October 2007

North Carolina Railroad Company to study costs to add tracks for commuter service The North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) has announced a study to determine the costs to build track for commuter rush hour rail service on its existing line from Goldsboro to Greensboro. HNTB, a national engineering firm experienced in both freight and commuter rail, was awarded the study contract. The study will be based on adding four commuter trains in the morning and evening rush hours and one midday train to the existing traffic. Specific station stops have not been determined, but they are likely to be 5-7 miles apart. HNTB will be assisted by the California-based Woodside Group, Inc., a leader in the development of capacity models for rail operations and EcoScience Corporation, a Raleigh based firm with expertise in the evaluation of environmental requirements for railroad tracks and bridges. The study is expected to be completed by June 2008 and the results will be shared with communities, universities, Chambers of Commerce, the public and transportation-related organizations along the corridor. For addtional information about the study view the news release.

Railroads need to invest in new infastructure, capacity Cambridge Systematics recently completed the National Rail Freight Infastructure Capacity and Investment Study commissioned by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). The study determined that $135 billion will need to be spent to address rail capacity constraints for the next thirty years. More track, bridges, tunnels, signals, terminals, and other facilites are needed to accommodate the increasing demand for freight transportation, as well as for Amtrak passenger trains and commuter trains. Without this investment and increased capacity more freight and people will be shifted to already overburdened highways. Progressive Railroading, "U.S. railroads need to invest $135 billion over next 30 years" 19 September 2007.

Rail re-regulation being considered in the House The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering a bill that may re-regulate the rail industry. The bill, the Railroad Competition and Service Improvement Act of 2007, was brought to the House by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar. Oberstar hopes the bill will eliminate "regulatory impediments to competition in the railroad industry that drive up costs for users of the railroads, which he argues are controlled by two regional duopolies." The bill would force the Surface Transportation Board to eliminate restrictions placed on short-line railroads and force railroads to establish service rates and service points. The American Association of Railroads (AAR) argues that the bill would have a devastating effect on a currently profitable industry, which does not receive subsidies from taxpayers. Prior to the 1980 Staggers Rail Act, which deregulated the industry, many railroads were bankrupt and many rail lines abandoned. Also, according to the AAR, American shippers pay less than anywhere else in the world. The Hill, "Rep. Oberstar: Railroad bill has chance when Bush leaves office" 28 September 2007.

Public transportation ridership continues to increase in 2007 The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced recently that Americans took 78 million more trips on public transportation during the first six months of 2007 than during the first six months of 2006. The 10.1 billon trips taken in 2006 had been the highest in 49 years; 2007 should be another record-setting year. Commuter rail had the highest growth rate of all modes at 5.5%. Light rail (modern light rail, streetcars, trolleys) saw the second highest increase in ridership at 4.1%. Heavy rail (subways) increased ridership by 2.8% and bus ridership increased nationally by 0.6%. Read the complete report here.

Norfolk Southern operates nation's first train with new braking system On October 11, 2007, Norfolk Southern operated the first train in the United States to be equipped exclusively with electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes. ECP brakes can potentially reduce train stopping distances by as much as 60% over conventional air brake systems. ECP brakes use electronic signals to simultaneously apply braking throughout the length of the train. Conventional brake systems use air pressure, forcing each car to brake individually. The Federal Railroad Administration has authorized Norfolk Southern and BNSF Railway to equip and test these brakes on certain locomotives and freight cars. If the brakes are successful in shortening stopping distances, they will improve safety, capacity, efficiency, fuel savings, and equipment maintenance.

Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad Company appoint new president The Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad Company recently appointed Garland Horton as president of the 47-mile short line railroad, which operates in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. He succeeds Edward Lewis, who is retiring after serving as the railroad's president for the past 20 years. Horton has previously served as the southern region vice president for sales and marketing for Genesse & Wyoming, Inc. and as vice president for sales and marketing for Rail Management Corp. Progressive Railroading, "Horton to succeed Lewis as Aberdeen & Rockfish's president " 25 September 2007.

Working on the Railroad Al Capehart (AL) has played Santa Claus for the past 17 years. During his off-season AL is President of North Carolina Rail-Trails (NCRT), a statewide all volunteer organization seeking “To Preserve Rail Corridors and to Promote Rail-Trails." He was born in Richmond, VA, 70 years ago. AL came to North Carolina to attend Pfeiffer College and Duke Divinity School. He has a Master’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Ph. D. from NC State. As a bicyclist in 1983, AL was asked to serve on the new Durham Urban Trails and Greenway Commission. Soon there was a Bicycle Committee, looking for a commuter route to the Research Triangle Park, which discovered the unused Durham and South Carolina (NS) rail spur into the American Tobacco Factory. The American Tobacco Trail now extends through Durham, Chatham and Wake Counties. The rail line crossed the city limits, the county line, and there was an increased interest in a statewide corridor preservation organization. In 1990 NCRT was incorporated as a 501(c)(3). There are now 78.2 miles of rail-trails. In 1998 NCRT became a land trust specializing in Federal Railbanking. Ed Lewis, then President of the Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad, Federally Railbanked the Dunn-Erwin Railway with NCRT in 2000. With the local trails group, the railbed was converted into the 5-mile Dunn-Erwin Trail. AL Capehart is an experienced rail-trail consultant. NCRT provides free technical assistance to local governments and trail groups, has proposed legislation to achieve the best use of the state’s inactive rail corridors, facilitates the Rail Corridor Round Table, and advocates rail corridor retrieval for trail and future transportation alternatives.

Did you know? NCRR's oldest bridge will get improvements The North Carolina Railroad Company is replacing the span on a bridge structure over Old US Hwy 70 in Clayton. The bridge, constructed in the early 1900s, is the oldest existing bridge on the line. Its current vertical clearance is only 13 feet 9 inches and it has been struck by trucks. The new span is being built in Clayton by Structural Steel Products Corporation. After completion, the highway/vertical clearance will be 15 feet 6 inches. The bridge's age and low clearance restricts rail operating speed (speed is restricted to 49 mph). By replacing the existing span, current bridge design standards for both rail and highway infrastructure will be met. The project is expected to be completed early next year. Published by the North Carolina Railroad Company Volume 1, Issue 5 Comments or questions? Catherine Campbell or Kat Christian at (919) 954-7601 | 2809 Highwoods Blvd. Suite 100 | Raleigh, NC 27604