2@apta.com; Website:
Senior Vice President, Services for the Wichita Service Unit. John http://www.apta.com/conferences
Washington, D.C., with Huddleston has been promoted to Superintendent, _calendar.
responsibility for Transportation Services for the Pocatello, Idaho,
Eby strategic efforts in rail
Service Unit, replacing Jeff Moore, who has been October 19-20
Parsons Brinckerhoff and infrastructure mar- appointed to a position at UP’s Harriman Railway Age's 16th Annual
kets, particularly high Passenger Trains on Freight
speed rail. Eby has over 36 years executive and Dispatching Center in Omaha.
Railroads Conference. Washington
engineering experience in the railroad industry, SUPPLIERS Marriott, Washington, D.C. Jane
including safety, finance and economic regula-
Atlantic Track & Turnout Co. said Thomas R. Poterala, (212) 620-7209. Email:
tory practices, transportation policy, and infra- jpoterala@sbpub.com; Website:
structure program design. Eby holds an M.B.A. Jones will retire after 40 years of service and 50
years in the railroad industry, effective Dec. 31. http://www.railwayage.com.

Chicago Freight Car Leasing named Jim October 20-21


Kennedy a sales director. ASME RTD 2009 Fall Technical
100 YEARS AGO IN HAX Technologies has appointed Glen Dargy to
Conference. Renaissance
Worthington Hotel, Fort Worth, Tex.
VP-Product Development. He most recently served Steven L. Dedmon, (717) 242-4972;
as project director and principal engineer with Fax: ( (717) 242-4680; Email: sded-
Wabtec Railway Electronics. mon@standardsteel.com; Website:
www.asmeconferences.org/rtdf09.
(AUGUST 1909) Hirschmann Automation and Control, Inc.
Detroit River Tunnel Locomotive named Cleveland Parker managing director of the October 27-29
A series of acceptance tests have been com- ECS Division for the Americas. Railroad Environmental Conference
2009, University of Illinois at
pleted recently by the General Electric Co. Mitsui Rail Capital, LLC named Scott Carroll Urbana-Champaign. Kim
and the Detroit River Tunnel Co., jointly, director of sales and marketing for the southwest- Hagemann, (217) 244-0841; Email:
upon electric locomotive No. 7500—the first ern U.S. and Mexico, based in Cincinnati. hagemann at illinios.edu; Website:
of six locomotives to be operated by the http://ict.illinois.edu/railroad/RREC/
Michigan Central in the tunnel under the Morton Manufacturing Co. promoted Michael K.
overview.asp.
Detroit River. The electrical equipment, the Ogden to president from executive VP.
most powerful ever designed for operation by Veolia Transportation named Donald Saunders October 30-November 1
direct current, was built and installed by the Rail-Volution 2009. Marriott
chief operating officer of the Rail Division.
General Electric Co. The mechanical equip- Waterfront Hotel, Boston, Mass.
(800) 788-7077; Email:
ment is the product of the Schenectady works OBITUARY convene@aol.com; Website:
of the American Locomotive Co. Edward H. Gold, 95, who spent 34 years with The www.railvolution.com.
Kerite Co., 1946-1980, died July 3.

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 37


Reader Referral Service
This section has been created solely for the convenience of our readers to facilitate
immediate contact with the RAILWAY AGE advertisers in this issue.

Index of Advertisers
Company Phone # Fax# Email address Page #

AREMA 301-459-3200 301-459-8077 marketing@arema.org 24

Balfour Beatty Rail, Inc. 888-250-5746 904-378-7298 info@bbri.com 27

Cummins +44 1325 556251 — andreas.skiadopoulos@cummins.com29

Cyclonaire Corp. 402-362-2000 402-362-2001 sales@cyclonaire.com 10

Danella Rental Systems 610-828-6200 610-828-2260 pbarents@danella.com 9

Gross & Janes Co. 636-343-8484 636-343-9793 mattclarke@grossjanes.com 7

Helm Financial Corp. 415-398-4510, ext. 347 415-398-4816 jzimmerman@hlmx.com 12

Interstate Diesel Service 800-321-4234 216-881-0805 vcoppola@interstate-mcbee.com 32

Kim Hotstart 509-536-8667 509-534-4216 mfloyd@kimhotstart.com 31

LTK Engineering Services 215-641-8826 215-540-8627 doglevee@ltk.com 33

MIRATECH Corporation 918-933-6263 918-622-3928 kwhiteis@miratechcorp.com 33

NORDCO 414-766-2180 414-766-2379 info@nordco.com 35

ORX 814-684-8484 814-684-8400 glenn@orxrail.com C4

Pandrol USA, Inc. 800-221-CLIP 856-467-2994 d.wilcox@pandrolusa.com 20

Penn Machine Co. 412-279-4460 412-279-4465 pmcsales@pennmach.com 30

RBT Services 270-763-6649 270-763-6653 billh@rbtsi.com 17

RailComm, Inc. 585-377-3360 585-377-3341 sales@railcomm.com 11

Railpower Technologies Corp. 814-835-2212, ext. 203 814-836-2908 info@railpower.com C2

Railquip, Inc. 770-458-4157 770-458-5365 sales@railquip.com 19

Railway Educational Bureau, The 402-346-4300 402-346-1783 pkentner@sb-reb.com C3


The Advertisers
Index is an editorial
Railworks 866-905-7245 952-469-1926 jrhansen@railworks.com 26
feature maintained
for the convenience
Star Headlight & Lantern 585-226-9500 585-226-2029 chrisjacobs@star1889.com 24
of readers. It is not
part of the
Sterling Auction Services, LLC. 210-545-3600 210-545-3610 rwmertz@sbcglobal.net 5
advertiser contract
and Railway Age
TranSystems Corp. 312-669-9601 312-669-9606 marketing@transystems.com 16
assumes no
responsibility
Vossloh Group 00 49 239 252 273 00 49 239 252 274 claudia.brandt@vc.vossloh.com 2
for the correctness.
Western-Cullen-Hayes, Inc. 773-254-9600 773-254-1110 cp@wch.com 12

Willamette Valley Co. 541-484-9621 541-284-2096 03alishab@wilvaco.com 36

Advertising Sales
MAIN OFFICE CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, AUSTRALIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, HONG KONG, JAPAN
Robert P. DeMarco PA (EAST), RI, SC, VT, VA, WV, CANADA – QUE- INDIA, KOREA, MIDDLE EAST, NETHERLANDS, Katsuhiro Ishii
345 Hudson St., 12th Floor BEC AND EAST, ONTARIO NEW ZEALAND, RUSSIA, SCANDINAVIA, SOUTH Ace Media Service, Inc.
New York, NY 10014 Mark Connolly AFRICA, SOUTH AMERICA, SPAIN, WORLDWIDE 12-6 4-Chome
(212) 620-7244 345 Hudson St., 12th Floor RECRUITMENT Nishiiko, Adachi-Ku
Fax: (212) 633-1863 New York, NY 10014 Benn Wood Tokyo 121-0824
bdemarco@sbpub.com (212) 620-7260 Suite K5 & K6 Japan
Fax: (212) 633-1863 The Priory, Syresham Gardens +81-3-5691-3335
AL, AR, IN, KY, LA, MI, MS, OH, OK, PA (WEST), mconnolly@sbpub.com Haywards Heath, RH16 3LB Fax: +81-3-5691-3336
TN, TX United Kingdom amkatsu@dream.com
George S. Sokulski RESPONSIBLE FOR ADVERTISEMENT SALES IN Tel: +44-1444-416368
George S. Sokulski ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD, EXCEPT ITALY, Fax: +44-1444-458185 CLASSIFIED, PROFESSIONAL, AND EMPLOY-
Associate Publisher ITALIAN-SPEAKING SWITZERLAND, JAPAN, AND bw@railjournal.co.uk MENT
20 South Clark Street NORTH AMERICA. SEE THE CONTACTS BELOW Diane Okon
Suite 2450 FOR THESE AREAS ITALY & ITALIAN-SPEAKING 20 South Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60603 Donna Edwards SWITZERLAND Suite 2450
(312) 683-5025 Suite K5 & K6 Dr. Fabio Potesta Chicago, IL 60603
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

38 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


WEBSITE DIRECTORY
BEARINGS
Brenco
www.brencoqbs.com
DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERS
Railhead Corp.
www.railheadcorp.com
Western-Cullen-Hayes, Inc.
www.wch.com
INSURANCE
RAILCAR & LOCOMOTIVE REPAIR PARTS
Progress Rail Services
www.progressrail.com
The Timken Company Safety Vision Zurich North America WABTEC
www.timken.com www.safetyvision.com www.zurichna.com/railroad www.wabtec.com
CAR HOISTS WABTEC LEASING RAIL GRINDING
Macton Corp. www.wabtec.com CIT Rail Resources Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc.
www.macton.com DISPATCH SYSTEMS www.citrail.com www.loram.com
Railquip, Inc. RailComm, Inc. FCM Rail, Ltd. RAIL-NEW AND RELAY
www.railquip.com www.railcomm.com www.fcmrail.com A&K Railroad Materials, Inc.
WABTEC First Union Rail www.akrailroad.com
CAR MOVERS
Central Manufacturing www.wabtec.com www.firstunionrail.com L.B. Foster Company
www.shuttlewagon.net DRAFT GEARS, LOAD SECUREMENT SYSTEMS www.lbfoster.com
Railquip, Inc. CUSHIONING DEVICES Holland Company RAIL & TRACKWORK
www.railquip.com ASF-Keystone www.hollandco.com Progress Rail Services
www.asfglobal.com Portec Rail Products, Inc. www.progressrail.com
C&S, TRAIN CONTROL
10East Corporation Progress Rail Services (FMI) www.portecrail.com REMOTE CONTROL
Business Intelligence Solutions www.progressrail.com LOCOMOTIVE/CAR REPAIR EQUIPMENT Cattron-Theimeg, Inc.
www.10east.com Independent Draft Gear Macton Corp. www.cattron-theimeg.com
Alcatel Transport www.stucki.com www.macton.com Control Chief Corp.
Automation Solutions Miner Enterprises Portec Rail Products, Inc. www.controlchief.com
www.alcatel.com www.minerent.com www.portecrail.com RailComm, Inc.
Alstom Transport WABTEC Railquip, Inc. www.railcomm.com
Information Solutions www.wabtec.com www.railquip.com RETARDERS
www.transport.alstom.com ENCLOSURES LOCOMOTIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS AAA Sales & Engineering
GE Transportation Systems PTMW, Inc. WABTEC www.aaase.com
Global Signaling www.ptmw.com www.wabtec.com SAFETY EQUIPMENT
www.getransportation.com EXHIBITS AND TECHNICAL ZTR Control Systems Aldon Company
RailComm, Inc. CONFERENCES www.ztr.com www.aldonco.com
www.railcomm.com Railway Supply Institute Railhead Corp.
LOCOMOTIVE FUELING SYSTEMS
Safetran Systems Corp. www.rsiweb.org www.railheadcorp.com
Snyder Equipment Co.
www.safetran.com ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS www.snyderequip.com Safety Vision
Siemens Transportation Systems WAGO Corp. www.safetyvision.com
LOCOMOTIVE-HEATING SYSTEMS
www.mobility.siemens.com www.wago.com SCADA
Kim Hotstart Mfg.
WABTEC FASTENERS www.kimhotstart.com RailComm, Inc.
www.wabtec.com Pandrol www.railcomm.com
www.pandrolusa.com LUBRICATION-RAIL/WHEEL
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT SEATS
Portec Rail Products, Inc.
Nebraska Machinery Co. Stage 8 Locking Fasteners, Inc. Kustom Seating Unlimited, Inc.
www.portecrail.com
Sales & Rentals www.stage8.com www.kustomseating.com
Rails Company
www.nebraskamachinery.com FRA TEST COMPLIANCE & SCHEDULING SHOCK & VIBRATIONS
www.railsco.com
CONTRACTORS 10East Corporation Vibratech/Enidine
RailWorks Business Intelligence Solutions LOCOMOTIVE SANDING SYSTEMS www.enidine.com
www.10east.com Cyclonaire Corp.
www.railworks.com SIDE BEARINGS
www.cyclonaire.com/railroad.cfm A. Stucki Company
CONSULTING FREIGHT CAR PARTS
Aero Transportation Products Dynamic Air Inc. www.stucki.com
Banks R. L. & Associates www.dynamicair.com
www.rlbadc.com www.aerotransportation.com Miner Enterprises
Ellcon-National, Inc. METAL FABRICATION www.minerent.com
Edwards and Kelcey
www.ellcon-national.com PTMW, Inc. SPILL COLLECTION
www.ekcorp.com
FreightCar America www.ptmw.com Syntechnics
HDR Engineering
www.hdrinc.com www.freightcaramerica.com MONITORING DEVICES www.syntechnics.net
Miner Enterprises Lat-Lon LLC SWITCH HEATERS
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. www.lat-lon.com
www.jacobs.com www.minerent.com RailComm, Inc.
Railway Supply Group RailComm, Inc. www.railcomm.com
Interfleet Technology LTD www.railcomm.com
www.railwaysupplygroup.com Rails Company
www.interfleet-technology.com
Schaefer Equipment Co. WABTEC www.railsco.com
LTK Engineering Services www.wabtec.com
www.schaeferequipment.net TOP-OF-RAIL FRICTION SOLUTIONS
www.ltk.com
A. Stucki Company M/W EQUIPMENT-TRACK MAINTENANCE Friction Management Services, LLC
Parsons Brinckerhoff www.frictionmanagement.com
www.stucki.com Harsco Track Technologies
www.pbworld.com
WABTEC www.harscotrack.com Portec Rail Products, Inc.
Parsons Transportation Group www.wabtec.com NORDCO www.portecrail.com
www.parsons.com www.nordco.com The Timken Company
Savage CANAC, Inc. GRADE CROSSING SURFACES
HiRail Corporation Progress Rail Services www.timken.com
www.canac.com www.progressrail.com
www.hirail.com TRANSFER-, DROP-, TURNTABLES
STV, Inc. Railquip, Inc. Macton Corp.
www.stvinc.com Rail-Way, Inc.
www.rail-wayinc.com www.railquip.com www.macton.com
SYSTRA Consulting Railquip, Inc.
www.systraconsulting.com Transpo Industries PAINT AND COATINGS
www.transpo.com Carboline www.railquip.com
TranSystems Corporation www.carboline.com TURNOUTS & SPECIAL TRACKWORK
www.transystems.com GRADE CROSSING WARNING
A&K Railroad Materials, Inc.
SYSTEMS, GATE MECHANISMS PASSENGER CAR DOORS
Zeta-Tech Associates www.akrailroad.com
Alstom Transport Information Solutions Advanced Structures Corp.
www.zetatech.com
www.transport.alstom.com www.advancedstructurescorp.com UNDERCUTTING–DITCHING EQUIPMENT
DAMPERS GE Transportation Systems Harsco Track Technologies
PRECAST CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS
Vibratech/Enidine Global Signaling www.harscotrack.com
Dixie Precast, Inc.
www.enidine.com www.getransportation.com Georgetown Rail Equipment (GREX)
www.dixieprecast.com
KONI Railway Safetran Systems Corp. www.georgetownrail.com
www.koni.com RAILCAR & LOCOMOTIVE
www.safetran.com MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT WHEELS
Sachs of America Union Switch & Signal Inc. Griffin Wheel
Railquip, Inc.
www.zfsachs.com www.switch.com www.railquip.com www.griffinwheel.com
Hot links available at
www. railwayage.com List your website on this page. Contact Jeff Sutley, (212) 620-7233, jsutley@sbpub.com
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY s r r TM

All Major Credit Cards Accepted

Railway Age Classified Section • Diane Okon • 312-683-5022 • dokon@sbpub-chicago.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

40 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


EQUIPMENT SALE/LEASING

Available
For Lease  5,150 cu. ft. pressure differen-
tial (PD) covered hoppers.
Food grade interior linings

 3,915 cu. ft. pressure differen-


tial (PD) covered hoppers.
OK for cement, sand or any
dry flowable commodity. Texas Railcar Leasing, Co.
“You have finally crossed the right track”

For additional information and pricing, SUPERIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE


please contact John Goodwin
PHONE (605) 582-8318 Railcars Available for Lease
FAX (605) 582-8304 4650 CF Covered Hoppers Round Hatches
www.carmathinc.com 3500 CF Covered Hoppers Round Hatches
E-MAIL jgoodwin@mwrail.com
3018 CF Covered Hoppers Round Hatches
2931 CF Covered Hoppers Round Hatches
3500 CF Pressure Differential Hoppers (286k)
3000 CF Pressure Differential Hoppers
4000 CF Thrall Built Gondolas
3850 CF Rapid Discharge Open Top Hoppers
3600 CF Open Top Hoppers
33000 Gallon Pressure Cars, Storage Use Only
26800 Gallon General Purpose Tank Cars
61' 100 ton Bulkhead Flat cars
Wanted for Purchase
Any variety of Freight and Tank Car Portfolios
Full Service & Net Leases Available
www.trlx.net • Mr. Lynn Hayungs
Lynn@TRLX.net • Tel: 956-630-2723 ext. 206

Texas Railcar Leasing Co.


3900 N. 10th, Suite 1080, McAllen, Texas 78501 •

RECRUITMENT
Professional Railroad Placement Services, Inc.
“Serving the Railroad industry Nationwide”

NEED EXPERIENCED RAILROAD VP

PO Box 1090 Plymouth, FL 32768


Phone (352) 385-2613
e-mail: prpsinc@aol.com

EDNA A. RICE, EXECUTIVE RECRUITER, INC


EDNA A. RICE, President
(713) 667-0406
FAX (713) 667-1651 6750 West Loop South
Web address: Suite 735
www.ednarice.com Bellaire, Texas 77401-4111
Email: resume@ednarice.com

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 41


AUCTIONS SERVICES PRODUCTS & SERVICES
www.SterlingRailroadAuctions.com
will feature the most diverse and complete marketplace for
Railroad Equipment and RR Assets of every description.
Launches 4th quarter of 2009
A Service of Sterling Auction Services, LLC
U.S. Contact: Robert Mertz +1 210 545 3600
rwmertz@sbcglobal.net
Texas License #16399

PRODUCTS & SERVICES


Reidler Decal Corporation
St. Clair, PA 17970
Fax: 570-429-1528
marketing@reidlerdecal.com
The Federal Railroad Administration's proposed new delineator configuration

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

42 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


EMPLOYMENT
ROXTEC – Sales Professional
Roxtec Inc. (www.roxtec.com) is the world’s largest manufacturer of module Locomotive Division Manager
based cable and pipe seals. We are currently seeking a sales professional to Responsible for expanding business with industrial & railroad loco-
develop the Railway segment for Roxtec. This opportunity provides great benefits
and a flexible work environment with a home office
motive repairs, servicing, & re-building projects. Experience with
Requirements aftermarket parts vendors necessary. Individual should be able to
• 5 years experience calling on Rolling Stock companies, OEMs, Class 1 identify used locomotives & components for purchase; and negoti-
railroads, engineering firms, and transit authorities preferred
• Minimum 3 years experience selling to engineering firms and OEMs ate sales/leases of locomotives to end-user. Responsible for P/L &
required. developing strategies to promote business. www.bhamrail.com
• Experience working projects from design to construction
• BS/BA degree
• Excellent presentation skills and experience presenting to groups of 20 or
more people
Responsibilities
Vice President/General Manager
• Develop Railway Industry business segment and increase revenue by
securing design specifications with Transit Authorities, Rolling Stock
Florida Railroad Operations
manufacturers, Engineering Firms, and Class 1 Railroads.
• Attend Railway events, trade shows, and sales meetings (both domestically Pinsly Railroad Company has an opening for a Vice
and internationally as needed) President/General Manager of its three Florida short line railroads
• Travel required (60% of time) mostly domestic but international travel as and a distribution service company. Position would be responsible
needed
for management of day-to-day operations for a growing shortline
• Work individually or in a team environment with National and Regional
Managers and International Sales Managers as well. railroad and distribution service company as well as meeting
• Perform market research focusing on new business opportunities within the strategic and operating goals. Position would also hold a seat on
Railway Industry the Pinsly Railroad Company leadership team providing strategic
• Provide reports to Industrial Segment Manager including but not limited to goals and direction for the entire Pinsly organization. Experience
information on Projects, Quotations, Sales Activities, and Industry Trends
Robyn.Livesay@us.roxtec.com should include a minimum of 10 years railroad executive manage-
Fax: 918.362.0239 ment or general management leadership roles with P&L responsi-
10127 E Admiral Place • Tulsa, OK 74116 bility. Experience in trucking and warehousing industry a plus.
Excellent benefit package. Send cover letter and resume to:

Pinsly Railroad Company


Attn: Angela L. Depalo, Human Resources Director
53 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Or e-mail to: jobs@Pinsly.com

Chief Engineer – Corporate


Anacostia Rail Holdings is seeking a Chief Engineer – Corporate. The
position will be responsible for company-wide engineering staff sup-
port and specific line management. Duties include supporting engi-
neering safety programs, developing annual engineering budgets and
special projects; engineering labor agreements; management of
agreements with utilities, contractors, governmental entities, etc.;
preparation/review of engineering plans/specifications; administration
of documents pertaining to railroad-owned real estate. Frequent
travel is required in this high visibility, corporate level position.

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.

Mail resume to:


Yuko Ishikawa
Anacostia Rail Holdings, Inc.
53 W. Jackson Boulevard • Chicago, IL 60404
Fax to: 312-431-0828

www.railwayage.com AUGUST 2009 RAILWAY AGE 43


short line/regionalperspective
Richard F. Timmons
President, American Short Line
and Regional Railroad Association

Adapting to a changing railroad environment


N
o organization that prides performance standards while serving the future. Webinars now address specific
itself on performance and long term interests of the company and aspects of the industry that need clarifica-
measurable results can expect its’ customers. tion or introduce wholly new subjects or
to grow and prosper without However, for management, the bal- equipment. Class I railroad schools pro-
dedicated training—for employees, staff, ancing act of beneficial employee training vide the options of attendance or online
and management, as well as the education while accepting costs and an absence dur- training, and some sponsor specialized
of its customers. This is fundamental to ing this training is a difficult tradeoff. The training at state-of-the-art facilities. A
team building as well as sound and prof- old on-the-job techniques are not going number of universities now offer railroad
itable railroading. Of course, productivity to do the job in this new era simply certificate or diploma programs that are
is an important outcome as well, and one because much of what we are working structured for short stays at the university,
unquestioned benefit to any training pro- with today is too new to rely on seasoned a return to work followed a month later
gram is that worker productivity signifi- railroaders to cover all the bases. There is by another session at the university.
cantly improves following training. little question that the most successful Mobile training classes sponsored by the
With the passage of HR. 2095, the Class I railroads, ASLRRA, AREMA, and
Railway Safety Improvement Act of 2008 the FRA make available short, high-inten-
(RSIA), the world of railroading as we Training and sity programs across the country to get
have known and understood it for railroaders up to speed on the most cur-
decades has changed. This is a more far-
reaching collection of changes than the
continuing rent and important topics and proce-
dures. A prime example of this is the wide
Staggers Act of 1980. Staggers laid the
foundation for the dramatic resurgence of
education are range of bridge inspection and mainte-
nance classes being provided in numerous
freight railroads during the past 25 years, forums in response to HR 2095. DVDs
but the RSIA will have a much greater more important are now becoming an important compo-
impact on a broader range of areas. nent of training and can be shipped easily
With the new law comes a wave of reg- than ever. to railroads or individuals for their home
ulatory requirements that compel signifi- station use. In recent months HazMat
cant changes from many of the current process for educating and training a work- and Security DVDs have been provided to
procedures now in place, as well as force is through dedicated instruction. ASLRRA members.
unprecedented new technologies and This only succeeds, however, if senior Excellent educational opportunities
equipment to be phased in during the management has employee development that are inexpensive and convenient are at
next several years. Other federal govern- and competence as a priority, and invests hand for those managers that are commit-
ment policy and equipment developments the resources to pursue training programs ted to safety, competence, and profession-
unrelated to HR. 2095 also are under that improve employee skills and profes- alism for their workers. Training lays the
way. These momentous changes bring to sionalism. This training approach is not a foundation for the future and develops
railroad management serious issues relat- one-shot concept, but a progressive year- railroaders with the correct attitudes,
ed to preparing its work force for the in, year-out program for each employee knowledge, and skills to adapt to the
future to insure employee safety and pro- aimed at steadily building worker expert- changing workplace. Many visionary rail-
fessionalism while on the job. ise and mastery of his field. road leaders have committed to this pro-
The most effective and profitable Today the railroad industry is begin- gressive training approach. Now is the
organizations have traditionally embraced ning to capitalize on new educational time for all of us in management to focus
some form of structured employee train- technologies that make training our work on employee professional development to
ing that focuses on worker education and force achievable without divorcing the meet the demands of the future.
skills to enhance knowledge, understand- employee from his job for an extended Editor’s note: Since 1909, Simmons-
ing, and the execution of job tasks to period of time. Online training modules Boardman’s Railway Educational Bureau
specified standards. The object, of course, prepared with short lines in mind are has been providing training courses and
is to make certain the employee is safe, available that can prepare the employee materials to the railroad industry. For
productive, and well aware of required for many of the job demands of the more information, see www.transalert.com.

44 RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2009 www.railwayage.com


To find out more about how R can help you meet
your rail transportation needs, visit orxrail.com.

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