In the News . . .

Ethanol plant to begin production in Hoke County
Clean Burn Fuels, LLC recently announced that an ethanol facility near Raeford in Hoke County may begin production by early 2010. They hope to be grinding corn for ethanol fermentation by January. The Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad will bring in 60 million gallons (or 7,000 carloads) or corn each year. The ethanol will be shipped out via truck. The plant, which is about 70% complete, will employ about 110 people. To learn more about Clean Burn Fuels, LLC visit http://cleanburnfuels.com/. To learn more about the Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad please visit http://www.aberdeen-rockfish.com/.
Triangle Business Journal, "Ethanol plant forges forward, seeking $15M" 25 September 2009.

NCDOT receives 8 FRA grants
The North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division recently received eight Federal Railroad Administration grants totaling more than $9 million. The grants will help fund rail projects, such as track upgrades on the Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad, the relocation and expansion of CSX's yard in Greenville, a grade separation and curve realignment at Hopson Road on the NCRR, locomotive emissions research, and grade separations to allow the Charlotte Area Transit System future expansion to cross freight rail lines.
Progressive Railroading, "NCDOT lands eight FRA grants for rail projects" 5 October 2009.

Public Transportation usage down slightly in first half of 2009
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recently reported that public transportation usage in the first half of 2009 was down slightly. APTA attributes the marginal drop to rising unemployment, higher fares, and lower gas prices. APTA President William Millar explained that 59% of rides on public transportation are for commuting to/from work. Therefore, it is no surprise that job losses have impacted ridership. Heavy rail and commuter rail ridership declined 2.3% and 2.8%, respectively, compared with the first half of 2008. Light rail ridership did increase slightly, a 0.6% increase over 2008.
Progressive Railroading, "APTA first-half report: Light rail trips up, heavy and commuter-rail trips down" 29 September 2009.

Distracted driving contributes to vehicle-train collisions
Operation Lifesaver, Inc released federal statistics illustrating that highway-rail grade crossings accidents can be a result of inattentive motor vehicle drivers. A total of 2,397 highway-rail grade crossing collisions occurred in 2008, resulting in 286 deaths and more than 900 injuries. Federal Railroad Administration statistics show that in 78 of these vehicle-train collisions, the cause was listed as ‘highway user inattentiveness,’ resulting in 14 deaths and 117 injuries. Through the first six months of 2009, there were 34 highway-rail grade crossing incidents caused by highway user inattentiveness, resulting in 6 deaths and 52 injuries.
Railway Age, "Operation Lifesaver: Drivers a real rail safety factor" 30 September 2009.


FRA receives approximately $50 billion in ARRA applications
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) received 45 applications from 24 states totaling approximately $50 billion for the development of high-speed and intercity passenger rail programs for grant funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) . The FRA will be announcing all awards this winter. Their selections will be merit-based and will reflect the administration's vision to remake America’s transportation landscape. North Carolina applied for $5.3 billion in this most recent application. For more information visit the FRA's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act web page.

Steer Davies Gleave (SDG) to conduct Commuter Rail Ridership Study
North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) has retained Steer Davies Gleave of Boston to study what the potential ridership and revenue would be for commuter rail service within its 140-mile rail corridor between Greensboro and Goldsboro. The results of the study will be available in the second quarter of 2010. This approximately eight-month study is a follow-up to an NCRR engineering study last year that concluded that with significant improvements, commuter trains and freight trains can co-exist in the Goldsboro-Greensboro corridor. Steer Davies Gleave will prepare ridership models and revenues forecasts for four potential commuter train routes in the seven-county area for 2012, 2017 and 2022. Study results will be shared with the public and local and regional planning officials. This study will cost approximately $300,000 and NCRR is funding it with revenues from its operating agreement partnership with Norfolk Southern. To learn more visit www.ncrr.com.

Norfolk Southern unveils alternative energy locomotive technology
Norfolk Southern recently unveiled the NS 999, a prototype locomotive that relies entirely on rechargeable batteries for power. NS 999 uses a lead-acid energy storage system comprised of 1,080 12-volt batteries to operate in railroad switching applications without the use of a diesel engine and with zero exhaust emissions. The plug-in locomotive also can regenerate dynamic braking energy through a system provided by Brookville Equipment Company. Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA) secured $1.3 million in federal funding for the NS 999 project. For more information visit http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Media/News%20Releases/2009/batteries.html.


Virginia to gain additional Amtrak service
On October 1st Amtrak began daily round-trip service between Lynchburg, VA, Washington, DC, and all points north along the Northeast Corridor (Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, etc). The service will include Virginia Railway Express commuter rail connections at Burke Center and L'Enfant Plaza. The new service is co-sponsored by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Service between Richmond and points along the Northeast Corridor is expected to begin in December.
Progressive Railroading, "Virginia to gain additional Amtrak service along the Northeast Corridor" 30 September 2009.


NTSB issues safety recommendations
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as part of its ongoing investigation of the Washington Metro collision, has issued nine safety recommendations to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and to Alstom Signaling, Inc., the manufacturer of the track circuit modules at the Fort Totten station, where the accident occurred. It has recommended that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) advise all rail transit operators and railroads that use audio frequency track circuits in their train control systems about these findings from the Fort Totten accident investigation.
Railway Age, "D.C. signal failure prompts NTSB recommendations" 24 September 2009.

Working on the Railroad

John L. Atkins, III was recently elected as the Chairman of the North Carolina Railroad Company Board of Directors. He has served on the Board since 2004. John's connection with the railroad began before his appointment to the NCRR Board of Directors, however. John's grandfather worked on a freight crew for the former Atlantic Coast Line. His grandfather would leave his home in Ahoskie and drive to Windsor early on Mondays to start his run, which extended to Jacksonville, FL and return home Friday evenings. In addition to performing his normal duties with the crew he was also the cook for them; cooking on the pot bellied stove in the caboose.

John is Chairman and CEO of O'Brien Atkins Associates, PA an architectural/engineering firm located in Research Triangle Park which he co-founded in 1975. He is active in industry groups, civic and professional organizations and economic development initiatives. He played a major role in establishing the Raleigh-Durham Regional Association and the Greater Triangle Regional Council, which now form the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP). In addition, he has served on the NC Department of Commerce's Senior Advisory Council, the NC Chamber's Board of Directors, and NC Partnership for Economic Development.

With a strong economic development background, John understands the importance of the rail industry in North Carolina, and throughout the nation. He believes in increasing the use of the NCRR rail corridor as both a key transportation artery and an economic development engine.

Did you know ...

Construction of Elon University pedestrian underpass is underway
The North Carolina Railroad Company and Elon University have partnered to build a pedestrian underpass at Elon University. The underpass will improve safety for students and discourage access to the rail corridor. As the University’s facilities have grown through the years, the college has had to expand on the south side of the North Carolina Railroad corridor.  An underpass, along with fences and signage to encourage its use, will provide a safe means of crossing the railroad for the numerous pedestrians within the University community. The contractor, Crowder Construction, has rerouted the existing water, sewer and storm lines. They are now working on a temporary bridge structure. The underpass is expected to be complete in 2010.

Published by the North Carolina Railroad Company Volume 3, Issue 5
Comments or questions? Call Catherine Campbell or Kat Christian at (919) 954-7601 or e-mail: raillines@ncrr.com

2809 Highwoods Blvd. Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27604

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