Information of interest to operating railroad and transportation employees

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NEW YORK – With the backing of his state’s two U.S. Senators, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is proposing a new $1 billion rail freight tunnel to connect Brooklyn and Newark, NJ.

Senators Patrick Moynihan and Alfonse D’Amato said that Washington would pick up a large part of the tab for the tunnel project, the first new crossing to be built for the city in more than 30 years.

New York City is asking experts who worked on the Chunnel Tunnel under the English Channel to carry out an engineering study that is expected to cost $4.5 million and take up to two years to complete.

The new tunnel, if built, would either directly connect Brooklyn and Newark or do so via Staten Island. It would save shippers from having to send rail freight on a 280-mile detour. Only five percent of the cargo sent to New York City arrives by rail, lower than the 26% national average.

Railroad looking to raise $17 million

WORSCESTER, Mass. – The Providence and Worcester Railroad Company is planning to raise $17.6 million to pay off debt and purchase new cars, among other things. Members of UTU Local 679 work on this railroad.

The company is an interstate freight carrier with operations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

CSX to invest $3 million in southern yard improvements

JACKSONVILLE – CSX Transportation said it is investing more than $3 million to install new master and group retarders used to control freight cars movement and sorting at railyards in North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama.

The work is due to be completed by July and is part of an ongoing $806 million capital spending program.

NS to expand Charlotte maintenance facility

CHARLOTTE – Construction is set to begin this month on an expanded maintenance facility in this city for Norfolk Southern Corp.

The Charlotte Roadway Shop will have $6 million spent on its expansion and will employ 60 persons. The facility will be used by NS to maintain lines it acquires in the Conrail transaction.