http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/transportation/ en-us Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:44:08 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412767/posts The Baltic Dry Index Is Collapsing Vincent FernandoDec. 21, 2009, 1:06 PM Dry bulk vessel over-supply is finally taking its toll, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) has gone into a nosedive as shown below. US-listed dry bulk stocks such as DryShips (DRYS) and Eagle Bulk (EGLE) have been drifting lower. While the current index level is still equivalent to historically strong rates, continued strength in 2010 is entirely predicated on continued growth of Chinese dry bulk raw material imports. While November iron ore imports were encouraging and 2009 was a year of surprising strength, with China it could all disappear... The Business Insider http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412767/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:44:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412540/posts WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. airlines could face stiff fines for stranding passengers aboard grounded planes for more than three hours, according to a regulation that officials said on Monday was aimed at upholding passenger rights. The Transportation Department initiative tries to address public and government frustration with lengthy runway delays, especially those that leave passengers without food, water or adequate bathroom facilities. "Airline passengers have rights, and these new rules will require airlines to live up to their obligation to treat their customers fairly," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told reporters. For the first time, the government will require airlines to... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412540/posts#comment Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:55:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407856/posts <p>SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Most of the Republican candidates for governor of Illinois oppose spending tax money to bring high-speed rail service to the state.</p> <p>Some argue this isn't the right time because state government faces huge deficits.</p> <p>Other candidates at Monday night's debate said it's a bad idea at any time. Public relations executive Dan Proft called it "a boondoggle, plain and simple."</p> WXIN-FOX59 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407856/posts#comment Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:53:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407138/posts How do you get rid of a Legislature-created body? You ignore it. The nine-member Florida High Speed Rail Authority - actually seven now that two members quit in disgust - has been left to die. The Florida Department of Transportation - you know, the folks who secretly negotiated the purchase of CSX tracks, liability and all - has turned its back on the authority, which was created by the Florida Legislature and has never been decommissioned. First some definitions: The high-speed rail project is designed to connect major cities by rail with trains traveling 180 mph. The SunRail commuter rail... TheLedger.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407138/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:38:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407101/posts NIAGARA FALLS -- A New York State-based plan to create a high-speed rail system that could link up with Niagara, Hamilton and Toronto caught the attention of Niagara politicians this week. "I was invited to come speak about ... the potential for connections to our Canadian neighbours, and really improving inner-city passenger rail and high-speed passenger rail connecting Toronto, Montreal, New York City and the mid-west, the entire eastern seaboard," Don Hannon, director of integrated modal services for the New York State Department of Transportation, said outside the regional planning committee meeting Wednesday. He's a member of the High Speed... Welland Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407101/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:37:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407051/posts High speed rail is a glamorous idea -- it's fun to imagine a train streaking through the cornfields from Chicago to St. Louis in four hours. Less glamorous are some of the fixes that need to be made to Chicago's notoriously slow freight rail system. Talk about projects like "signalize interlocking" and "grade separation," and eyes glaze over. But the promise of faster passenger rail is inextricably linked to the down-and-dirty business of freight. To make passenger and commuter trains move faster, you have to get the boxcars out of the way. And to do that, there needs to be... Chicago Sun-Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407051/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:59:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406501/posts HARTFORD — - The state's congressional delegation is pressuring Gov. M. Jodi Rell to get financing back on schedule for the Hartford-to-Springfield high-speed train system. Sens. Joseph Lieberman and Christopher Dodd advised Rell late Friday to quickly push through funding for engineering and surveying. Unless that work is done soon, they said, Connecticut might lose its shot at $80 million in federal funding this winter — and perhaps hundreds of millions later. "Put simply, a failure to authorize state funding for this preliminary work will jeopardize the state's ability to receive federal funding for this critical project," said a letter... The Hartford Courant http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406501/posts#comment Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:52:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2406480/posts A toll bridge over the River Thames was sold for £1,080,000 at auction today. Swinford Toll Bridge, near Eynsham, Oxfordshire, is governed by its own Act of Parliament which makes it a tax haven. The bridge, in Conservative Party leader David Cameron's Witney constituency, is one of the last toll bridges in Britain still in private hands. Its buyer is exempt from paying income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax or VAT on the bridge because of the act passed in 1767 by George III granting private ownership to the Earl of Abingdon. Motorists pay 5p per car, and up... Daily Mail UK http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2406480/posts#comment Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:45:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2395229/posts Yesterdat, AASHTO, which is basically the highway builders lobby, released their own report on the state of our highways. According to National Public Radio, California didn't fare too well. California is known for its car culture. But it turns out those wheels are rolling over some of the worst roads in the nation. A recent study ranked California 49th out of the 50 states for the quality of its pavement. New Jersey came in last. But California has the distinction of having the nation's worst roads in urban areas.And yet, in a time of limited transportation funding, our priority remains... Streetsblog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2395229/posts#comment Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:30:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2394919/posts ABOARD AMTRAK AUTO TRAIN 52 TO WASHINGTON - All aboard on this train doesn’t mean just people. It means minivans, cars and motorcycles, too. To board you have to be packing some serious luggage: Every traveler must also be transporting a vehicle. Amtrak’s Auto Train, the only one like it in the nation, has only two stops: one near Orlando, Fla., and the other in Virginia near Washington, D.C. For more than 25 years, it has carried vacationers and their vehicles, and a new $10 million station expected to open in Florida in 2010 may mean even more passengers. ~~~SNIP~~~... Boston Herald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2394919/posts#comment Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:17:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2394278/posts CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Holiday travel for Amtrak started a couple of days ago and runs through next Tuesday. Amtrak travel has seen more interest with a 20 percent increase in Illinois ridership since 2007.  Travel by rail is expected to continue that trend.  Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari says holiday travel by rail stretches several days longer than at the airports, with today being busiest day for passengers.  He expects 125,000 passengers will board an Amgrak train before Thanksgiving Day, a 70 percent increase in normal ridership for midweek. Amtrak is prepared, scheduling extra trains and longer train to accommodate more... WBBM Newsradio 780 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2394278/posts#comment Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:18:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2394267/posts Americans searching for cheaper Thanksgiving tripsThe Miles family is changing it up this year in the annual American race to make it to the table for Thanksgiving dinner. Instead of booking plane tickets, they opted to take the 1,100-mile trip by train. Airline tickets seemed too pricey, so they paid $800 for the five of them to travel roundtrip by train from their Syracuse, N.Y., home to Omaha, Neb. to see family. Airfare would have totaled more than $2,500, the family said. "Economic considerations topped the list for us," Maureen Miles, 44, a doctor's office receptionist, said sitting with her... Newser http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2394267/posts#comment Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:58:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2390702/posts RZD President Vladimir Yakunin gave United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood a presentation on the program to develop high-speed rail transport in Russia. The presentation took place at the RZD Science and Technical Information Centre at Rizhsky Station, and was attended by the US ambassador to Russia, John Beyrle. The RZD president showed the high-speed Sapsan train to the delegation from the US Department of Transportation, and described the program to develop high-speed rail transport in Russia up to 2030. The US transportation secretary said he was impressed by the first Russian high-speed train, built jointly by German and Russian... Rail-News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2390702/posts#comment Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:58:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2388858/posts General Electric Co. (GE) and China's Ministry of Railways signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Tuesday, committing to jointly pursue partnership opportunities for high-speed rail projects in the US. According to the MOU, GE and Chinese State-owned railway companies will begin preparation work to construct high-speed rail projects in the US that run at speeds of more than 350 kilometers per hour. Tim Schweikert, president and chief executive of GE transportation in the China market said the company's technology in locomotive diesel and railway electrification is a world leader, and the technology and skills that Chinese companies grasp in building... Global Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2388858/posts#comment Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:16:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2386067/posts Video in three parts: http://watch.bnn.ca/#clip234892 http://watch.bnn.ca/#clip234893 http://watch.bnn.ca/#clip234894 Business News Network http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2386067/posts#comment Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:01:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2382509/posts JEDDAH: The operation of a monorail system during the Haj next year would facilitate the transport of millions of pilgrims between the holy sites of Makkah, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. Habeeb Zain Al-Abidine, deputy minister of municipal and rural affairs, said the monorails would transport 500,000 pilgrims between the holy sites within six to eight hours. “This will help withdraw at least 30,000 small and large buses from the Haj service,” said Zain .Al-Abidene while addressing a seminar on civil engineering projects for Haj. Zain Al-Abidine said the monorail project, which is estimated to cost SR6.75 billion would bring about... Arab News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2382509/posts#comment Mon, 9 Nov 2009 23:15:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2380786/posts Supporters of a proposed maglev train from Pittsburgh International Airport to Greensburg wooed state representatives Friday with promises the project could create thousands of jobs in high-tech manufacturing, if the government could pay the $5.3 billion price tag. Building the 54-mile magnetic guideway between the airport, Downtown, Monroeville and Greensburg would create demand for an estimated 533,000 tons of steel and 712,000 cubic yards of concrete, and the precision-welding technology that would be used to turn the steel into the track could then be exported around the world, proponents told members of the state House Transportation Committee during a hearing... Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2380786/posts#comment Sat, 7 Nov 2009 13:04:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2379100/posts TAMPA - Charlotte, N.C.'s mayor politely suggested Monday that the Tampa Bay area was behind its competition when it comes to the transportation networks necessary for job recruitment. Then Mayor Patrick McCrory shared with 300 community leaders the experiences that led to Charlotte's recent transit-oriented success. The strong turnout for the regional transportation session provided a further example the local transit movement is gaining momentum. Hillsborough County leaders are trying to get a 1-cent sales tax referendum for transit on the November 2010 ballot. "You are taking a very courageous political step," McCrory told elected officials advocating improved transit. "You... Tampa Bay Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2379100/posts#comment Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:07:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2374490/posts Eight billion dollars isn’t enough — not nearly enough. It’s not often you’ll hear this newspaper make a statement like that. Usually we are urging fiscal restraint. But if this country truly wants high-speed rail, we’re going to have to get serious about the effort. Eight billion dollars won’t get us there. That’s the amount of federal stimulus money promised by the Obama administration for high-speed rail. Already the administration has received requests from 24 states for projects amounting to $50 billion in high-speed projects. It also has received $7 billion in requests from states wanting to improve rail travel... Charlottesville Daily Progress http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2374490/posts#comment Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:26:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2372409/posts The biggest change for Washington area drivers in coming years can be summed up in a single word. Tolls. Tolls on new roads. Higher tolls on existing roads. Tolls on new lanes. Higher tolls in rush hour. Local governments even plan to study a radical proposal to charge a toll every time you drive your car, even on a quick trip to the grocery store using side streets. (A GPS or other device would be used to calculate your bill.) Why is this happening? Mostly because we need new roads and politicians are scared to raise the gasoline tax to... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2372409/posts#comment Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2368309/posts Maglev is environmentally friendly and eliminates the need for fossil fuels in transporting goods.Cal State Long Beach was awarded in September $245,000 by the U.S. Department of Transportation to support the engineering department for research on magnetic levitation technologies. Magnetic levitation, or maglev, is a form of transportation technology that eliminates the need for any type of fossil fuel because it uses electricity and a system of powerful magnets to lift and propel. The CSULB engineering department is working with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories to develop a maglev system to be used for moving goods and other cargo. This system... Daily 49er (Cal State Long Beach) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2368309/posts#comment Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:14:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2367326/posts ST. PETERSBURG, Russia—As an engineer pulls the throttle, villagers track side gawk at the bullet-shaped train as it gathers speed. Soon, forests and wooden shacks are a blur as a dashboard display reads 250 kilometers an hour (155 miles per hour). Ten years in the making, Russia's state-owned railway is testing eight aerodynamic trains that in December will rush travelers from here to Moscow in less than four hours. With fancy kitchens and leather seats in first class, the Sapsans (Russian for peregrine falcons) mark a change in Russia's egalitarian rail tradition. More broadly, though, Russia's new trains mirror a... Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2367326/posts#comment Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:38:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2367194/posts Express passenger trains linking America's major metropolises. It's an idea whose time has come and gone and, thankfully, come again. Just don't expect them to come to Utah any time soon. When the Federal Railroad Administration released its list of intercity rail corridors eligible for high-speed rail funding last spring, there was a hole the size of the Intermountain West on the map. It wasn't an oversight. When you start connecting the big-city dots in the Intermountain West, it's a long way between dots. Higher-density corridors in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and on the West Coast are more logical places... Salt Lake Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2367194/posts#comment Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:29:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2366943/posts PLATTSBURGH — High-speed rail service between Montreal and New York City is one key way to make North America's first green transportation corridor. Pierre Arcand, minister of international relations for the government of Quebec, said that was one of the topics of discussion when Quebec Premier Jean Charest and New York Gov. David Paterson met two weeks ago. Charest noted that former Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau called for high-speed rail in the 1970s. High-speed rail between Buffalo and Albany is almost a certainty, Arcand said at a lunch sponsored by the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce and the Center for... Plattsburgh Press Republican http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2366943/posts#comment Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:49:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2366464/posts Federal efforts to clean up laker emissions are fueling a heated debate throughout the St. Lawrence Seaway. “It’s a threat to the economics of shipping on the Great Lakes,” Adolph Ojard, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, said of rules recently proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA wants to wean older lakers off their diet of inexpensive No. 6 “bunker” fuel to reduce sulfur levels 50 percent in 2012 and help prevent tens of thousands of premature deaths. The entire fleet would convert to low-sulfur marine diesel by 2015. But lake carriers say the effort could... Prairie Business Magazine http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2366464/posts#comment Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:19:11 GMT