[NSInfo] Norfolk Southern announces service changes in response to upcoming Positive Train Control deadline

[NW Mailing List]

Wow.  "Hazardous" commodities is a HUGE bucket.  Working for one of the majors for 30+ years I worked in several of our plants/terminals that received/shipped "hazardous" materials.  Including base stocks for lube oils, gasoline, diesel fuel of all grades and even asphalt.  You might not think asphalt as being "hazardous" but introduction of water into a compartment could cause a real mess.  We also used unit trains from Albany NY to Burlington VT from GATX when the NYS Barge Canal shut down for the winter.  One of our terminals in Bangor, ME also receive tank cars for light products.
I think any of us who handled or were aware of the issues around tank car shipments of "hazardous" (ie, placarded) placarded, would be supporters of the Keystone PL as a much safer and efficient means of transporting these types of commodities.  We had our own tank car repair shop in KC (maybe closed now) as it was the best way at the time to control the condition of branded tank cars.
I wouldn't expect much sympathy from this administration to fast-track any changes but we can only hope that one of the best transportation carriers in the business can garner some support from the Congress who are elected by many of its employees.

Ed Svitil

Norfolk & Western Railway

 

  


Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2015 09:58:03 -0400
To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Subject: Fwd: [NSInfo] Norfolk Southern announces service changes in response to upcoming Positive Train Control deadline
From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
CC: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org




 

 






 



From: NSInfo
[mailto:nsinfo-bounces at nscorp.com] On Behalf
Of Norfolk Southern News


Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2015
4:28 PM


To: 'nsinfo at nscorp.com'


Subject: [NSInfo] Norfolk Southern announces service changes in
response to upcoming Positive Train Control deadline






 



Norfolk Southern announces service changes in response to upcoming Positive
Train Control deadline



 



NORFOLK,
Va., Oct. 20, 2015 – Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC)
today said its rail operating subsidiaries will no longer accept shipments of
Poisonous-Inhalation-Hazard commodities, effective Dec. 1, 2015.  PIH
commodities in transit on Dec. 1 will be delivered to destination by Dec. 31.
Additionally, passenger and commuter trains operated by Amtrak, Virginia
Railway Express, and Metra will be prohibited by law from operating on NS after
Dec. 31. 



 



The cessation of
service – effective across the entire NS rail network – is required
to comply with federal safety laws that become effective after Dec. 31, the
government’s deadline for installation of PTC. Despite investment of
nearly $1 billion to date, NS will not meet the deadline.



 



The
status of non-PIH traffic interchanged with other railroads and freight
operations on the Northeast Corridor after Dec. 31 is currently under review.



 



“We remain
hopeful that Congress will grant the railroad industry an extension of the PTC
deadline and appreciate the consideration elected officials and regulators are
giving this issue,” said James A. Squires, Norfolk Southern chairman, president and CEO.
“However, in order to conduct lawful operations on Jan. 1, 2016, and
beyond, we must plan ahead to clear affected loaded and empty freight cars from
our system. 



 



“Norfolk Southern
sincerely regrets the inconvenience that customers, passengers, and commuters
will experience,” Squires said. “Our strong hope is that Congress
will act quickly and decisively to allow us to restore full access to our rail
network.”



 



Squires noted
that NS is installing PTC on the required lines and equipment as fast as is
safe and practical. “PTC is one of the most complex technology
implementations in our history,” he said. “It is in
everyone’s interest – railroads, customers, suppliers, and
communities – that adequate time is devoted to installation, testing, and
implementation. Norfolk
Southern is committed to getting this right.”



 



About Norfolk Southern



Norfolk
Southern Corporation
(NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its
Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia,
serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides
efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive
intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive,
and industrial products.



 



Media Inquiries:



 



Frank Brown, 757-629-2710
(fsbrown at nscorp.com)



 



Investor
Inquiries:



 



Katie Cook, 757-629-2861
(InvestorRelations at nscorp.com)



 



http://www.norfolksouthern.com



 



###



 



 



 



 



 



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