Ernesto - 1st Storm of the Season Options

[CNJRoss]

Tropical Storm (as of this writing) is crossing Cuba, and is expected to be back over warmer water in the next several hours. The storm's projected path for the next several days has the storm coming ashore in Florida, and then proceeding up the east coast, possible affecting the Washington, DC area Saturday evening.

The Weather Channel has current storm information.

This topic is a place to post rail related information about the storm.

Ross

[CNJRoss]

Florida East Coast advisory:

August 28th, 2006 5:00PM

To Our Valued Intermodal and Carload Customers:

Tropical Storm Ernesto is projected for landfall in
the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale area and heading north on
Tuesday, August 29th. FEC plans for storm preparation
are the following:

All trains moving northbound and southbound today will
depart on normal schedules. Based upon the current
projections, the Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Ft. Pierce
ramps will close at 12:00 Noon Tuesday.
In order for us to secure our gates, crossings and
facilities we will not run trains on Tuesday.

FEC Highway Services in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Ft.
Pierce will close as of 10:00AM Tuesday Morning.

The Transportation Service Center will be open for
normal operations.

All of the above arrangements are based on the current
projections for Tropical Storm Ernesto's arrival in
South Florida. We will continue to monitor this storm
and adjust our operations accordingly.

The next updated advisory will be at 9:00AM tomorrow
morning.

Thanks for your patience and cooperation during this
time.

Jan Maddux
Director, Marketing Services
Florida East Coast Railway

[CNJRoss]

CSX Service Advisory:

Service Bulletin - Tropical Storm Ernesto, August 28
Released: Aug 28, 2006

Tropical Storm Ernesto is projected to strike southern Florida overnight on Aug. 29-30.

CSXT has plans in place to discontinue freight service northbound out of the Miami area, including the Miami and Homestead subdivisions, at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 29. At that time all service inbound or outbound from Miami will be discontinued. Service out of CSXT's Auburndale Sub will be discontinued at 8 p.m. on Aug. 29. Signal crews will proceed along those routes securing rail signals and rail crossing gates in advance of the storm.

Service north of Auburndale -- in Lakeland, Tampa and Orlando -- will continue as normal until further notice.

Tri-Rail commuter service will not operate Tuesday, Aug. 29, and until further notice. Amtrak passenger trains will depart as scheduled from South Florida early Tuesday morning, and then service will be discontinued from the Miami area. Southbound Amtrak trains will terminate in Orlando on Wednesday.
(SIC)

CSXT is currently staging equipment and supplies, including ballast and generators, outside the immediate storm area to aid in restoration of its network after the storm passes. Inspections of the network will begin as soon as weather conditions permit.

All precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of our employees, customers, and the public with minimum delay to shipments as we continue to monitor the progress of Ernesto.

For more information, customers can call the CSX Customer Service Center at 1-877- ShipCSX (1-877-744-7279).

[CNJRoss]

CSX Service Bulletin:

Service Bulletin - Tropical Storm Ernesto, August 29
Released: Aug 29, 2006

Tropical Storm Ernesto is projected to make landfall in southern Florida overnight on Aug. 29-30.

CSXT has discontinued freight service northbound out of the Miami area, including the Miami and Homestead subdivisions, as of noon on Tuesday, Aug. 29. Service southbound out of CSXT's Auburndale Sub will be discontinued at 8 p.m. on Aug. 29. Signal crews will proceed along those routes securing rail signals and rail crossing gates in advance of the storm.

Service north of Auburndale -- in Lakeland, Tampa and Orlando -- will continue as normal until further notice.

Tri-Rail commuter service has been discontinued pending further notice. Amtrak passenger trains departed as scheduled from South Florida early Tuesday morning, and northbound service has been discontinued from the Miami area. Southbound Amtrak trains will terminate in Orlando on Wednesday.

CSXT is currently staging equipment and supplies, including ballast and generators, outside the immediate storm area to aid in restoration of its network after the storm passes. Inspections of the network will begin as soon as weather conditions permit.

All precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of our employees, customers, and the public with minimum delay to shipments as we continue to monitor the progress of Ernesto.

For more information, customers can call the CSX Customer Service Center at 1-877-ShipCSX (1-877-744-7279).

[CNJRoss]

CSX Service Bulletins:

Service Bulletin - Tropical Storm Ernesto, August 31
Released: Aug 31, 2006

Tropical Storm Ernesto is projected to make landfall between Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Wilmington, N.C., Thursday evening Aug. 31. Predictions call for it to be at or near hurricane strength.

CSXT will discontinue rail service on its east-west route near the coastline between Wilmington and Lumberton, N.C., and the W&W subdivision, which is located south of Rocky Mount, N.C., until the storm passes. CSXT will hold grain trains scheduled to depart this evening from Fulton Yard in Richmond and destined for the W&W subdivision.

Amtrak has annulled three southbound trains scheduled to originate north of the projected storm area this evening.

CSXT is currently staging equipment and supplies, including ballast and generators, outside the immediate storm area to aid in restoration of its network after the storm passes. Inspections of the network will begin as soon as weather conditions permit.

All precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of our employees, customers, and the public with minimum delay to shipments as we continue to monitor the progress of Ernesto.

For more information, customers can call the CSX Customer Service Center at 1-877-ShipCSX (1-877-744-7279).

Service Bulletin - Tropical Depression Ernesto, Sept. 1
Released: Sep 01, 2006

Tropical Storm Ernesto made landfall near Wilmington, N.C., Thursday night Aug. 31 at near hurricane strength.

CSXT lines between Wilmington and Lumberton, N.C., and on the W&W subdivision south of Rocky Mount, N.C., were inspected after the storm passed. Fallen trees were cleared and service resumed Sept. 1.

By 3 p.m. on Sept. 1., the storm had moved northward into eastern Virginia, which was experiencing heavy rains. Some flash flood warnings were in effect between Richmond's Fulton Yard and Newport News, but train service was not affected. Heavy rains are expected in the Washington D.C./Baltimore area later this evening. Rail service is continuing in the area, despite spotty power outages along the RF&P subdivision. Generators have been positioned to power signals at locations where commercial power is out.

Commuter trains are scheduled to run this afternoon throughout the area. Amtrak provided limited service between Newport News and Washington and Richmond and Washington today. Amtrak plans to resume normal service to and from the Carolinas and Florida on Saturday, Sept. 2. However, train 98 out of Miami will not run.

CSXT has staged equipment and supplies, including ballast and generators, outside the immediate storm area to aid in restoration, if needed, of its network after the storm passes.

All precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of our employees, customers, and the public with minimum delay to shipments as we continue to monitor the progress of Ernesto.

For more information, customers can call the CSX Customer Service Center at 1-877-ShipCSX (1-877-744-7279).