Alaska Railroad Ongoing Projects: Anchorage Airport Rail Station Alaska Railroad Corporation 1st Quarter, 2001 Denali Depot www.alaskarailroad.com • (907) 265-2300 NEW RAILROAD PRESIDENT NAMED Seward Dock Improvements General Patrick Gamble to take over in April Whittier Pedestrian iting his Gamble will set high Improvements accomplishments standards for the Railroad in leadership, and help us achieve our planning, and safety objectives.” Anchorage/Wasilla safety, the Alaska Line Changes Railroad A four-star general, the Corporation’s highest rank in the U.S. Air board of directors Force, Gamble, age 55, Fairbanks Intermodal Facility C named Air Force currently serves as the top General Patrick Gamble as its Air Force executive in the Patrick Gamble new president and chief pacific region, and is Anchorage/Fairbanks executive officer. A former responsible for operations, Railyard Study leader of the Air Force’s Alaskan Command, planning and budgeting of 14 military General Gamble, currently serves as installations with 41,000 employees and 400 Commander of all Air Forces in the Pacific. aircraft. On-Board Communications System Upgrade “General Gamble is committed to the General Gamble has 20 years of experience Railroad’s vision to continually improve its participating in formal safety programs and safety, customer service and profitability. He units under his command have received Ship Creek Improvements is exactly what we were looking for in a numerous safety commendations from the CEO,” said Johne Binkley, chairman of the Air Force. Gamble has also been actively Anchorage Rail Depot railroad’s board of directors. involved in strategic planning, communications, team building and “General Gamble has a track record as a engineering. Whittier Dock national and international leader who has Improvement Study managed large budgets and work forces, “The Alaska Railroad is a vital link in our and specialized in the development of safety statewide transportation system and Gen. programs and strategic plans,” Binkley said. Gamble’s leadership and experience will For updates or comments on “With 20 years experience participating in help us achieve the goal of making it the these projects, visit the award winning safety programs, General safest railroad in the world,” said Gov. Tony Alaska Railroad website at (continued inside) www.alaskarailroad.com GLYNN TO BE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Brings 20 years of rail experience long time employee of has managed a region that sees a the Burlington mixed use of freight, commodities Northern Sante Fe and passenger service trains,” said Railway (BNSF) will Johne Binkley, chairman of the take over as chief railroad’s board of directors. “We operating officer of the saw that as critical expertise for his Alaska Railroad in April. position here.” He will replace Loren Mueller who is According to Glynn, his progressive A stepping down at that positions with BNSF had him time. Prior to moving to Alaska, stationed in eight states, working in Matt Glynn Matthew Glynn most recently all types of terrain and weather served as General Director of Line conditions. “I have experienced all and seminars. He has also worked Maintenance in the Fort Worth types of weather, from minus 30 extensively with both federal and Service Region. In that capacity, degrees in North Dakota to 120 state regulatory agencies. Glynn was in charge of operations degrees in the Mojave Desert in and maintenance on 2,600 miles of California,” said Glynn, “but I’m “I’m very excited to be here and mainline track. He was also sure I’ll break one of those extremes working for the Alaska Railroad,” responsible for safety, budget, train in Alaska.” said Glynn. “My wife and three boys performance and personnel are looking forward to seeing more development for the track, Glynn graduated from Michigan of the state and getting the chance structures and signal departments. Technological University with a to sample the great recreational bachelor of science in civil opportunities Alaska offers.” “Matt Glynn brings more than 20 engineering and has continued his years experience in rail education through a number of maintenance and operations, and safety and quality assurance courses NEW PRESIDENT NAMED (continued from front page) Knowles. “I’ve known and desire to return to the state,” respected Patrick Gamble since his Gamble said. “We are so excited to SCHEDULED OPEN HOUSES days with the Alaskan Command finally have the opportunity to and welcome him back to Alaska as make the move permanent. PROGRAM OF PROJECTS part of our administration’s team.” Meeting the Alaska Railroad Fairbanks March 8 employees only strengthened my Fairbanks Depot 4-7 p.m. Currently based in Hawaii, Gamble belief that we have made the right Seward March 15 and his wife Ailese maintained their decision.” Alaska SeaLife Center 5-8 p.m. Alaska residency and a home in Anchorage. “My wife and I love Alaska and it has always been our SAFETY HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2000 he Alaska Railroad finished of 5.9 per 200,000 hours last year, Finally, the Railroad finished the year the year 2000 with its lowest marking a nearly 45 percent reduction with one of the lowest train accident personal injury rate in more in the rate since the introduction of rates in its recent history, coming in at than a decade, and a train new safety management systems at the under 1.0 train accidents per million accident rate substantially start of 1998. train miles. The Railroad’s average for below the national average. the previous five years was between Company officials say that In addition, the number of “lost work 4.0 and 5.0. While the national average employee awareness and days” – days employees could not for all carriers is 3.8. T improved quality control report due to an on-the-job injury – procedures helped produce the record- decreased by nearly 60 percent from “An improved focus on safety keeps our setting performance. 1999 to 2000. Anderson said that employees from getting hurt, and it indicates that both the number of keeps our neighbors along the line safe “We’re still aiming for a rate of zero injuries, and their severity, are dropping as well,” said Anderson. “We’re injuries and zero accidents, and you get simultaneously. looking to do even better in 2001. We there through constant improvement,” believe rail transportation is an said Jerry Anderson, acting president. economical, safe, and environmentally “We’re very proud of the progress our efficient way to carry all kinds of employees are making. It’s a team freight. And as a major passenger effort.” carrier, we expect ourselves to be nothing short of the safest railroad in The national benchmark for injury the business.” measurement is the number of injuries for every 200,000 employee hours worked. The Railroad achieved a rate RAILROAD SUPPORTS SPECIAL OLYMPICS World Winter Games gets boost hen it was announced The Railroad is also helping to organize the Special Olympics Committee that Alaska would host the movement of people to various because it is centrally located to the 2001 Special events. As an example, the historic Anchorage’s downtown core and there Olympics World Railroad depot on First Avenue will be is sufficient space for staging busses that Winter Games, the used as the staging area for athletes and will pick up and deliver athletes, their Alaska Railroad volunteers during the Special Olympic families and coaches. Corporation (ARRC) Games. This location was chosen by immediately In addition to corporate support, many W volunteered to help Railroad employees are volunteering make the event a success. The ARRC their personal time to help make contributed charter trains and donated Special Olympics a success. They are a number of excursions for fund-raising honored to be a part of the largest auction items in order to boost the international sporting event in Alaska’s Games’ fundraising efforts. history and look forward to watching the Games. FREIGHT SALES UP FOR NEW YEAR reight activity for 2001 looks very promising, both in terms of new equipment and increased business. The Railroad’s newest barge demonstrated the value of its design by picking up nearly 30 hours of sailing time over the old equipment on just its second voyage. That translates into more reliable service for Railroad customers and in good weather, presents an opportunity to add extra Fvoyages. With better speed and efficiency, the Railroad also has additional capacity without adding more equipment. The Railroad’s new barge under way. Its entry into service couldn’t come at a better time. Increasing volumes of freight have forced the Railroad to run tandem tows Williams Energy continues to increase the quantity of product with two barges and the addition of four charters to the they ship and their offshore market for Naphtha is looking schedule in order to keep up with demand. strong. The Railroad is also working with Williams to design a loop track on their property which will greatly improve train The oil field business is starting to move forward at a quickened movements and decrease traffic interuptions in the Ship Creek pace compared to the past two years. The pipe yard in area. Fairbanks is scheduled to produce more than twice the revenue of 1999 and almost ten times what the Railroad Heavy equipment and lumber moves should be strong this earned in 2000. summer in Anchorage due to increased construction. The Railroad began moving cement from Anchorage to Fairbanks The gravel business is expected to grow relative to last year and last summer for the first time in more than a decade and it possibly approach the record volumes the Railroad established looks like that business will increase significantly this summer. in 1999. Trailer-on-flat-car (TOFC) sales are also growing, and a All in all, it promises to be a busy year for the Railroad’s freight 5% increase in volume for the year is expected in that category.