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Canadian National to rationalize lots of track this year

MONTREAL – Canadian National Railway said it would rationalize 1,586 miles or track this year mainly through the transfer of 1,250 miles of secondary track to short-line railway operators.

CN said it would focus on becoming a high-density, long-haul railway and hopes to create a low-cost, growth-oriented feeder network of short-line railways.

CN also said passenger service provided by VIA Rail Canada, Inc., will also be maintained.

The carrier plans to discontinue service on 289 miles of track this year. CN has informed the Surface Transportation Board that it intends to discontinue operations on the Lapeer, Romeo, Jackson, Charlotte and Cass City lines, totaling 47 miles, all in Michigan. In 1997, CN sold or discontinued 1,500 miles of track.

Amtrak brings RoadRailer back to Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Amtrak initiated express service between Grand Rapids and Chicago using the bimodal trailer known as the RoadRailer, which is designed to operate on rail and road.

It began the service 39 years to the day since the former C&O (now CSX) began a test run of the equipment. Amtrak has acquired 291 RoadRailers to boost its express service.

The RoadRailer service is now operating on the back of Amtrak’s daily Pere Marquette train. Amtrak officials maintain that truckers also are the market today as the company tries to boost non-passenger revenue, reduce operating losses and move Amtrak further toward financial self-sufficiency.

RoadRailers already operate between Chicago and Albany, Chicago and Philadelphia and Philadelphia and Jacksonville.

Canada studies high-speed rail on St. Lawrence corridor

OTTAWA – A Canadian-French consortium is proposing building high-speed train service along Canada’s St. Lawrence corridor that would let trains travel at speeds up to 200 mph.

The proposal by Bombadier Inc., a Canadian manufacturer, four Canadian engineering and construction firms, and the French firms of GEC Alsthom and TGV is being taken seriously and would need government funds.

The rail system would be between Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City and could be built for $7.8 billion over 10 years. It is estimated that the system would carry 11 to 16 million riders annually, make money in its first year of operation and pay a return on investment of 12.6%.

Texas highway-rail safety campaign in final phase

HOUSTON – "Highways or Dieways" is the third and final phase of a public education campaign aimed at reducing highway-rail grade crossing accidents. It was launched yesterday featuring three new TV commercials.

It is part of Texas Operation Lifesaver, which concludes on Friday.

Texas leads the nation in vehicle-train collisions. In 1997, there were 453 collisions at public highway crossings resulting in 52 deaths and 179 injuries.