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News

CAW issues strike notice to VIA Rail

From Progressive Railroading magazine.

Yesterday, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) issued a 72-hour strike notice to VIA Rail Canada Inc. after the railroad tabled the union’s first economic proposal Wednesday. The strike deadline is 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

The union represents more than 2,000 VIA Rail workers who perform on-train and clerical services, including maintenance and ticketing. A contract between the CAW and VIA Rail expired at 2009’s end.

The union will continue to try to reach an agreement without a work stopage, said Bob Chernecki, assistant to the CAW national president, in a prepared statement.

Source: http://www.progressiverailroading.com/prdailynews/news.asp?id=23678

Announcements, FYI, News, Press Releases

Michigan by Rail Public Forums

4 Comments

Summer, Fall 2010

The federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) requires states to prepare state rail plans in order to receive federal rail grants.  The Michigan Department of Transportation is in the early stages of putting Michigan ’s rail plan together.  Public participation and input is a requirement of a successful state rail plan.   

In the summer and fall, 2010, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers and partner organizations will convene a series of public forums throughout the state in an effort to engage Michigan citizens in a discussion about their vision for the state’s passenger and freight rail system.    

  • An overview of the state’s existing rail system
  • An interactive rail mapping session 
  • A discussion of public financing issues for rail projects and service   
  • A statewide vision for freight, intercity passenger and commuter rail

Michigan by Rail Public Forum Dates and Locations
(Subject to change, check http://www.michiganbyrail.org)

July 8 – East Lansing – 6 p.m. at The People’s Church –  details
July 22 – Traverse City  – 7 p.m. at the Civic Center – details

Forums are planned for New Buffalo,  Jackson,  St. Joseph / Benton Harbor,  Holland/Muskegon, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor. A forum was already held in Royal Oak in June.

More information is available at:
http://www.michiganbyrail.org

News

Amtrak Train Cuts Car In Half; Driver Uninjured

From WNEM-TV Channel 5

LAPEER COUNTY, Mich. — The Lapeer County Sheriff’s Office said a 26-year-old man cheated almost certain death when his vehicle collided with an Amtrak train Friday morning.

Deputies said James Brimmer, of Flint, drove his 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix around the railroad crossing arms into the path of a westbound train around 7 a.m. on Lake Nepessing Road.

The train had just departed the Lapeer Station and had not reached its normal operating speed.

Deputies said the collision still split the Grand Prix in half and sent one of the vehicle’s wheels into the window of a nearby tax service building.

Brimner, the lone occupant of the vehicle, walked away with scratches on his left knee and declined medical treatment.

Deputies said Bimmer was cited for several law violations.

Source: http://www.wnem.com/news/23947929/detail.html?taf=sag

News

High-speed train pushed by Quebec, Ontario

From CBC News

Ontario and Quebec say the dream of a high-speed train link between Windsor and Quebec City may finally be picking up steam — if only Ottawa would get aboard.

On Wednesday, Quebec Premier Jean Charest said the idea, which has been tossed around for more than decade, is drawing more interest from Washington than from Ottawa.

Speaking at a news conference alongside Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Charest recalled that U.S. President Barack Obama has expressed interest in linking to an eventual rail network between the provinces.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2010/06/16/mtl-cp-charest-mcguinty-train.html#ixzz0rDcnHMT9

Ridership statistics

Amtrak ridership stats for May 2010

May FY10
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
    Ridership Ticket Revenue
          % change vs.         % change vs.  
NEC Spine FY10 FY09 Budget FY09 Budget FY10 FY09 Budget FY09 Budget
1 – Acela   289,206 254,581 263,850 +13.6 +9.6 $40,149,687 $34,141,218 $36,188,493 +17.6 +10.9
5 – Northeast Regional   629,612 600,525 617,464 +4.8 +2.0 $41,335,206 $36,735,050 $38,636,248 +12.5 +7.0
99 – Special Trains   340 240 600 +41.7 -43.3 $78,600 $29,000 $125,000 +171.0 -37.1
Subtotal   919,158 855,346 881,914 +7.5 +4.2 $81,563,493 $70,905,268 $74,949,741 +15.0 +8.8
State Supported and Other Short Distance Corridors                    
3 – Ethan Allen   2,971 3,100 3,115 -4.2 -4.6 $142,409 $154,534 $158,433 -7.8 -10.1
4 – Vermonter   5,923 5,182 5,207 +14.3 +13.8 $326,747 $282,236 $290,070 +15.8 +12.6
7 – Albany-Niagara Falls-Toronto   31,384 26,362 26,906 +19.1 +16.6 $1,708,230 $1,497,670 $1,565,890 +14.1 +9.1
9 – Downeaster   38,025 35,445 36,255 +7.3 +4.9 $536,666 $512,929 $534,863 +4.6 +0.3
12 – New Haven-Springfield   31,266 26,329 26,467 +18.8 +18.1 $896,126 $747,755 $767,676 +19.8 +16.7
14 – Keystone   107,884 100,788 103,951 +7.0 +3.8 $2,417,150 $2,143,386 $2,265,210 +12.8 +6.7
15 – Empire (NYP-ALB)   83,521 78,285 82,610 +6.7 +1.1 $3,115,610 $3,071,436 $3,302,478 +1.4 -5.7
20 – Chicago-St. Louis (Lincoln Service)   48,532 44,766 46,540 +8.4 +4.3 $1,120,798 $929,326 $987,444 +20.6 +13.5
21 – Hiawatha   63,259 58,750 60,933 +7.7 +3.8 $1,155,729 $1,078,795 $1,142,579 +7.1 +1.2
22 – Wolverine   41,361 37,014 37,940 +11.7 +9.0 $1,407,916 $1,184,763 $1,243,327 +18.8 +13.2
23 – Chicago-Carbondale (Illini/Saluki)   21,734 21,752 22,590 -0.1 -3.8 $583,100 $523,068 $557,127 +11.5 +4.7
24 – Chicago-Quincy (IL Zephyr/Carl Sandburg)   17,307 17,071 17,675 +1.4 -2.1 $392,936 $369,667 $391,431 +6.3 +0.4
29 – Heartland Flyer   7,241 6,922 7,215 +4.6 +0.4 $155,430 $139,942 $150,295 +11.1 +3.4
35 – Pacific Surfliner   241,152 237,018 241,774 +1.7 -0.3 $4,396,330 $4,097,418 $4,281,866 +7.3 +2.7
36 – Cascades   76,718 69,230 77,230 +10.8 -0.7 $2,530,540 $1,853,183 $2,097,065 +36.6 +20.7
37 – Capitol Corridor   138,616 136,716 137,468 +1.4 +0.8 $2,004,418 $1,947,792 $2,125,851 +2.9 -5.7
39 – San Joaquin   86,592 84,906 86,543 +2.0 +0.1 $2,625,924 $2,217,537 $2,338,998 +18.4 +12.3
40 – Adirondack   8,637 8,016 8,044 +7.7 +7.4 $454,766 $418,922 $428,603 +8.6 +6.1
41 – Blue Water   13,017 10,994 11,256 +18.4 +15.6 $381,271 $315,420 $330,488 +20.9 +15.4
46 – Washington-Lynchburg   10,684 – 4,418 – +141.8 $620,341 – $277,991 – +123.2
47 – Washington-Newport News   39,029 36,907 41,060 +5.7 -4.9 $2,146,437 $1,917,860 $2,191,804 +11.9 -2.1
54 – Hoosier State   2,684 2,702 2,787 -0.7 -3.7 $60,026 $56,378 $59,373 +6.5 +1.1
56 – Kansas City-St. Louis (MO River Runner)   13,504 14,646 14,757 -7.8 -8.5 $310,075 $297,811 $306,340 +4.1 +1.2
57 – Pennsylvanian   16,650 17,428 17,771 -4.5 -6.3 $709,813 $647,777 $676,413 +9.6 +4.9
65 – Pere Marquette   8,239 8,503 8,832 -3.1 -6.7 $218,459 $218,727 $232,373 -0.1 -6.0
66 – Carolinian   27,345 25,649 25,645 +6.6 +6.6 $1,551,576 $1,240,092 $1,283,513 +25.1 +20.9
67 – Piedmont   6,429 5,850 10,186 +9.9 -36.9 $104,914 $93,298 $166,435 +12.5 -37.0
74-81 – Buses   – – – – – $613,373 $346,659 $347,319 +76.9 +76.6
96 – Special Trains    1,520 206 1,600 +637.9 -5.0 $95,785 $98,308 $71,000 -2.6 +34.9
Subtotal   1,191,224 1,120,537 1,166,775 +6.3 +2.1 $32,782,895 $28,402,688 $30,572,254 +15.4 +7.2
Long Distance                    
16 – Silver Star   32,942 30,696 30,781 +7.3 +7.0 $2,432,346 $2,087,942 $2,129,388 +16.5 +14.2
18 – Cardinal   9,430 9,182 9,275 +2.7 +1.7 $557,183 $518,007 $531,025 +7.6 +4.9
19 – Silver Meteor   31,451 27,889 28,187 +12.8 +11.6 $3,006,551 $2,528,569 $2,594,238 +18.9 +15.9
25 – Empire Builder   43,830 39,535 40,821 +10.9 +7.4 $4,505,439 $4,057,318 $4,242,274 +11.0 +6.2
26 – Capitol Ltd.   19,700 18,521 18,681 +6.4 +5.5 $1,666,172 $1,518,499 $1,556,506 +9.7 +7.0
27 – California Zephyr   31,049 28,513 29,014 +8.9 +7.0 $3,728,541 $3,318,996 $3,448,711 +12.3 +8.1
28 – Southwest Chief   29,802 27,200 27,698 +9.6 +7.6 $3,599,767 $3,070,884 $3,201,789 +17.2 +12.4
30 – City of New Orleans   18,653 17,525 17,822 +6.4 +4.7 $1,370,887 $1,292,297 $1,341,023 +6.1 +2.2
32 – Texas Eagle   24,431 21,181 21,563 +15.3 +13.3 $1,882,804 $1,529,931 $1,596,345 +23.1 +17.9
33 – Sunset Ltd.   8,208 6,633 6,809 +23.7 +20.5 $912,182 $669,134 $704,958 +36.3 +29.4
34 – Coast Starlight   35,431 35,315 35,875 +0.3 -1.2 $3,141,769 $2,550,457 $2,661,088 +23.2 +18.1
45 – Lake Shore Ltd.   31,021 27,445 29,149 +13.0 +6.4 $2,374,365 $1,881,506 $2,036,897 +26.2 +16.6
48 – Palmetto   17,037 14,504 14,623 +17.5 +16.5 $1,328,010 $1,032,867 $1,058,329 +28.6 +25.5
52 – Crescent   27,660 26,793 26,468 +3.2 +4.5 $2,657,554 $2,307,391 $2,354,290 +15.2 +12.9
63 – Auto Train   19,628 18,844 19,093 +4.2 +2.8 $5,863,170 $5,382,992 $5,495,640 +8.9 +6.7
Subtotal   380,273 349,776 355,859 +8.7 +6.9 $39,026,740 $33,746,792 $34,952,503 +15.6 +11.7
                       
Amtrak Total   2,490,655 2,325,659 2,404,548 +7.1 +3.6 $153,373,128 $133,054,748 $140,474,499 +15.3 +9.2