This year, more than 350 people attended the two-day event in downtown Raleigh. Freight rail issues, passenger rail topics and rail’s active role in economic development were discussed. Consulting firm McCallum Sweeney evaluated potential freight rail industrial sites from 33 entries submitted statewide. Norfolk Southern sent their “Green Machine," a battery-powered, environmentally- friendly engine, to the forum, highlighting the innovative thinking that the rail industry is bringing to 21st century challenges. The North Carolina Railroad Company released the results of its Commuter Rail Ridership & Market Study (see related story, below) at this year’s event.  

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Progress in Motion Forum on May 10th and May 11th and helped to make it a success.
To view presentations from the forum please visit
http://www.ncrr.com/rail-forum-presentations/index.html.

Did you know ...

NCRR completes Commuter Rail Ridership & Market Study
Steer Davies Gleave (SDG) conducted a Commuter Rail Ridership & Market Study for the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR).  The study matches the recommended configuration of the 2008 Shared Corridor Commuter Rail Capacity Study and includes trains every 40 minutes during the peak morning and afternoon periods along the four routes studied on a 140-mile segment of the NCRR between Greensboro and Goldsboro.

Forecasts were developed for three future model years chosen by NCRR—2012, 2017, and 2022—and a base year, 2009.  The forecasts were based on the operating characteristics recommended in the Shared Corridor Capacity Study.  The sensitivity of ridership volume with respect to commuter rail fare, service frequency, and population and employment growth was also examined. The segment between Durham and Wilson’s Mills is forecast to have the highest volume with the Burlington-to-Greensboro segment as the next busiest segment. The stations projected to have the most boardings include Burlington, Cary, Clayton, Durham, Greensboro, Raleigh, West Raleigh, and Wilson’s Mills. For more information and a more detailed summary please visit http://www.ncrr.com/commuter-rail-ridership.html.

In the News . . .

City of Raleigh considers Union Station
The City of Raleigh recently released preliminary plans for a transportation hub which could potentially serve buses, rail transit, and Amtrak inter-city trains. The initial plans position the station east of the Wye (the "Y" junction where tracks diverge) on West Hargett Street in Downtown Raleigh. The proposed "Union Station" would need final approval from the railroads, landowners, and government agencies. The cost is estimated at $150-210 million. Federal funds would be sought for 80% of the cost. The News & Observer, "Raleigh will consider new transit proposal" 23 April 2010.

Norfolk Southern intermodal facility at Charlotte Douglas expected to be complete by 2012
Norfolk Southern, the City of Charlotte, and federal agencies are finalizing a lease of property at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport for an intermodal yard. Expected to be complete by late 2012, the $90 million facility is projected to be the site for 250,000 container lifts a year and will bring $7 billion in business to the region over the next two decades. Norfolk Southern will finance the facility with $65 million of its own capital and about $25 million in federal and state grants. The intermodal facility is part of Norfolk Southern's effort to remove up to 25% of truck traffic from the southern United States.
Charlotte Business Journal, "Norfolk Southern near deal to build $90 million center" 9 April 2010.


Railroads join with NCDOT to improve crossings throughout the state
Railroads in North Carolina have joined the North Carolina Department of Transportation in making several safety improvements at rail crossings throughout the state recently. As part of the North Carolina Railroad Eastern Grade Crossing project NCDOT, Norfolk Southern, and NCRR have improved crossings in La Grange and nearby. NCDOT has also revised crossing signals and installed gates at Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railroad crossings in Candor and Mount Gilead, one CSX Transportation crossing in Magnolia, and two Norfolk Southern Railway crossings in Walnut Cove and one in Asheboro. Automatic warning devices now have been installed at more than 2,400 of the state’s 4,100-plus public crossings, according to NCDOT.
The Free Press, "Improvements made to La Grange rail crossing" 11 May 2010.
Progressive Railroading, "North Carolina DOT adds safety devices at six grade crossings" 24 May 2010.


Positive Train Control (PTC) costs become an issue
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently estimated that it will cost Class I railroads and commuter railroads nationwide more than $10 billion to implement and maintain positive train control (PTC) systems. Regional and short line railroads longer than 20 miles would also have to complete the necessary PTC work. FRA estimates that small railroads will spend about $13 million to install PTC devices on locomotives; $2 million to maintain the devices; $400,000 to install manual derailing equipment, and $220,000 for work associated with speed restrictions. These cost estimates, for Class I and smaller railroads, continue to increase as implementation plans are developed.
Progressive Railroading, "C&S PTC: A big task for small railroads" 8 April 2010.

Patriot Rail selected to operate P&N Railway
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has selected Patriot Rail, a short-line railroad company based in Florida, to operate the Piedmont & Northern Railway in Gaston County. A lease is being negotiated with Patriot Rail for the operation of the 15-mile freight line that connects Gastonia and Mount Holly. The Patriot Rail proposal to operate the P&N RR was selected over submittals by Carolina Central Railway, Carolina Coastal Railway of Wilson, Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway Co. of Star, and Online Locomotive Services of Williamston. The P&N RR dates to 1911, when tobacco and electric-power entrepreneur James Duke financed a plan to connect the textile mills between Charlotte and Greenville, S.C., by rail service. The state bought the Gaston County section of the former P&N line in 1991.
Gaston Gazette, "New operator selected for P&N railroad" 17 May 2010.

Norfolk Southern wins safety award for 21st straight year
Norfolk Southern has won the 2009 E.H. Harriman safety gold award in Group A (railroads whose employees worked 15 million or more manhours). This Class I railroad has now won the prestigious safety award 21-straight years. Other winners in Group A include CSX Transportation, which took silver, and Union Pacific Railroad, which grabbed the bronze. Founded in 1913 by the late Mary W. Harriman in memory of her husband, railroad pioneer Edward H. Harriman, the awards recognize railroads that achieved the lowest casualty rates per 200,000 manhours. The awards are administered by the E.H. Harriman Memorial Awards Institute with support from the Mary W. Harriman Foundation.
Progressive Railroading, "AAR hands out annual Harriman, Hammond safety awards" 19 May 2010.

Published by the North Carolina Railroad Company Volume 4, Issue 3
Comments or questions? Call Catherine Campbell at
(919) 954-7601 or e-mail: raillines@ncrr.com

2809 Highwoods Blvd. Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27604

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