In the News…..

Rail Relocation Feasibility Study Recommends Improving Track In Current Location
A study conducted at the request of the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) has concluded that a relocation alternative for the section of track extending from Havelock to the Port at Morehead City is not economically feasible at this time. The study, conducted by Wilbur Smith Associates and Earth Tech, did identify several possible alternative routes and recommended one possible route that could generally follow the route of the proposed Highway 70 bypass corridor, should future rail traffic warrant relocation. To learn more about the study and its recommendations please visit http://www.ncrr.com/executive-summary-03-2007.html.

Record-breaking Freight and Intermodal Traffic on U.S. Railroads
Railroads throughout the nation carried an all time high 12.3 million intermodal loads in 2006, that is up 5 percent from 2005. In 2006, railroads also handled freight volume of 1.74 trillion tons per mile, up 2.5 percent from 2005. Coal and grain traffic both increased, 4.7 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively. Chemical traffic, however, decreased 1.1 percent. Overall, U.S. railroads originated 17.4 million carloads, a 1.2 percent increase over 2005. The increase in freight traffic makes capacity expansion a key issue for 2007. Association of American Railroads, "U.S. Freight Railroads Complete Another Record-Breaking Year" 4 January 2007.

CATS LYNX Blue Line On Track For November 2007 Opening
Construction of the Charlotte Area Transit System's (CATS) LYNX Blue Line, a 9.6 mile light rail service, continues to advance with eighty-five percent of the roadbed complete, seventy percent of the station foundations finished, and fifty-five percent of the track laid. Three of the five park and ride lots are also under construction. The Vehicle Maintenance Facility, maintenance yard, and test track are fully operational. Fourteen of the sixteen light rail vehicles have arrived and testing of these vehicles is underway. http://rideonnews.com/LYNX%20Construction%20Update.htm

Historic Train Ride In Morehead City Planned
In honor of the city's sesquicentennial, Morehead City is offering train rides from the North Carolina Port of Morehead City Port Authority Terminal to downtown New Bern. The roundtrip rides will be on Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13. The cost of a roundtrip ticket is $50. It is a unique opportunity to view a portion of railroad in eastern North Carolina. For more information visit http://www.moreheadcitysesquicentennial.com or e-mail director@moreheadcitysesquicentennial.com.

Amtrak Will Continue To Receive Federal Funding At FY 2006 Level
The House, the Senate, and President Bush have approved a resolution that will continue to fund most federal programs, and Amtrak, at fiscal-year 2006 levels through September 30th. Amtrak will receive $1.3 billion in fiscal-year 2007, which is below their $1.6 billion basic request and $1.9 billion full request. Amtrak's full request included $100 million for a U.S. DOT-adminstered state corridor development program and $50 million to help freight railroads address chokepoints that cause passenger dealys.President Bush is expected to sign a full-year appropriations bill that will fund the federal transit program at $8.97 billion, the level authorized under SAFETEA-LU. Progressive Railroading, "President signs off on bill to fund Amtrak at FY06 level" 16 February 2007.

Upgrading Tracks with Welded Rail

Amtrak Running Late
Amtrak's already poor on-time performance declined to an average of 68 percent last year, its worst average since the 1970s. The primary reason for this poor performance is that, throughout most of the country, Amtrak operates on freight-owned railroads. As the freight rail industry continues to strengthen, the tracks become increasingly congested. Alex Kummant, current president of Amtrak, does not blame the freight railroads for most delays. He feels more government support is needed to develop capital investments to improve capacity.

Last year, Amtrak paid its host railroads $90 million in usage fees, including $15.5 million in rewards for on-time performance. Had Amtrak's on-time performance been better, the railroads could have earned an additional $74.5 million in incentives. To learn more, read the full story at WRAL News, http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/national/story/1216492

Working on the Railroad

Ed Lewis Named Railroader of the Year
Ed Lewis, President of the Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad, began his railroading career as a ticket agent on the Long Island Railroad at the age of 19. While still inexperienced in the industry, he was fortunate to have an opportunity to become the "Assistant to the President" of the Arcade & Attica Railroad. By the age of 23 he had become the General Manager of the A&A RR, thereby beginning a 40-plus year career in the shortline railroad industry.

He subsequently worked for the Providence & Worcester Railroad in Rhode Island as auditor of revenue, as vice president of the Strasburg Railroad in Pennsylvania and as general manager of the Lamoille Valley and Twin States Railroad in Vermont.  In January, 1987, Ed came to Aberdeen, North Carolina where he achieved a lifelong ambition of becoming a railroad president with the Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad – one of the most successful shortline railroads in the United States.

He served as the first president of the Railway Association of North Carolina when it was reactivated about 15 years ago and he currently heads up its Legislative Committee.  The Railway Association named Ed their 2006 “Railroader of the Year."  He is also a director of the national trade association – the American Shortline & Regional Railroad Association and he is a member of their Legislative Policy committee. Ed has authored a number of books on railroading, including the very popular “American Short Line Railway Guide.”

Railroad Crossings in NC

Even with increased efforts during the past decade, 40% of North Carolina's at-grade railroad-highway crossings remain without automatic warning devices.  NCDOT Rail Division, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, is working to close or signalize those crossings.  The average cost of each crossing signals and gates project ranges from $140,000 to over $200,000, depending on conditions at each specific location.

The NCDOT uses a mathematical model, as required by the Federal Highway Administration, to determine which crossings should receive priority for safety improvements.  The following information is considered for each crossing in the state: train volume, train speed, average daily vehicle traffic, school-bus frequency and passenger load, existing warning devices, the number of main-line tracks and side tracks in use, and the crossing's 10-year accident history. Based on the results of this formula and the recommendations from a diagnositc team of engineers and technicians, crossings are selected to be submitted to the federal Crossing Hazard Elimination Program and to the N.C. Board of Transportation for approval to be included in the Transportation Improvement Program.

Published by the North Carolina Railroad Company    Volume 1, Issue 2
Comments or questions?   Catherine Campbell or Kat Christian    (919) 954-7601     e-mail: raillines@ncrr.com