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SeaWaves Railroad News June 7, 2006

 

 

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KCSR, Louisiana DOTD Announce Corridor Project Agreement to Improve Public Safety

Kansas City MO June 6, 2006 - Kansas City Southern (KCS) today announced that its subsidiary, The Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR) and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) have signed a corridor project agreement to improve the safety of 300 public crossings in Louisiana.

The agreement covers more than 375 miles of track that stretch from Shreveport, La., east to the Mississippi state line along the I-20 corridor; south to DeQuincy, La., along U.S. 171; and north to the Arkansas state line. Under the terms of the agreement, KCSR will invest up to $5 million and LADOTD will invest up to $11.6 million over a period of five years to upgrade warning levels, renew crossbucks and close redundant crossings.

Upon completion of the corridor project, nearly half of the nongated crossings in the area will have received warning level upgrades - from crossbucks to flashers and gates. The remaining crossings will get new crossbucks with a "YIELD" or "STOP" sign.

"DOTD is excited to enter into this partnership with KCSR to improve crossing safety in these corridors," said Bill Shrewsberry, DOTD highway rail safety engineer. "By combining available state and federal resources with railroad resources, we are making important strides toward enhancing safety throughout the state."

"This project is significant because it accelerates the process of improving public safety in Louisiana," said Allen Pepper, KCS director of public safety.

This agreement is the result of House Concurrent Resolution No. 185, which encourages DOTD to negotiate agreements with Louisiana railroad companies to seek financial contributions for the installation of traffic control devices and at public highway/railroad grade crossings as well as some closings. Rep. Roy Quezaire proposed Resolution No. 185 after Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco held the Emergency Highway-Railroad Crossing Safety Conference in March 2005 to address the growing problem of grade crossing incidents, fatalities and injuries in Louisiana.

Bombardier Delivers 1,000th Metro Car to China

Montreal PQ June 6, 2006 - Bombardier Transportation today celebrated delivery of its 1000th metro car to operators in the People’s Republic of China during a special ceremony coinciding with the 2006 Metro and Light Train exhibition in Guangzhou. The 1,000 cars are in service with multiple operators in the cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Hong Kong SAR. Bombardier provides a wide range of rail vehicles and components to the Chinese market through its own operations and a series of joint ventures with Chinese enterprises.

Stephane Rambaud-Measson, President of Bombardier Transportation’s global Mainline and Metros Division, and Jianwei Zhang, President and Chief Country Representative for Bombardier in China, presented the 1,000th car to Mr. Lu Guanglin, General Manager of Guangzhou Metro Corporation (GMC) during the proceedings. The 1000th vehicle is a MOVIA metro car produced by Changchun Bombardier Railway Vehicles Co. Ltd. (CBRC), a joint venture between Bombardier and Changchun Railway Vehicles Ltd. It will operate on Line 2 of the Guangzhou City metro system and is one of 48 MOVIA metro vehicles (8 six-car trains) being delivered to GMC under a contract signed in 2004. CBRC assembles the cars at its Changchun plant in Northern China. Upon completion of the current contract, Bombardier Transportation and CBRC together will have delivered a total of 330 metro cars to GMC.

Mr. Rambaud-Measson said the milestone is a clear illustration of Bombardier’s successful partnership with China and its long-term commitment to evolving the country’s rail infrastructure.

"China, like other countries around the world, is developing its rail infrastructure as a key element to achieving true sustainable development," he said. "Bombardier continues to play an important role in that objective by investing for the long-term in China, bringing technological expertise here and building effective partnerships with in-country enterprises. We are optimistic about the prospects in this promising market."

During remarks at the ceremony, Mr. Lu said, "Bombardier’s 1000th metro car was delivered to Guangzhou Metro today. This perfect combination of the world’s most advanced vehicle technology and China’s wide market is the best example of a mutually beneficial association. In the future, when our successors open the history books of urban mass transit in China, they will find this glorious page, which was jointly written by Bombardier and Guangzhou Metro."

Jianwei Zhang said Bombardier and its affiliate organizations have been active in the Chinese rail market since the 1950s. Bombardier currently has three joint ventures and three wholly owned foreign enterprises in China aimed at providing rail vehicles, components and supporting services, such as maintenance and spare parts.

"Today represents an important milestone for Bombardier and its partner organizations," he said. "We’re bringing the best in rail technology to China from our operations around the world, and we continue to develop our production expertise here. We’ve learned a great deal about how to do business in this country over the years, and that experience is making a difference."

Recent contracts awarded to Bombardier and its JVs in China include a deal for ART Mark II automated rail cars for the Beijing Capital International Airport Link in March 2006; a high-speed train maintenance center and 20-year services contract with China’s Ministry of Railways in January 2006 (MOR); an Automated People Mover system for the Beijing Capital International Airport in May 2005; 40 eight-car, high-speed trainsets for the MOR in May 2005 and October 2004, and 361 high-altitude passenger cars for the MOR in February 2005.

Including its joint ventures, Bombardier currently employs 2,400 people in China. In addition to its rail transportation operations, Bombardier is the number one supplier to the Chinese regional aircraft market with an installed base of more than 30 aircraft in operation with six airlines. It is also the top-ranked supplier of business aircraft to China. Bombardier’s longstanding business relationship with China began 50 years ago.

RailWorks Corporation Bolsters Management Team with New Appointments

New York June 5, 2006 - RailWorks Corporation, a leading provider of track and transit systems construction services throughout North America, announced today three new appointments to its corporate management team.

Ronald L. Smith has been promoted to President, National Transit. In his new position, Smith is responsible for RailWorks' National Transit division, which includes all North American transit projects with the exception of the New York City metro region.

Smith is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of transit, power and industrial construction expertise. He joined RailWorks Corporation subsidiary L.K. Comstock & Company in 1993 and since then has led a range of strategic transit initiatives, including the Automated People Mover project at Washington Dulles International Airport.

RailWorks also named two new appointments to lead its newly formed Risk Management department.

Joseph R. Spirito has been appointed Vice President of Risk Management. Spirito directs the Risk Management department with responsibility for insurance and related coverage, claims management, safety and regulatory compliance, asset management and disaster recovery functions.

Spirito comes to RailWorks with more than 25 years of experience in the insurance and construction industries. He most recently served as Director of Risk Management for Railroad Construction Company's rail and subsidiary operations, and also served as Director of Loss Control for EMCOR Group Inc.'s domestic and international business units.

Bill Field has been promoted to Director of Safety. In his new position, he is responsible for RailWorks' field safety program including Roadway and other track-related safety programs, OSHA, FRA and MSHA employee training programs, new employee orientation and equipment operator qualification training, site-specific programs and incident investigations.

Field joined RailWorks in 2001 following a 20-year career with Conrail. He has worked in the rail industry for 26 years and holds a master's degree in Safety Engineering.

RailWorks President and CEO Jeffrey M. Levy said the appointments come at a pivotal time in the corporation's history. "With the recent completion of RailWorks' strategic divestiture program, these appointments will help us strengthen our core track and transit systems construction services business.

"Ron Smith will continue to expand the depth and scope of our transit footprint throughout North America. Joe Spirito will integrate and better focus our efforts to protect our corporate assets, most importantly, our people. Bill Field will help expand and enhance the safety culture throughout RailWorks," said Levy.

ALSTOM to Deliver Santo Domingo's First Metro

Paris June 6, 2006 - OPRET, the governmental authority in charge of the reorganization of public transport in the Dominican Republic, has chosen ALSTOM for the delivery of 19 METROPOLIS trainsets worth € 92.5 million for the city of Santo Domingo.

This order is part of the government's development program to meet the increasing demand for public transport and reduce road traffic congestion in Santo Domingo. The trainsets will run on the first line of the capital's new metro system, which is currently under construction, and will connect Villa Mella (north of the city) with La Feria (south of the city).

ALSTOM will supply a total of 19 trainsets, comprising 3 cars each. The first deliveries are scheduled for the opening of metro line 1 in early 2008. The metro is expected to carry 200,000 passengers every day.

Three ALSTOM sites will be involved in this project: ALSTOM's site in Charleroi, Belgium will be in charge of the manufacture and integration of the traction systems. ALSTOM's site in Le Creusot, France will provide the bogies. ALSTOM's site in Barcelona, Spain will be responsible for the car manufacture and assembly.

Since the development of the METROPOLIS range in 1997, ALSTOM has won contracts in cities around the world. Today, more than 1700 METROPOLIS trains are in service in cities such as Barcelona, Warsaw, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile.

Bombardier Wins Vehicle Renovation and Bogie Overhaul Work UK's First Great Western

Montreal PQ June 6, 2006 - Bombardier Transportation is delighted to announce that it has been awarded two significant contracts from the UK operator First Great Western, part of FirstGroup plc, the leading transport company. The first order, worth $100 million US (pounds sterling 53 million) is for the renovation of 405 high speed train (HST) trailer cars to be used by the operator on their premier services between London, Bristol, South Wales, the Cotswolds and the West of England.

This renewal work, to include an extensive interior refresh and an exterior repaint, will be carried out across two of Bombardier's sites in the U.K., Derby and Ilford. Bombardier's new refurbishment center at Derby will complete the majority of this work, a total of 294 cars. The remaining 111 coaches will be refreshed at Ilford. Delivery of the completed units will commence in November 2006, with all the vehicles renewed by the end of 2007.

The second contract, at a value of up to $160 million US (85 million pounds sterling) is for HST bogie overhaul and technical development work, to be undertaken throughout the life of the new Great Western franchise, for up to ten years. This work will be carried out at Bombardier's site in Crewe in the UK.

Commenting on the announcement, Colin Walton, Chief Country Representative, U.K. said: "This win is excellent news for our workforces at Derby, Ilford and Crewe. Our employees will ensure that First Great Western receives a first class service from Bombardier."

Rik Dobbelaere, President, Services, Bombardier Transportation, added: "We have created a state-of-the-art specialist refurbishment center at Derby and this renewal work is further proof of our leadership and expertise in this area. The bogie overhaul contract confirms the quality of the bogie work that we have carried out in partnership with First Group over the past decade. We are looking forward to continuing to enhance the product, improving fleet reliability and performance."

Alison Forster, Managing Director, First Great Western said: "This work is part of a wider investment commitment made by First Great Western and is good news for our customers. We are delighted to be working with Bombardier and we are looking forward to seeing improved levels of passenger comfort and train reliability."

Bombardier Transportation provides a global support network for its products, with employees working closely in conjunction with its customers in 70 locations worldwide. The complete service portfolio includes full train and fleet maintenance, materials and logistics programs, plus the refurbishment, re-engineering and overhaul of systems, vehicles and components.

In the UK's rail transportation industry, Bombardier is a leader in the manufacturing, refurbishment and maintenance of rolling stock, with a workforce of over 4,000 people. It has production facilities in Derby and Plymouth, with employees based at 24 maintenance, refurbishment and overhaul centers across the UK, at which Bombardier currently maintains approximately 2500 vehicles.

WestPac LNG Corporation: Approval Process Begins for Prince Rupert LNG Terminal

Prince Rupert BC June 6, 2006 - WestPac LNG Corporation is proposing to build a $350 million dollar Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) receipt and transshipment terminal on Ridley Island, an industrial park 11 kilometers outside of this northern port city. The Calgary-based company has formally begun the environmental assessment and regulatory review process by filing its Project Description with the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

"When built, our terminal will provide the Northwest Coast, Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland of BC with access to a reliable supply of natural gas that should contribute to future economic development and power possibilities," says Mark Butler, President of WestPac.

To conduct the environmental assessment, WestPac has retained Jacques Whitford -- a national consulting firm that has successfully completed several LNG-related environmental assessments on both coasts of Canada and in Qatar, in the Middle East.

WestPac earlier entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Prince Rupert Port Authority for a 30-year lease, with a provision for three, ten-year extensions, with the Port for 100 hectares on Ridley Island adjacent to existing grain and coal shipping terminals.

The Project will include a new marine berthing facility with transfer piping to onshore LNG storage tanks; two to four onshore LNG storage tanks, with a total capacity to transship the natural gas equivalent of up to one billion cubic feet per day of LNG; a natural gas liquids extraction facility, with storage; infrastructure for barge, rail car and truck, LNG and natural gas liquids loading; and LNG re-gasification facilities with a capacity of up to 130 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and related infrastructure for interconnection to existing pipelines at the Project site.

The Prince Rupert LNG terminal will create at least 300 jobs during construction and about 30 full time jobs once operational in 2011. The proposal has already received expressions of support from the local community as a means of bringing natural gas to the area for affordable energy to support existing industry and enable future economic development.

A full and complete analysis of any risks associated with the establishment of the LNG terminal will be met through the environmental assessment and regulatory review of the project. The proposed terminal will be designed and constructed to Canadian and international standards for LNG facilities. There will be an extensive public consultation process. "We are committed to treat any concerns with thoughtful regard and consideration," says Butler.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority operates the deepest harbor in North America offering easy and ice-free navigation access that can safely accommodate LNG tankers. "The port will rigorously assess the proposed terminal beginning with a full environmental assessment," notes Don Krusel, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Prince Rupert Port Authority. "We know numerous ports around the world operate safe LNG facilities and we're confident that WestPac will develop and operate their facility to the highest standards."

Krusel points out that the LNG facility also fits well with the Port's strategic plan to diversify port operations and grow a dynamic and sustainable business that will also help ensure the long-term economic health Prince Rupert and the region.

Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond agrees, adding, "An unrestricted supply of natural gas becomes a catalyst for future investment and jobs because the availability of abundant, secure supplies of natural gas will remove bottlenecks that have constrained growth and development in the past."

LNG facilities are not new to British Columbia. A production facility has operated in the Tilbury Island region of Greater Vancouver since 1971 without incident. Seven LNG projects have been announced in Canada including a proposed terminal in Kitimat and an LNG project was approved on Vancouver Island within the past year.

The LNG terminal will help meet future demand for natural gas and electricity in BC and across North America at a time when costs are rising and reserves are decreasing. It will provide new and flexible energy options for planners in the Province of British Columbia by allowing access to natural gas in volumes and at locations where gas was not previously available or where it could not be economically transported.

LNG is transported in specially insulated ships and pumped into safe double-walled storage tanks at LNG terminals for later delivery by smaller vessels, truck or rail. LNG can be re-gasified for distribution through the natural gas pipeline system.

Liquefied natural gas is created by cooling natural gas into a liquid state at a temperature of minus 162C. This reduces the space natural gas occupies by 600 times making it practical for transport and storage. It has been safely transported by ship, truck and rail car for more than 50 years. More than 33,000 ship cargos of LNG have been safely transported over a combined distance of 60 million miles without serious mishap or fatality. Annually, more than 150 ocean tankers safely transport more than 110 million tonnes of LNG, a volume greater than all gas consumed in American homes each year. LNG provides the only source of natural gas for use in both Korea and Japan, with one LNG cargo arriving into Tokyo Harbor every 20 hours.

BTS Releases Transportation Services Index (TSI); Index Rose 0.1 % in April from March

Washington June 6, 2006 - The Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.1 percent in April from its March level, rising for the second consecutive month, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), reported today.

TSI is a single seasonally adjusted index of the month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by the for-hire transportation industries, including railroad, air, truck, inland waterways, pipeline, and local transit.

 

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